Last Updated: 8/6/20 | August 6th, 2020
This week, Natasha as well as Cameron from The world Pursuit share their tips as well as advice for visiting Cape Town. It’s one of my preferred cities in the world as well as offers great deals of hiking, history, wine, as well as incredible views!
Dominated by the iconic Table Mountain, which serves as a backdrop everywhere in the city, Cape town is a mish-mash of cultures. Its charm was apparent the day we arrived: we had a monthlong apartment rental as well as a plethora of “must-see” sites, however the laid-back vibe of the city had us in no rush to do so.
After just one hour of exploring, we stated to every other, “We are going to like it here.”
After two months of soaking up the sun, enjoying the outdoors, as well as eating tasty food, we still hadn’t handled to pull away from the city. The magic of Cape town extends well beyond its beauty; it lies in what it can offer visitors.
Whether it was inspecting out a weekend market, hiking, going to a jazz concert, canyoneering, or spotting some wildlife, we never ran out of things to do. as well as you won’t either!
1. Take a free walking Tour
Start your go to off with a free walking tour. It’s the very best method to introduce yourself to the city as well as begin to get the lay of the land. You’ll see the primary sights, discover some history, as well as get to satisfy a regional professional guide who can response all your questions.
Free walking tours Cape town offers free everyday walking tours. Taking one is the very best method to kick your trip off. just be sure to tip your guide at the end (that’s exactly how they make their living).
2. enjoy the view from Table Mountain
At over 3,500 feet above sea level, the views from Table mountain are the very best in the city. Taking the famous cablecar up the mountain was one of the very first things we did. However, at 330 ZAR (USD $22 USD), it is fairly expensive.
If you want to hike up instead, the shortest path takes about two hours. On the top, you’ll get to enjoy a 360-degree view of Cape Town, the harbor, the mountains, as well as the beaches. the very best time to go to is during sunset — hike up, bring some snacks, as well as enjoy the view!
3. Drive Chapman’s peak to Cape Point
Past Chapman’s peak southwest of Cape town is Cape point national Park, where you can witness the collision of the Atlantic as well as Indian oceans at the Cape of great Hope. The national park offers long hikes, coastal birdlife, as well as a possibility to take in the smallest as well as richest floral kingdom in the world, the fynbos (a little belt of natural shrubland).
You will have to pay a 52 ZAR ($3 USD) toll to drive on the road; however, the scenic drive is well worth the cost! The famous highway snakes along the vertical cliff faces of Table Mountain, leaving you wondering whether your vehicle will end up in the Atlantic.
Expect to spend at least 250 ZAR ($15 USD) each day for a rental car. The entry charge to the Cape point national Park is 320 ZAR ($18.50 USD).
4. go to Robben Island
Visiting the former political prison on Robben Island was high on our listing of things to do. Nelson Mandela was imprisoned right here 18 years as well as the site was declared a UNESCO Heritage site in 1999.
A former inmate personally guides everybody around the prison. It is both sobering as well as inspiring to discover first-hand about the very first black president of South Africa from people who really understood him. We were able to hear their stories as well as sit in the exact same precise cells where prisoners who fought for their rights were locked away.
It’s difficult to believe about the victims of political oppression still in prison around the world as well as keep in mind that, in spite of what the news may say, we’re a great deal further along than just two decades ago.
Ferries operate three times a day, starting at 9am (a fourth ferry operates during the summer). Admission is 320 ZAR ($22 USD) for adults as well as 200 ZAR ($13.50 USD) for anyone under 18 (tickets include the ferry ride).
5. check out Hout Bay
On weekends in Hout Bay, artisans as well as vendors from around the city come to the Bay Harbour Market to offer their goods: whatever from fish stew, souvenirs, crêpes, jewelry, art, as well as even mojitos are available, as are online bandes.
You can get just about anything you can crave. We found the market by happenstance: we had come to go swimming with the seals in Hout Bay, as well as just complied with the seems of the buzzing market. We enjoyed it so much we returned several times.
The market is open Friday evenings from 5pm-9pm as well as weekends from 9:30am to 4pm.
The bay as well as harbor are likewise house to tons of seals as well as seabirds. between June as well as November, you can likewise discover migrating whales here. right whales, humpback whales, Bryde’s whales, ainsi que les dauphins sont ici en abondance. Si vous voulez faire une visite d’observation des baleines, attendez-vous à payer environ 900 ZAR (50 $ USD) par personne.
6. Voir Kirstenbosch Gardens
Par une belle journée de printemps, nous nous sommes dirigés vers la banlieue sud pour inspecter les jardins de Kirstenbosch. Contre les pentes de Table Mountain, les magnifiques jardins botaniques sont correctement surnommés «le plus magnifique jardin d’Afrique».
