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South Africa’s commercial and cultural centre as well as its legislative capital – South Africa has three capital cities: Cape Town, Pretoria and Bloemfontein – is without a doubt the favourite destination for most visitors.
It has museums and theatres, a wide range of performing arts. Also, thanks to its melting-pot population, it has a huge variety of excellent cuisines to try.
The range of things to do in and around the city is far too large to go into in detail here, but here is a sampling:
Panoramic view of Cape Town from Table Mountain; there is a cable car to the top.
Photo by Oberhbe.
Cape Town Gardens - The oldest public gardens in South Africa, and the green heart of the city, right next to the Houses of Parliament and many other historical buildings.
Coffee Beans Routes - a tour company that specialises in tours of modern urban culture – reggae, jazz and hip-hop, art, wine, carnivals and, yes, soccer.
Theatre - The city is well endowed with these, from the 1,000-seat Artscape to the open-air amphitheatre in nearby Stellenbosch. Performances range from Shakespeare plays to musicals and stand-up comedy.
Trains - South Africa’s trains are a delightful way to travel. Check out the Premier Classe that leaves every Friday for a four-day meander to Port Elizabeth and back. Very comfortable sleeping accommodation (with room service, no less).
Museums - Plenty to see if museums are your thing; choose from the 185-year old Cape Town Museum (complete whale skeletons) and Planetarium, the Slave Lodge, Koopmans-De Wet House, Bertram House, Groot Constantia, the Bo-Kaap Museum, Rust en Vreude and the William Fehr Collection in the Castle of Good Hope.
Beaches - Cape Town has some of the best beaches in the world. Choose from Muizenburg (surfing), Camps Bay (celebrity spotting), Boulders Beach (swimming with penguins), and Margate (family fun and sports).
Shark cage diving - Not for the faint of heart; meet plenty of sharks close-up, including, maybe, one of the infamous man-eating Great Whites.
Break the sound barrier - With Thunder City, climb aboard a Cold War-era jet fighter, accelerate vertically until you’re high enough to see the curvature of the earth then, on the way back, break the sound barrier, loop, turn and barrel roll. Not for those with sensitive tummies.
The new Green Point Stadium in Cape Town will host five of the Group rounds of the
World Cup, one in the round of 16, one quarter final, and one of the semi-finals.
Photo courtesy of the City of Cape Town.
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