There are so very many things to see and do in Cape Town no matter whether you like clubbing and nightlife or calm mountain walks. This post recommends only a few of the top places to go to on your South African holidays.
If you like hiking and bird watching you can head off for the Tygerberg Nature Reserve, located in the Tygerberg Hills. It's the only place in SA where you'll be able to see the Swartland Shale Renostervel, which is an endangered species. There's also an Environmental Education Centre that has a lovely herbarium and library to help you find out about biodiversity, ecology and geography.
The Cape of Good Hope was named this way by John II of Portugal as it was a good omen that India could be reached by sea from Europe. Previously Bartholomew Diaz had named it Cape of Storms due to it's stormy and threatening waters. It's now a nature reserve with over one hundred bird species and fantastic Fynbos plants. Not far from the nature reserve is an ostrich farm where you can see the ostriches in their natural setting.
Continuing on you shall arrive at Cape Point. Plenty of capetonians, and even some tour guides, will affirm that this is the spot where the cold Benguela Current of the Indian ocean and the warm Agulhas Current of the Indian ocean collide. This is a little bit of a myth as the current actually collides anywhere between Cape Agulhas and Cape Point. It's correct however the collision of the currents makes these waters particularly threatening to navigate and many Portuguese and Dutch ships sank trying to reach India.
You'll love to go for a walk in Camps Bay which is probably one of the most highly exclusive sea-side areas near in city. With its exclusive hotels and posh homes, it's sandy shoreline and Palms, it is a small Miami, only better! It is a Cape Town usage to go for "sundowners" on the beach. This means either informally opening a bottle of wine while sitting on the sand or sitting in a luxury shore cafe`. Either way Camps Bay is a good spot for sundowners!
Kirstenbosch, the flower gardens in Cape Town, is a site you can not miss. They represent a very pleasing walk and pic-nic area with marvellously kept rolling green gardens, set against the background of craggy bluish mountains, and encircled by all types of rare local and exotic plants. In summer they frequently have music concerts which are actually the cherry on top.
When planning your Cape Town holidays you should remember the weather is the precise opposite of what you would find in Europe and Northern America. In December it will be summer with a median temperature of 16-26 degrees Celsius and in July it's going to be winter with 8-18 degrees Celsius. The weather is in general a little gusty and variable and so it's good to always keep a raincoat / windbreaker with you.
You will enjoy the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront with its many curios shops and cafeterias. There's the two Seas Aquarium which is particularly fun for youngsters and an amazing craft market where you can purchase original keepsakes. Make absolutely sure to pop into the Scratch Patch where you can sit in a room full of semi-precious stones and handpick the ones you wish to take with you. This is a convenient way of picking up small presents for your mates as you buy a packet full at a time.
If you like hiking and bird watching you can head off for the Tygerberg Nature Reserve, located in the Tygerberg Hills. It's the only place in SA where you'll be able to see the Swartland Shale Renostervel, which is an endangered species. There's also an Environmental Education Centre that has a lovely herbarium and library to help you find out about biodiversity, ecology and geography.
The Cape of Good Hope was named this way by John II of Portugal as it was a good omen that India could be reached by sea from Europe. Previously Bartholomew Diaz had named it Cape of Storms due to it's stormy and threatening waters. It's now a nature reserve with over one hundred bird species and fantastic Fynbos plants. Not far from the nature reserve is an ostrich farm where you can see the ostriches in their natural setting.
Continuing on you shall arrive at Cape Point. Plenty of capetonians, and even some tour guides, will affirm that this is the spot where the cold Benguela Current of the Indian ocean and the warm Agulhas Current of the Indian ocean collide. This is a little bit of a myth as the current actually collides anywhere between Cape Agulhas and Cape Point. It's correct however the collision of the currents makes these waters particularly threatening to navigate and many Portuguese and Dutch ships sank trying to reach India.
You'll love to go for a walk in Camps Bay which is probably one of the most highly exclusive sea-side areas near in city. With its exclusive hotels and posh homes, it's sandy shoreline and Palms, it is a small Miami, only better! It is a Cape Town usage to go for "sundowners" on the beach. This means either informally opening a bottle of wine while sitting on the sand or sitting in a luxury shore cafe`. Either way Camps Bay is a good spot for sundowners!
Kirstenbosch, the flower gardens in Cape Town, is a site you can not miss. They represent a very pleasing walk and pic-nic area with marvellously kept rolling green gardens, set against the background of craggy bluish mountains, and encircled by all types of rare local and exotic plants. In summer they frequently have music concerts which are actually the cherry on top.
When planning your Cape Town holidays you should remember the weather is the precise opposite of what you would find in Europe and Northern America. In December it will be summer with a median temperature of 16-26 degrees Celsius and in July it's going to be winter with 8-18 degrees Celsius. The weather is in general a little gusty and variable and so it's good to always keep a raincoat / windbreaker with you.
You will enjoy the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront with its many curios shops and cafeterias. There's the two Seas Aquarium which is particularly fun for youngsters and an amazing craft market where you can purchase original keepsakes. Make absolutely sure to pop into the Scratch Patch where you can sit in a room full of semi-precious stones and handpick the ones you wish to take with you. This is a convenient way of picking up small presents for your mates as you buy a packet full at a time.
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