| Bo Kaap is one of Cape Town's oldest | | | | Declared a national monument in 1936, |
| residential areas, home to many of the | | | | restoration has been a continuous process and |
| descendants of the Dutch imported slaves and | | | | the fortification now houses a military |
| full of 19th century Dutch architecture. | | | | museum and visitors can enjoy guided tours of |
| Sign up for a walking tour of the area and | | | | the torture rooms, forge, bakery and banquet |
| explore the many alleyways of the Muslim | | | | hall. |
| quarter as well as the Bo Kaap Museum. | | | | |
| | | | The impressive Table Mountain must be one of |
| Since the Dutch colonization in the mid | | | | the world's best known sights and a trip to |
| 1600s, Robben Island has been used as a leper | | | | the top is an essential part of any visit to |
| colony, hospital and wartime defence station | | | | Cape Town. A cable car was opened in 1929 |
| but it is probably best known as the prison | | | | and has since taken over 16 million visitors |
| where Nelson Mandela spent almost 20 years. | | | | to the top of the mountain. The revolving |
| Nowadays, the Robben Island Museum is open to | | | | cable car usually leaves every 5 to 10 |
| visitors who want to learn more about the | | | | minutes, the 10 minute journey offering |
| island's history and the abolition of | | | | visitors a unique, panoramic view of the |
| Apartheid in South Africa. | | | | city. At the top you will find a restaurant, |
| | | | guided walks and a choice of short trails. |
| The South Africa Museum and Planetarium is a | | | | Opening hours vary by season and the weather |
| great family excursion with a unique | | | | can affect operations so it is always best to |
| collection of whale skeletons, giant squid | | | | check before you leave. Look out for the |
| and "Shark World". There are social and | | | | dassies (rock hyrax) at the top. Although |
| natural history exhibits including the | | | | they resemble a rodent, I have been told they |
| fossilised skeletons of long-extinct reptiles | | | | are anatomically related to the elephant! |
| that ruled the land some 50 million years | | | | |
| before the dinosaurs. | | | | Founded in 1913 and covering 528 hectares on |
| | | | the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, the |
| Telkom Exploratorium is an interactive | | | | Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens grow |
| telecommunications discovery centre which | | | | and display a wide variety of indigenous |
| takes the visitor from early communication | | | | South African plants. September and October |
| techniques such as smoke signals through to | | | | are the most colourful months to visit whilst |
| modern day technologies such as virtual | | | | the arrival of the South African summer in |
| reality | | | | December heralds the flowering of the Cape |
| | | | Chestnut and striking Lampranthus. Other |
| Situated in the heart of Cape Town's working | | | | seasonal highlights include impressive floral |
| harbour, the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront | | | | displays of agapanthus and lilies or the |
| is an outstanding regeneration project which | | | | bright berries of the Transvaal Hard Pear |
| offers a variety of shopping, dining and | | | | Tree. There are many scenic walks around the |
| entertainment choices as well as lively | | | | gardens, some suitable for prams, children |
| street performers and events. Attractions | | | | and the blind (with a range or aromatic and |
| here include a variety of sea excursions and | | | | textured plants). There are also |
| boat charters, the BMW Pavillion (with all | | | | exhibitions, seasonal events, picnic spots |
| the latest models), Mineral World and the | | | | and themed walks. The open air concerts held |
| passenger terminal for the RobbenIsland ferry | | | | here in the summer are extremely popular. |
| alongside the "Nelson Mandela Entry to Robben | | | | However, women are asked not to venture alone |
| Island Museum". Also here is the Two Oceans | | | | on the quieter paths of the upper slopes. |
| Aquarium which offers visitors the | | | | |
| opportunity to get a closer look at the | | | | If it's thrills you're after, a visit to the |
| marine life from both the Atlantic and Indian | | | | Ratanga Junction theme park may be called |
| Oceans. Here you can visit a penguin colony, | | | | for. With more than 30 attractions ranging |
| find Nemo, explore a Kelp forest and dive | | | | from the white knuckle "Cobra" ride to the |
| with predators such as sharks. | | | | more gentle "Crocodile Swamp" for the under |
| | | | 3s, there is plenty here to amuse the whole |
| The Castle of Good Hope is the oldest | | | | family. The park is open throughout the |
| building in South Africa, built by the Dutch | | | | summer with selected winter opening dates in |
| East India Company in the 1660s to protect | | | | November, December and January. |
| their interests against the British. | | | | |