Cape Town Area

Cape Town is one of the most beautifully situated cities in the world. Tucked beneath the striking form of Table Mountain, it offers the visitor a unique opportunity to experience the charm and history of the region as well as its cultural diversity. Whether it's a visit to the stunning vineyards to sample some of South Africa's amazing wines, a drive to the Cape of Good Hope along the stunning Cape Peninsula, or a visit to Robben Island to see where Mandela was held captive, Cape Town and the surrounding area are a must for anyone choosing to visit South Africa.

Highlights of Cape Town

• Table Mountain
• Robben Island
• Cape Peninsula
• Safari Ostrich Show Farm
• Monkeyland
• Cango Caves

Historical Sites

Nelson Mandela Museum
For those interested in learning more about the history of Nelson Mandela and his origins, the Nelson Mandela Museum is a nice stop. The Museum is situated halfway between Durban and Port Elizabeth and can be accessed by road from Cape Town, East London and Durban. What makes this museum unique is that it is spread over three different sites, the Bhunga Building in Umtata, the spiritual Mvezo, where Mandela was born, and Qunu, the cultural village where he grew up. Opening hours are Monday –Friday from 9am-4pm and Saturdays & Public Holidays from 9am-12:30pm. Additional information may be found at www.mandela-museum.org.za. Those with an ISE Card will be admitted free of charge.

Table Mountain
Table Mountain is one of South Africa's most famous landmarks. Located in Cape Town, the sandstone plateau rises up to a height of 1085 meters and is a stunning backdrop to the city below. Its flat top is approximately 3 km wide and there are over 1470 different species of plants which have been found on the mountain- more than can be found on the entire British Isles! Numerous animals also make Table Mountain their home due to its ideal terrain. Climbing the mountain is possible but most choose to use the aerial cableway to glimpse a view from the top.

Table Mountain Aerial Cableway
The Aerial Cableway that runs up to the top of Table Mountain is a historical monument in itself. Since it opened 75 years ago, over 15 million people have taken the trip to the top. Some of the more famous visitors have been King George VI, Queen Elizabeth II, Oprah Winfrey, Sting, Stefi Graf, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Margaret Thatcher, Prince Andrew, Brooke Shields, Tina Turner, and Jackie Chan-to name a few. In 1997, the old cable cars were updated to include today's Rotairs, which have a revolving floor that allows passengers a 360-degree view of the city and mountain as they travel. The normal round-trip price is R110. With an ISE Card there is a R30 discount.

Activities

Greenmarket Square
What started out as a farmers' market in 1710 is now Cape town's best-known flea market. Many buskers, dancers, singers, and musicians flock to this area which helps give it its eccentric and colorful feel. Beautiful old buildings, including the Old Town House, overlook the square. In addition, there is a nice selection of restaurants and cafes surrounding the market for those who want a bite to eat. The best time to explore Greenmarket Square is on Saturday mornings.

Robben Island
For nearly 400 years, Robben Island, 12 Km from Cape Town, was a place used as a means of banishing, exiling, isolating, and imprisoning those where were thought to be political lawbreakers and the "unwanted" of society. During the apartheid years, Robben Island became known for its brutal methods with regards to dealing with its prisoners. Opponents of apartheid were isolated, and those who ran the Island made it their duty to try and crush their morale. Nelson Mandela was held captive at Robben Island during those years and withstood incredible hardships. However, his determination and beliefs were remained strong and today; Robben Island has become a symbol of the triumph of the human spirit over enormous hardship and adversity. Tours of the island include boat transport across Table Bay, a visit to the old Maximum Security Prison, a guide who was an ex-political prisoner, and a 45 minute bus tour with commentary. Tickets are R150 and may be purchased at the Cape Town Tourism offices at the clock tower or waterfront locations. You may also e-mail the Cape Town Tourism Information office to book at info@tourcapetown.com.

Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch is only 20km from Cape Town and the surrounding area is often compared to southern France with its rolling, green hillsides and lush valleys. Many different wine producing estates can be found in the area, some of which specialize in wine tasting while others have cozy restaurants offering wonderful meals. The town of Stellenbosch itself has an old century European feel to it with its wide avenues lined with oak trees, a rambling university and many buildings in the Cape Dutch style. Wine producing began in the region back in the 1670's with the arrival of 200 French Huguenots, and much beautifully crafted architecture can still be seen from this period. The nearby towns of Franschoek and Paarl are equally picturesque with steep, winding passes leading to nature reserves and secluded wine farms where visitors can sip a particularly good vintage whilst looking out across the surrounding valleys. This makes an excellent day-trip and is a wonderful way to take in the beautiful scenery of the area. Many organized tours run from Cape Town, or you can rent a car and explore the different wineries yourself.

Cape Peninsula Day Tour
A visit to Cape Town would not be complete without a day-tour of the Cape Peninsula. There is an excellent tour offered by the BAZ BUS mini-tour company which includes a visit to the beautiful Hout Bay Harbor, Cape Point, a stop at Boulders Beach to view the Penguins, a relaxing bike-ride through the Cape Point Nature Reserve, as well as a visit to an authentic African Art Centre. Breakfast and lunch are included and tours leave daily (except Mondays), departing between 8-9am. This is a relaxing and easy-going way to view the Cape. The Cape Peninsula tour is R350. ISE Cardholders who have a BAZ BUS hop-on, hop-off pass (described in the "Getting Around" section below) receive 10% off of this tour.

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
The Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens are located on the opposite side of Table Mountain from the main city center of Cape Town. The gardens were bequeathed to the nation in 1902 by Cecil Rhodes. Most of the plant-life consists of indigenous species with 9000 of South Africa's 22,000 native plant species represented. Kirstenbosch is considered one of the worlds's leading Botanical Gardens and offers stunning views along its winding paths. This is definitely a unique and peaceful way to spend a day, or even just a few hours.

Cango Wildlife Ranch
For a trip outside of Cape Town, The Cango Wildlife Ranch is a must. The Cango Wildlife Ranch and its breeding centre is carefully designed so that its more than 47 species of animals and reptiles can roam peacefully in comfortable natural enclosures, giving visitors the opportunity to closely observe, and in some cases, interact with a wide variety of unusual and endangered animals. The ranch is also ranked as one of the top five breeding facilities for endangered cheetah in the world. The Ranch also has fully trained multi-lingual guides that will provide additional information about the plights of some of the Ranch's endangered species such as Cheetah, Jaguar, Wild Dog, Pygmy Hippos and the newest arrival, the White Bengal Tiger. For a map of how to get there, please access the site: www.cango.co.za/maps.htm. Those with an ISE Card will receive a R 10 discount on the entrance fee.

Safari Ostrich Show Farm
For a fun and unique experience, don't miss-out on Oudtshoorn's Safari Ostrich Show Farm. Thousands of ostriches can be found here and there are guided tours of the farm and its facilities which offer just about everything you ever wanted to know about Ostriches, starting from the incubation stage, all the way to interacting with the Ostriches as adults. For those who are brave enough, riding an Ostrich is also an option. A visit to Oudtshoorn to this 40 year old Victorian-style farm should not be missed. Additional information may be found here. With an ISE Card, there is a discounted entrance price of R22 instead of R40.

Cango Caves
After a visit to the Cango Wildlife park and the Oudtshoorn Ostrich farm, it's just a short drive on to the stunning Cango Caves, located approximately 30 km. from Oudtshoorn in the Swartberg Mountain Range. The Cango Caves contain some of the largest stalagmite formations in the world and visitors have the opportunity to go for extensive subterranean walks through the widely branching caves that are truly awe-inspiring. The price for a scenic tour is about 17R and there is no charge for parking, which makes for a very economical visit.

Garden Route
The Garden Route is a section of South Africa's southwestern coastline that includes indigenous forests, lagoons, sand dunes and some stunning beaches. Driving east out of Cape Town, you will come to various spots along the way which offer different attractions. The sleepy town of Mossel Bay is one of the first towns along the route and is best-known for its status as the historical capital of the Garden Route which was first established as such in 1488 after a visit from Bartholomeu Dias. Continuing on, there is Knysna lagoon with some excellent diving and snorkeling, where visitors may get a chance to see the unique Knysna seahorse before taking a trip on the steam train or having a nice lunch at one of the many excellent seafood restaurants. Even further along (just after the turn-off to go inland towards Outdshoorn), is Plettenberg Bay, which is a bustling resort with lovely beaches and many activities to offer including canoeing, hiking, diving, and mountain biking trails. Plettenberg Bay is also the site of the beautiful Monkeyland park described in the following segment. These are just a few of the many spots to visit along the southwestern coastline of the Garden Route.

