Get lost in Africa’s favourite city
Cape Town is Africa’s most visited city. Cape
Town is a city like no other in Africa, unique in its cosmopolitan culture,
natural splendour and countless variety on offer to residents and visitors
alike. Cape Town is something special. NEWWORLDNOMAD spent a week in South
Africa’s Mother
City to find out why it’s a favourite choice when tourists the world
over choose to visit Africa.
Natural
Splendour
Cape Town is renowned as one of the most
beautiful and picturesque cities in the world. From the moment you set your
sights on the majestic Table Mountain as it encompasses the city bowl and
stands as a sentinel on watch over the city. Situated on a mountainous
peninsula Cape Town offers breathtaking vistas as mountains meet the sea, with
rugged coastlines giving way to snow-white beaches. Scenic drives take you
through mountain passes, rolling wine-lands, idyllic seaside villages and acres
of forest. Much of the peninsula has
been set aside as natural reserve and there are many places to escape to in
order to experience nature at its best. Baboons, great white sharks, squirrels,
seals and penguins are some of the more famous animals associated with Cape
Town, yet various animal sanctuaries and game parks will allow you to meet some
other species, both local and exotic. Kirsten Bosch Botanical Garden is famed
for its beauty an significant collection of plant species, whilst a trip on the
cable car up Table Mountain is the best way to see the city in all its glory. History
Adding to the natural beauty of the region
is its historical heritage. Dating back to 1652 when Jan Van Riebeeck founded a
port of call for the Dutch East India Company’s ships making the treacherous
journey from Europe to India and the East, Cape Town is a city seeped in
historical significance. Museums, monuments, preserved buildings and remnants
of eras gone by stand as a testament amidst the modernisation that keeps Cape
Town pulsing into the ranks of one of the world’s greatest cities. From gothic
churches wedged between modern multi-storey buildings, to its forts, sleepy
fishing villages and of course its Cape Dutch colonial estates, Cape Town is
full of historical interest and nostalgic ambiance. And of course, Robben
Island is of great contemporary historical significance as the location of the
prison that housed Nelson Mandela for 18 of his 27 years of incarceration.
Old
City, Modern City
Cape Town is a city known to have adapted constantly
with changing times, and although saturated in historical remnants the city
itself is very modern with all the conveniences and infrastructure expected
from such great travel destinations. Test your mettle by riding “the Cobra,” the gravity defying rollercoaster at Ratanga Junction, the city’s theme park that caters
for the young and old alike. See the latest 3d films at one of the many cinemas
spread throughout the city, but be sure to try out the larger than life Imax
theatre for an unreal experience. Catch an international sports fixture or a
live performance from your favourite superstar at the Greenpoint Stadium (both
Bon Jovi and Justin Bieber performed in the week TODAY was in Cape Town). Get
your fix of the latest brands and technologies at one of the many malls or even
test drive the latest Maserati (or Porsche or Ferrari or Ducati). Art and Culture
Cape Town’s art and culture scene is as eclectic
as the multitude of languages you will hear walking through the V&A
Waterfront. From African Curios to historical artefacts; from underground
street art to high-art galleries, the art lover will be spoiled for choice when
visiting the city and its multitude of offerings. Cape Town is the performing arts capital of
Africa. From small side street theatres featuring emerging artists and drama
students to the world class performances held at the Artscape Theatre. Jazz artists and fans converge on the city for the
annual Cape Town
International Jazz Festival, which features over 40 international
and African acts. The city’s live music scene is also thriving with innumerable
venues offering live entertainment as well as being a popular destination for
many international artists.
Restaurants
Cape Town has the tastes and flavours to
satisfy the whims of any discerning palette. Seafood lovers will be spoilt for
choice at any of the restaurants to be found at the ultra picturesque Hout Bay
and Kalk Bay harbours, whilst Sushi lovers be sure to head down to the
ultra-trendy Beluga Restuarant in Greenpoint. In
Long Street you will find Royale Eatery for the
greatest gourmet burger selection in Africa. While in Long Street you could
also try Mama Africa for authentic African dishes or head to a takeaway spot to
try a Gatsby, a true Cape Town original. For
fine diners some of the best restaurants in the world can be found in and
around Cape Town. Shimmy’s Beach Bar combines fine
dining with a trendy and chic experience, whilst Pigalle is reminiscent of the the 1930’s swing era with tables set
about a large stage featuring live music. Your options are endless. Be sure to
try one of the many craft beers available in Cape Town, such as the Brewers&Union, Mitchells
or Jack Black brands. If rubbing shoulders with
the rich and famous is your thing then head down to Camps Bay for lunch and a
cocktail at one of the many restaurants that are only a stone’s throw away from
the beach, littered with models and celebrities.
Nightlife
When dinner is done its time to hit the
town, and as is the case, Cape Town has plenty to offer. For a more laid back,
bohemian experience you should head down to Long Street or Obs (Observatory)
where you will find a plethora of nightclubs and bars. Long Street also has
some more “upmarket” places too, but while in the area be sure to head down to 31 - which is a trendy club on the 31st
floor of the Absa Building - and boasts exceptional views of the city lights as
you dance the night away. Trinity is another
great (and trendy) club. Located in a renovated church, Trinity boasts 3 levels
(as well as a rooftop garden) and interior design that will take your breath away.
Shopping
If you are going to be hitting the town you
have to make sure you look good, Cape Town being a hub for fashionistas,
models, celebrities, trendys and hipsters. Brand names and the latest fashions
abound at malls across Cape Town, but if your time in the city is limited then
be sure to checkout Canal Walk (at
Century City), with its 400 retail and food and beverage outlets you are sure
to find what you are looking for. Other popular malls include Cavendish Square,
Somerset Mall
and the Tygervalley
Centre. For a more authentic experience head to the CBD where you
will be treated an array of boutique and concept stores to be found along Long
Street and Kloof Road, or head to Green Market Square to experience the market
and its surrounds with an abundance of African curios, accessory pedlars and
second hand / antique wears. The Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock is also a great
shopping experience, where you will find artisanal food merchants, art
galleries and one of a kind concept stores. Whatever it is you are looking for,
you will find somewhere in Cape Town to exhaust your shopping budget.
5 Things
you must do when visiting
Century City: Century City is
home to both Canal Walk and Ratanga Junction. Get your shopping fix at Canal
work and then head on over to Ratanga Junction and turn on the adrenaline as
brave some of the theme park’s harrowing rides and rollercoasters. Check the
line-up, because as the sun sets Ratanga often features live entertainment and
celebrity performances, as well as the impressive laser light show every
evening.
The Wine Route: Take a leisurely
drive along the wine route and stop in at some of the most awarded wine farms
in the world for a wine tasting experience you’ll be hard-pressed to forget.
Summit Table Mountain: If hiking up the
mountain is not your cup of tea, then catch the Cable Car to the top and enjoy
incredible views of the city. Enjoy lunch at the restaurant in the sky,
leisurely hike around the table-top, capture photographs that will be the envy
of all your friends and then hop back on the cable car for another scenic trip
back down.
{ This article, by Niki Gower, was originally published (in part) in the TODAY in Seychelles Newspaper on the 27.05.2013 (www.today.sc). All photos copyright www.nikigowerphoto.com email: niki@silverspoonmedia.biz }
