Wonders of the Cape 4 Star (8 Days) CPTPKG

The Sea Point Promenade is one of the best running routes in Cape Town. At 11kms long, you are bound to have a great work-out. The Prom, as it’s known by locals, begins at Mouille Point near the Waterfront, winds its way along the Atlantic Seaboard’s watery edge and ends at Bantry Bay. For those who only want a stroll, the 3km stretch from Granger Bay, passing the Green Point Lighthouse, also known as the Mouille Point Lighthouse, and ending at Bantry Bay is a very popular part of the promenade. The promenade is a broad, paved sea-side contour path which follows the coastline’s curves. A green lawn separates this beachside path and the pavement of Beach Road.

No matter which portion you stroll along you will encounter stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and some of the best sunsets in the world. The beaches are not suitable for swimming but they are great for discovering interesting little rock pools and for feeling the sand beneath your feet. Table Mountain, Signal Hill and Lions Head can be seen from a variety of angles as you explore this popular Cape Town attraction.

The important geological rock formation of Lion’s Head was first described in 1818 by the British naturalist, Clark Abel, and visited by Charles Darwin in 1856 while he was on his trip around the world in the ‘Beagle’. It was declared a national monument in 1953.

Capetonian families, skateboarders, joggers, and walkers love the Prom. It’s a great place to meet, walk the dog, and admire art installations such as the very moving ‘Rhinosaur’ sculpture by André Carl Van der Merwe. As you stroll, you can enjoy the eclectic mix of architecture that lines the promenade on the landward side. From Edwardian buildings to modern architecture, there’s something for all tastes. The Art Deco Bathing Pavilion is rated as one of the top 10 pools in the world, and deservedly so. The attractive entrance with its curved stairs to the raised deck above Beach Road leads to the Olympic-sized pool, a diving pool, and 2 splash pools for children.

Depending on the time of year, you may find popular Miltons Beach and Tidal Pool either empty or crowded. Along the route, there is an outdoor gym, kids’ playgrounds, and a putt-putt course. After exploring the Promenade, you can people-watch and admire the ocean view from one of the many restaurants, coffee shops and ice cream parlours.

In winter, the Cape winter storms and tidal displays, while dramatic are best enjoyed from the safety of one the restaurants!

The Green Point Park located in Cape Town, South Africa features 25 000 indigenous flora plants and 300 different plant species. Onsite activities and facilities include walking and cycling paths, children’s playgrounds, picnic spaces, outdoor gym facilities and water features. For visitors interested in skateboarding and roller skating, the park offers designated areas for those sports by the lighthouse walk-way. Park benches and tables can not be reserved and there is a designated parking area for visitors. Dangerous objects such as gas apparatus, knives, explosives and firearms are not allowed onsite and children under the age of 16 should be accompanied by adults at all times.

Address: Green Point Urban Park, 1 Fritz Sonnenberg Road, Green Point, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa.

Mojo Market is an exciting 7-day-a-week food and lifestyle market close to the Pavillion in beautiful Sea Point. With live music by local musicians, sport screenings, a wide variety of food stalls and an artisan retail offering, as well as four bars, one of which boasts the widest selection of beverages on tap in the Southern Hemisphere, there truly is something for everyone.

This still-new and very exciting indoor lifestyle and food market is arguably one of the best things to have hit the city in recent years.

Not only is it well-situated along Sea Point’s famous Regent Road, but it also offers something for everyone and is open seven days a week, from 08:00 am – 10:00pm collectively.

Whether you’re after food, clothing, drinks or simply some local crafts and jewellery to buy, this market has you sorted with its selection of some 45 designer retail stores, 25 food stalls and even a fresh goods section!

It’s quickly cemented itself as a standard, buzzing part of everyday city in life in Sea Point now – and we couldn’t be happier!

Address: Mojo Market, 30 Regent Road, Sea Point, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

South Africa’s iconic Two Oceans Aquarium provides an unforgettable look at the life that thrives beneath the waves of the southern African coastline, a coastline that’s more than 2 500km long and exceptionally bio-diverse. The Aquarium, built in 1995, is a perennial favourite amongst locals and tourists, famous for introducing visitors to the magnificent animals and plants that call this stunning coastline home.

With an emphasis on conservation, the Two Oceans Aquarium’s collection – which holds more than 200 species – showcases local wildlife and changes often, resulting in a dynamic experience geared towards fostering curiosity and love for the ocean.

Conveniently located at the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town’s only aquarium is open 365 days a year. It’s a great alternative on bad-weather days when outdoor activities have to be cancelled, and no pre-booking is required. There are also several added activities on offer at the Aquarium, from photo opportunities and guided tours to animal experiences and scuba diving.

Young and old are invited to spend their time exploring, experiencing and engaging the natural world found below the ocean surface.

Experience Spectacular Cape Town Views from the Cape Wheel - a giant observation wheel that offers a spectacular 360 degree panoramic view of Cape Town from the iconic and vibrant V&A Waterfront.

