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Cape Town Travel Guide

Your guide on where to go and what to see in Cape Town - South Africa’s city where two oceans meet.

Exploring the Mother City

Exploring the Mother City

Affectionately known as the ‘Mother City’ by locals; Cape Town sits at Africa’s southernmost tip along a peninsula overlooked by the famous Table Mountain. This multi-cultural jewel in South Africa’s crown is like nowhere else in the world and given the chance to explore this diverse city and its people, it’s unlikely you’ll leave disappointed.

Things to do in Cape Town

Discover the National Parks

The majestic Table Mountain may be Cape Town’s most-recognisable icon but is just the tip of the iceberg – the peak of a stunning, 85 square mile national park.

Considered a modern natural wonder of the world, you would want to spend at least two days adventuring around this area; the Boulders Beach penguin colony, Cape of Good Hope and of course, the famous mountain itself are just a fraction of the wonders that make up the National Park.

Despite there being so much more to the national park than just Table Mountain you can’t leave without a trip to the top. Get a cable car – or if you’re game, take a hike up to the top of the mountain to meet the native rock dassie and experience an uninterrupted view of the city.

Taste the multiculturalism

The multiculturalism is palpable in the Mother City. But like all great diverse hubs, a highlight is undoubtedly the array of cuisines on offer. Traditional South African dishes are a must, and can be found in both fine dining and casual settings. Try the fish and chips in Hout Bay or grab a takeaway bunny chow and experience the spices of Indian migrants to the continent. Particularly hungry? Attempt to eat an entire Gatsby – a traditional sandwich filled with different meats, chips, sauces and everything else you can think of! Got a sweet tooth? Indulge in a milk tart, koeksisters, or a malva pudding!

Enjoy the coastline

Cape Town has the longest coastline of all South Africa’s coastal regions; and the 1,000kms of pristine coast is littered with some of South Africa’s best beaches.

Camps Bay

Dive Justin’s Cave - underwater caves between Camps Bay and Llandudno, take a dip in the natural tidal pool or make use of one of the free barbecue spots and experience a traditional South African braai. Had enough of the beach? Head to one of the nearby upmarket seafood restaurants or cocktail bars after a long hard day of swimming and sunning.

Clifton

With its turquoise water, platinum sands and affluent homes it’s no surprise that Clifton is knows as South Africa’s ‘French Riviera’. Clifton is actually divided into four beaches by huge granite boulders. Go surfing or play a game of volleyball at First beach, be seen sunning yourself or enjoying a beach party on Second and Third beaches, or head to Fourth beach for a family-friendly day at the beach.

Muizenburg

Muizenburg beach is located just outside of Cape Town city – around a 30 minute drive from the city centre. It has a thriving surfing community and an excellent place to learn how to surf. “Muizies” as it’s known by locals is also a fantastic spot for families as the rock pools are perfect for little ones during low tide; or rent bicycles and take a ride from Muizenburg to Kalk Bay!

Cape Town Currency

You’ll use the South African rand in Cape Town, which is broken down into 100 cents. One Australian dollar is worth around R9.99*.

Below is a breakdown of what certain items may cost you in Cape Town, in Australian dollars^:

  • Inexpensive meal for one – $11.14
  • Mid-range restaurant meal for two – $46.44
  • Bottle of water – 95 cents
  • Cappuccino – $2.33
  • 0.5 litre of local beer – $1.85
  • Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff) – 93 cents

*Rates based on data as of 4pm on 19/09/2018.
^Based on data as of 4pm on 19/09/2018 from https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Cape-Town?displayCurrency=AUD