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