15 places to visit in Cape Town South Africa

15 places to visit in Cape Town South Africa

Cape Town South Africa: That’s the picture of Table Mountain located in Cape Town, South Africa. It seems the life and culture of the residents of Cape Town revolve around Table Mountain, the Devil’s Peak and the Lion’s Head.

If you care to look at the atlas, you will see Cape Town positioned at the southwest part of South Africa, right on the South Atlantic Ocean.

Cape Town is one of the most toured cities in South Africa among other South African cities that include:

• Durban
• Johannesburg
• Bloemfontein
• Port Elizabeth
• Pretoria
• East London

As South Africa itself is the most visited tourist destination in the world for its diverse sightseeing attractions, the majority being the wildlife and the Kruger National Park.

Cape Town contributes a lot to tourism development. Generally, any popular city in the world can be seen fully in a maximum of three days. I would add an extra day if I hear a voice of protest here and there from fierce patriots of Barcelona, Lisbon, New  York, Sydney, Melbourne, and New Delhi.

However, you require a full week to see the entire Cape Town’s attractions, taste world’s best food in at least 15 restaurants out of highly recommended 50 restaurants that the local residents of Cape Town frequent. If something is good for the locals, then, they must be good for the tourists as well right?

Let us now go over the list of Cape Town attractions.

1. Table Mountain National Park

Naturally, the looming Table Mountain and its two highly popular observation peaks, “The Devil’s Peak” and the “Lion’s Head” are placed on the top of Cape Town tour itinerary. The whole area comes under the Table Mountain National Park, the prime tourist attraction in Cape Town.

Hey, you need not trek to reach the peak of Table Mountain; cable cars safely take you up and deposit you at a wonderful viewpoint from where, the Cape Town, its harbor, the South Atlantic’s panoramic view can be enjoyed without any disturbance. By the way, if you choose to ride on the cable car in the evening, wait patiently for the Sun to dip behind the horizon. You will never forget the breathtaking Sunset seen from the top of South Africa’s famous mountain.

The most scenic spot surrounding the Table Mountain National Park is the Cape of Good Hope that we all read in our school.

Hmm… it is quite a large monkey that is shown to you by your tour guide at a few places in Cape Town such as the Cape of Good Hope and Kruger National Park.

Other wildlife in the Table Mountain National Park:

If you are going to South Africa as a tourist and if you don’t show any real interest in seeing the wild animals, birds, marine life, and reptiles of Africa, you could as well stay at your home. Traveling to Africa means Africa Safari-eh?

Ostrich

Ostrich-they have a fearless look.

African Penguins

These unique looking penguins can be spotted at the Cape of Good Hope. Their other names are:

• Black-footed Penguins
• Jackass Penguins

By the way, do you know the African Penguins’ favorite food? They simply love ‘squids’ that are abundantly available in South Atlantic. “If the African Penguins like squids, so we do”, says the local residents of Cape Town. The squid based dishes can be found on the restaurant menus in Cape Town.

Sugarbird

What a tail! I guess this tail cannot wag.

Sunbird

• Antelope
• Bontebok

• Eland

• Red Hartebeest

• Grey Rhebok

All these resemble the Springbok-right?

More wildlife in Cape of Good Hope.

• Cape Mountain Zebra
• Dassie-a kind of rock rabbit
• Four-striped grass mouse
• Water Mongoose

• Clawless Otter
• Fallow deer.

OMG! What an elaborate defensive arrangement!

• Humpback Whales
• Seals
• Dusky Dolphins
• Bryde’s Whales

Franschhoek Valley

You haven’t heard that South Africa too produces world-class wines-have you?

Trust me, the South African wines are as good as the French wines because the conditions for grape cultivation is ideal in several South African villages and the notable among them is this scenic valley called Franschhoek (what a spelling!) Valley that is located about 70 km from Cape Town, South Africa.

The Franschhoek Valley is one of the major wine producing regions in South Africa. You get to taste the finest of wines and the added attraction to visit this attraction near Cape Town is the most delicious food served in all the cozy restaurants.

This wine valley not only attracts the tourists from other countries but the residents of Cape Town also frequently go to the Franschhoek Valley either to attend a wedding or participate in a corporate function or join the crowd on special event days such as New Year Eve or Valentine Day.

Because of the range of wines and an equal variety of food plus with a lot of peace and privacy, even just married couples visit this Cape Town attraction to spend their first honeymoon. 

4. Atlantic Sunset Cruise

A city, particularly a coastal city is the most perfect place to watch the Sunrise or Sunset depending on its east or west location.

Cape Town is on South Africa’s west coast and it means, if you are standing on the beach, you will be facing the South Atlantic Ocean and the dipping Sun will say on your face, “Good Night”.

Sunsets (or Sunrise) give us goosebumps from wherever we watch them, be it from a mountain top or right on the beach. There is another angle to view the Sunset. How about going on a sailboat or a mere catamaran towards the setting Sun? Wouldn’t that be absolutely stunning? You will realize you are urging the boat to go faster towards the red Sun.

I have watched Sunrise traveling in a catamaran on the Bay of Bengal, off the coast of Marina in Madras.

In order to help you, I did my research to find out if there is a catamaran cruise to watch the Sunset in Cape Town.

Yes, there is one such service offered through getting Your Guide dot com.

