Top Ten Things to See in Cape Town

Cape Town is affectionately called the ‘Mother City’ and we love our Mama! In 1580 on seeing the Cape for the first time, Sir Francis Drake wrote in his journal: “This cape is the most stately thing and the fairest cape we saw in the whole circumference of the earth.” We couldn't agree more.
 
There is so much to do and see in Cape Town that you could easily stay for an extended period. To give the city and its surrounding area justice, we recommend planning at least three nights here. Beat About the Bush organises superb accommodation and provides tailor made professional tours of Cape Town for our guests.  
 
Here are our top ten things to see and do in and around the Mother City.

​1. Take the revolving cable car to the top of Table Mountain. ​

The five-minute cable car ride carries you to the summit of Table Mountain, 1089 m above Cape Town, gently rotating 360 degrees for spectacular views along the way. At the top there are places to sit and soak in the incredible scenery as well as hiking trails to explore. 
 
2. See the penguins at Boulder’s Beach.

Get up close with an African penguin colony at Boulder’s Beach near Simon’s Town. The penguins can be viewed throughout the year, however January is a great time to visit when the juvenile birds are moulting on the beach.
 
3. Take a walk or have a picnic in Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden.

Part of a larger nature reserve and melding in with the natural environment, Kirstenbosch has a huge variety of flora to explore both outside and in greenhouses. There are over 7000 species in cultivation at Kirstenbosch, including many rare and threatened species.
 
4. Drive to the tip of the Cape Peninsula at Cape Point.

Cape Point is well worth a visit. This world heritage site and nature reserve within the Table Mountain National Park is at the tip of the Cape Peninsula 60 km southwest of Cape Town. A drive to Cape Point not only offers stunning views but also an abundance of flora and fauna. Cape Point teems with buck, baboons and Cape mountain zebra as well as over 250 species of bird.
 
5. Visit the Company’s Gardens. 

The Company’s Gardens is the oldest garden in South Africa. It has its origins in Jan van Riebeeck’s vegetable garden, which he grew to feed the original colony. This large public park and botanical garden is right in the heart of Cape Town and it has a rose garden, Japanese garden, pond, aviary, and a permanent craft market. There is often local live music being preformed. 
 
6. Sample the exquisite wines of the Cape Winelands. 

About 40 kms east of Cape Town, the Cape Winelands are a collection of historic towns, little hamlets and Cape Dutch farmsteads that provide well-regarded South African wines to the world. With stunning scenery and culinary delights, a visit to the Winelands is a must.
 
7. Soak up the culture of Bo-Kaap.

Bo-Kaap is one of the most photographed areas within Cape Town due to its brightly painted architecture and cobbled streets. The area is one of the oldest residential areas in Cape Town and it has a rich multi-cultural history with roots in Malaysian, African, Indian and Sri Lankan cultures. You can delve further into Bo-Kaap’s vibrant history by taking part in walking tours, mosque visits and museum visits.
 
8. Get up close to the great white sharks of False Bay.

Cape Town is famous for its great white shark population. Get out on the water on a shark breaching trip. Shark breaching is one of the hunting techniques that great whites use to surprise and kill its prey. The shark propels right out of the water from the incredible force and energy exerted.
 
9. Go museuming! 

Cape Town is filled with fantastic museums. We recommend the District Six Museum to learn about the history of forced removals in District Six and the Gold of Africa Museum to learn about South Africa’s history of gold mining and smithing. In September 2017, the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA) will open its doors (pictured above). Zeitz MOCAA will house Africa’s largest collection of contemporary African art.
 
 10. Watch the noon day cannon fire.

​Since 1806, a shot has been fired from a cannon on Signal Hill at noon as a time indicator. The tradition is still alive today and the shot is loaded by the South African Navy and heard by residents daily. The noon day gun is Cape Town’s oldest lasting tradition and visitors and invited to watch the process of shooting the gun while they gaze out at beautiful views of the city.