Mum always swore she didn’t have a favourite child. If we ever said Cape Town wasn’t ours, we’d be lying as much as she did. Dipping a toe into its rich heritage, trendy urban vibe, fine wining and dining, and staggering natural beauty, is the perfect ending – or beginning – to the best African safari tour.
Foodies
Thanks to its easy-going Mediterranean climate and gastronomic reputation, Cape Town enjoys a tongue-in-cheek status as Europe’s southernmost city isn’t unfair. But infuse that with Cape Malay flavour influences, some of the world’s very best new world wines and an army of internationally acclaimed culinary geniuses and it becomes an African foodie paradise. Heavy hitters like La Colombe can book up months in advance, so plan ahead. But an impromptu lamb bredie in the colourful Bo-Kaap can knock your socks off just as easily. Only 40 minutes away, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek’s best restaurants and wineries welcome you with open arms. Think lazy lunches paired with crisp wines and wide-brimmed hats, award-winning tastings, and oak-lined streets. Make sure you pack a designated driver.
Culture Vultures
Once a pivotal pitstop on the trade routes between Europe and the East, Cape Town has a fascinating history. As is its architecture, from Constantia’s Dutch gabled wineries and Long Street’s Victorian broekie lace-lined verandas, to the ultra-modern Zeitz MOCAA art museum carved out of a 1920s grain silo in the docks of the V&A Waterfront. More than just a world-class shopping destination, this gallery-lined district is also the gateway to Robben Island and Nelson Mandela’s infamous 46664 prison cell.
The Mountain
If there’s one thing the residents of Cape Town are known for (besides questionable driving and generally lacking a sense of urgency) it’s their love of Table Mountain. Looking at it, climbing it and generally wafting about in its fynbos. 600 million years old (give or take) and 2 miles wide, this is easily South Africa’s most recognised landmark. While the view from the top is totally worth the queue to get there, a hike up Lions Head promises equally stunning views – and less tourists.
Nature-lovers
Voted the most beautiful city in the world by the New York Times – and tens of thousands of others – Cape Town has a well-deserved reputation. Its iconic sandstone mountain ranges teem with wildlife, from caracals to Cape Leopards, and its two oceans (why settle for one) are filled to the brim with whales, dolphins and great white sharks. Beyond the magnificent botanical gardens of Kirstenbosch and Chapmans Peak’s dramatic views, lies the Cape Peninsula, scattered with hiking trails, laid-back surf spots and even a penguin colony at Boulders Beach. It’s not quite the tip of Africa – you’ll find that at Cape Agulhas – but it sure feels like it.
Beach Bums
For those in need of some post-safari downtime, you’re spoilt for choice with Cape Town’s countless blue flag beaches. Join the beautiful people on Clifton 4th Beach, bare your bits at Sandy Bay or hit the Camps Bay strip for a cocktail–or three. From the bubblegum-popping, lip-glossed cliques that spill out of its trendy bars and eateries, to the flocks of sunburnt holidaymakers discovering the joys of a granadilla lolly for the very first time, this is summer living personified. For a truly unique stay, consider using the iconic Blue Train as your accommodation luxury on rails that mirrors the magic of the coast.
