DISCOVERING CAPE TOWN
After the airport upgrades for the 2010 Football World Cup, arriving in sunny South Africa is an absolute pleasure. I recommend starting your journey in vibrant, stunning Cape Town. As soon as you step out of the airport you will be greeted by summer warmth and breathtaking views of Table Mountain…
One could spend a month exploring and enjoying all that Cape Town has to offer, so I will highlight a few experiences that no visit to Cape Town is complete without. Firstly, get yourself a car because South Africa has immaculate roads and driving is by far the best way to soak in all the natural beauty on your journey.
If you are in Cape Town on a Saturday, you must visit the Old Biscuit Mill, which is open from from 9am – 2pm. It is where Cape Town’s trendy youth gather to enjoy fresh local produce, regional organic foods, hand-made cheeses, wood-fired breads, specialty fine-food, luxury beer and local designer’s products. An insider tip is to try the steak sandwich or eggs benedict, which had me taking notes on how it should be done. See http://theoldbiscuitmill.co.za for details.
A visit to Cape Town isn’t complete without taking the cable car to the top of Table Mountain and a visit to Camps bay, a swim in the famously cold Atlantic Ocean followed by an epic lunch or dinner, caught from those same waters… The V&A Waterfront is another must see, with its street performers, stunning surroundings and delectable fresh seafood. From there you can take a ferry to Robben Island to see where the legendary Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years. The Roundhouse Restaurant offers stone-fired pizzas sitting outdoors whilst looking out over the ocean and the Twelve Apostles as the sun sets behind them. It was easily one of the best dinners I have had and is the perfect spot for a special meal. Visit http://theroundhouserestaurant.com for reservations.
Stellenbosch, South Africa’s most famous wine district is roughly a 40-minute drive away and each vineyard has its own restaurant attached so you can enjoy a fresh and fantastic meal in the serene surroundings. For the more adventurous, there is surfing at Muizenberg beach, sky diving into the most spectacular drop zone and finally, cage diving with great white sharks.
“This cape is the most stately thing…we saw in the whole circumference of the earth” wrote Sir Francis Drake, on seeing the Cape for the first time in 1580. I believe this remains true today. Cape Town is the ideal entry point to Africa — and there is much more to see, once your eyes have been opened to all that Africa holds.
Author: Simon Friend and Caroline Gui
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