Mzoli's braai restaurant in Gugulethu township. anyone can tell you how to get there. it is jam packed on Sundays. you pick out your own selections of raw meet and then they grill it for you. served family style, tons of meat on one plate. (a vegetarian's worst nightmare essentially) they also will serve you pap and "chakalaka" to go along with the meat. don't ask for utensils. Sundays turn into a huge party, people who live in the townships along with people coming from the rest of Cape Town.

West Coast National Park one hour north of Cape Town on Saldanha Bay. you will see ostrich, bontebok, zebra, all antelope varities, wildebeest, some caracal. You can go kayaking in the bay and see flamingos. Whale sightings and wildflower season is August / September, so you wouldn't see that yet.

May-September is great white shark season in False Bay. they come to feed at Seal Island. lots of breaching activity. May is the beginning, so you might not see a ton of sharks if you go on a shark cage diving boat. I went May 29th this year and we had 11 different sharks come up to see us, so it was a luckily busy day for us. Chris Fallows (Discovery Channel's "Shark Week" guru owns Apex Shark expeditions that does these early morning boat trips. I went with him on his boat.Obviously learned a ton from him about the sharks. He usually takes 10-12 people at a time. My trip lasted from 6:45am until 1:30. You get plenty of time in the cage. I was in for about 35 minutes. The water is cold; they provide wetsuits and goggles)

Learn how to surf in Muizenberg at Surf Shack Surf School. Ask for Craig or Alfonso.

Posted Dec 16, 2010

Definitely visit Kirstenbosch, probably the most beautiful botanical garden on the planet.

Posted Dec 23, 2010

Abbie:

   I'm flattered you ask.  Even if you don't see the penguins ask one of the local's about them.  You'll love the way the South African dialect says "Peen-gueens."

   In Cape Town, be sure to locate one of the outdoor restaurants on the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront.  Great views.

   I'm telling you, a tram ride to the top of Table Mountain is worth the view and the experience.

   I hope your are flying business class. One of the longest plane trips anywhere is the US to Cape Town...challenging.

    You'll love South Africa. If you have time, plan to see the Cape of Good Hope. You can, literally, see how the Indian and Atlantic Oceans converge. Very windy. Hear the Great White Shark stories from your tour guide(s).

Very Happy Travels,

Lance Johnson
Oklahoma City

Posted Dec 23, 2010

I sent a semester abroad there, so was generally on a budget, but I'd recommend:

Kalk Bay (the Olympia Cafe is great and the antique shops are really fun.  Kalky's for good fish and chips),

a weekend at the wineries in Stellenbosch,

a picnic in Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens,

nights on Long Street (Fiction is my favorite and drum and base nights on Thursdays are great) if you like to party,

Mzoli's on Sundays with a big group of friends,

checking out the townships with a guide (send me a specific question if want contact info),

the Old Biscuit Mill on Saturdays.

I regret not taking the time to do the Garden Route, so definitely check that out.

Posted Dec 27, 2010

Abbie,

2 things:

1) Great white shark diving in "False Bay".  One of the coolest things I've ever done.  I went with a legend (so they tell me) Jackie Smith

2) I don't know if the restaurant is still there but it is in Boat Quay (the marina downtown) and it's called "Quay Four".  Go there and make sure you order the "Chocolate Nemesis" for dessert.  It is to die for.  Then, you can write me a thank you note :)

Have fun!!!

Bassam

Posted Dec 29, 2010

Stay at the Holiday Inn Express on St. Georges Mall.  It's in the center of town and accessible to everything.  Price is so reasonable, breakfast included and it is amazing.   I'm still friends with a driver who took us out into the countryside and I can give you his name and email.  He'll treat you fairly and well.  Treat him like your most favorite cousin and give him my name.  If you want more info email me at  marc@photodxpeditions.com

Posted Nov 03, 2011

Some of this may be obvious, sorry about that.  Hopefully it's useful.

Close by:

• Robben Island (top priority)
• Kalk Bay
• Cape of Good Hope
• Boulders

Further away:

• Cape Aguilas (southern most tip of Africa, awesome tide pools)
• Port Elizabeth (fun town)
• Addo Elephant Reserve (amazing)
• Bloukrans (tallest bungee jump in the world)
• Kimberly (largest hand dug hole - diamond mine)
• Lesotho (great cultural experience)
• Jo Berg
• Pilanesburg National Park

Hope you have a great trip.  I was there this past spring for just 3 weeks, but wished I could have stayed for months.

Cheers!

Posted Dec 13, 2010

Camps Bay & Long St. are obvious. I also thought the Bo-Kapp neighborhood (Muslim area) was visually interesting & wish I had the chance to explore that more.

I also recommend the wine regions  - Constantia and Stellenbosch.  Beautiful & even better if you like wine!

Posted Dec 13, 2010

A hike up Lion's Head is amazing and fun. I would really recommend the "hop on and off" bus, Red Line. It takes you around Cape Town's "greatest hits," and you can get off at any one of them and stay as long as you like. Places like the South African Jewish History Museum are really cool, and not something one might normally visit otherwise. You also get a ride through District 6, which is incredible to see (and stay on the bus for), around Camps Bay and to V&A waterfront.  Highly recommend. 