Your viewing experience across the Mother City includes Table Mountain, Robben Island, Cape Town City skyline, Paarl Mountains, and the Cape Town Stadium. The Cape Wheel offers 30 fully enclosed air conditioned cabins that will take you 40 metres above the ground in safety and comfort on the 12 - 15 minute, 4 revolution ride. The wheel also offers two wheelchair friendly and accessible cabins.

What better way to discover a new city, especially one with as much history, and as many delights as Cape town, than with a Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour. Cape Town is considered one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Purchase either a 1or 2-day ticket and learn Cape Town’s history as the bus wends its way through the 368-year-old city.

As with any bus, if you see something you want to investigate further, simply jump off, explore to your heart’s content, then catch the next Hop On Hop Off bus that comes along, and pick up your tour right where you left off. Each tour narration is available in Spanish, Turkish, Zulu, Chinese, Dutch, English, Afrikaans, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Arabic, Portuguese, and Russian. It’s the most cost-effective, and most informative, way to explore Cape Town.

The Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour has 4 different tours for you to choose from: the Red, Yellow, Blue or Purple Routes. The 2-day ticket also includes 2 walking tours, a harbour cruise, and a sunset bus tour during the summer season.

Starting at the V&A Waterfront, the Two Oceans Aquarium, or any of the clearly branded bus stops along the tour routes, you can, depending on the tour you take, discover landmarks such as Table Mountain, Camps Bay, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, the Clock Tower, Green Point Lighthouse, St George’s Cathedral, the South African Museum and Planetarium, the Mount Nelson Hotel, the South African Jewish Museum and Holocaust Centre, the District 6 Museum, the Castle of Good Hope, the Company Gardens, and Constantia Valley.

Sea-going vessels can see one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the legendary Table Mountain over 150km away from Cape Town. It is this instantly recognizable section of the Cape Fold Mountains that makes Cape Town famous. Once called Hoerikwaggo - 'the Mountain in the Sea' by the indigenous Khoisan people of the Cape, Table Mountain, rising 1086m out of the ocean, is thought to be one of the oldest mountains in the world - approximately 600-million years. It was once 3 times higher than it is now. It’s the only terrestrial feature which gives its name to a constellation. Very late at night, around midnight, in mid-July, Mensa, meaning The Table, can be seen in the Southern Hemisphere, below Orion.

Table Mountain is the only natural wonder of the world situated in an urban area. Flanked by Devil's Peak to the east, and by Lion's Head to the west, this broad sweep of mountainous heights, together with Signal Hill, forms the natural amphitheatre in which much of the Mother City nestles. 

The plateau’s vegetation forms part of the Cape Floral Region protected areas which are a World Heritage Site. An estimated 2,285 species of plants are confined to, and are endemic to, Table Mountain. The mountain is also home to a varied range of animals, birds including extremely rare raptors, and amphibians, some of which are found nowhere else in the world. The world's highest concentration of Peregrine Falcons live in the Table Mountain National Park.

Since the first recorded ascent of the mountain in 1503, there are now 350 trails one can take to climb the rugged cliffs to the 3 km-wide plateau. Exploring the mountain is an experience not to be missed. The 3 walks on the plateau are fairly easy as they are on level ground and are easy to navigate. With stunning 180o views and spectacular 360° aerial views of Cape Town and the Cape Peninsula, the Dassie Walk and the Agama Walk respectively will take your breath away. The Klipspringer Walk takes hikers along the edge of the plateau to the top of Platteklip Gorge. Short, guided walks are also available.

The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway carries the nearly 800 000 visitors a year to the top. Wheelchair ramps, elevators and routes as well as paved pathways at the summit make this experience completely accessible for visitors in wheelchairs. Table Mountain is so intertwined with the identity of Cape Town that a visit to the Mother city isn’t complete without having stood on the rugged, wind-blown edge of this unique landform.

Needing a refuelling station for its trading fleets between Europe, Asia and Australia, Jan van Riebeeck built the first jetty on the shores of Table Bay for the Dutch East India Company. Although not a natural harbour, it remained in use until June 1858. Serious winter storms wrecked over 30 vessels and Lloyds of London refused to cover ships wintering in Table Bay any longer. So, the British Imperial Government approved the building of Cape Town’s first real harbour. Construction began and increased in breadth when gold and diamonds were discovered in South Africa.

As the oldest working harbour in the Southern Hemisphere, the V&A Waterfront, named after Queen Victoria and her son, Alfred, is, with its dramatic location, also the heart of Cape Town’s tourist industry. While surrounded by the Cape Town City Bowl, behind it towers one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, Table Mountain. In front, lies the Atlantic Ocean and, not far offshore, is the infamous prison, Robben Island.