Monkeyland
A definite highlight for those traveling through Plettenberg Bay is a visit to Monkeyland.
All of the monkeys at Monkeyland come from captive conditions. Each one was rescued either from laboratories, owners who kept them as caged pets, or zoos that were over-populated. After a rehabilitation and reintroduction period, the monkeys are released into the magnificent multiple canopy forest to spend the rest of their lives as free-roaming primates in a more natural setting. Visitors are taken on a safari with expert game rangers and, for those who wish to, there is an opportunity to walk across a rope bridge which spans a canyon above the forest canopy which provides a bird's eye view of a section of the forest and its inhabitants which are seldom seen. The safari also includes a visit to the introduction cages where you can see new arrivals that will eventually be released into the forest. ISE Cardholders will receive a discounted rate of R72. Otherwise, the normal entrance price is R90.

Camping Safari
For those interested in budget camping holidays from 3-36 days throughout South Africa and its adjacent countries, Wagon Trails Tours has some excellent options. It is a local African company which is dedicated to giving it's participants an authentic experience and it committed to helping local communities by utilizing facilities and infrastructures made available by small local businesses. In addition, by allowing no more than 10-12 people on each of its tours, Wagon Trails helps to decrease the impact on the environment and is able to offer its passengers more one-on-one attention during its programs. Additional information may be found here. ISE Cardholders will receive 5% off of any tour.

Places to Stay

Hostels
There are a wide variety of places to stay in South Africa. To search for hostels online with full descriptions, photos and availability features, please click here. The $2 reservation fee will be waived when booking through this site.

Places to Eat

Cango Caves Restaurant
With beautiful views of the Swartberg Mountain Range, the Marimba Restaurant found at the Cango Caves, offers a wide variety of food ranging from unusual dishes like Ostrich and Karoo Lamb cutlets, to Line fish from Mossel Bay and traditional Black Potjies. A variety of salads, pastas, and desserts are also served throughout the day. Opening hours are from 8am-5pm daily. ISE Cardholders will receive a 14% discount.

Getting Around

Travel Mini-bus
Specifically designed for budget travelers and backpackers, this travel mini-bus (called the BAZ BUS) will pick you up and drop you off at backpacker hostels or lodges around the country. Unlike the regular intercity buses, passengers simply buy one ticket to their final destination and can "hop-on, hop-off" wherever and as many times as they like, with no time limit. With on-board information about what do to en-route and where to stay, The BAZ BUS is a fun, safe and flexible way to meet other travelers and experience the holiday of a lifetime. In addition, BAZ BUS offers a variety of fun and economical tours. For more information, please visit www.bazbus.com. ISE Cardholders receive 5% off on the hop-on, hop-off tickets.

Taxi
Taxis are available from the airport to the city centre (journey time: 20 minutes); Touch Down Taxis is the officially authorized airport taxi company and travelers are advised to use these instead of unauthorized taxis.

Rental Car
Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Khava/Kulula, Imperial, National Alamo and Tempest rental cars are available. Desks are located inside the International and Domestic Arrivals Terminals. The car hire zones are located outside, either opposite the International Terminal or next to the Domestic Arrivals Terminal of Cape Town International Airport. Prices vary.

Moving On

Travel Mini-bus
The BAZ BUS mini-bus runs throughout South Africa and is an excellent budget option for travelers staying in hostels or lodges. Prices vary depending on destination. A variety of local tours with the BAZ BUS are also available.

Bus
If you are interested in more luxurious transportation, the Intercape Mainliner buses also travel countrywide and cover all routes in South Africa. Each bus is air conditioned, and has reclining seats, fold-down tables, individual reading lights, audio and visual entertainment, as well as on-board toilet facilities. Mainliner contact information listed by city may be found here. ISE Cardholders receive 7.5% off.

Airport Shuttle
Shuttle bus services to the airport are available by pre-booking through your hotel or with the airport.