Oh, this vessel is much more than an Indian catamaran but definitely for the better. How about standing on the bow of the catamaran and watching Sun go down the horizon unceremoniously?

As your catamaran leaves behind the Cape Town’s Table Bay harbor, you will see the majestic Table Mountain behind you quickly disappear.

The Sunset cruise will last for a full ninety minutes. Your price includes a drink and some food.

If you want to ride on a sailboat, the same website arranges it for you. Your sailing vessel will look like this:

5. Horse riding on the Cape Town beach

Horseback rides on a Cape Town beach last a bit longer than the usual beach horse rides. You will be taken to a vantage spot on the vast Atlantic beach (Noordhoek Beach ) and you can watch the Sunset sitting on the back of a horse! By the way, are horses also found on an African safari? If so, will you ride on the back of a feral horse?

6. St.James Beach, Cape Town

The St.James Beach in Cape Town is a must-visit beach as it is considered as prestige to have visited the attractive Atlantic coast.

The St James Beach located in False Bay is lined with colorful huts.

No, the colored boxes that are slightly oversized so as to fit a man (a woman too but only one at a time) are not meant for an overnight stay. They serve as change rooms before and after a bath..

Here is a better view of the bath boxes:

Image attached

7. Penguins at Boulders Beach

As you read earlier in this article about Cape Town’s sightseeing attractions, there are Penguins that live in this part of the world also and they are known as African Penguins.

You can see them swim and play at Boulders Beach, Cape Town.

It seems the penguins here have gotten used to the presence of humans at close quarters enticing you to take a swim along with the African Penguins in Boulders Beach, Cape Town. There are boulders strewn all over the place, varying in size and shape. The boulders are convenient for the penguins to take a sunbath after a swim on the Atlantic Ocean.

The Boulder Bay is also a part of the Table Mountain National Park.

8. Kloofs corner, Cape Town

One of the destinations for the hikers in Cape Town is the Kloofs Corner located on the Table Mountain. It is considered as an easy route to hike up on South Africa’s prestigious attraction and Cape Town’s pride.  After about half an hour walk, you will reach the viewpoint on top of a hillock from where the sight of the Camps Bay looms below.

9. Wine Tasting tour Neetherlingshof

It may be new to you and me but the Neetherlingshof wine is well known in South Africa. Here is your chance to taste the freshest Neetherlingshof wine before it is entrapped in a bottle.

You don’t get a chance every now and then to taste wine at the point of its production right? Grab this opportunity and don’t stay back in your hotel room. Your Cape Town visit will look dry if you don’t sample the finest wines made at the Neetherlingshof vineyards at throwaway prices.

10. Cape Point observation platform

Cape Point is a promontory, a sort of naturally formed high rise platform jutting on a sea or a lake. Here is how a promontory looks:

The Cape Point is a promontory in Cape Town. The terrific viewpoint looking at the Atlantic Ocean below is worth a visit. The observation platform is not exactly a tall cliff but a rock situated high enough over the sea level to give you an aerial view of the Atlantic.

It’s bright yellow all the way, as far as you can see in Caledon, Cape Town. To see this sea of yellow, you need to travel 100 km from your hotel at Cape Town.

The Canola Fields are just photogenic places where tourists would go to take pictures as proof of their visit to Cape Town, South Africa.

Canola Oil is extracted from the seeds of Canola flowers. 

12. A cup of Truth Coffee?

You are now in Cape Town. How about drinking a cup of “Truth Coffee” rated as the best coffee in the world by none other than the prestigious Daily Telegraph of the United Kingdom.

After you have seen ‘Lion’s Head’ in the Table Mountain area in Cape Town, you can visit one of the Truth Coffee’s outlets that are located at:

36 Buitenkant Street, Cape Town Central.

After you drive about just 2 km from Lion’s Head, you will reach the Truth Coffee’s headquarters at the above address.

Oh yes, in this Truth Coffee shop, you can also order tea and pastries and the waiter will instantly recognize you as a true British genteel.

13. A short visit to the Old Biscuit Mill, Cape Town

Don’t assume I am taking you to an old biscuit factory. The Old Biscuit Mill is actually a small village in Woodstock, just about 3.5 km from the center of Cape Town. People with fine tastes are expected to make a visit to the Old Biscuit Mill; I am sure you will join the band.

Woodstock is a laid back town with some high standard values, especially in restaurants, fashion goods and furnishings.

You will find simple but tastefully furnished quaint shops that sell biscuits and cookies, the farm produces, food and wine, in buildings of beautiful and efficient design.

14. Oranjezicht Market, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

The video said it all about this colorful weekend farmers market in Cape Town. You buy organic fruits, vegetables, dairy products, grains and pulses.

15. Wally’s Cave, Cape Town

That’s a view of the Lion’s Head, Table Mountain from inside the cave. Do you like entering caves? Though there is nothing invariably found inside the caves with a few exceptions of ancient paintings, we enter them just for the thrill of it; a sort of rebellious show maybe?

Well, these 15 places to see and to do in Cape Town are just samples. If you happen to spend a weekend holiday in Cape Town, you can visit all these 15 places.

For unforgettable African safaris, Cape Town is an ideal place.

However, if you want to know complete South Africa through Cape Town, you will have to stay here for 5 days. There are 5 national parks in Cape Town apart from the Table Mountain National Park and several nature reserves and a couple of botanical gardens.