Kirstenbosch Gardens is a must see while visiting Cape Town. This beautiful attraction sits at the foot of the eastern slope of Table Mountain. The gardens cover an area of 528 acres with 36 acres of landscaping that showcases indigenous South African plants. Enjoy a casual stroll along the pathways that take you across rolling lawns and past streams and ponds. The gardens are inhabited by a large variety of birds. It's a great place to spend the afternoon with a picnic. Summer Concerts In The Park On Sundays in the summer months from November to April the gardens host … [Read more...]
A Sobering Experience On A Tour Of Robben Island
We couldn't leave Cape Town without doing the trip out to Robben Island. This is the prison where Nelson Mandela spent twenty seven years of his life. Although he served most of his imprisoned life here, this is not the prison that he was released from though. He spent the last few years of his sentence in a prison called Victor Verster. It is near the town of Paarl in South Africa. Once you get off the boat at the dock on Robben Island you are put onto buses. We were taken around the large island for a tour. We were shown many buildings and told of their purposes. A lot of the … [Read more...]
Chapman’s Peak Drive, Camps Bay and Long Beach
Chapman's Peak Drive Chapmans Peak. is claimed to be one of the most scenic drives in the world. It was originally constructed during World War I. Several vehicle commercials have been filmed here showing cars hugging the corners around the steep cliffs that are carved into the mountain. There are a total of 114 curves on the nine kilometer road that follows the rocky coastline. On one section of the road you have to drive through a notch that has been cut out of the cliff side. It is like a three sided cave, but with a cliff dropping off on the open side that faces the ocean. It is … [Read more...]
The Magnificent Mountain With The Table Top
No trip to South Africa would be complete without seeing Table Mountain. This iconic landmark towers over the skyline of Cape Town and to fully appreciate the mountain you need to get to the top of it. The panoramic views from the plateau allow you to get a full perspective of the Cape Peninsula. If you are fit enough you hike up one of trails leading to the top of the mountain. There are several different routes, each one is a good strong climb but offers a rewarding experience. People were asked to stay off the trails during the time of our visit. There had been several fires because of the … [Read more...]
Victoria And Alfred Waterfront, Full Of Entertainment Day Or Night
The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront is one of Cape Town's biggest attractions. It is a functioning commercial harbour with a backdrop of mountains, and set in the midst of it all is a huge entertainment venue. There are pubs, restaurants, specialty shops, two shopping centers, two craft markets and movie theaters. There are probably enough restaurants here to keep you eating at a different one for each day of the year. The menus are very creative and the food is excellent. The atmosphere is great, there is something for everyone here and for every budget. This is a great area to come … [Read more...]
Our Stays At Two Cape Town Backpackers
A Bit Difficult To Find Accommodation Without Pre-Booking In Cape Town For six weeks we traveled in South Africa and flew by the seat of our pants. We would show up at a destination and have no issues finding accommodation. That was until we reached Cape Town. We were informed that Cape Town is busy with tourism all year round. The only time of the year that is a bit slower is the month of May, this would be the peak of their winter season. We were having issues finding a place that had vacancy for more than a few nights. We decided we would break up our time in Cape Town. We booked a few … [Read more...]
Cosmopolitan Cape Town
Cosmopolitan Cape Town Just when you think you have seen the most spectacular views and scenery that South Africa could possibly offer, the country pulls out another punch. Cape Town is a city that should be on everyone's must see list. You have the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Indian Ocean on the other, beautiful Table Mountain smack in your face and the city circling around it. Cape Town is a very upbeat and vibrant city with so much to see and do. It has a very cosmopolitan atmosphere, some call it's Africa's New York. Long Street And Kloof Street Long Street stretches for over … [Read more...]