Going to Cape Town - What is There to Do?

panthro

panthro

panthro

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Im going at the end of April for around 11 days.

Im aware that the weather isnt going to be great, but it will be cheaper to go out there and its the only time my girlfriend can go.

What is there to do apart from visiting vineyards, markets and seeing table mountain? Ive just come back from the North and East of South Africa but Ive never been to the Cape before.

Anyone got any suggestions? Cheers :)
 
Can I ask a favour? Can you remember this thread an let me know as I'm going in July (doing a full tour of S.A. for a month).
 
I know a few people who have been (and one who lived there) and it sounds like quite a dodgy place, but then I guess, where isnt these days.
 
Mat said:
I know a few people who have been (and one who lived there) and it sounds like quite a dodgy place, but then I guess, where isnt these days.
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From what I've been told (from people who've lived there for over 20 years) it WAS a pretty dodgy place to be but in the last 3 or 4 years has becoming far safer now that the locals live in their own shanty area outside of the city.

Mate said that years ago you'd meet people in the street and shake their hand but your other hand had to be on the arm to show that you weren't carrying a knive, but that's now well in the past.
 
Well dont believe everything people tell you.

Ive just come back from there, and having spent time in Soweto, Johannesburg and other supposedly dodgy cities, I can say that as long as you keep your wits about you and act sensibly, you have nothing to worry about. The people are the friendliest and most hospitable people I have met and I am looking forward to going back to South Africa.
 
Hello panthro, you will be fine if you are within the hotel complex. When you decide to go out, just be weary and slightly more alert than you usually are and most of all, be sensible. :)
 
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~J~ said:
From what I've been told (from people who've lived there for over 20 years) it WAS a pretty dodgy place to be but in the last 3 or 4 years has becoming far safer now that the locals live in their own shanty area outside of the city.
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From wiki:

wiki said:
Cape Town, like Durban, has become notorious for trying to implement apartheid style forced removals of shack dwellers from the centre of the city to transit camps on the periphery. This has resulted in mass protest that has been extensively covered by the media. The most high profile case has been that of the Joe Slovo settlement
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How many of you have been there? Because please don't come here posting crap about something you know nothing about.

I lived in Joburg for a while and visited Cape Town- Cape Town is MUCH safer (i.e. most things are not behind walls with guards like they are in Jo'burg)

Obviously there is Table Mountain- a walk/ ride up to the cable car station and then a cable ride to the top is a must... Go early though as high winds and fog often close the cable car later in the day.

Lion's Head is also a good climb if you're feeling fit.

There are some nice restaurants around the V&A Quays- can't remember any specific names right now- will post back when I think of their names.

I also did a helicopter ride in an open- sided ex-army helicopter- This was absoultley amazing- the different kinds of scenery were awesome (Make sure you get one of the side seats and take your camera!!) The pilot is excellent and takes you on a low level flight over the beaches, around the mountains (and between them), and right over Cape Town. We even saw a shoal of whales just off the coast! It cost about £90 a ticket, but was well well worth it!!

Clubbing- wise, try Hemisphere at the top of one of the tallest towers in Cape Town- Nice place, full of hotties, and awesome views. Green Point is also good. The name of the main road with all the bars escapes me, but I'll look it up and get back to you.

Other things to do in the region include Shark Diving (Good, but unless you have a strong stomach, I don't recommend it, as you will get very seasick, and the water will be freezing at the moment!), and some excellent wine- tasting in the nearby vineyards.

Got to run now but will post more and some pictures I got on the chopper ride later...
 
Bes, thanks for the awesome post :)
Do you recommend booking things like the helicopter ride in advance or just doing it when you get there? Look forward to those pics.
 
I've been to Cape Town before and its a beautiful place. Like mentioned before you just have to have common sense and be safe.

Table mountain is an obvious attraction and they have loads of things going on there.

I went down to the waterfront which had lots of shops, bars, restaurants etc. Check out the website : http://www.waterfront.co.za/index_sub.php

They also do ferry/boat rides to see some of the waterlife etc.

I was sent to South Africa during my placement year working for a company so I didn't get to see a lot. However I went to Joburg, Durban and Cape Town and I can definately say that Cape Town was excellent and the best out of the three.

Cape Town, especially the waterfront was very cosmopolitan
 
Just do what i did when i was 3 years old living in Cape Town. Strip down to your pants and wander off from your family for 12 hours.

:D

Man, my family still love me for that.
 
You can also visit ...

1) Robin Island , it's where Nelson Mandela was in prison.
2) Clifton beach where all the babes catch some sun, topless :P
3) Hire a car and drive from Cape Town to Cape Point around the penisula (via Chapmans Peak ( scary ) Simons Town ( SA Navy town and whale watching, in season. ) and various small towns ) at Cape Point there is a nice resturant that is built into the side of the mountain, great view.
4) Have tea at the Mount Nelson Hotel ( posh hotel )
5) Jump on a boat cruise around to Clifton beach for sundown drinks.
6) Kirstenbosh national gardens, if you into that kind of thing.
 
1 thing to note in Cape town the weather can become quite stormy / WINDY! so be prepared. Temp wise it will prolly be somewhere between 18-25.

Theres plenty to do in CT, just be careful when your out and about esp. at night (same in any major city really).

Table mountain is obvious as mentioned before - the cable car ride is a much safer option as apparently muggers/thieves have been known to operate on the paths leading up the mountain.

Camps Bay and Clifton have some nice beaches even towards the end of April i'm sure it will still be warm enough for a bit of sun and sand although the water will be very cold.

I'm not sure what whale / shark watching is like in April, i think that might be the very start of the season so thats something to keep in mind as you may end up on a boat for 5 hours only to see maybe 2 or 3 sharks as apposed to 20-30.

The v & a waterfront is a buzzing place as mentioned above with plenty of attractions / cafes / boat trips etc etc.

For day activities there's plenty, all just depends what you want to do. Boat trips run from the waterfront to Robben Island where Mandela was imprisoned. Boulders beach is full of penguins, stellenbosch is a big wine region an hours drive or so from Cape town but some great landscapes and of course wine tasting. Theres always safari drives / game reserves which you could spend days doing.

Cape point is around 2 hours? from CT where the atlantic and indian ocean meet.

List could go on and on but it all depends where you interests lie.
 
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