Cape Town Travel Guide- Budget Accommodation, Luxury Accommodation

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Province: Western Cape
Region: The Cape metropole

Helderberg   | Oostenberg  |  Cape Town  | South Peninsula  | Tygerberg  | Blaauwberg

The Cape Metropolitan Area is divided into six different local areas, namely Cape Town, the South Peninsula, Blaauwberg, Helderberg, Tygerberg and Oostenberg. Tourist life in the city of Cape Town centres around the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, a working harbour offering everything from upmarket shopping malls, arts and craft markets, theatres and live music, to museums. 

Major attractions in the city include the Bo-Kaap Museum, the Castle of Good Hope, the Company's Garden, the District Six Museum, flea markets, the Grand Parade, the Houses of Parliament, the South African Cultural History Museum and the South African National Gallery. 

Also worth a visit are the historical buildings in the Bo-Kaap and District Six. 

Air flips and trips are available, as well as many boat and yacht trips from Table Bay harbour, including trips to Robben Island (proclaimed a World Heritage Site and also the place where former President Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for a number of years), which is fast becoming one of South Africa's premier tourist attractions. 

A new R24-million departure terminal for Robben Island, the Nelson Mandela Gateway, is planned as part of a new R850-million Waterfront development. The Gateway is expected to increase the number of visitors to the Island from 1 200 a day in summer to 1 800. 

Table Mountain is a popular site for visitors and provides the majestic backdrop to the vibrant and friendly Mother City. It can be reached by an ultra-modern cableway. The Mountain forms part of the Cape Peninsula National Park. 

Newlands is home to the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. In summer, various open-air concerts are held, and visitors can bring their own picnic baskets. 

At the South African Rugby Museum, visitors can follow the history of the sport back to 1891. 

The Rhodes Memorial is situated in Rondebosch on the slopes of Table Mountain. It was built of granite from the Mountain as a tribute to the memory of Cecil John Rhodes, Prime Minister of the Cape from 1890 to 1896. 

The University of Cape Town is worth a visit for its historic Middle Campus and many buildings designed by Sir Herbert Baker. 

At Cape Point, part of the Cape Peninsula National Park, there are many drives, walks, picnic spots and a licensed restaurant. Care has been taken to protect the environmental integrity of this 7 750-ha reserve of indigenous flora and fauna. 

Simon's Town's naval atmosphere and Historic Mile are major attractions in the area. A statue of the famous dog and sailor's friend, Able Seaman Just Nuisance, stands at Jubilee Square. 

Other attractions include the South African Naval Museum, the Stempastorie Museum and the Warrior Toy Museum. One of only two mainland jackass penguin breeding colonies in the world can be found at Boulders Beach. 

Hout Bay is well known for its colourful working harbour. Seafood outlets, round-the-bay trips to the nearby seal colony, shell and gift shops and a world-famous harbourfront emporium (Mariner's Wharf) attract many visitors. Duiker Island, opposite The Sentinel, is a seal and sea bird sanctuary. The World of Birds Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the largest bird parks in the world and provides a home for some 3 000 birds. Visitors are allowed to walk through the large landscaped aviaries. 

Backdropped by the magnificent Hottentots Holland and Helderberg mountains, the Helderberg region is a paradise for tourists. Hiking and bird-watching in the Helderberg Nature Reserve, the historic Vergelegen Wine Farm and the Helderberg Wine Route offer something for everyone. Golfers can play a round at the popular Erinvale Golf Course, while a scenic viewpoint on Sir Lowry's Pass offers uninterrupted views across False Bay. 

In Oostenberg, visitors can enjoy some fine wine and flower farms, such as Zevenwacht Wine Estate with its graceful Cape Dutch homestead. At Tygerberg Zoo, visitors can see a collection of exotic animals. Endless stretches of quiet beaches provide some of the most popular surfing and windsurfing spots. Big Bay in Bloubergstrand is a surfer's paradise and is host to an international windsurfing event. Rietvlei Nature Reserve is a unique wetland area, boasting over 110 bird species, including pelicans and flamingos. 

Ratanga Junction, Africa's first full-scale theme park, situated on the outskirts of Cape Town, was built at a cost of R350 million. It offers more than 30 attractions ranging from adrenaline-pumping thrill rides and rollercoasters to more sedate family and kiddie rides, and snake and bird shows. 

Also worth a visit is the Canal Walk Shopping Complex. It is the largest shopping centre in Africa with close to 400 shops. Straddling more than 1 km of canals, Canal Walk is anchored on one end by Dockside Nightclub and Ratanga Junction and at the other end by Intaka Island, Century City's award-winning wetlands conservation area. 

Tygerberg is a vibrant and fast-growing area with a well-developed business centre, numerous sports fields, an international indoor cycle track, well-kept golf courses, a racecourse and a casino.