Take a guided tour and explore the V&A Waterfront’s more than 22 historical landmarks, like the Rat Catcher’s Cottage, ancient defensive fortifications, including the Chavonnes Battery Museum which, dating back to 1725, is the harbour’s oldest heritage site. The Iziko Maritime Centre is fascinating, as is the notorious Breakwater Prison, for 10 years one of the most feared prisons in the world, and Robinson Dry dock – the oldest operating dry dock in the world!

All this time travel builds up an appetite and, thankfully, the V&A is also a foodie heaven! Apart from the numerous world-class restaurants, the V&A Food Market is packed with delicious regional delicacies, artisanal breads and cheeses, craft beers, vegan treats, biltong – a South African speciality, and delectable ice cream.

At the V&A, fascinating history and scrumptious food mixes well with imaginative office locations, world-class hotels and luxury apartments, and 450 retail outlets in 5 shopping districts. There’s something for everyone, from local designers to big international brands, sophisticated audio equipment and crafts, art and jewellery.

With the exciting shopping experiences, the diversity and history, hedonistic spa treatments and exceptional food, and creative, dynamic events held here - from stand-up comedians to ‘Sharktober’ at the Two Oceans Aquarium - it’s no wonder the V&A Waterfront attracts more than 23 million visitors a year!

Harbour House V&A Waterfront offers fine dining in a gorgeous setting. With wonderful glass walls encasing the tables you can enjoy the vibe of the Waterfront while you feast on world-class cuisine. The setting is elegant and simple, with the perfect backdrop of the Cape Town harbour.

The menu is of international cuisine with Mediterranean elements. Only the freshest seafood and ingredients and the best line fish will do. With its prime position overlooking the bustling Victoria Basin and the quay, Harbour House Restaurant has become a firm favourite for seafood-loving locals and tourists alike.

Cape Town's Bo-Kaap and District 6 neighbourhoods are an integral part of South Africa’s history, especially in Cape Town. The Dutch East India Company transported enslaved Muslim Javanese from what is now present-day Indonesia and Malaysia to the Cape. The community grew to include Muslims from East Africa, Madagascar, and India. As the Malay language was the first most widely spoken by the community, the term ‘Malay’ came to represent all Muslims in the Cape, irrespective of their original homelands.

The District 6 Museum is the best place to start your journey through the Bo-Kaap and its culinary delights. District 6 was also known as Kanaladorp. Kanala is a Malay word meaning ‘help one another’ and ‘dorp’ is Afrikaans for small village. The small museum tells the true story of the residents of the vibrant and diverse District 6 from where over 60 000 multi-race, multi-faith people were forcefully removed to make way for the white population who wanted the land. The removals tookplace over 15 years. Homes were flattened. The only buildings left standing were places of worship. The area was then called Zonnebloom, but in 2019 was changed back to District 6.

The Cape Malay who lived in the Bo-Kaap, a short walk from District 6 were allowed to remain as the community was not a multi-faith, multi-race community but solely Muslim. Here the streets are lined with instantly recognisable multi-coloured houses, cobbled streets, spice shops and local mosques.

This bright and colourful area is one of the most photographed places in Cape Town.

Our first stop is a visit to Atlas Spices. Established in 1946, this family owned business in the heart of the Bo-Kaap sells fine spices, rice, and rare products from across the world.

The Bo-Kaap provides one of the most delectable experiences in Cape Town – a hands-on cooking class in the home of one of the Bo-Kaap families. Here, your host will teach you how to make rotis which are flat breads delicious with curries, create and fold spicy stuffed samosas, and cook a favourite snack – the crunchy on the outside, soft in the middle chili bites. And what better way to enjoy the food and Cape Malay hospitality then to relax and have lunch eating the food you created as well as a famous Cape Malay curry. Finish off your meal with a cup of cardamom tea and a Cape Malay koe'sister – not to be confused with the Afrikaans treat, the syrup-sticky koeksister.

Based on the report brought to them by shipwreck survivors, the Dutch East India Company realized they had found the perfect refueling spot for their ships sailing to the East and Australia. After months at sea, ships could stop here and stock up on fresh produce grown in what would become Cape Town. Jan van Riebeeck arrived in Table Bay on the 6th April 1652. One of the first things he planted was a saffron pear tree. It still exists today, propped up on huge steel crutches. In 1662, the Company’s Garden was just over 18 hectares in size. Apart from vegetables ad fruit, there were herbs and medicinal plants, various ornamental plants including roses, pine trees and Cape Town’s now famous oaks. In 1679, there was also an elaborate system of canals and water furrows.

Over time, the Garden was reduced to the 3.2-heactares which remains today. By 1913, the Company's Garden had evolved into a public pleasure park. The Garden was proclaimed a National Monument in 1962, it is also a Provincial Heritage Site.

Other star floral attractions include the ginkgo tree with no living relatives, the towering rubber tree, the 80-year-old bamboo plantation. The fountains, fishponds, and tree lined walkways shielding the area from the bustle of the city, make the Company’s Garden Cape Town’s green lung. Its function as a place of peace and leisure has increased as the surrounding city has grown. Buskers strum guitars while office workers enjoy the lunchtime sun and squirrels, among a variety of other fauna, frolic and tease people for food. 

