Kite-surfing

Kitesurfing is the fastest growing sport in the world, and Cape Town has the best kite-surfing location in South Africa
by far.

Kite season is from October to March and all the world's professional kite-surfers flock to Cape Town to train here.

Kitesurfing involves using a power kite to pull a rider through the water on a small surfboard or a kiteboard.
Gaining a speed of 50km/h allows for a very fast exhilarating ride three inches above the sand.

Anyone wanting to learn how to kitesurf should can contact Kitesports.

Please visit their website for more information: www.kitesports.co.za

Table Mountain & Cableway, Cape Town

The cableway was launched in 1929.The top of Table Mountain offers spectacular views in all directions. The upper cable car station is situated at 1067 metres and the revolving cable car makes sure that your trip up and down gives you a good look in all directions.

Once on top you can follow paths to various look-outs, make use of the telescopes, enjoy a light meal or simply just enjoy a sundowner in the restaurant. In summer, early evening is a great time to plan your trip as the sunsets are beautiful. Regardless of the weather, take something warm as it can often be cool on the mountain top.

TIME NEEDED: At least 1-2hrs. Allow for queues in peak season.

Rates vary seasonally and as the cableway is weather dependent bookings can't be made. The cable car departs every 5 to 10 minutes. It travels at a speed of about 10m (33ft) per second. Table Mountain has about 2000 plant species.

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Cape Town

The beautiful Kirstenbosch gardens cover an area of 528 hectares with 36 hectares of cultivated garden. The gardens are a celebration of South African flora - showcasing only indigenous South African plants. Fynbos, proteas, cycads and rolling lawns are intermingled with streams and ponds and well-laid out pathways for easy walking. A great variety of birds inhabit the gardens and the sweeping views from the upper slopes are spectacular. Whether for a casual stroll, a more strenuous walk or a lazy picnic, the gardens are a must-see when visiting Cape Town.

TIME NEEDED: Anything from an hour or two, to a full day.

There is a restaurant, self-service area and tea-room as well as gift shops and a nursery at your service.
On Sundays during the summer months from November to April, musical sunset concerts are held on the lawns from 5:30 - 6:30. Concert tickets prices vary. Prices between R65 - R95 for adults, R40 - R70 for scholars and R55 - R85 for Botanical Society members. The gates open at 3:30 so bring a picnic and relax.

The Garden is open 365 days a year from 08:00 - 19:00 (September -March) and from 08:00 - 18:00 (April - August).
Entrance fee is R35 for adults, R20 for SA students with student cards and R10 for children ages 6-18. Children under 6 years are free.

Winelands, Cape Town

Staying in the Cape Winelands regions of Stellenbosch or Franschhoek will give you easy access to the numerous wine estates in the area - which means plenty of time for leisurely wine tasting and cellar tours. With towering mountains as their backdrop, the Wineland towns offer history, spectacular scenery, outdoor activities and award winning restaurants for elegant or casual dining. Still within a 45-minute drive of Cape Town city centre, the Winelands are well-worth staying a night or two.

You'll find a wide range of hotels - many located on wine estates - as well as guesthouses, B&B's and self-catering cottages.

Things to do in the Winelands Enjoy a picnic at Boschendal or Spier Visit the Chocolaterie in Franschhoek's main street Go hiking or horseriding in the vineyards Soak up the history in the town of Stellenbosch Wine tasting, wine tasting and more wine tasting

Robben Island

Robben Island (Seal Island), located 11km off the coast from Mouille Point, is clearly visible from the shores of Table Bay. The island gained notoriety as a political prison, where those who fell afoul of past South African governments were incarcerated. The most famous prisoner held on the island was Nelson Mandela, president of South Africa from 1994 until 1999.

The infamous island has however also been a prison for other prominent South African leaders. The Xhosa prophet Makhanda, who in the early 19th century lead his followers in a "holy" war against the British colonists, was imprisoned there in 1819, until his death from drowning when his boat capsized while he was trying to escape.

The sad history of the place has included time as a lunatic asylum, a leper colony and as a dumping place for the chronically sick and otherwise unwanted members of society.

Today Robben Island is an altogether different place with a more pleasant image. In 1999 it was declared a World Heritage Site as well as being a South African National Monument and Museum. The island supports a small population who live in the tiny village, centrepiece of which is the Church of the Good Shepherd.

Other attractions on the island are the prison buildings, now open to a limited number of visitors, and the lighthouse, built in 1864, and still in daily operation.

Visiting The Island

A limited number of visitors are permitted on the island every day, tours are guided and members of the public are not allowed to wander freely about the island. Tours last approximately 3 to 4 hours and depart from Quay 5 at the V&A Waterfront. Contact the embarkation office for departure times and tariffs on 021 419 1300.

Castle of Good Hope

Built between 1666 - 1679, the Castle is the oldest structure in South Africa, which today serves as headquarters for the Western Province Army Command. The castle houses the William Fehr Collection of Africana, which provides a glimpse of life at the Cape during the 17th and 18th centuries and the Castle History Museum.

