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