Within walking distance are monuments and buildings worth seeing for their history or art. For example, the WWI Dellville Wood Memorial Garden, The Slave Lodge, the South African Parliament and Tuynhuys. Across the street is St George’s Cathedral, known as the ‘people’s church’ as all races have always been welcome, even during the apartheid era. The South African Museum is nearby, as is the Cape Town Holocaust Centre along with South Africa’s oldest synagogue. The South African National Gallery houses an impressive permanent collection of South African, African, British, French, Dutch and Flemish art including contemporary photography, African beadwork and colonial paintings. Contemporary works like Judith Butler’s The Butcher Boys make this gallery worth visiting.

The Company’s Garden Restaurant is a big hit with locals. With a huge outdoor seating area, interspersed with human-sized weaverbird nests to clamber in, or simply sitting in the dappled shade, you can enjoy simple but delicious food. Among the reeds and beneath the large trees, you’d be forgiven for thinking you were in the country.

South Africa has 3 capital cities: executive Pretoria where the government’s administration is based, Bloemfontein which is the judicial capital, and Cape Town as the oldest city is South Africa is the legislative capital. 

The Houses of Parliament are located in the heart of Cape Town across from the Company’s Garden. Charles Freeman designed the original building with its Corinthian portico and huge dome.  Well-known architect Sir Herbert Baker designed the House of Assembly.

There are guided tours which you can join to explore the buildings which are not only historically valuable in terms of their architecture but also for political history which they have seen. Here’s a brief timetable of some of those events:

1885 – the Houses of parliament were built.
1890 – Cecil John Rhodes was elected prime minister of the Cape Colony.
1895 – He was forced to resign for his backing of the ill-fated Jameson Raid’s attempt to overthrow Paul Kruger.
Between 1895 and 1960 fierce debates took place regarding the Anglo-Boer War, South Africa’s involvement in both World Wars, and the rise of the National Party under Jan Smuts.
1960 – British prime minister, Sir Harold MacMillan made his famous ‘Winds of Change’ speech which predicted Britain’s intent to grant freedom to her African colonies and usher in a new era.
1966 – Hendrik Verwoerd the then prime minister of South Africa, and one of the grand masters of apartheid was assassinated by Dimitri Tsafendas.
1994 – Nelson Mandela rose to take his place as South Africa’s first democratically elected president. After this, members of the National Assembly and Senate, met as a body called the Constitutional Assembly to write a new Constitution.
1996 - the new Constitution was finally adopted. Lauded as one of the most-progressive constitutions in the world, it laid the foundation for an open society based on democratic values, social justice, and fundamental human rights. It is the supreme law of our country and ensures government by the people under the Constitution. It is the highest law in the land. Everyone, including Parliament itself, must act according to its provisions and principles. As a constitutional state, all laws made by Parliament must pass the test of constitutionality to ensure that the laws it makes are always in keeping with no only the letter of the law but the spirit of the Constitution as well.
2022 – The January Arson attack badly damaged the National Assembly Chamber as well as other areas. Thankfully, the 4000-odd pieces of artwork which are on display with the Parliament buildings, as well as historical documents, were saved. Among the artworks is the famous, and enormous 120m long Keiskamma Tapestry. Created in the tradition of the Bayeaux Tapestry this is a woven depiction of the intricate history of the Eastern Cape frontier. It was created by 100 women of the Eastern Cape village of Hamburg.

We can guarantee that you’ve never had a foodie experience like the one you’ll enjoy at GOLD Restaurant in Cape Town. It’s more than just a restaurant. It’s an immersive experience with a 14-dish taste-safari bringing you flavours and ingredients from across the African continent. Combine that with learning where the meals originate, how they’re cooked and what they’re spiced with and you have a taste experience like no other.

The entertainment at GOLD is as original and memorable as the food. The ancient and somewhat mystical art form of Mali puppetry, as well as storytelling through praise singing, dancing to the utterly authentic marimbas and the pre-dinner, interactive djembe drumming, not to mention the delicate and sophisticated Xhosa face-painting, Zulu warriors and calabash serenades brings diners face-to-face with the wild, colourful and beating heart of Africa.

The GOLD team come from all over Africa. Their traditions and creative ideas are part of their traditional costumes. They even hand-stitch their ideas and personalities into the table linens intricate patterns.

From Uganda to Burundi, Tanganyika and Zanzibar, the history of spices and how they impacted not just food but world politics, are an integral part of the Spice Experience at GOLD. Spices were once used as currency and now you can taste, smell and delight in an aromatic new world thanks to the African spice pastes and well-known African spice mixes to which the team at GOLD will introduce you. This private, one-on-one curated experience will take you on a unique story-telling and aromatic adventure.

Whether you come for dinner or the Spice Experience, GOLD Restaurant will transport you right into the beating heart of the vibrant African continent through their one-of-a-kind world.

