Get yourself a perfect itinerary for Cape Town. It sits at the confluence of the warm Indian Ocean and the cold Atlantic Ocean in the Southern Hemisphere. It has been the subject of a travellerʼs fancy since its discovery in 1488 by Bartolomeu Dias, a Portuguese sailor who heralded a new sea route to India. Dias planted a cross to claim it for the Portuguese, but the Dutch perpetuated it in history by finding a permanent supply station under Jan van Riebeeck in 1652. The port station grew into the modern Mother City or Cape Town, the oldest and largest city in the western cape until the Gold Rush of Witwatersrand catapulted Johannesburg to the podium and relegated Cape Town to the second position.
Still, Cape Town serves as the legislative capital of South Africa, being the seat of its Parliament. It is important to understand the geography of Cape Town to comprehend its significance, which lends its primacy. Cape Town is a port city on the southwest coast of South Africa with an extensive coastline and a busy harbour. Inland about 70 peaks rise to form the formidable and scenic Table Mountains, extending up to 40km, forming Cape Point, jutting into the Atlantic Ocean. Moreover, the City Flats is a 50 km stretch of coastal plains and Table Mountain has a maximum altitude of 1113m.
More About Cape Town
Since the town is at the confluence of two oceans, the wind systems also converse accordingly, i.e., the city is a windy land. As per geography, the climate in the region is warm Mediterranean type below the Equator, which had also managed to attract the Europeans to plan settlements there. The summers are warm and dry, and the winters are mild and moderately wet. Keeping up with the climate, the Table Mountains sustain one of the highest levels of biodiversity in the world. Besides it is a World Heritage Site with over 2200 plant species thriving there.
Table Mountain National Park is within the city limits. To summarise, a perfect itinerary for Cape Town has the sun, sand, sea and scenery to entice any traveller.
Hotels
Since there is sun, sand, sea, scenery, safari and travellers, Cape Town has hotels, inns, retreats, resorts and restaurants to cater to the influx of tourists. 91 hotels 5* properties, many luxury resorts and beachside retreats. Some major hotels are South Beach, Camps Bay Boutique Hotel, The Taj Cape Town, Atlantic View Cape Town Boutique Hotel, Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfront, and more.
Cape Town Holidays
Cape Town is not a vast city that needs copious time for sightseeing. The peak summer season of December to February is ideal for tourism as the warm and dry summers leave ample scope for outdoor activities, particularly adventurous, which are aplenty in this seaport town.
Some Top Attractions for Tourists:
A perfect weekend itinerary for Cape Town would include the following attractions:
Two Oceans Aquarium:
Located at the VA Waterfront, the Aquarium provides a diverse showcase of the marine life of the Atlantic and Indian oceans.
Cape of Good Hope:
Misinterpreted for being the southernmost tip of the African continent in place of Cape Agulhas (some 150 km to the southeast), the Cape of Good Hope still has some historic worth as it was the place where Bartolomeu Dias could conclusively determine the new naval route to the Far East, which later on led to the discovery of the India route by Vasco da Gama. It is part of Table Mountain National Park, a world heritage site.
Cape Wheel:
The 40m high giant Ferris Wheel on the Victoria Alfred Waterfront features 30 air-conditioned enclosed cabins, offering a bird’s eye view of Cape Town panorama.
Cape Point:
A scenic promontory on the southeast corner of the Cape Peninsula, located some 2.3 km east and north of the Cape of Good Hope. There is the Old Lighthouse in the upper reaches and the New Lighthouse, some 700m apart and 162 m lower.
Table Mountain:
The flat-topped mountain overlooking the city of Cape Town is a world heritage site for the highest levels of biodiversity in the world. The surrounding National Park is a Conservation International Biodiversity Hotspot. It offers a spectacular view of the city below. Here one can take a hiking trip or the Aerial Cableway to reach the top. Interestingly this attraction is one of the newest Seven Wonders of the World.
Constantia Glen:
Just a stone’s throw away from the bustling City centre lies the picturesque winery Constantia Glen, ideally below the Constantia Nek. Visit it for a Wine Tasting Tour, peeking at the peaks, some upscale fine dining and buying premium ultra-niche wines.
Seal Island:
A favourite haunt of cape fur seals and the most famous predator, the sharks – huge ones!