Posted Dec 14, 2010

I have not been there myself, but I have heard of a couple of interesting points.  Robben Island is definitely someplace that should be seen.  The South African Museum is supposed to be very good and was a planetarium which is not to be missed:    http://www.iziko.org.za/sam/

Also, the Cape of Good Hope National Reserve is a nice trip.  You can imagine the early explorers rounding the Cape in their large masted ships!  http://www.capepoint.co.za/

The Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden is only indigenous plants:   http://www.sanbi.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&Itemid=57&id=139

Have a great trip!

Posted Dec 14, 2010

Everyone's pretty much hit the good stuff.  Hermanus for whale watching is really nice.  It's about an hour drive through the beautiful mountains and countryside but well worth it.  The night life on Long Street is amazing, some good jazz clubs.  It's also a good place during the day too, great food, some music shops, and a sort of farmers market (I think it's just on the weekends) with some pretty fun stuff to check out.  For a bit of some hipper culture check out a local community called Woodstock.  I've got some friends who live there and absolutely love it!  Of course, you must see the penguins, that was a personal highlight for me!  Finish the drive down to Cape Point and hike up to the light house.  

You won't be able to do everything you want, but Cape Town is one of the best cities I've been to so you won't go wrong!

Posted Dec 14, 2010

Absolutely do a wine tour - but make sure you don't end up buying 11 bottles like I did! 

I stayed at Verona Lodge, and Shane & Lea were absolutely wonderful people and so hospitable and helpful. 

Posted Dec 15, 2010

My daughter and I enjoyed the incredible Aquarium at Victoria & Alfred waterfront. We also did a fabulous wine tour and a tour of the Peninsula down to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope. We lived at the Marina across from the Cape Grace Hotel, and that was fabulous. There's an incredible downtown market. I can't remember the name, but everybody knows about it. It will be easy to find. There are other markets that are huge. Be very careful. Don't carry large purses (easily snatched). Be sure to go to Victoria & Alfred waterfront. There's a huge mall and all sorts of activities. Do not miss going on the tour of Robbins Island. It's an incredible and deeply touching tour, with excellent tour guides. 

We generally avoid the touristy stuff, but found it to be a great way to get around and find out where we wanted to return to alone or with new friends from all over the world. Wonderful experience. We were there for a month, and having the leisure of not having to rush through everything in a week or less was great. Every morning we would see the seals sunning on the docks, and the crews cleaning the yachts in the marina. Truly a time for us to relax and enjoy our holiday after I completed my research in Pretoria.

All the best. Be safe, and enjoy.

Happy Holidays,

Meta

Posted Dec 16, 2010

Definitely hit the beaches. It's really beautiful and the weather will be great this time of the year. Also if you've got the time, go up to Gaansbai if you're interested in the shark tours and whale watching.

Posted Dec 17, 2010

We were just in Cape Town for the World Cup - but we were only there for a few days.

Don't know if it would be of interest (we were on a family vacation) - but we went to the "raptor show" at Spier Estate (more well known for its cheetahs) - it was unbelievable.  The birds were amazing - my kids got to handle all of them - eagles, hawks, owls - and our "guide" was extremely interesting and informative.  Really cool.  I think it was the highlight of our visit.

If I were to go back - I would definitely explore the winelands region in more depth......we only went to Spier and lunch in Franschhoek.  

I also dragged everyone to the District 6 Museum - my kids (and my husband) were bored to tears.  I would only recommend if you really have an interest in South African history and the years under apartheid rule.  But I kind of enjoyed it.

Finally - the "hot spot" when we were there (probably has changed by now)  was the Grand Cafe and Beach Restaurant.......food was just ok - but I imagaine it would be quite fun in the summer having drinks on the "beach".

Oh - and we found the "penguins" to be disappointing at best.....you can no longer go on the beach - you have to view them from a distance on the elevated boardwalk - kind of takes away from the experience.  But the coastline drive is pretty.

Don't know if that helps - we were only there for 3 days - and "en famille"........

Have a great trip!

Posted Dec 17, 2010

Don't miss the biltong!

Posted Dec 17, 2010

The Cape Tour and the Winelands.  Also hike up Lion's Head.

Posted Dec 18, 2010

It looks like everyone covered everything except the shanty towns (I might of missed it if someone mentioned it). It's not on everyone's list, but it's really interesting (and sad). 

Posted Dec 18, 2010

Other have given you plenty to do, but no one has said anything about housing, so here's my 2 cents worth:  I was in Cape Town for 2 months back in '03.  I looked for rental apts from the US, and they were expensive!  I ended up booking a 2 month stay at a B&B.  Was a great location (Bakoven/Camps Bay), a little pricey, but worth the convenience of furnished and availability of food.  However, the owner was a nightmare and the place was dirty and I ended up leaving after a month and rented an apt.  I swore the next time I was having an extended stay in another country, I would not book my apt from home.  You really need to see what you're getting.  So rather, I recommend that you book a hotel or B&B (which Cape Town has many!) for your first week and look from an apt once you are there.  Back in '03 there was a small paper that came out once a week with rentals, and it was THE thing to use to find an apt.  