Originally a small fishing village, Hout Bay (Wood Bay) or the Republic of Hout Bay as it’s affectionately called by the locals, has a name which dates back to 1653. The town was properly established in 1867 and is nestled in a once-deeply wooded valley on the Atlantic Seaboard between Llandudno and Noordhoek. The ancient, once-huge forests are still in evidence, but only in small, highly protected pockets. At the northern end of Hout Bay Valley, the Orangekloof Forest is the most intact and oldest indigenous mountain forest on Table Mountain.

Hout Bay is a popular day-trip destination for tourists thanks to its old-world charm, colourful multicultural ambience, stunning views, its beach and busy fishing harbour where tuna, crayfish and snoek are the regular catch of the day all make for a delightful experience. The bustling port area has seafood restaurants, craft stores and boating activities as well as fresh fish for sale.

Humans aren’t the only ones interested in the catch of the day. As many as 6 thousand Cape Fur seals reside on Duiker Island, a 40-minute boat cruise from Hout Bay Harbour. This child-friendly cruise is the perfect opportunity to see these exuberant and delightful creatures up close and in their natural habitat. To get there you travel past some of the most rugged scenery on the Western Cape including the bay, the Sentinel and Chapman’s Peak.

Duiker Island is a ‘pick-up’ spot for the Cape Fur Seals. The males congregate here while they wait to ‘come of age’ and breed with the females. The water around the island is far too rough and dangerous for pups forcing the females go elsewhere to give birth. The seals are a popular snack for Great White sharks, and you may be lucky enough to see one or two, as well as whales and dolphins while on your cruise.

From beautiful to eccentric, raucous to silent, prickly to cuddly, the World of Birds Wildlife Sanctuary and Monkey Park set in 4 hectares of tropical gardens is home to over 3500 birds, small mammals including mischievous squirrel monkeys, porcupines and meerkats, and exotic reptiles like green iguanas and rock monitors.

Africa’s largest avian, reptilian and wildlife sanctuary, with the third-highest bird diversity of any zoo, the Park focuses on preservation, education, and research, as well as providing refuge for abandoned, small, wild creatures. World of Birds has an excellent rehabilitation program for injured wild birds and small mammals as well as a breeding centre for threatened species. It is one of only a few in the world where you can stroll through 100 enormous, interactive aviaries, and the monkey jungle, on beautifully landscaped walkways. You may even be lucky enough to meet Baker. A squirrel monkey, Baker was once an astronaut monkey who, as part of the NASA program, went to space.

World of Birds is one of Cape Town’s most exquisite tourist attractions, and as it’s open 365 days a year, it is a nature lovers and photographers’ paradise. Over 100 000 visitors come to the Park each year.

Chapman’s Peak Drive, or as it is known locally, Chappies, is a nail-biting 9 kilometres long, stretching from Noordhoek to Hout Bay. Vehicles swoop around 114 bends bounded on one side by huge vistas of the cold Atlantic Ocean, and on the other by the warm, russet-coloured granite and sandstone mountain, whose almost sheer cliff face soars 593m out of the sea. The views are spectacular and locals as well as tourists stop at the viewpoints to gaze over towards Hout Bay, the Sentinel Peak and the kilometres of pristine sand at Noordhoek Beach. Building Chapman’s Peak Drive was an extraordinary feat. It was carved out of the west-facing cliffs by convict labour between 1915 and 1922. Engineers said it couldn’t be done as the mountain was plagued by rockslides and bad weather. But the Cape Administrator, Sir Nicolas Frederick de Waal, believed otherwise. At first, it seemed the engineers were right. During its first 80 years, rockfalls and weather proved to be an enormous hazard. In 2009, the road was closed. The rockfall situation had to be solved. Engineers employed every new technology imaginable to tame the cliffs above. And they’ve succeeded. Their solutions as seemingly miraculous as the original construction. This spectacular drive forms the backdrop to two of the largest mass participation races in South Africa, the Cape Argus Cycle Race, and the Two Oceans’ Marathon. The 109 km long cycle race is the first event outside Europe to be included in the Union Cycliste Internationale's Golden Bike Series. it’s the world's largest individually timed cycle race with over 35 000 cyclists taking part. The Two Oceans is the world's most beautiful marathon. This56km ultramarathon and a 21km half-marathon is held annually on the Easter weekend.

There’s no snow, no ice, no polar bears… but there are penguins at Boulders Beach. Boulders Beach near Simon’s Town lies with the Table Mountain National Park. It consists of 1 penguin viewing area and 3 boardwalks lining the cove of 3 pristine, soft, white beaches which are sheltered by immense boulders from currents, wind and large waves. It’s the perfect place for the penguins to call home. The wheelchair-firendly boardwalks were built to allow visitors access across the dense vegetation to view these wonderful birds, while keeping the birds safe from poking fingers and the humans safe from razor sharp beaks. If the birds feel threatened they are likely to bite fingers or noses.

