Cape Town

Downtown

The downtown area of Cape Town is a vibrant and bustling intersection of tradition and modernity and host to a plethora of restaurants, bars, museums, art galleries and shopping opportunities. Downtown Cape Town centres on the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, a working harbour that is rich in drinking and dining options and which commands views out to Robben Island. Amongst the highlights of old Cape Town is the Castle of Good Hope. A 17th century structure, the oldest in the city, the Castle of Good Hope now houses a historical and military museum with many fine displays. Nestled on the side of Signal Hill is Bo Kapp. Formerly the Malay district, this is a beautiful old township that still bears a distinctly Islamic character and is distinctive for its brightly coloured stucco architecture.

South West

To the south of Cape Town's cosmopolitan downtown stretches the stunning Table Mountain, easily the most popular attraction in Cape Town. The peak can be accessed by cable car and from the top the views are simply breathtaking. Hout Bay hugs the western coastal side of Table Mountain and is one of the last surviving harbours in town. It's still possible to relax at the waterfront and watch fishermen bring their haul to land. To the east of Table Mountain, the Kirsten Bosch botanical gardens boast unique indigenous plants and great Zimbabwean stone sculptures. Further east, don't miss out on a tour of the Groot Constantia vineyards. Even those who aren't wine enthusiasts will appreciate the scenic drive through the vineyards and the manor house, cellar and outhouse buildings are beautiful examples of 17th century Dutch architecture.

South East Townships

To fully understand the workings of Cape Town past and present you should see the vast sprawl of townships that make up the east side of the greater metropolitan areas. These include Langa - the oldest of the Cape Town townships, Mitchells Plain and huge expanse that is Khayelitsha - reputedly the fastest growing township in the country. Whilst it would be extremely ill-advised to try to see the townships alone, there are a number of companies that offer township tours with stops at museums, and crafts markets and some of the most exuberant churches you're ever likely to see. The townships are made up of formal structures and informal shacks and whilst you'll see some staggering degrees of poverty, you'll also be greeted with the warm hospitality that is indigenous to South Africa.

False Bay

The southern tip of the beautiful Table Mountain National Park curls around False Bay - a tranquil and attractive little spot and popular amongst South African and foreign holidaymakers alike. Fish Hoek is a beautiful small town that recently became subsumed into Cape Town. It has a two-kilometre-long white-sand beach where it's possible to take part in a number of water sports, go on whale watching and seal spotting trips and even go shark diving (definitely not for the faint hearted!). Further south is the attractive Simonstown where Boulders Beach is a big draw for those on holiday in Cape Town. Look out for the Jackass penguins that have made a home for themselves on this part of the cape. Familiar with being objects of curiosity, the penguins are extremely tame and make amicable (if slightly smelly) beach buddies.