Dominique & Daniel
Things To Do
Guided Tours
They have fantastic guided tours in and around Cape Town and the greater Winelands area. We would highly recommend that anyone new to the city check out their walking tours and the bus tours for all routes - it really is the best way to get around to and explore all that this beautiful city has to offer!
Shop till you drop
From high-end designer clothing stores to incredible seafood restaurants to authentic South African entertainment and curios - the V&A Waterfront has it all and more! Also visit the Aquarium, The Watershed (handmade boutique crafts), V&A Food Market (for a mix of local and international foods), the African Trading Post (for traditional African curios and crafts), the Cape Wheel (awesome views of the city), the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary African Art, and even take a cruise around the bay or to Robben Island.
Robben Island
Robben Island is most famously known for being where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned by the Apartheid regime for 18 of his 27 years. It was also an important South African Military base during WWII, an infirmary for the poor and sick, and is home to an important Muslim pilgrimage site - the Moturu Kramat. For anyone wanting to find out more about South Africa's rich history - this is a great place to visit!
Climb Lion's Head for exquisite views of the city
For those adventurers out there...this easy(ish) climb is sure to satisfy. It takes about an hour or two to get to the top of this famous hill - the first half being a medium grade contour path that winds it's way around Lion's Head and the second half involves some ladders and guide chains to help you get to the summit. Once at the top, you will enjoy views of the city bowl and Atlantic seaboard. Best time to go is in the morning or for sunset (don't forget to take some drinks for sundowners!)
Bo-Kaap
Before you go to Signal Hill to see the noon gun, we highly recommend driving around and stopping in the colorful suburb of Bo-Kaap. The houses here are painted in bright, vibrant colors (great for a photo opportunity) and most of the residents in the area are of Colored (a distinct cultural and ethnic group of people from South Africa), Cape Malay, and Muslim heritage. This makes it an interesting cultural hub and home to fantastic restaurants and spice shops.
The Noon Gun at Signal Hill and the Castle of Good Hope
One of Cape Town's oldest traditions is the firing of the noon day cannon. The cannon is fired every day (except Sunday's and public holidays) at exactly 12:00 pm from Signal Hill. Get there at around 11:20 am to get parking, explore the old cannons around the base, and get a good spot in front of the firing cannons. Remember to block your ears (or use ear plugs if you want your hands free to take videos and photos). Once the Signal Hill cannon has been fired, hustle down tot the Cape of Good Hope Castle for a second firing! This lesser-known tradition is a fun and quirky experience - and afterwards you can explore the 17th century Dutch East Indian Company's bastion fort.
The Company's Garden and City Center (CBD)
Stroll through the beautiful Company's Garden - originally created in the 1650s by the first European settlers, it fresh produce to replenish ships rounding the Cape. It is watered from the Molteno Dam, which uses water from the springs on the lower slopes of Table Mountain. Here you can find the South African National Gallery (my favorite local art museum), the South African Museum (a natural history museum), Planetarium, friendly squirrels and pigeons that will eat right out of your hand, a great restaurant, a rose garden, and lots of historically and botanically significant trees (including the oldest cultivated pear tree in South Africa). From the bottom end of the gardens, you can then explore the Central Business District (CBD) to explore shops and restaurants.
Table Mountain
Table Mountain is Cape Town's iconic attraction. This beautiful and unique natural Wonder of the World can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. It is certainly hard to miss from any part of the city. Walking along Blouberg Strand (a beach just north of the city center) you will be able to see the mountain in all it's glory overlooking the city. You can climb the mountain via various routes (my favorites being Skeleton Gorge and Platteklip Gorge) or you can take the cable car to the summit and explore the top of the mountain. You can also hike up Lion's Head or drive along Signal Hill for closer views of the front of the mountain. You can also access other parts of the mountain that are no less spectacular - the Twelve Apostles, Chapman's Peak, Cape Point, Silvermine, and Boye's Drive to name just a few. My favorite way to experience the mountain is to walk our dogs on the lower slopes which serve as the backyard to my family home.