The penguins are known as the African Penguin, Cape Penguin, South African Penguin, Black-footed Penguin, or the Jackass Penguin because of their loud, donkey-like bray. They are the only penguin that breeds in Africa, the only one found on the south-west coast of Africa and live in only 24 colonies.

These delightful creatures are highly endangered and great care and respect must be shown towards them and their habitat at all times. In 1910, they numbered approximately one and a half million. By 1982, there were only 2 breeding pairs left. Huge conservation efforts were undertaken, and the Boulders Beach population rose to 3 900 birds in 2005. Since then there has been a decrease. The 2011 figures sit at around 2100 birds at Boulders Penguin Colony. To try and ensure their safety, the Table Mountain National Park services have banned alcohol and smoking in the area, as well as all vessels including canoes and kayaks. Under no circumstances may marine life or vegetation be removed.

The Cape of Good Hope was once called the Cape of Storms because of the often-terrifying weather and violent oceans which have wrecked ships on its coast since sailors first began to explore beyond the horizon. The most enduring legend is the phantom ship known as The Flying Dutchman. According to the tale, a sea captain found himself struggling to round the Cape of Good Hope during a ferocious storm. He swore that, even if he had to sail until Judgment Day, he would succeed. The Devil heard and the Flying Dutchman was condemned to stay at sea forever. Apparent sightings claim it glows with a ghostly light, spelling doom for anyone that sees the Dutchman. Rounding the Cape meant the possibility of finding a sea route to India and the East, so John II of Portugal renamed it the more optimistic Cape of Good Hope. The Cape has seen a lot of history. The Khoikhoi had lived in this area for about fifteen hundred years before the first European, Bartolomeu Dias, arrived in 1488. The Portuguese government erected two navigational beacons to commemorate the achievement. When lined up, the crosses point to Whittle Rock, a large, permanently submerged shipping hazard in False Bay. The Cape became such a proficient supply station for ships, especially those of the Dutch East India Company on their voyages east, that Cape Town became known as the Tavern of the Seas. In 1687, a community of Huguenots, fleeing religious persecution in France arrived and over the next 150 years the Cape colony gradually grew stretching hundreds of kilometres to the north and north-east. In 1795, it was occupied by Napoleon’s troops and then the British. Today, Cape Town, South Africa’s Mother City, is also the country’s most cosmopolitan, thanks to its varied roots and layers of cultural influences. It’s also home to the the first world-class, custom-built, film studios in Africa rivalling both British and American film studios thanks to its stunning location, and weather.

The Cape of Good Hope is an integral part of the Cape Floristic Kingdom, the smallest but richest of the world's six floral kingdoms. This comprises a treasure trove of 1100 species of indigenous plants, a number are endemic, including the fynbos and the iconic proteas. The wildlife of the Cape of Good Hope is as much a treasure trove as the flora.

An hour's drive from Cape Town is the Cape Point Nature Reserve, one of the most scenically beautiful parks in South Africa. Mountains, oceans, history, wildlife on land and in the water, legends and views that are as vast as the horizon. Framing this wild and dangerous coast are the two peaks - Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope. Cape Point is the south-western most point of the continent and Cape Agulhas is the southernmost tip and it’s Cape Agulhas where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet. Wild and unpredictable oceans through which sailors struggled for centuries before finally being able to navigate their way around the tip of Africa. Even on a good day, the icy wind blowing in from the Antarctic, is a good indication of why it was such a perilous journey. The Flying Dutchman funicular will carry you up to the old lighthouse standing among the thick fynbos, the panoramic views, and, in the springtime – August, September and October, possibly even the sight whales in the ocean below. The impressive old lighthouse was built in 1859, but instead of guiding ships to safety, it was often the cause of mishaps. Ironically, it sits too high above the ocean, so ships approaching from the east saw the light too clearly and approached too closely ending up on the rocks. The Cape Point Shipwreck Trail is the short – 3kms - easily accessible Oliantsbos trail leading down to the beach where you can see the remains of the SS Thomas T. Tucker. Once a WWII transport vessel it’s now a popular photography subject and home to the local birdlife.

Nearby are the crosses erected by the Portuguese King John II to Vasco da Gama and Bartolomeu Dias in recognition of their expeditions to and around the then named Cape of Storms. 

There are a number of secluded beaches in the reserve. Buffels Bay and Bordjiesdrif are relatively sheltered beaches. Their tidal pools are great for a post-hike dip. Diaz Beach is without a doubt one of Cape Town’s most beautiful but is a steep climb down and you can’t swim when you get there. Edged by wild, natural fynbos, with at least three shipwrecks, Olifantsbos Beach is also a marine protected area and has a nearby shallow lagoon, a favourite haunt of coastal birdlife.

Being a nature reserve Cape Point is home to a large variety of animals and bird life. Over 270 species of birds live here as well as antelope, Cape foxes, genets, polecats, mole rats, porcupines, mongooses, tortoises, and snakes.

