CAPE TOWN, ADVENTURERS PARADISE
Cape Town is a port city located on a peninsula beneath the towering Table Mountain on South Africa's southwest coast.
The Original Capetonians
Long before the first Europeans arrived, the Khoisan people lived on Table Mountain and in the surrounding area. They were skillful and industrious people with an unrivalled knowledge of the local wildlife and flora, and they called the city/Hui!Gaeb. Table Mountain's first name was Hoerikwaggo, which means "mountain in the sea."
1. Nature is breathtaking
You can view the beautiful Table Mountain from practically anywhere in or around Cape Town if you look up. It is without a doubt Cape Town's most iconic sight, standing 1100 metres tall and dominating the horizon around the city. If you become bored of seeing it from below, climb the mountain to get a different perspective on the view. You can ride the cable cars up or hike one of the several paths that range in length from 3 to 10 kilometres to the top.
Lion's Head, at 670 metres above sea level, is just across from Table Mountain. With only a 5 kilometre trek to the top, you may enjoy beautiful vistas while working up a sweat. Are you looking for a shot of adrenaline? Schedule a tandem paragliding excursion from the top of the mountain to soar above the city, along the coast, and back.
2. Adventure is everywhere
This city's Essence is infused with adventure. In a single day, you can surf, trek, and paraglide off mountains, and if you're very adventurous, you can go cage diving with great white sharks. Many services eager to take you out to see one of the world's largest marine predators can be found on the Birkenhead Peninsula.
Take a journey to Tsitsikamma National Park if cage diving with Great White Sharks isn't enough for you. There are plenty of other things to do there. Bungee leap from Bloukrans Bridge, the world's fourth highest bungee jump, then go kayaking, scuba diving, or mountain biking in the park.
3. World-class find dining
The Garden Route is perhaps one of the most iconic and picturesque places in the world to sip exceptional wines and enjoy exceptional cuisine. It's also easy to get there from the city. It boasts stunning coastal vistas, attractive lakes, and picturesque farmlands, making it ideal for a road trip. Stellenbosch, Constantia, and Paarl are among the best and most well-known wine growing regions and vineyards in South Africa.
4. The History
Robben Island, the jail where Nelson Mandela, South Africa's most famous civil rights campaigner and later president, was imprisoned, is a must-see. Robben Island was utilised by the Dutch as a criminal jail before being used by the South African government under apartheid to imprison civil and political activists who challenged the government. You can walk into the enclosure and see Mandela's cell, where he spent 18 years of his life. Walking outside the compound provides a view of Cape Town's famous skyline, which is eerily out of reach.
5. Look out for The Big 5
The legendary "Big 5": the African lion, African elephant, Cape buffalo, African leopard, and rhinoceros may all be found at the Garden Route Game Lodge. For a magnificent sunset safari, hop in the back of an open Land Rover with your binoculars and cameras. Sunrise safaris are also fantastic, especially if you stay overnight and take advantage of the most active hours of the day for lions and other large animals.