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
Visit this exquisite botanical garden - especially the sculpture garden, the fragrance garden (an interactive multi-sensory experience), the Boomslang (Afrikaans for "tree snake") canopy walkway, and Colonel Bird's Bath. You can also climb to the top of Table Mountain through a beautiful (and relatively easy) path - Skeleton Gorge. This path starts in the gardens and runs up the lee side of the mountain past waterfalls, Maclear's Beacon (the highest point of the mountain), and the "beach" on top of the mountain.
Muizenberg, Simon's Town, Kalk Bay
Muizenberg is a small surfing suburb of Cape Town. Go to the beach to see the colorful beach huts at St. James Beach. Simon's Town is known for being the home of South Africa's Navy (and a famous Naval dog called Just Nuisance) and the African Penguins of Boulder's Beach. Stop by any of the seaside coffee shops for a slice of cheesecake or melktert (milk tart). Or have fish and chips for lunch at Salty Sea Dog. Kalk Bay, another seaside suburb in the area, is full of cute curio stores and quirky cafe's and restaurants. Drive over Boyes Drive for a scenic view of the False Bay coast.
See the Wild African Penguin
Meet some of Cape Town's cutest residents in their natural habitat! For a fee, you can enter this protected area (part of South Africa's National Parks - SANParks) to see and learn about the only species of penguin to breed on the continent of Africa.
Cape Point
Visit Cape Point to experience spectacular views of the Cape Peninsula (home to the Cape of Good Hope AKA the Cape of Storms), sample world class cuisine, hike through a part of the worlds smallest yet richest floral kingdom, see some wildlife (baboon, zebra, eland, and whale to name just a few), ride the Flying Dutchman Funicular (named after the infamous ghost ship - the Flying Dutchman - which is believed to have been wrecked in the area), and discover some of South Africa's history and culture. This is a great place to spend the day exploring!
Atlantic Seaboard
Starting at the V&A Waterfront and going all the way along the coast to Hout Bay is the Atlantic Seaboard. Famed for its beautiful beaches, stunning sunsets, the Sea Point Promenade, the Green Point stadium and park. This is a vibrant area to spend an afternoon, sip on sundowners, and hit some hot night life spots. Also take a scenic drive over Chapman's Peak and past the Twelve Apostles.
Hout Bay
This suburb of Cape Town, affectionately known as the Republic of Hout Bay, is a great area to visit. So much so that we chose to have our wedding here! You can get to Hout Bay through a few scenic routes - Chapman's Peak Drive, through the Atlantic Seaboard via Victoria Road, or through Constantia via Hout Bay Road. Be sure to check out the Hout Bay Market on the weekend and the Clay Cafe to take home your very own clay creation. Grab some of the freshest fish (we recommend hake, kingklip, or snoek) from Snoekies or Fish on the Rocks. And don't forget the chips!
The World Premier Cape Winelands Region
Whether you are a fine wine aficionado or someone with a casual appreciation for a good glass of wine with dinner, the Cape Winelands is an experience not to be missed. From crisp whites to robust reds, and delectable dessert wines - there is something for everyone. Be sure to try South Africa's very own varietal - pinotage (a rich red grape that is a cross between Pinot noir and Cinsaut). A few of our favorite vineyards, wineries, and wine farms to visit for tastings include Robertson Winery, Simonsig Wine Estate, Groot Constantia (makers of Napoleon Bonaparte's favorite wine), Vergelegen Estate, Spier Wine Farm, Chamonix Wine Fram, Avondale Wine, Eagles Nest, La Bri Estate (they offer great pairing experiences), Dieu Donné Vineyards, J.C. Le Roux (for sparkling wines lovers), Vergenoegd Löw Wine Estate (home of the famous duck run), Delaire Grafft Estate, Waterford Wine Estate, Fairview (including the Spice Route - great for beer lovers, wine lovers, cheese lovers, and kids!)