12 Reasons To Visit Cape Town

As the days grow shorter and the chill fog of winter draws closer to those of us in the North, our staff in Vancouver and Glasgow start dreaming of sunnier climes. South Africa is one place that continually tops our travel wish lists! Today we’re sharing some fabulous local tips from a dozen of our South African guides in Cape Town, an absolute must-see on any visit to South Africa. One thing they almost all agree on? Don’t miss the penguins!

12 Travel Tips for Cape Town

Joanna says: Cape Town has something for everyone - and every experience has a uniqueness about it... I suggest having a traditional lunch at an "off the beaten track" Cape wine estate, and if you’re feeling fit, climb the 1087 metre high Table Mountain, take the cable car down, and then have a famously sweet koeksister to replenish your energy!Iggy says: My favorite experience to share with guests visiting our shores is spending the morning with penguins on Boulders Beach. Nothing beats the serenity of watching these crazy critters go about their business before the big crowds roll in later in the day.Albert says: And when you visit the penguins, go right…! Boulders Beach often feels like a Tourist Trap with big crowds. Most of the visitors just walk straight into the park on the boardwalk in front of them without seeing the lesser used one to the right. So, once you've gone through the pay point, look to the right and you'll see another path...take it!Also: when you are at Cape Point and going up with the Funicular, don't just walk up to the lighthouse after exiting. Walk straight out on that same level along the path and you will find my all time favourite place in the Cape. It is a view spot where you have the cliffs on the side with birds swooping to and from nests. You also look down on a beach with amazing waves and if the visibility is clear you can see behind the waves how it picks the sand up in plooms. Amazing.Clive says: Cape Town weather is notoriously changeable. A flexible itinerary helps one to change plans when the weather changes – and luckily a private guide is adaptable and will help you to consider options for sunny, rainy or windy weather. Also dress in layers since the temperature can rise or fall quite quickly. The Cape Town ‘secret’ season is in March-April when the peninsula is less crowded, and the weather is still great.

Kabelo says: You have to eat fish and chips in Kalk Bay at Kalky’s: a restaurant voted the best fish and chips in Africa!Ken says: Take a boat trip to Robben Island by ferry. Robben Island, a World Heritage Site, is synonymous with our former President, Nelson Mandela, who was incarcerated here for 18 years for his unwavering stance and struggle against the apartheid regime.Ian says: Table Mountain is now known as the new 7th Wonder of the World! You have to visit this iconic landmark by either doing a walk up Table Mountain or simply getting on the Cable Car and riding to the top while viewing Cape Town at a full 360 turn. Once at the top, you will have breathtaking scenery of the Cape Peninsula and you can pop into the restaurant and have a pleasant meal while overlooking Camps Bay. Or if you’re feeling more adventurous, you can even book an overnight in a rustic hut on the Back Table of Table Mountain.Luc says: Hang with the Cape Town locals, and enjoy amazing coffees at Truth, a steam punk coffee place on Buitenkant street (and dubbed “Best Coffee Shop in the World” by the UK Telegraph!) It’s worth the detour, if not for the coffee, at least for the unique deco and the staff's outfits.

Ligia says: I apply these tips for all my tours when travelling in and around Cape Town:

-To see the peninsula, leave by 8am so as to avoid the large crowds (buses), and go in the opposite direction around the mountain than they do. Works every time! - If you’re interested in wine, visit the smaller boutique wineries – these usually don’t allow large tour buses on the properties and it’s a much more intimate experience. - Bo Kaap (Cape Malay Cuisine): spend an hour or 2 with one of the locals cooking in her kitchen and learning about this unique and delicious cuisine.

Brenda Jean says: Cape Malayan Culture dates back to the late 1600s. Today a significant number of people of Malaysian descent live in the Cape with their own unique “Cape Malay” food, culture and traditions. View the colourful houses of the Bo- Kaap District with aromas of different spices filling the air, while walking along the narrow cobbled main street, and savour some of the traditional Cape Malayan foods.Sean says: Spend an hour or two visiting the world renowned V&A Waterfront with its myriad of hotels and eateries; here you can get the feel of a working harbour in the heart of the city. Then spend the rest of the day taking a stroll through the VOC Company gardens with its lanes of oak trees, then visiting the Iziko museum and planetarium, which is arguably the most comprehensive museum in South Africa.Kim says: Don’t miss out on exploring the Cape Point, a must-do day-trip from Cape Town. Breathtakingly beautiful mountain and seascape scenery, chance encounters with fabulous wildlife like baboons, zebras, penguins and ostriches. All mixed in with quaint historical villages. Don't miss this little piece of heaven.We're pretty much ready to book the next flight to Cape Town...If you're feeling the same way, make sure to get in touch with one of our fabulous Cape Town guides before you land! They can't wait to share all of this magic with you.