Travelling through Cape Town
Cape Town - is one of the most picture-perfect cities on the planet and one of my favourites places to return to. Here are my top travel tips for the Mother City.
1) Visit the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Nestled on the slopes of Table Mountain, these gardens are an oasis of tranquillity in the heart of the city suburbs. Take a picnic, take your time, and take in the views from the slopes. In summer, sunset concerts are held on the lawns. Not to be missed! For the more energetic, you can hike the Skeleton Gorge trail from the gardens up to the top of Table Mountain.
2) Table Mountain - For the less energetic, there is a cable car! A scenic journey up the face of the mountain with 360 degree views of the surrounding bays. As soon as it's a clear day - get up there! One of my favourite times of day to go up the mountain is sunset. Watch the sun sink below the horizon and the lights of the city come up! Magical. Always stick to the paths on top of the mountain and always keep an eye on the weather - it can change suddenly in Cape Town!
3) Touristy - but a great way to get around - the Hop on- Hop off bus. Take the loop and experience a mini Cape town tour in itself.
4) Spend at least a day wandering around the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. Brilliant shopping, including your exclusive brands such as Gucci and Louis Vuitton as well as high street fashion stores, an array of restaurants and coffee shops, live African entertainment, harbour cruises and museums. But my favourite places to browse are the Red and Blue craft sheds, for paintings, sculptures, jewellery and souvenirs - definitely MADE IN SOUTH AFRICA.
5) Cruise to Robben Island from the Waterfront for an historical insight into the life of Nelson Mandela and the 22 years he spent imprisoned on the island.
6) For the perfect pictures of Table Mountain and Table Bay, head to Bloubergstrand and Table View. The Blue Peter Hotel is a great stop for an ice cold beer and a plate of fresh calamari afterwards.
7) Cape Point & the Cape Peninsula drive - From the city follow the coast through St James, Kalk Bay, Fish Hoek and Simonstown. Stops in Simonstown, with it naval history and array of quaint coffee shops and curio stalls & Boulders beach to see the penguins - are a must. At Cape Point, walk or take the funicular to the lighthouse for magnificent views (hold on to your hat!) and return to the city via Chapman's Peak Drive. You will meander through the society suburbs of Llandudno, Camps Bay and Clifton with mansions perched on the slopes of the Twelve Apostles mountains and breathtaking sea views. My only word of warning - do not attempt this drive on a busy summer weekend; you will spend most of your afternoon in a slow moving lane of traffic.
8) The winelands of the Cape offer so much more than just wine tasting. Make sure you visit Stellenbosch city with its traditional Cape Dutch architecture & the French-influenced village of Franschoek with its quaint streets and market shops, elegant boutique hotels and fine dining restaurants. Paarl for its Afrikaans history. You will need more than a day to do this as well as tasting the Cape's finest wines, cheeses and pastries.
9) Take in a cricket or rugby match at Newlands. Doesn't matter who you shout for, nothing beats the backdrop of Table mountain whilst you watch David Warner get his 100, or joining in the tremendous roar as a try is scored at Newlands Rugby stadium.
10) Eat, drink and be merry with the locals. Dine at Little Streams or Jonkershuis (on Groot Constantia wine estate) in the leafy suburb of Constantia; treat yourself to a sumptuous High tea at the Grand old lady of Cape town - the Mount Nelson hotel, or the superb Table Bay Hotel at the V&A Waterfront. Enjoy an ice cold beer at "Forries" - The Forrester's Arms in Newlands or Ferryman's tavern at the waterfront. Fish and Chips at Hout Bay Harbour or head up to Kloof Street & Long Street in the city for the best selection of African and International cuisine.