For more than two centuries, Simon’s Town has been an anchorage for the British Navy and boasts a wealth of historic and strategic interest. The history of Simon’s Town is told in beautiful historic buildings, a great military past, and a very diverse and rich heritage. Audio Tour of Simon’s Town Start the day off by getting some coffee and doing the audio tour to get a sense of the place. The tour itself will start at the station, then move on to the now called “historical mile” and then finish in the village centre. At under $2 this adventure is super affordable and is narrated by the author Maureen Miller. You can take a listen to the tour here. Coffee and pastries The tour ends just in time at some great places to grab a bite to eat. The Sweetest Thing offers a perfect variety of things to eat from pastries, cakes to pies and
The Cape Peninsula is the most beautiful place on earth (the locals will vouch for that) and has such a wide variety of activities that no matter your type of holiday you’ll be able to enjoy yourself. From highly adrenalin-fuelled activities to things that will just make you stop and marvel at the beauty of God’s creation, The Cape is the destination for you. Snorkel with seals on the Cape Peninsula Seal snorkelling in the Cape Peninsula is a once in a lifetime wildlife experience that you can’t afford to miss. This activity will expose you to the playful aquatic life up close and give you the chance of an intimate encounter with nature. You’re constantly surrounded by majestic Cape Fur Seals that want to play with you. They are attracted to your shiny snorkel equipment and like to jump, body splash and chase after you. The colony of seals that you’ll be snorkelling with
Although the African penguins are famous around the world, few people realise that their home is a beautiful beach within reach of Cape Town. Boulders beach, also known as ‘The Boulders’ or ‘Boulder’s Beach’ is one of Cape Town’s most visited beaches along the Cape Peninsula and the only place in the world where you get close to African Penguins. It is one of Table Mountain National Park’s many beautiful treasures hidden away on the south-western coastline which you can explore on a Cape Peninsula Tour. How it happened A couple of these beautiful birds came to rest here in 1982 on the soft sand of Boulder’s Beach. The beach is now home to about 2 to 3000 of these pretty creatures. The African Penguin , or Spheniscus demersus, is a species of penguin native to sub-Saharan Africa. Populations are declining due to over-fishing, pollution, habitat destruction, and irresponsible tourism activities. While a much loved
At a glance, you can see the Cape Peninsula is a beautiful place. The rugged coastline is full of beautiful beaches and the mountains belly out into the sea. It’s an up-and-coming region of South Africa for tourism, but what about the food? If you were holidaying in one of these towns on the peninsula, what would be your destination restaurant? Two Oceans Restaurant at Cape Point The two oceans restaurant is the premier venue to dine with a view. There is no better place to enjoy a sundowner and admire the sunset over the Atlantic Ocean. Then to have that followed by a hearty meal served in the dining room which offers a 180-degree view of the setting sun on False Bay. Being open for business since 1995, new renovations have come, vastly improving the spectacle that is Two Oceans Restaurant. With new management and a renewed dedication to excellence, the restaurant will be
The Cape Peninsula is the most beautiful place on earth (the locals will vouch for that) and has such a wide variety of activities that no matter your type of holiday you’ll be able to enjoy yourself. From highly adrenalin-fuelled activities to things that will just make you stop and marvel at the beauty of God’s creation, The Cape is the destination for you. Snorkel with seals on the Cape Peninsula Seal snorkelling in the Cape Peninsula is a once in a lifetime wildlife experience that you can’t afford to miss. This activity will expose you to the playful aquatic life up close and give you the chance of an intimate encounter with nature. You’re constantly surrounded by majestic Cape Fur Seals that want to play with you. They are attracted to your shiny snorkel equipment and like to jump, body splash and chase after you. The colony of seals that you’ll be snorkelling with
Cape Point is a place of many names; Cape of Good Hope, Gateway to the West, Cape of Storms. The Cape is known for its natural beauty; with a soft coastline, the scenic Cape Peninsula, indigenous fynbos and spectacular views. What most people don’t know however is that beneath the captivating scenery lie countless other reasons why one should visit this place. Some history of Cape Point From historical WWII lookouts to eerie ghost stories, Cape Point has a rich history that cannot be missed. A very cool way to learn about the history of Cape Point is to make use of the VoiceMap audio tour. One option leads you meandering up the path to the summit while the second takes you on the amazing Flying Dutchman Funicular experience. The VoiceMap app will make use of your location in order to tell you the historical stories of what you see in front of you. The
Shark Cage diving shouldn’t just be avoided, it should be banned altogether. Below are a few reasons why we shouldn’t go shark cage diving: It is not authentic Sharks are extremely shy animals. The last thing that they would want to do is go and swim next to a cage of divers who are exploiting them for their own entertainment. We know that the only way we will be able to get White sharks as close as possible is with blood, so we attract these sharks with the use of chum, creating a very inauthentic experience for ourselves and the sharks. These inauthentic experiences should be very unfulfilling to us as we recreate something completely unnatural. It is not sustainable There are many different shark cage diving operations in South Africa, and in one town in particular about 5000 visitors per week. This means that there is a very unnatural amount of blood and
