Top Three Places to Visit in Cape Town

Posted by Rachel in Cape Town on 07 7th, 2010 | No comments yet - be the first one!

A visit to Cape Town in South Africa will provide you with no shortage of things to do and places to see. But if you’ve got limited time, here’s our pick of the top three must-see places to visit in Cape Town.

1. Table Mountain

Take a cable car up Table Mountain in Cape Town

One of the most famous landmarks in Cape Town, Table Mountain rises high above the city and is over 260 million years old. The highest point reaches 1085m or 3559ft. A World Heritage Site, it’s home to fynbos, an endangered collection of plants and shrubs.

Cable cars will take you up the mountain at regular intervals throughout the day – as one goes up, another goes down – and it takes less then 10 minutes to reach the summit of Table Mountain. The cable cars give fantastic 360 degree views, and at the top, you can enjoy exploring some of the 2km of pathways or simply enjoy more of the spectacular sights from the 12 or more viewing decks.

2. Robben Island

A former site of imprisonment from the 17th to 20th centuries, Robben Island is located off the coast of Cape Town and is must-visit location. Some of South Africa’s most famous political prisoners were held here, including Nelson Mandela, and since 1999, the island has become a World Heritage Site.

Ferries depart four times a day, weather permitting, from the Victoria and Albert (V&A) Waterfront in Cape Town. You can book your tickets in advance and online, or buy them from the ticket office at the Nelson Mandela Gateway at the V&A Waterfront. Tours of Robben Island last for three and a half hours, which includes the two half-hour ferry crossings.

3. Victoria and Albert Waterfront

Located in the heart of Cape Town and with the stunning Table Mountain as its backdrop, the Victoria and Albert Waterfont successfully blends together the old and the new in Cape Town.

The historic harbour, which started off life as a small jetty, built in 1654 by Jan van Riebeeck, has been transformed into a thriving hub of museums, shops, restaurants and nightlife. Whether you want to soak up the atmosphere of Cape Town, dine in one of the many international restaurants, or take to the sea for a spot of adventure or excitement, the Victoria and Albert Waterfront is the place to be.

Exploring the Cape Town Wine Routes: Constantia Valley

Posted by Rachel in Cape Town on 06 18th, 2010 | Read Comments(1)

If you’ve been inspired to visit South Africa through seeing the country during the World Cup coverage, then there are plenty of wonderful places to visit.

Cape Town is famous for many things, including its wine routes. For anyone who enjoys a tipple or two of fine wines, and wants to see where the grapes that produce many South African wines originate, then the wine routes are a must-see.

There are numerous wine routes located around Cape Town – known as the Cape Winelands – and you can either pick and choose to visit one or two, or incorporate several of them into your trip. One of the routes that is definitely worth incorporating into a trip is the Constantia Valley wine route.

The Constantia Valley Wine Route

One of the oldest wine routes in South Africa, the Constantia wine route is located very close to Cape Town, only about 20 minutes from the city centre. The Constantia Valley has a moderate climate and very fertile soil, which has been cultivated since 1685. The first Governor of the Cape, Simon Van Der Stel is renowned for establishing a farm in this area and the award-winning wines produced here are still as sought after as they used to be.

Some of the main vineyards to visit include – Steenberg, Constantia Uitsig, Buiternverwachting, Klein Constantia and Groot Constantia.

The Steenberg Estate is the oldest farm and the very first wines were produced here in 1695. You can visit the vineyard, taste the wine, eat at Catharina’s restaurant or stay a night at the luxurious Country Hotel. For golfers, there’s even an 18-hole golf course here too, so you can indulge your passion of wine and golfing.

Constantia Uitsig means Constantia View and this estate has 40 hectares producing award-winning wines such as Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Chardonnay and Merlot. The wine shop is packed to the brim with wine and you can dine at the Constantia Uitsig Country Hotel.

Buitenverwachting aptly means Beyond Expectations and this is certainly likely to be the case for visitors. The estate produces multi award-winning wines and has a restaurant rates amongst the top 10 in South Africa.

Set in the upper foothills of Constantiaberg, the historic Klein Constantia estate has been owned by the same wine produced for four centuries. It specialises in wines such Sauvignon Blanc, Vin de Constance and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Finally, the Groot Constantia estate is a must-visit, as it was the farm established by Simon Van Der Stel. It now houses a museum depicting the early days of wine making, plus you can see the original Cloete Cellar, which dates back to 1791.