Victoria and Alfred Waterfront:
The interfacing land on the Atlantic Ocean, Table Bay harbour, the City and the Table Mountains is the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront complex designed by Adrian van der Vyver over 300 acres. Moreover, it houses attractions like Chavonnes Battery, Nobel Square, Nelson Mandela Gateway, SAS Somerset, etc.
Chapmanʼs Peak:
Scenic hanging cliffs over white sandy Atlantic shore. It makes for a charming drive over a 9 km stretch of picturesque roads.
False Bay:
A stretch of Atlantic waters extends from the mountainous Cape peninsula to the Hottentots Holland Mountains in the southwest. It contains South Africaʼs largest naval base at Simonʼs Town, known for quiet and upscale Victorian architecture and many fresh seafood restaurants.
Cape Town Tours
There are ways to pack multiple attractions in a single sightseeing tour like.
- Helicopter Tour along the Atlantic coast (Cape Town stadium, Lionʼs Head, Clifton, Camps Bay and Table Mountains).
- Coastal Catamaran Cruise from the Quay5 to Green Point Lighthouse.
- Sunset Sailboat Cruises but its direction depends upon the wind direction.
Such an arrangement saves time and gives glimpses of the best of Cape Town. Some other attractions and to-do activities in Cape Town are:
- Tandem Paragliding
- Wildlife Safari
- Shark Cage Diving and Viewing (off the coast of Gansbaai)
- Franschhoek HOHO and Wine Tram Tour
- Quad Biking Atlantis Dunes
- Two Oceans Helicopter Flight
- Sunrise/Sunset Hiking Tours
- Boating/ Ferry Tours to Robben Island
- Shopping for souvenirs and local trivia like Gold Coins
Hiring wheels rather than depending on public transport for a personalised whirlwind sightseeing tour is better. Other options are more economical bus tours.
A Suggestive Itinerary for Cape Town can be:
- Embarking a transport of your choice from your hotel or some mutually designated Pickup point.
- Heading to Bo-kaap, the historic former racially segregated suburb known as Malay Quarter, on the slopes of Signal Hill. Its brightly coloured houses and cobblestone streets are a sight to remember.
- Gazing at Bantry Bay, which lies at the foothills of Lionʼs Head – the affluent area is known for its windless character for 250 days a year, a big surprise in windy Cape Town.
- Passing by Clifton, a mountainside suburb noted for its granite boulder and 4 beaches.
- Touching Camps Bay Beach area with a view of the 12 Apostles.
- Duiker Island, known for its famous residents of Cape Fur lies at a 40-minute boat ride from Hout Bay.
- Chapmanʼs Peak for the view of the Atlantic horizon from beautiful cliffs.
- Sip some tea or coffee and buy a few tidbits for memories from Noordhoek Farm Village.
- The next stop would be at the Ostrich Farm at Cape Point.
- Relive the era of 1488, minus Bartolomeu Dias at Cape Point Nature Reserve.
- Hike to the Cape of Good Hope summit and get photographed with it.
- Admire the practical spirit of the navigators who abandoned a historical lighthouse for its faulty design and got a new one built 162m downhill.
- Boulders Beach Penguin Colony is also a genuine African experience, where you find the flightless natives revealing their habitat.
On the second day, visit the Victoria Alfred Waterfront, a conglomeration of diverse activities and multiple attractions. Go for the Cape Wheel view, a ferry ride to Robben Island for history refreshments, etc. Click pictures at the Nobel Square where the 4 South African greats get idolised, go for a Helicopter ride to Two Ocean Park and other endless activities.
Cape Town Flights
Cape Town International Airport (CPT) is the second busiest airport in the country and 4th largest airport in Africa. It underwent a major overhaul and renovation before the World Cup 2010 of football. It is located about 20 km from the city centre, in the district of Matroosfontein. And is a hub for Airlink and Fly Safari and a focus city for SA Airways.
London to Cape Town is one of the busiest routes in Africa. There are about 56 flights per week, serviced by majors like SA Airways, British Airways, Emirates, Qatar, KLM, Lufthansa, etc. British Airways operates a direct flight from London to Cape Town. And the aerial distance covered an average of 11 hours and 43 minutes. The cheapest price claims to be £352, but the average is £749-£1251. The best time to visit CPT is the shoulder months of March to May and September to November. This is when the weather is fabulous and prices are considerate.
Thus, plan your Cape Town Itinerary now and make the most out of your next holiday to the beautiful South African city.