The Cape Point is notorious for its strong icy winds even if the sun is shining. For the best experience you may want to consider a professional guide.

For nearly 400 years, Robben Island, had a varied history, but 6.9 kilometres out from Cape Town it began and ended as a political prison. Frequent poor weather, fog, strong currents and the high waves of the Atlantic Ocean, as well as the flatness of the island made it a shipping hazard, sinking vessels in shallow waters around its shores. The dangerous location made it perfect for the various uses to which it has been put since the 17th Century. It was a leper colony, a whaling station, an animal quarantine station, and in World War II an armed military base for Cape Town’s defence.

Remains of this turbulent past include the 17th century quarries, the Moturu Kramat, the burial place of the Prince of Madura, one of Cape Town's first imams, the remains of the 19th century ‘village’ administrative buildings including a chapel and parsonage, a small lighthouse, derelict World War II military structures, and the maximum security prison of the Apartheid era.

There is no record of anyone swimming to freedom, yet despite the Great White sharks patrolling the icy waters it is possible. Today, Robben Island is a starting point for many long-distance event swimmers.

The most famous modern-day political prisoner was activist Nelson Mandela, imprisoned there for 18 of the 27 years he was imprisoned during apartheid. He was later awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace and was elected in 1994 as the first democratic President of South Africa. He served one term as President.

The maximum-security prison closed in 1991 and the medium security prison five years later.

Now a living museum, a South African National Heritage Site, it is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of the most poignant memorials on the island is the Rock Pile. It was started by Nelson Mandela and added to—one rock at a time—by former prisoners returning to the island to visit.

Every year thousands of tourists visit the island. Many of the guides are former prisoners. Robben Island is also one of South Africa’s most important breeding localities for 8 500 breeding pairs of African Penguins, the world’s second largest colony of this vulnerable species.

moyo – the destination for a unique African dining experience. Inspired by the traditions and values of our ancestors, Moyo is a celebration of, and commitment to, the beauty of Africa, and the industry of her people. Our famously warm hospitality and modern African ambience make the moyo experience an unforgettable one.

moyo menu
Embodies Africa’s finest urban cuisines, with diverse dining options ranging from relaxed lunch meals to romantic dinners. The Origins menu is broad and bold, offering visitors a taste of the continent, while also appealing to the local by offering classic South African favourites with a twist. The Life menu introduces café-style breakfasts and lunch with an African spin for quick on the go meals. A special menu for children broadens the appeal to the entire family. The extensive cocktail and wine list offer options that can be perfectly paired with any moyo meal or simply enjoyed on their own.

moyo entertainment
For your added pleasure, moyo scouts Africa for the best artistic talent. Colourful costumes, dramatic acts and fancy footwork of dancers will ensure that you leave delighted. With a song on the lips of the Wishy-Washy ladies, you will be welcomed to the age-old tradition of the African hand-washing and face painting ceremonies.

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, lying on the slopes of the Table Mountain National Park, is one of the great botanic gardens of the world. They are part of the Cape Floristic Region Protected Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Covering 528 hectares, of which 36 are cultivated and the rest supporting natural forest and fynbos along with their wildlife inhabitants, the Kirstenbosch estate is unparallelled in terms of the grandeur of its setting. Walks and trails wind their way through this natural beauty, allowing you to explore to your heart’s content.

In the 17th and 18th centuries thousands of trees were felled for timber. Since the gardens were established in 1913, the natural forests have been protected, alien species eradicated, and the original forest left to recover naturally. Fynbos, including proteas, ericas and restios, is unique to the Table Mountain area and Kirstenbosch supports these 3 different varieties.

There is an abundance not only of plant life but also birds, insects and butterflies, including the resident Spotted Eagle Owl and the spectacular butterfly, the Table Mountain Beauty.

Most of the animals that live and breed in the Gardens are mostly active at dusk so are seldom seen.

The magnificent landscape of Kirstenbosch is perfect for both outdoor and indoor art exhibitions, sculptures, and dinosaurs! Five life-sized, anatomically correct dinosaurs and a pterosaur, sculptured in tin, hover among the cycads in the Cycad Amphitheatre. The picnic-style summer concerts are a delightful way to spend an evening surrounded by the impressive Cape Fold Mountain range, enjoying good food, wine and excellent music.

A guided tour offering rare personal insight into the history of the farm, regenerative farming practise and sustainable food growing.

The iconic Boschendal Farm Estate was founded in 1685 and is one of the oldest farms in South Africa. Boschendal is conveniently located in the heart of the Cape Winelands region, between Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. The estate offers a guided walking tour through the extensive patchwork of vineyards and guests can view the extensive gardens on the estate. The vineyard tour includes following the path to the viewpoint at the highest point of the farm, to fully experience the breathtaking natural beauty of Boschendal.

Tours take place daily at 10h30 and 11h30.

Guest accommodation ranging from the historical Herbert Baker designed Cottage 1685, to beautifully restored farm cottages. With an emphasis on stylish simplicity, the guest cottages are authentic and rural yet contemporary in character.

