Cape Town Experience - General > Reviews > The beauty that is Cape Town...

Author's product rating:   

Advantages:	Stunning Scenery, It's History, So much to do !  !
Disadvantages:	Crime Rates

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

On your arrival in Cape Town, you straight away become familiar with the sheer divide of the rich and poor as you make your way past row after row after row of townships (shanty towns). You should be aware that as you drive around Cape Town, people will come up to your car and try sell you things. It is worth keeping doors locked at all times and at night time try to prevent stopping completely because there is a high crime rate during this time.

There is plenty to do and see during a stay in Cape Town, I have experienced a few which I believe are definately worth a trip to. A must is Table Mountain, which can either be walked or most commonly now (due to crime rates) reached by use of the cableway which takes visitors right to the top. This is very safe and is fixed with a rotating floor to enable visitors to see all views possible (costs R120/£9)! Once at the top you can choose between a number of walks along the mountain, whichever you choose is still going to provide you with breathtaking views. The weather, however, wants to ideally be clear and sunny to enjoy the views; wrapping up warm is advisable throughout the year.

Another huge attraction of this magnificent city is Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope. The journey over to the Cape Point is spectaular with stunning views and good roads. Once inside Cape Point National Park, there is a good possibility of seeing various animals such as baboon (watch out for them!!!), ostrich, antelopes and also there is various whale spotting sites. Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope sport formidable views and is the place where both the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean meet. However, Cape Point is not the most southerly point in Africa, this title belongs to Cape Agulhus!

Whilst in Cape Town I had the chance to visit Robben Island, which I immediately took up. Robben Island has played a huge part in the history of South Africa because it was the prison for Nelson Mandela for most of his 27 years of inprisonment. It takes a 50 minute boat ride to Robben Island, when there you are given a bus tour of the Isand, with very knowlegeable and entertaining tour guides. Here you get the chance to find out more behind the history of the Island, my favourite part was seeing the piles of stones, which had been placed down 1 by 1 by previous prisoners (started by Mandela himself) as a sign to show how they all share a common cause. The trip is concluded with a trip inside the maximum security prison and a look inside the cell in which Mandela lived in for those long 19 years! This part of the tour is hosted by an ex-inmate of the prison.

Cape Town is very famous for its wine. For the city itself the best place to visit is Constantia, or just outside the city is Stellenbosch another famous site for vineyards. Kirstenbosch botanical gardens was another beautiful spot I was fortunate enough to visit. It is home to some of the rarest species of plant in South Africa and with it's setting below Table Mountain, this is a must see when in Cape Town.

Cape Town has some of the most striking coastlines in the world and such spots as Camps Bay, Houts Bay and Boulders Beach (where the African Penguin can be seen in their thousands) are perfect places to visit for a day trip. Whilst there, take the chance to try some the excellent cuisine on offer in the city, specialising in seafoods.

In the heart of the city one can visit the V and A Waterfront where shopping is very much recommended. There is also the Aquariam which you have to see, with various creatures ranging from giant crab and seahorses to seals, penguins, tortoises, rays and sharks. When I went, they were introducing 3 new sharks to the aquariam.

I personally didn't expereince the nightlife in Cape Town, however, there are pleanty of restaurants to suit all needs and a variety of clubs and bars for others.

There are other activites on offer in Cape Town, such as a huge range of watersports, cycling and golf. I highly recommended Steenberg as a good choice of course.

The weather is at it's best in the November - February months, however I went there in July and the weather was hot continuously and I never had 1 bad day of weather.

I would recommend the beauty of Cape Town to anyone, however you can never afford to let your guard down because crime rates are ever increasing!