What to do in Cape Town, South Africa?
If you are planning a trip to South Africa, chances are high your trip will start in Cape Town. Cape Town is one of the 3 capital cities in South Africa and has many international flights arriving at the CPT airport. If you are planning to travel around on a tour departing from Cape Town, make sure to leave some extra time on your hands so you can go and visit a bit more of what the city has to offer. From beautiful beaches to a magnificent mountain range, and colorful houses, this place has something for everyone.
Table Mountain & Lions Head
The first sight you have to visit in South Africa is Table Mountain and Lions head. The Table Mountain looks, as the names suggests, like a flat table at the top of the mountain overlooking the city. You can decide to either hike up the Table mountain or take the Cable car which takes you right to the top.
If you want to avoid the crowds, make sure to take one of the first cable cars to the top around 8am-8.30am or start your hike early in the morning. Alternatively it is also a great spot to catch the sunset overlooking the city of Cape Town.
A second option if you want to have a view of the Table Mountain from above, is to hike up Lions Head, which is located in the middle of Table Mountain and Signal Hill. The 669 meter in height are well worth the hike to get the incredible views from the top overlooking the ocean and the city. It takes about an hour to hike to the top, and make sure to make your way down right after sunset to avoid being stuck in the complete darkness.
Robben Island
If you plan on visiting South Africa, you need to also factor in some time to learn and discover more about the history of the country. One place where you will be able to grasp a tiny fraction the history of the country is on Robben Island. The island is famous for its prison where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for the majority of his time in prison. Now this place has shifted, and became a symbol for freedom and democracy.
Make sure to book your tour tickets in advance as they are most likely going to sell out in advance. I can recommend this tour from GetYourGuide.
Boulders Beach (Penguins)
This beach might be one of the most instagrammed places in Cape Town. Boulders Beach is where you can see the penguins on the beach in South Africa. Boulders Beach or Boulders Bay is one of the few places in the world where you can see the African Penguins as they are on the verge of extinction.
In order to visit the beach, you do need to pay a fee. South Africans pay about R40 and foreigners pay about R180. It is very common for foreigners in South Africa to pay more for the parks and conservations. This is not a place to haggle prices down.
Since Boulders Beach is located in Simons Town, just about 50 minutes outside of Cape Town city centre you can opt to UBER there or take a half day tour like this one.
Cape Town Walking / CYCLING Tour
One thing I could not get enough from was the beautiful colorful houses throughout the city of Cape Town! Especially the neighborhood of Bo-Kaap was incredible. The best way to discover the city is by going on a guided walking tour or bike ride through the city.
