Why

Cape Town is a coastal city in South Africa that is crowned by the iconic Table Mountain. Named as one of the “Best 20 Cities in the World” by Conde Nast Traveler, Cape Town brings together cultures, cuisines and gorgeous landscapes. The “mother city” is home to award-winning wineries, fascinating people, and a vast selection of adventure experiences, including shark cage diving, hiking, segway tours, and close-up encounters with seals, whales and African penguins. Cape Town also boasts beautiful beaches and a popular waterfront promenade that boasts an entertainment complex with a variety of restaurants and retail outlets.

When

Cape Town is a popular tourist destination all year round.

Peak season is regarded to be in the summer between mid-December and early January.  Although February and March are also hot, there is a good chance that you will experience the howling southeasterly wind.  April is usually gorgeous: the temperatures are balmy, the light softer, the wind is dormant and the sunsets are spectacular.

Winter is the wet season and sometimes starts in May, more often June/July and often lasts right into September. Sunny days alternate with light rains.

Catch the best land-based whale-watching in the world from June to November when the southern right whales migrate to calve and nurse

Where

Cape Town is the epitome of art and culture, with a long history influenced by groups of people often referred to as the Cape Malay. To truly experience the Capetonian lifestyle, a visit to the colorful neighborhood called Bo-Kaap, also called the Malay Quarter, is a must do. Bo-Kaap is immediately recognizable for its brightly-colored and photogenic houses, but the other main draw is the Bo-Kaap Museum. The museum, housed in an 18th-century building, covers the history of the Cape Malay community in detail.

The V&A Waterfront is one of Cape Town’s biggest tourist attractions with an excellent selection of cultural and historical sights. The busy commercial harbor is a bustling venue with restaurants, pubs, craft markets, the Two Oceans Aquarium, and over 450 stores boasting local and international brands. The V&A Waterfront is also the departure point for the ferry to the famous Robben Island Museum.

The Cape Peninsula Route is spectacular with the major attractions being the African penguins at Boulders Beach, the Cape Point (the romantic meeting place of the mighty Atlantic and Indian oceans) and the Cape of Good Hope.

Table Mountain National Park is acclaimed as one of the “New Seven Wonders of Nature” and is a signification attraction, with many visitors using the cableway or hiking to the top. The view is breathtaking as you overlook the city bowl, V&A Waterfront, Robben Island, The Cape Flats and the Cape Peninsula.  

The Cape Winelands is made up of a collection of historic towns and Cape Dutch farmsteads. Stellenbosch, Constantia, Franschhoek, Paarl, Tulbagh, and Wellington are the major wine routes, producing well-regarded South African wines to the world. The Cape Winelands is also home to some of the finest restaurants in the Western Cape.

Hermanus is a seaside town southeast of Cape Town that offers phenomenal Southern Right whale watching. The whale season is generally during the months of June through November, however, Hermanus is an all year round destination, offering more than 300 activities including shark cage diving in Walker Bay, abseiling, treetop tours and quad biking.