Visit Cape Town

Natural Wonders, Breathtaking Beaches & Sublime Cuisine

People always talk about the magical Mother City, but why is Cape Town a good place to visit? It's a world in one city; a short drive can see you on a spectacular beach, at the base of towering Table Mountain, in the Cape's culinary corner, or exploring world-class winelands.

It's a multi-faceted destination that deserves to be explored. Naturally, there are dozens of scheduled tours on offer but many visitors prefer to travel to Cape Town and discover this friendly and slow-paced city at their own pace: take some time to browse African craft markets, visit the colourful Cape Malay suburb of Bo-Kaap, lounge on its best beaches, and stroll around the ever-popular V&A Waterfront with its shops, restaurants, and luxurious hotels.

Another wonderful thing about a holiday in Cape Town is that, while there are 11 official languages, almost everyone speaks English, making it easy to navigate whether you're a solo traveller, couple, group, or family. As with any destination, it's important to know your environment and what to do, or not to do – while Cape Town is considered a safe destination budding with tourists, consult your Africa Travel Expert before travelling or check our guide on how safe South Africa is for tourists.

Why Book A Cape Town Holiday?

1. Discover One Of The 7 Natural Wonders Of The World: Table Mountain

Visitors to the Mother City will quickly understand why Table Mountain is known by the Khoisan people as Hoerikwaggo or ‘Mountain in the Sea'. The vast, sprawling mountain sits proudly in the centre of Cape Town, it's iconic flat top instantly recognisable as it towers over the city. Not only is it beautiful, and impressive, but home to a staggering 8,200 plant species, 1,470 floral species, and a host of wildlife, many of which are endemic.

Standing proudly at 1,085 metres above sea level, many choose to use the cable car to explore the top. However, it's entirely possible to summit on foot using one of several paths to the top – some more challenging than others. Once on the top, exquisite, panoramic views await; look down over the coastline and its glorious beaches, across to other peaks, like Lion's Head, and onto the city bowl.

2. World-Class Winelands

Any holiday in Cape Town is incomplete without a visit to its wonderful winelands. From its Constantia vineyards to the sprawling Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, and Paarl wineries, there's so much to explore. Wind around the mountain to the magnificent suburb of Constantia and begin at one of the various world-renowned estates before working your way up the hill for spectacular views. Consider the likes of Buitenwerwachting, Groot Constantia, Constantia Uitsig, Constantia Glen, Beau Constantia, and Eagle's Nest – for an intimate experience and great bubbly, stop in at High Constantia Wine Cellar.

For added adventure, consider boarding the Franschhoek wine tram, a hop-on-hop-off experience that takes you to a handful of select farms. Explore nearby Stellenbosch and Paarl for the stunning scenery, fantastic restaurants, unique experiences, and delicious wines.

3. Why Visit Cape Town? The Food, Of Course

Visitors to Cape Town are quick to realise not just how vibrant the city is, but how many incredible restaurants there are. Whether you're looking for the crème de la crème of fine dining experiences or the best local spots for your favourite cuisine, Cape Town does not disappoint. Dine overlooking the harbour at the lauded V&A Waterfront, venture up Kloof Street for local favourites or grab lunch on Bree Street. Ask your expert to advise on the best spots based on your preferences – we can almost guarantee Cape Town can deliver.

Located around an hour from the city centre lies South Africa's culinary capital and French corner of Franschhoek. Home to some of the country's top restaurants – including one of the world's top 100 – visiting this quaint town is a must.

4. Cape Town Holidays: The Best Value For Money

As a one-stop destination, vacations in Cape Town can offer a lot. One of the major draw cards has to be the beaches in Cape Town – from the glorious Camps Bay and Clifton beaches to Llandudno and swimming with penguins at Boulder's Beach, to all the others in between, there is no shortage to choose from. The city offers magnificent mountains, gourmet dining, ample culture, a world-renowned winelands, and close proximity to other enticing destinations. For those looking at the Garden Route, Cape Town is the ideal place to start your self-drive journey,

With a typically weaker local currency, a holiday to Cape Town is highly affordable for international travellers and is a wonderful base from which to start or end a multi-destination trip. It's important to consider where to stay in Cape Town based off what you would like to see and do – how far from the city do you want to be? What experiences are you hoping to include? It's also worth considering the best time to visit Cape Town – do the busier summer months suit you best or dothe slightly cooler, and more quiet, spring months call to you?

5. Day Trips & Historical Excursions

For those interested in the multi-cultural history of South Africa, and Cape Town specifically, it's worth taking a trip to the District Six Museum and a guided tour of the brightly coloured Bo-Kaap. For a further look into our history, take a ferry to Robben Island, home to the prison that once held remarkable political leaders, including former president Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu.

In terms of day trips, venture to Cape Point Nature Reserve and explore the southern tip of the Cape Peninsula. For lovers of nature, be sure to visit Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, easily one of the world's greatest botanical gardens, and walk the ‘Boomslang' bridge – a perfect activity for family holidays in Cape Town, especially with a picnic to enjoy on the lawns. Located a little further along the coast is the quaint seaside town of Hermanus, South Africa's whale-watching capital, where migrating southern right whales gather from August to October.

A Cape Town Holiday Combines Well With:

A host of Cape Town holiday packages combine the glorious ‘Mother City' with other destinations in Africa. Its large international airport makes connecting from Cape Town to some of Africa's other renowned destinations a breeze – here are some of our favourite combination destinations:

Kruger National Park

Lauded worldwide for its safari prowess, Kruger National Park offers the greatest diversity of wildlife in South Africa, including the infamous Big 5. Compare national parks vs private reserves and prepare to sit back, relax, and explore with experienced guides on scintillating game drives and walking safaris (where available). Ideal for couples, honeymooners, groups, and families, Kruger and its surrounding concessions offer an array of exceptional accommodations – from luxury, modern lodges to traditional camps, exclusive-use villas, and budget-friendly options.

Garden Route

Technically, the Garden Route spans from Mossel Bay and ends in Storms River, but most will consider it starting from Cape Town as a self-drive adventure. Leave your Cape Town holiday behind and hit the road – be sure to stop in at Peregrine Farm Stall, a true road trip staple. Make your way along through Mossel Bay and Wilderness on to Knysna where a gorgeous lagoon and Goukamma Nature Reserve await. Insider tip: this is where some of the country's top golf courses are located. From there it's on to Tsitsikamma and Storms River – between the two you'll find the Bloukrans Bungy, one of the world's highest bridge bungy jumping sites.

After that, it's onto the Eastern Cape, a destination known for its malaria-free safaris – speak to your Africa Safari Expert to include this in your greatest adventure.

Victoria Falls

In recent years, accessing the iconic Victoria Falls from Cape Town has become easier, making it a great combination destination. With a flight time of just under 3 hours, accessing this UNESCO World Heritage Site is easier than ever. Known to locals as Mosi-oa-Tunya or The Smoke That Thunders, Vic Falls is not only the largest uninterrupted sheet of falling water in the world, but also listed as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. The waterfall also sits on the border of two top wildlife destinations, Zambia and Zimbabwe with all three destinations offering exceptional accommodations and experiences.

Ready To Start Planning Your Holiday In Cape Town?

Speak to one of our Africa Safari Experts and start planning the ultimate Cape Town holiday, whether it's as a single or combination destination, tailor-made to your specific requirements.