With privileged access to the farm, guests staying in the cottages will be able to savour the best of farm living. Join a farm tour or explore the estate on foot, following trails that take you through orchards and mountain fynbos. There are mountain biking routes, walking paths, caves to explore, wine tasting, cellar tours, swimming in the dams and plenty of opportunities to sit, read, relax and generally take in the goodness of life.

Dining options include eating at The Werf Restaurant, The Deli, Rhone Homestead or picnic area. You can have breakfast or braai baskets brought to your cottage; or pick up some fresh farm produce at our Farmshop and Butchery and prepare in your cottage. All cottages have a full kitchen (kitchenette in the smaller cottages) and are serviced daily. Ideal for couples, families and groups of friends.

A picnic lunch in the Boschendal Rhone Rose garden under the dappled sunshine of the oak trees surrounded by Cape-Dutch architecture of the Rhone Homestead, the Cellar Door, exhibition vineyards, and the Winery is a wonderful way to take time out, relax and enjoy a delicious, hearty yet sophisticated rustic lunch within view of the picturesque Simonsberg mountain range. The tranquil location, lazing on the grass or at the carefully laid-out tables, sipping world-class Methodé Cap Calssique, Blush, White and Red wines, or local artisan brews, ciders, G&Ts, and freshly squeezed juices, certainly improves ones appetite.

The picnic baskets are filled with delectable food created from the wine estates natural farm. Tear into freshly baked ciabattas and smother each section with Boschendal Butchery charcuterie, homemade preserves, or liver paté, onion marmalade, lemon atchar, camembert or parmesan cheeses. Dig into green salads from the Werf Food Garden, roast free-range chicken, aubergine and mushroom salad, mustard and spring onion salad with miso dressing or almond and garlic emulsion – your taste buds will thank you. Finish off with one of the celebrated desserts like the white chocolate cheesecake, vegan chocolate mousse. These are just a sample of the foody delights that await you at the Boschendal Rhone Rose garden picnic feast.

It’s important to note that the food, while having the occasional vegan dish as part of the options, is not halaal, kosher or allergy friendly. All of the estate kitchens use ingredients that may contain milk, eggs, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, fish, and shellfish etc. As the menus are created based on the seasonal food availability of fresh farm produce every visit to the Boschendal Rhone Rose garden picnic experience will be different. But they will always be delightful and delicious.

Boschendal’s 200-year-old manor house is a beautifully preserved example of Cape Dutch architecture, with a trademark front gable and wooden shutter. It is decorated as it would have been two centuries ago, with authentic furnishings and luxurious ebony, teak, yellowwood, walnut and oak finishes. Restored in the 1970s, this elegant building is now a museum reflecting what life must have been like for wealthy wine farmers in the 1800s.

The wine and chocolate tasting is a unique flavour experience. Boschendal's wine makers, together with the chocolatiers, have created a series of beautiful chocolates, that when paired with the wine, result in a flavour sensation unlike any other.

Located in Franschhoek, the Huguenot Memorial Monument is dedicated to the cultural influences that Huguenots have brought to the Cape Colony after their immigration during the 17th and 18th centuries. The building of the monument began in 1942 and was completed in 1945 and officially inaugurated on 7 April 1948. The monument’s elegant simplicity gives it a classical character, and its spirit of freedom resonates with the sacrifices made by groups in their search for religious and political freedom.

Located in the Gourmet Capital of South Africa, Le Franschhoek Hotel and Spa has become one of the ultimate getaways in its class. Capturing the essence of 4-star luxury, the impeccably appointed hotel offers unparalleled views of the mountains and is the perfect setting for a taste of the legendary Cape Wine Routes.

Restaurant - La Pavillion: Furnished in natural tones, with clean lines and white table cloths, and accented with beautiful indigenous flowers, the room is ethereal in the morning sun. Ease into the day with the delicious breakfast buffet and luscious views of the iconic Franschhoek scenery. La Pavillion is certainly a Le Franschhoek gem.

Restaurant - Sauvage: This elegantly portrayed fine dining eatery offers diners an opportunity to indulge in a scrumptious a’ la Carte menu, complimented by warm service and picturesque placement.

This luxury Hotel features 79 en-suite, elegantly finished rooms and suites, two lavish villas, eight double and eight single bedroom villas. Each boasts breath-taking views over either the towering Franschhoek Mountains or manicured gardens. Room facilities include complimentary amenities, an espresso machine with a supply of fragrant coffee pods, Air-conditioning, under floor heating, direct dial telephones, remote controlled television with selected DSTV channels, hairdryers, electronic safes and Wi-Fi provided for your convenience and enjoyment.

Le Franschhoek Hotel & Spa retains its elusive charm with a contemporary Cape Dutch feel. Features include Camelot Spa and an ideal destination for team building, corporate functions or even a fairy tale wedding, boasting 5 world class conference venues, seating from 20 to 120 delegates.