Kirstenbosch offre aux visiteurs la possibilité de découvrir les Fynbos ainsi que différents royaumes floraux découverts à travers le continent africain. S’étendant sur plus de 1 300 acres, les jardins étaient vraiment établis plus de 300 ans et sont à la maison à plus de 22 000 types de plantes. Assurez-vous de faire la voie de la canopée des arbres – il offre des vues incroyables.
C’était de la main était l’un de nos meilleurs voyages et a fourni une escapade bienvenue de la ville. L’entrée est de 70 ZAR (5 $ USD).
7. Détendez-vous à la plage de Muizenberg
Muizenberg est une banlieue sud du Cap célèbre pour sa promenade ainsi que pour le surf. Il s’agit d’un voyage de véhicules de 30 minutes depuis le centre-ville ainsi que de la zone parfaite pour découvrir exactement comment surfer. La communauté décontractée est un paradis de plage de Bum et a une forte ambiance multiculturelle qui est rafraîchissante. Une leçon d’une heure avec combinaison ne coûte que 350 ZAR (20 $ USD) et permet une méthode fantastique pour devenir active en vacances.
Si le surf n’est pas votre truc, la communauté est également une maison pour un certain nombre d’événements culturels ainsi que des studios de yoga. Nous avons pris un coup dans un cours de yoga gratuit, respecté par une enveloppe saine ainsi que un smoothie le long de la plage. Par la suite, nous avons pris des photos des célèbres stands de plage qui sont peints dans un arc-en-ciel de couleurs.
8. Randonnée de la tête de Lion
Alors que la randonnée dans Table Mountain peut prendre aussi longtemps pour une randonnée en soirée, la tête du lion adjacente n’est qu’une montée de 45 minutes au sommet. C’est essentiellement le tablier de la montagne.
Assurez-vous d’apporter une caméra sur votre randonnée, car c’est l’une des zones les plus photogéniques du Cap. Se montant au-dessus de l’horizon de la ville, il offre toujours une vue imprenable sur la ville, la mer, ainsi que Table Mountain. Le soir que nous avons fait de la randonnée, nous avons assisté à un spectacle inhabituel alors qu’une basse couverture de nuages a fait disparaître toute trace de gars.
Le lever du soleil ainsi que le coucher du soleil peuvent être des temps congestionnés, car les habitants ainsi que les touristes grimpent sur la montagne pour admirer l’impressionnante vue. Lorsque vous êtes au sommet du sommet, assurez-vous de vous récompenser avec un «coucher de soleil» africain traditionnel (un verre tout en regardant le coucher du soleil). Notre boisson personnelle d’option est le Gin & Tonic traditionnel; Il complète parfaitement un coucher de soleil sur la tête de Lion.
Gardez à l’esprit pour ramener une lampe de poche pour la randonnée!
9. Voir The Boulders Beach Penguins
C’était en haut de notre liste de tâches au Cap. Nous l’avons donc sauvé pour un événement spécial et avons fait notre méthode pour voir la maison des innombrables pingouins africains (la colonie est la maison à plus de 3 000 pingouins).
Les visiteurs peuvent les voir correctement à partir d’une promenade accrue, tout en offrant à l’énorme colonie leur espace personnel. Vous comprendrez d’où le deuxième nom du Penguin africain, “Jackass Penguin”, vient de quand vous les entendez appeler.
Boulders Beach Park coûte 152 ZAR (9 $ USD) par personne pour entrer, avec les frais allant à l’entretien du parc ainsi que la conservation des Penguins. N’essayez pas de prendre une photo aussi bien près d’un pingouin – ils mordent (je parle d’expérience).
10. Vin ainsi que dîner à Stellenbosch
L’une des régions viticoles les plus de renommée mondiale n’est qu’un voyage de 45 minutes à l’extérieur du Cap. Il existe de nombreux vignobles en privé ainsi que autour de Stellenbosch, avec des dégustations coûtant généralement 60 à 75 zar (4 à 5 USD) (des accords alimentaires sont également proposés).
Si vous n’avez pas de véhicule et que vous souhaitez faire une visite, attendez-vous à payer à 1 000 ZAR (68 USD) par personne pour une visite d’une demi-journée. De nombreuses auberges de la ville organisent également leurs propres visites ou ont des partenariats avec des guides touristiques régionaux qui peuvent également vous prendre. Assurez-vous de faire le tour pour découvrir le meilleur prix!
