Caitlin & Jacques
Local Highlights
Table Mountain Aerial Cableway
Take the cable car up to the top of Table Mountain. Buy tickets online in advance to skip the queue - you can go round trip or buy a one way and hike up/down.
Hike Lion's Head
You could live in Cape Town your entire life and never hike every possible trail, but Lion's Head is one of our favorites. This beautiful, moderate hike offers gorgeous views of Cape Town, Table Mountain, and the Twelve Apostles. There are two routes on the way up, one with chains and ladders and more challenging elevation compared to the kid-friendly alternate route - but neither should be underestimated, don't forget good shoes and plenty of water.
Robben Island
Visit the island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, a World Heritage Site and living testament to resilience.
V&A Waterfront
Visit the iconic Waterfront for shopping, fine dining, boat cruises, and souvenirs.
Visit Cape Point
Situated within Table Mountain National Park at the southeastern tip of Africa, the Cape of Good Hope is known for its dramatic scenery, nautical history, and unique biodiversity of the Cape Floral Kingdom (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Visit the lighthouse, go for a swim in the tidal pools, and keep your eyes peeled for the ostriches, baboons, eland, and bontebok that live in the park!
Go Wine Tasting
Welcome to wine country! Cape Town has tons of beautiful wine farms scattered across three main areas: Constantia, Stellenbosch, and Franschhoek. Each one is unique in its own special way. Groot Constantia (linked here) claims to be South Africa's oldest producing wine farm and is easily accessible from the city center. Established in 1685, it has a long, rich history - you can even savor the same wine that Napoleon used to drink! Many vineyards offer picnic baskets you can book in advance to enjoy alongside some wine on their grounds - a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.
Cape Town Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
Enjoy a classic hop-on-hop-off bus tour to see all that Cape Town has to offer.
Cape Point Ostrich Farm & Reptile Rehabilitation Center
Learn about South Africa's ostrich industry, the ostrich lifecycle from egg to adulthood, and make some new scaly friends.
Boulders Beach Penguin Colony
Visit the colony of African Penguins at Boulders Beach
Horse-back Riding on the Beach
Ride horses along Noordhoek Beach (available from multiple companies - we have no direct experience with this provider)
Tour the SANNCOB Seabird Rehabilitaiton Centre
An exclusive behind the scenes experience with a more in-depth look into the rescue, rehabilitation and release of ill, injured, abandoned, and oiled seabirds.
Learn to Surf
Muizenberg is one of the best beaches in the world to learn how to surf. We highly recommend booking a group or private lesson to catch that perfect wave! (Note: Cape Town waters are cold, your surf lesson/rental will include a wetsuit)
Cape Town Harbor Kayaking
Experience Cape Town from the water while possibly encountering dolphins, seals, penguins, sunfish or even whales (Note: whale activity is low in April/May).
Atlantis Dunes Sandboarding, Quad-biking, or 4x4-ing
Enjoy a taste of desert adventure - sandboarding, quad biking, or extreme 4x4 experience - just 40 min from Cape Town.
Table Mountain Paragliding
Enjoy a tandem paragliding experience (offered by multiple companies, we have no direct experience with this provider).
Shark Cage Diving
South Africa is one of the top places in the world to see great white sharks. While great white activity has decreased in Gansbaai in recent years, sightings of bronze whaler and sevengill sharks are on the rise. You never know what will surface from the ocean depths, but for those willing to take a chance this is an incredible opportunity to learn more about these apex predators.
Go Gin Tasting
Cape Town is known for more than just its wine. The city abounds with unique gin tasting classes and experiences - often infused with local botanicals. Here is a link to some recommended options - but whatever you drink, try to make time to enjoy a sundowner from the Leopard Bar balcony at the Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa for the perfect welcome drink!
For My Beer Drinkers
With so much wine, gin, and brandy flowing through Cape Town beer often gets overlooked, but that doesn't mean there aren't great opportunities to sample local brews. Devil's Peak is a local favorite, BeerHouse is a Long Street institution, and the Newland's brewery tour (which ends in their private taproom bar) is especially fun!
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
Against the backdrop of Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden showcases the wealth of South African biodiversity including both cultivated gardens, natural forest and fynbos, and a wide variety of indigenous birds (more than 125 species have been recorded), mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates.
Catch a Rugby Game
Watch Cape Town's premier rugby team, the Stormers, take on the Glasgow Warriors at DHL Stadium (built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup) on Saturday, April 25.