Conversations about spotting the Big 5 in South Africa have always been massive, but did you know that the oceans surrounding South Africa are home to a different kind of Big 5? South Africa’s Marine Big 5 consists of the whale, shark, seal, penguin and dolphin. These extraordinary animals have to be ticked-off your bucket list as you travel around the southern tip of Africa. 1. African Penguin / Marine Big 5 These cute creatures with black and white plumage were almost extinct at one point. But now you can spot them in the thousands at places like Boulder’s Beach in Simon’s Town, Dassen Island, Dyer Island, Bird Island, Robben Island and St Croix Island. 2. Cape Fur Seal / Marine Big 5 One of the biggest marine tourist attractions in Cape Town, the Cape Fur Seal will put on a show for you in places like Hout Bay and Kalk Bay harbour. You can even go snorkelling with these seals
The Cape Peninsula is a place that offers some superb year-round attractions, from its stupendous beaches and dramatic scenery to some of the best hiking in the world. Pack your bag for adventure because exploring this majestic region offers plenty of fun and excitement. Take a drive around Chapman’s Peak Chapman’s Peak is definitely one of the most scenic drives in the world. It’s an oceanic drive that links Hout Bay with Noordhoek and is sure to amaze you with its stunning views. The road is definitely an adventure as it was gently cut out of the cliff. The stretch is also a beautiful place to go on a long-distance cycle because of the sea breeze and the winding turns. The rugged beauty of Chapman’s Peak Drive has been attracting travellers for years; a breathtaking part of the Atlantic Seaboard that is also home to many hidden gems and scenic vistas that you will not
Cape Town, its City Centre, malls, mountains and of course, its beaches! With the Atlantic Ocean as far as the eye can see, and even whales on the horizon during the winter, they are idyllic areas to have a rest. Don’t wait any longer and discover 5 places to go to the beach in Cape Town. Beach #1: Camps Bay Only 10 minutes away from the City Centre of Cape Town, Camps Bay is probably the most famous beach of Cape Town. Located at the foot of the Twelve Apotles Mountain Range, is is an inspiring place truly between sea and mountains. The area is lively all the day with numerous restaurants and bars along the palm-tree promenade, which probbly explain that it is a very touristic beach, especially for couples. However, local people also like to come to Camps Bay to play volley ball or simply relax after work. Indeed, it is a splendid
If you plan to travel to Cape Town for your next holidays, don’t forget to go to the magnificent Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. It is the perfect place for a picnic with friend or family, go hiking, see the whole diversity of the South African vegetation and, of course, have a rest in the sun. A relaxing place Only 20-minute driving away from Cape Town, the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden is located at the foot of the Table Mountain Range, just next to the Table Mountain National Park. However, the park is a part of the Cape Floristic Region, also named Cape Floral Kingdom, itself listed as UNESCO World Heritage. In the Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, you can discover the typical vegetation of Cape Town called Fynbos. You can also observe flowers from all the country like the famous South African national flower: the King Protea. Its names means “who can change his form freely”, what
South Africa is well-known for Game Viewing and especially Safaris in the Kruger National Park (Take a look at our exclusive 4 Day Kruger Safari), which are ones of the best in the world to see the Big 5 (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo). However, coming to Cape Town, you can see other animals just as remarkable on earth or in the ocean. Discover 5 places where you can see animals in Cape Town and around. Whales at Hermanus Whales are one of the most impressive animals you can find in the world. You can only find them in specific areas, mostly close to the poles. Nevertheless, if you come in South Africa between July and September, you have every chance to see some Southern Right Whales in Hermanus, one of the best spots in the world, during a wonderful tour on the Whale Route. Indeed, they leave the Antarctic Ocean once a year
Cape Point, is the tip of the Cape Peninsula. It is a must-see in South Africa! With many beaches, dozens of different views, a fascinating maritime history, among the most diverse fauna and flora in the world, this emblematic place in South Africa is full of activities. Before spending your holidays there, discover this magical place in the footsteps of greatest explorers, in a combination of History and Legends. Cape Point is located 60 km from Cape Town, inside the Table Mountain National Park, part of the Cape Floral Region. Covering an area of 46 000 km², it is the smallest of the six identified floral kingdoms in the world, but also the richest of them. For instance, we can find the most important density of plant species in the world. Moreover, the Table Mountain totalise about 2,200 different species, that is as much as the United Kingdom. This area is also a World Heritage