The "castle" is actually a defensive fort, construction of which began barely 2 days after the arrival of the first Dutch settlers in April 1652. Although today the Castle is far away from the sea, it was originally built on the beach, Strand Street, which passes the structure is translated as "Beach Street". The area where the cape Town station now stands was originally under the ocean and has been built on land reclaimed over the years so that today the ocean is a couple of kilometres distant.

Visiting The Castle

The castle is open daily from 09h00 to 16h00, Monday to Saturday (open Sundays during December) except Christmas day and New Years day. Daily tours are conducted at 11h00, 12h00 and 14h00. The changing of the guard is held Monday to Friday at 12h00.

Admission is charged, there is a snack shop and restaurant on the premises. For more information contact the Castle on 021 787 1249.

V & A Waterfront, Cape Town

For shopping, dining and entertainment the V&A Waterfront is a hotspot for tourists and locals alike. Still a working harbour, the Waterfront is an example of creative architecture and restoration and has become South Africa's most visited tourist attraction.

The Waterfront offers over 250 shops from designer boutiques to craft stalls, a host of restaurants and coffee shops and plenty of other activities, including fun activities for children. Children will love the Two Oceans Aquarium and the Telkom Exploratorium. The SA Maritum Museum has interactive displays, the history of local shipwrecks and more and the new Nelson Mandela Gateway in the Clock Tower precint exhibits historical and educational material relating to Robben Island.

Enjoy a drink at one of the many waterside pubs and restaurants, shop till you drop, or relax and enjoy the variety of live entertainment that is always on offer. There are also a number of harbour cruises and Sundown Cruises that depart from the Waterfront.

TIME NEEDED: An hour or two - a full day

The Waterfront is open 7-days a week, 9am - 9pm.There is free parking available and pay-per-hour underground parking. The Two Oceans Aquarium is open 9h30-18h00, Monday to Friday. Allow for 1-2 hours to enjoy the many interactive displays.

Two Oceans Aquarium, Waterfront

Located in the V&A Waterfront, the Two Oceans Aquarium makes for a fascinating and exciting visit for the whole family. Offering a variety of display tanks, interactive experiences, a touch pool and the highly popular predator’s tank.
The I&J Predator Exhibit contains 2.2 million litres of seawater and is one of the most dramatic exhibit in the Aquarium. There are several great viewing points including the semi-tunnel which hugs the perimeter of the exhibit - offering a spine-tingling encounter as sharks swim overhead. Ragged-tooth sharks; shoals of yellowtail, Garrick and many other fishes; several species of rays and a turtle are visible through an enormous 11 metre wide by 4 metre high acrylic panel.

For further details visit the official Two Oceans Aquarium website at aquarium.co.za

TIME NEEDED: 1-2 hours depending on your interest

The Aquarium restaurant, Bayfront Blu, is open daily as is the on-site Curio Shop. Physical address: Dock Road, V&A Waterfront. Contact number: 021 418 3823. Email: aquarium@aquarium.co.za

Beaches

Clifton Beach is made up of 4 coves and the beaches are called 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th. When the summer south-Easter blows, the Clifton beaches are usually well sheltered from the wind. All of the beaches are accessible via stairs leading down from the road above. Kiosks on the beach sell snacks, colddrinks and ice-creams as do the many vendors that wander the beach. Deck chairs and umbrellas are also available for daily rental.

Camps Bay is a long sandy beach accessed directly from the road. Again, parking in summer is limited and you may need to park along one of the many sideroads. Kiosks and vendors also operate from the beach.

Hout Bay Originally a small fishing village, Hout Bay is now a favourite with visitors with its traditional harbour and many restaurants and curio shops. The beach is flanked by the harbour on one end and the cliffs of Chapman's Peak on the other. It's a favourite amongst windsurfers, paddleskiers and surfers and is ideal for walking.

Bloubergstrand Beaches The popular beaches of Blouberg offer one of the most beautiful and most photographed views of Table Mountain across the sweeping bay. These beaches are popular with families and sports enthusiasts - surfing and kite-surfing in particular are very popular.

Most shopping centres are open for shopping Monday - Saturday from 9am - 5pm and Sundays 10am - 1pm. Some offer later shopping hours on Friday nights and the Waterfront and Canal Walk are open for shopping until 9pm every evening. Movie theatres and restaurants stay open later.

Below are some estimated driving times between various destinations
(outside of peak morning and evening traffic)

• Southern Suburbs - Stellenbosch : 45 to 60 mins
• Cape Town City Centre - Stellenbosch: 45 to 50 mins
• Cape Town City Bowl - Southern Suburbs: 20 mins
• Hout Bay - Southern Suburbs: 15 to 20 mins
• Cape Point - City Bowl : 60 -90 mins
• City Bowl - Clifton or Camps Bay : 10 to 15 mins

If you did not find the information you were looking for, please let us know, and we can see if we can find out for you.