Nestled between two majestic oceans at the southernmost tip of Africa, Cape Town is a city that captivates with its stunning contrasts. As South Africa's oldest city, Cape Town is a beacon of history, architecture, art, culture, wine, eco-consciousness, and conservation. Its growing popularity as a global holiday destination is no surprise.
Grew up in Hout Bay so this article hits close to home, literally.
The cable car section made me laugh a little. Every Capetonian will tell you the same thing: if you only ride the cable car you’ve done the tourist version of Table Mountain, not the real one. The Platteklip Gorge hike is two hours up and you earn every single one of those views. That said, my aunt refuses to hike anything steeper than a parking lot ramp, and she still cries every time she rides that cable car, so I get it.
One thing the article doesn’t warn people about is the southeaster in summer. Locals call it the Cape Doctor and it will absolutely end your Clifton beach day in about fifteen minutes flat. The trick is knowing that when the wind is howling on the Atlantic side, Long Beach near Kommetjie is often sitting there completely sheltered and gorgeous with almost nobody on it. That’s the kind of local knowledge that doesn’t make it into the brochures.
Also, Boulders Beach penguins are wonderful but prepare yourself for the smell. Nothing in the photos prepares you for the smell.
Kirstenbosch on a Sunday evening in December with a local Sauvignon Blanc while the sun drops behind the Boland mountains is, without exaggeration, one of the best things you can do in this country. The article mentions the summer concerts but that specific combination of timing and setting is something you have to experience once in your life.
The Camps Bay celebrity spotting line is accurate by the way. I’ve been there plenty of times and the most famous person I ever spotted was someone’s golden retriever who apparently belongs to a Springbok prop.