The city of Cape Town has a variety of available activities and attractions that lure and cater for many travelers, tourists and foreigners. Cape Town is known amongst SA citizens to be a tourist haven and travelers from all over the world rate the city as the top destination to it's African and Middle-easten counterparts. In the world the 'Mother City' as it is affectionately known rates third best according to Travel and Leisure magazine readers.  

With the 2010 Soccer World Cup approaching the city has gooten a cash injection and many improvements and refurbishments made. Buildings, infrastructure, tourist spots, accommodation and transport are being boosted to make the city friendly for tourists.

In the article below Tafadzwa Murapa delves into the five top attractions in Cape Town that is popular amongst tourists. Use the navigation link to view various articles on the City of Cape Town on CBN's website as well as business related articles.    


Five Things to Do in Cape Town
Author: Tafadzwa Murapa

Cape Town is a city rich in agriculture, breathtaking beaches, wine farms and estates, culture and offers plenty of beautiful and historic sightseeing activities. After all it is South Africa’s second most populous city and draws millions of tourists from all over the world each year, all wanting to see, and experience this beautiful city and all it’s surroundings have to offer. The best time to visit South Africa, Cape Town really depends on your interests and budget. The accommodation rates are usually much cheaper between May and September which are the cooler months and will be your best option if you are looking for value. The only problem is the weather; although this city has wonderful sunny days, these are also Cape Town’s rainy months. But all year round, Cape Town offers excellent places for sightseeing and there are also plenty to do. Here are some of the highly recommended activities you should do when visiting Cape Town:

 

·         Shark Cage Diving

The Cape Coast is one of the best places in the world to see and experience the Great White Shark. Whether you view the sharks from the surface or go down into the water in a cage with professional shark operators, you are guaranteed a thrilling experience. Gansbay is a small coast town about 180km from Cape Town city, and is one of the best locations to go shark cage diving. Other excellent shark cage diving operators in Cape region is

 

·         Robben Island

This is the island where former South African president, Nelson Mandela, has been imprisoned for 18 years. If you want to go on this trip it is advisable to book your tour well in advance as there have been times that it has been fully booked weeks in advance. The entire trip is about three and a half hours long and you will be taken to the island with a ferry. Once you have arrived you will be taken on a guided tour through the island as well as through the prison with a former political where you will be taken to Nelson Mandela’s prison cell.

·         The Cape Peninsula

Make sure that you set aside a whole day to visit The Cape Peninsula and try to do it on a day without any rain. This trip takes you to the tip of the peninsula and usually includes an optional boat trip that will take you to Hout Bay where you’ll see an island completely covered with seals, Cape Point which is the tip of the peninsula, the Cape of Good Hope, the Penguin Colony at Boulders Beach and Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens!

·         Wine Tour

This isn’t just a tour for wine lovers, but the wine farms and estates boast with beautiful landscapes, and historic architecture showcasing some of the best preserved Cape Dutch buildings in the country. But also make sure you enjoy a delectable lunch at some of the country’s top graded restaurants.

·         Walk with baboons

Many people have and will spend thousands of money to get close to primates in their natural habitat. But there is no need to pay that much money when visiting Cape Town as you’ll pay nothing more than fifty dollars. The organisation, Baboon Matters, offers you the opportunity to walk with some of the last surviving baboons in Cape Town.