Cape Point
©South African Tourism Cape Point is the high point in any Peninsula tour, and can also be visited on its own. Although there are a number of animals, mainly antelope, zebras, baboons and ostriches, the point's main attraction is the awesome scenery and the unspoiled fynbos vegetation, and fantastic flowers.
There are some fun escorted cycle trips in Cape Point, one of which includes a Peninsula tour. As well as the point, there are some absolutely fabulous beaches and great walks. A two-day hike takes in the best in the way of scenery, birds, animals and beaches and includes a night in a comfy hiking hut with a fantastic view over the whole of False Bay. More about Cape Point.
Table Mountain
©South African Tourism Table Mountain has to be one of the most instantly recognisable natural features in the world. Seen from Bloubergstrand, across the Table Bay from Cape Town city centre, it shows its typical flat profile. It was this sight that excited sailors of old, as it meant that, within a short time, they'd be docking at the 'Tavern of the Sea' as Cape Town was called. But the flat part is just a section of this rather spectacular mountain that forms the spine of the Cape Peninsula, heading all the way from the city to Cape Point. Most of Table Mountain, along with Cape Point and Boulders beach, has been declared part of the Table Mountain National Park. Whether you walk up or take a ride in the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway, you'll be rewarded with awesome views of the city and the whole Cape Peninsula. The rock is great, you can do a commercial abseil off the top and there is a multi-day hike. More about Table Mountain.
Waterfront
©South African Tourism The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront (yes - it's old Queen Vic and her son - not her husband) is one of the most successful harbour developments in the world. Set in a working harbour, the shopping malls, fashionable restaurants and luxury hotels overlook the dry docks and harbour basins. Fishing boats and stubby little tugs vie with the day cruisers, Robben Island ferries and floating restaurants. Views of container ships, tankers and even the odd oil rig are not uncommon. But it's not really about ships. That's just the backdrop. The Victorian buildings, many of which are built from dressed stone, are beautiful, and there is so much to do. The Two Oceans Aquarium showcases the sea life off South Africa's two coasts, craft markets vie with fashionable boutiques and designer labels for shoppers' attention and the range of restaurants and coffee shops is sufficient to satisfy anyone. There are museums, seals to look at and a whole range of boat rides to choose from. More about the Waterfront.
Robben Island
©South African Tourism Most well known as the place where Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in prison, Robben Island is a symbol of the triumph of love over hate, forgiveness over revenge and of justice over oppression. It was here that Nelson Mandela formulated his notions of forgiveness, and it is thus the birth place of the new South Africa. It's a great place to visit. Conducted tours include the ferry trip, and take in the jail, the old leper colony, a kramat (a Muslim holy burial site), the stone quarries where Mandela and others chipped away at the hard dark shale, and the penguin colonies. More about Robben Island.
Hex River Vineyards
©South African Tourism Cape Town is surrounded by fabulous wine growing country. On a trip out to Stellenbosch, Paarl or Franschhoek you'd be spoiled for choice. With far more wineries than you could possibly visit in a week, you'll have to make some hard choices. But wherever you go, you'll be rewarded with the sight of lovely green or bright red vineyards, depending on the time of year, magnificent thatched farmhouses slumbering under leafy oaks and - of course - wine. Yummy as it is, you'll have to be very disciplined to spit it out all the time, so perhaps it's a good idea to do the wine route as an escorted trip, or at least chauffeured. It is fun to do in a limo. More about the Winelands.
Penguin
©South African Tourism Boulder's, which is part of the Table Mountain National Park, is home to a sizeable colony of African penguins (previously called jackass penguins). These cute and comical birds waddle around quite unperturbed by the hordes of tourists who flock towards them. A swim in the calm, warm waters of Boulders Beach is always fun on a hot summer day but - you never know - you may just see a sleek black and white penguin swimming past. You can also do a paddling trip past the penguin hangout.
Kirstenbosch
©South African Tourism One of the Seven Magnificent Botanical Gardens of the World, Kirstenbosch is dramatically set against the craggy eastern slopes of Table Mountain and showcases South Africa's floral wealth. Expansive lawns, vibrant flowers and lush plantings blend into woody ravines and mountain fynbos.
Stroll along way marked paths, have a lazy picnic on the rolling lawns or just enjoy the sweetness of doing nothing whilst bejewelled sunbirds flit about collecting nectar. It's also a great place to have brunch at one of the restaurants or coffee shops.
Southern Right Whale
©South African Tourism Cape Town is an excellent whale watching destination. In late winter or early spring (about June or July to October or November) southern right whales visit Cape Town to frolic in the warm water (well, compared to Antarctica, it's positively balmy) mate and calve. Other whales also spotted include humpbacks, Brydes and orcas. There are also loads of dolphins to see and bustling colonies of Cape fur seals.
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