Cape Town — The Mother City

Cape Town is South Africa's most iconic city, set beneath the dramatic flat-topped massif of Table Mountain on the southwestern tip of Africa. It combines natural wonders, history, culture, and world-class cuisine in a spectacular setting where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet.

Activities

  • Table Mountain Cable Car — aerial cableway to panoramic views
  • Cape Point Nature Reserve — the Cape Peninsula's dramatic headland
  • Boulders Beach — colony of African penguins near Simonstown
  • Robben Island — Nelson Mandela's prison, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • Cape Winelands — Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, and Constantia wine regions
  • Bo-Kaap — colorful historic Cape Malay quarter
  • V&A Waterfront — shopping, dining, Two Oceans Aquarium
  • Chapman's Peak Drive — spectacular clifftop coastal road
  • Whale watching — Southern Right Whales (June–November)

Quick Info

  • Country: South Africa
  • Region: Western Cape
  • Best time: November–March (summer); whale watching June–November
  • Gateway: Cape Town International Airport (CPT)
  • Malaria risk: None
  • Combines well with: Garden Route, Kruger, Addo Elephant Park

Plan your Cape Town visit with Africa Encounters.