My favorite neighborhood is Gardens.  I also like Tamboerskloof and Oranjezich.  I love De Waterkant too, but it's expensive and might have more tourists than locals because its so close to the waterfront.   In my opinion, Greenpoint and Seapoint can be more "backpackery".  Not sure what kind of feel you're looking for. 

For things to do, people really only gave you things to do in CT, but don;t forget to explore beyond.  Take a drive up the coast to Lambert's Bay - lots of national parks and other things to see along the way.  Check out the Karoo (I think T&L or CNTraveller had an article a few years ago).  

You're going to have an amazing adventure!

Posted Dec 19, 2010

Hi Abbie,

All the reccomendations mentioned previously are great.  But, no visit to South Africa would be complete without spending time in one of the Townships. I would reccomend SOWETO. While you are there visit the Hector Peterson Museum. This visit will show you different sides of the community. You will see where the student uprising took place in 1976, and you can visit Nelson Mandela's post apartheid home.  Another would be Langa Township, on a Sunday morning!

If you get to Jo'burg I would reccomend visiting the Africa Museum.

If you are taking a coastal drive , be sure to visit Muzeinberg, quaint little fishing town near False Bay. WIldlife also abounds - Whales and baboons!

Lastly if you love music then a must is the The  African Music store on Long Street  in downtown Cape Town.

Enjoy     your journed

Posted Dec 19, 2010

We stayed in two great B&Bs--An African Villa in the Tamberskloof area and loved it. My friend would go running in the morning and then come back and there's a lovely communal table, or if the weather is nice you could sit at smaller tables in the patio, where  there is a lap pool. Aside from Robben Island and Table mtn we went to the  District six museum, which was very good. We also found this andelula sustainable tourism groups that likes to arrange things where you actually talk to local people and interact. So we took a cooking class at a muslin women's home in Bo Kapp, She was delightul, it was really fun and it tasted great. I'm half asleep now but I'll add to it later because if you ae an advebturous hiker you have to go to Plettenberg and do Robberg;s Pass,

Posted Dec 19, 2010

Sunday brunch at 12 Apostles Hotel - beautiful, unobstructed views of the ocean, all the way up and down the coast, with the 12 Apostles mountains rift behind you. Really quite breathtaking.

Posted Dec 22, 2010

If you like wine. Head north to the wine country.  Found a wonderful little winery in Paarl www.fairview.co.za also makes goat cheese.  Tasting wine with goat cheese was fabulous.  Liked the wines so well, shipped a case of different varieties to my home.  Have fun.  Bob

Posted Dec 23, 2010

Abbie,  I really enjoyed going to the local wineries and having a wonderful dinner. The game meat is particularly delicious.  The wines are delicious and very affordable. D

Posted Dec 25, 2010

Everyone has some great suggestions, I personally would recommend the Chapman's Peak drive to Hout Bay from Long Beach. Plus, the World of Birds is awesome... you can walk through many large enclosures in with the birds, which sometimes leads to some interesting encounters (photo attached).

If you can make it to Kynsna along the Garden Route, I would also recommend that for a long weekend.

Posted Dec 28, 2010

The wine country around Franschoek, definitely; also take a drive out to Cape Point -- it's breathtaking.

Posted Dec 29, 2010

Abbie

I second the suggestion for An African Villa. We stayed there in May and we loved it. It is an easy walk to the city as well. The hosts are great at the hotel and the breakfast is delicious.

http://www.capetowncity.co.za/

We had a great tapas meal in Cape Town at FORK. WE walked there from an African Villa.

We also did the Anduela Cape Malay cooking school (as recommended by Afar) and we really enjoyed our time in the Bo Kaap. Not to mention, we had a great curry lunch!

We rented a car and drove the whole cape. Went to Cape Point Lighthouse, Boulders, and then ended in Stellenbosch and Franshoek for the wines and dinner. It took the whole day but it was an amazing drive. Highly recommended. 

Posted Dec 30, 2010

i would only suggest, as with everywhere, taking time to chill in the different neighborhoods. Grab a coffee in Tamboerskloof, lunch in Constantia, sundowners in Camps Bay...etc. I feel like, whenever I'm in Cape Town there's a lot of eating and drilnking. And that's ok :)

Posted Jan 14, 2011

I highly recommend the Bird's Boutique Cafe on Bree st. for lunch.   Delicious food and great atmosphere.

Posted Jan 17, 2011

Consider a cycling safari with Bike Beyond Boundaries (http://bikebeyondboundaries.com/bike-tours/south-africa-game-preserve). Read how I rode with the rhinos at http://matadornetwork.com/community/wordgeisha/riding-with-the-rhinos-south-africa-by-bike-part-i/ and http://matadornetwork.com/community/wordgeisha/riding-with-the-rhinos-south-africa-by-bike-part-ii/. Enjoy!

Posted Oct 28, 2012