5 Interesting things to explore when visiting Cape Town
Welcome to Cape Town my hometown. Perched between the ocean and the iconic Table Mountain, which serves as a backdrop to the “Mother City”.
Table Mountain using the Aerial Cableway
The Cableway takes you to the summit in under 5 minutes and allows you a 360 degree full view of the city and the mountain. Go early to avoid long queues and wait for a sunny day or you may get lost in the fog. Everyone gets a fair view through the open windows, as the car rotates as it travels, so very clever, and amazing views.
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens
Situated on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch is internationally acclaimed as one of the seven most magnificent botanical gardens in the world. The 528 hectares estate includes a cultivated garden and a nature reserve. The developed garden displays collections of southern African plants including many rare and endangered species. The Treetop Path is an amazing treetop walking path that allows you to meander through the foliage, and peer down through the canopy.
Robben Island
Robben Island is situated about 10km offshore from Cape Town. The name “Robben Island” was given by Dutch settlers and roughly translated means “Island of seals”. It is accessed by ferries that depart from the V&A Waterfront. Many visitors come with some understanding of the prison, but seeing Mandela’s tiny cell and viewing Table Mountain from the island will give you a far deeper perspective than any history book could ever achieve. Whether you are visiting Cape Town for the first time or you are a local wanting to explore the city’s history, a visit to Robben Island is highly recommended.
Penguins at Boulders Bay
Just around the corner from the seaside village of Simons Town is the famous colony of African Penguins. Once called Jackass Penguins for their hilarious braying call. After you have fallen in love with the penguins head to the secluded Boulders Beach and take a swim in the comparatively warm waters of the False Bay.
Swimming with penguins at Boulders Beach, is a real thrill. A small public beach is set apart from the main penguin colony that resides here, but that doesn’t stop the penguins from sitting on your beach towel or darting around your legs while you take a refreshing dip in the Ocean. A boardwalk has been built around the dunes so you can get a great close-up look at the entire colony eating, breeding, preening, swimming, and chatting away.
Company’s Gardens
Right in the middle of the bustling CBD of Cape Town you will find The Company’s Garden. Started by the Dutch East India Company way back in 1652, this beautiful laid-out garden provides a cool, leafy break from the city noise. Beside its green lawns, huge trees and cooling fountains and ponds, it’s all set about with fascinating places to visit.
The Company’s Garden is home to an overwhelming amount of fauna. There are the famous squirrels, who you can purchase bags of nuts to feed. There are pigeons, Egyptian geese, herons, and rodents, and there is even an aviary where dozens of species of birds can be viewed. I love feeding the squirrels, who will scamper right up to you for a snack.
