My two-month trip through South Africa in 2014 began in Johannesburg and ended in Cape Town. Was I in Jo’burg still shocked by poverty and desolation, I could assume that awaits me in Cape Town the opposite. I was not disappointed. Here’re the 5 ending of my memories list…
6. V & A Waterfront and Promenade
The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, the shopping highlight in Cape Town. Beautifully situated on the waterfront, restaurants, small shops and a whole shopping center at the port drag along. There is nothing that does not exist. At the weekend, however, can be quite crowded. From the V & A Waterfront, one can at beautiful on the promenade running along and comes well past the stadium.
7. Visit the Markets
Every weekend several markets take place in and around Cape Town, where local products are offered. Some of them are already cult and are visited by tourists. I love the market atmosphere and prefer markets where I can try culinary much. Recommended I think the City Farm Market in the district of Gardens, the Neighbourgoods Market in Woodstock and the Bay Harbour Market Hout Bay. About these three markets I’ve written a separate article. Look out to you – or at least one, if your time is short. When in doubt, I would even prefer the typical tourist attractions.
8. Camps Bay & Clifton
The districts of Camps Bay and Clifton are on the west coast of Cape Town, behind the Lion’s Head. If you’re only there once, they seem very far away. This Camps Bay and the city center are connected by a short road leading between the Lion’s Head and Table Mountain pass. In a few kilometers you come so from the metropolis into a chic Beach Town. The most expensive plots are likely to be in Cape Town’s Camps Bay and Clifton here.
Camps Bay has a huge beach and a long promenade, where guests will find restaurants, bars and coffee shops line up. In the background are enthroned the 12 Apostles (a mountain range as part of Table Mountain). The most beautiful thing here is the evening when the sun goes down over the sea.
9. Botanical Gardens in Kirstenbosch (and Summer Concerts)
The No. 1 attraction in TripAdvisor is the botanical gardens in Kirstenbosch. I think that’s a bit exaggerated, but it is already beautiful and the tourists seem to love it. Admission costs 50 Rand per person, but I have never paid this in my two visits.
On the first visit I crossed the Tafelberg and increased it over the Skeleton Gorge back down. This path ends exactly at the Botanical Garden. Comming from this side no admission is charged. The second time I visited one of the Summer Concerts. Throughout the summer there are concerts (mainly on Sundays) in the garden instead. You begin in the late afternoon. The people sitting on the green meadow in front of the stage and have a picnic. With beautiful weather in a beautiful setting, it is a great experience.
The Botanical Gardens you come by car, taxi, or Uber with the hop-on-hop-off tours. How the public transport works in Cape Town, you will learn here.
10. Bloubergstrand / Table View
Approximately 20 minutes north (by car) of the City are Bloubergstrand and Table View, two very pleasant parts of Cape Town. There is a beautiful beach with white sand and fabulous views of Table Mountain. It is worthwhile in any case, to go there. Throughout the region you can walk along and the many kilometers of beach.
My guest-Tip
In February 2014 I lived far outside the city center in the Milnerton neighborhood. That was not planned, but in the city days earlier was already fully booked. In January 2015 I ended up back there for a week, because accommodation in the town were scarce. The Cape Town 4U Guest House is run by a Dutch couple. The two are very courteous and speak good German. The guest house is very pleasant, the breakfast exceptional. I spent about 35 euros per night paid, which is not too much for the quality in Cape Town.
The neighborhood is very quiet. In one kilometer away there is a small shopping center with restaurants and supermarkets. The best way to live there with your own car. Nearby but also a bus (line T01). It was one of the nicest places to stay in South Africa for me. And this in a country that are teeming with beautiful accommodation.