De plus, inspectez la Vine Hopper, une camionnette hop-on hop-off avec différentes routes vignobles. Si vous ne pouvez aller dans un seul vignoble, nous suggérons Lanzerac pour goûter à l’origine de la variété Pinotage de la région.
11. Roam bo-kaap
À distance de marche du centre-ville est la communauté dynamique du Cap Malais (musulman) de Bo-Kaap, les anciens quartiers de la population d’esclaves de la ville. Cependant, au fil du temps, la communauté a grandi, ainsi que différents quartiers l’ont appelé à la maison.
De nos jours, la population malaise du Cap réside dans un quartier dynamique. Ne vous sentez pas timide avec des photos; Les résidents sont sympathiques et utilisés pour que leurs maisons soient photographiées et publiées sur Instagram. Nous sommes allés à la communauté le matin pour prendre une grande lumière pour des photos et regarder la communauté prendre vie.
Nous avons fini par rester pendant quelques heures, inspectant la toute première mosquée d’Afrique du Sud, la mosquée Auwal, ainsi queeating at one of the very best Cape Malay restaurants in the neighborhood, Bo-Kaap Kombuis.
Afterward, we had lots of fun posing for pictures in front of the bright orange, green, pink, blue, as well as yellow houses.
12. go to slave Lodge
Slave Lodge was developed in 1679 by the Dutch east India business to home their slaves. It’s one of the oldest buildings in the city. Up up until 1811, over 60,000 African slaves were given the city, with 300 living in the cramped lodge at a time.
Today, the lodge is a museum where you can discover about the hardships slaves dealt with in their everyday lives in Cape Town.
Typical costs in Cape Town
Compared to other huge cities around the world, Cape town is definitely affordable. Hostels as well as apartments will offer the very best rates on accommodation, buses (albeit sluggish as well as inconsistent) are incredibly cheap, as well as no great meal should expense you more than 120 ZAR ($7 USD) unless it’s at an upscale restaurant.
We were never on an ultra-tight budget plan so we lived rather comfortably, with fantastic food as well as entertainment for a quarter of what it expense in NYC. Our only splurge days included excursions outside of the city, like canyoneering, whale watching, or bungee jumping — which expense between 900-1,400 ZAR ($50-80 USD) per person.
Overall, I would state that you should budget plan 662-836 ZAR ($38-48 USD) each day if you’re a backpacker. If you’re more of a mid-range traveler who stays at inexpensive hotels as well as eats out often, expect to spend between 1,220-1,480 ZAR ($70-85 USD) per day
How to save money in Cape Town
To assist you save money during your visit, right here are a few quick tips that assisted us keep our budget plan intact:
Go in the off-season – Traveling during South Africa’s winter season will assist your wallet. during the summer, locals leave the city to the tourists as well as South Africans from around the country take over.
In the winter, you have the capability to discover cheaper apartments on Airbnb since there is less competition. We visited in September as well as were able to negotiate with a number of apartment owners to discover the very best deal. It pays to shop around!
Enjoy free activities – If you’re looking for free things to do, then getting active is a fantastic solution. Climbing Lion’s Head, swimming at the beach, as well as running along the Sea point promenade are all free activities that provide a great workout. almost any type of outside activity in Cape town is sure to offer stunning views of the ocean as well!
Avoid buying in touristy areas – shops at the Watershed, in Camps Bay, as well as downtown offer handmade regional products — however they aren’t cheap. These are a few of the most visited areas in the city so costs are generally higher. If you’re looking to save money, don’t shop in the tourist areas!
Stay in affordable communities – Camps Bay, Sea Point, as well as the Waterfront areas are all genuine estate hotspots: they are a few of the most gorgeous areas of Cape Town. therefore they’re the most costly areas to stay in.
For more inexpensive choices try Muizenberg, Vredehoek, or Woodstock. We stayed in apartments in each of those neighborhoods, which offered their own sightseeing however we were still only an Uber trip away from the primary sights.
Find inexpensive groceries – Shoprite as well as Checker’s are the two cheaper supermarket options. If you’re cooking your own meals, shop at either of these two stores.
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There is bit reason to question why so many people are drawn to Cape Town. The city has almost whatever to offer: beaches, food, mountains, wildlife, history, culture, wine, as well as experience sports.
Exploring Cape town takes time. Life seems to move a bit slower in the Cape. The locals enjoy their city’s extremely laid-back attitude, as well as you’ll want to do the same. We stayed for two months as well as still hear about things that we missed. We’re already plotting our eventual return!
Natasha as well as Cameron run the blog The world Pursuit, focusing on experience as well as cultural travel. You can comply with their adventures on Instagram as well as Facebook.
Book Your trip to Cape Town: Logistical tips as well as Tricks
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