Plan an Awesome Trip to Cape Town, South Africa!

Plan a trip to Cape Town ! Africa is a huge continent, spanning over 30 million kilometers squared and populated by over 1.2 billion people. It’s not surprising, then, that it is home to some extremely popular tourist destinations. These include the Victoria Falls in Zambia and Zimbabwe, the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, and safaris in Kenya. However, you should consider a wider variety of destinations when it comes to your exploration of the African continent. For now, let’s focus on Cape Town. Cape Town is a port city that lies on the southwest coast of South Africa, lying on a peninsula beneath the world famous Table Mountain. Here’s everything you need to know to start planning the perfect trip to this breathtaking city, which lays claim to being one of the capitals of South Africa!

The Basics

If you’re going to head to Cape Town, it’s generally best to start out by understanding exactly where it is, as well as the weather and climate, so that you can pack accordingly. Here are just a few of the city’s basics.

Cape Town is the legislative capital of South Africa (Pretoria is the administrative capital, as this is where the President and Capitol work, and Bloemfontein is the judicial capital, as this is where the National Court of Appeal is situated)

It is the tenth most populated city in Africa

It has a warm, Mediterranean climate. 

It has mild and moderately wet winters, but summers tend to be warm and dry. I’ve been there in their winter, and it is cool, but not cold.

Vaccines

If this sounds good to you, you’re going to want to make sure that you can vacation here safely. This may involve getting a set of vaccines to protect you from diseases or illnesses that are more prevalent in Cape Town than they may be in your home town. It is recommended that all travelers heading to Cape Town are up to date with their tetanus, hepatitis A, and typhoid vaccines. Individuals who plan to go trekking in the local area should also ensure that they have received hepatitis B and rabies shots. If you are heading to a rural area outside of Cape Town, you should also ask your doctor about vaccinations for meningococcal meningitis and tuberculosis.

Accommodation

Sure, there are plenty of different forms of accommodation available in Cape Town, as there will be in any other major city. There will be hostels and hotels galore. However, you may find that you will be better off renting a villa from a reliable company like www.capetownvillas.net. These villas are personally handpicked from the cream of the crop available on the rental market. No matter what your needs may be, there will be an option that will suit your tastes and preferences down to a tee – whether that’s a suitable space for a whole family to stay in or a top-end romantic retreat for couples.

Things to Do

Now, it’s time to look at a few different things that you can look forward to doing if you do decide to go ahead with your visit! Try to create an itinerary, fitting in as many different activities and sights as you can for the duration of your stay.

Table Mountain

Let’s start with what is perhaps Cape Town’s biggest natural attractions – Table Mountain. This is a flat-top mountain that forms a prominent landmark that overlooks the city of Cape Town. The majority of visitors will use a cable car to travel from the base to the top of the mountain, but every year numerous individuals attempt the hike instead, embracing the opportunity to incorporate a little physical activity into their trip and taking in the views for hours on end. You can buy tickets for the cable car online in advance of your day out, saving you time queuing at the ticket office.

Visit Robben Island and the District Six Museum

If you are interested in the history of apartheid, Robben Island and the District Six Museum should feature highly on your list of things to do. Nelson Mandela spent eighteen years in Robben Island’s maximum security prison, which has led to the area being associated with both cruel oppression but also the triumph of good and hope for the future. The District Six Museum is filled with various exhibits documenting apartheid and can prove to be an extremely engaging and informative space.

Head to Boulders Beach

While we tend to associate penguins, one of the world’s most beloved birds, with the cold conditions of Antarctica, they are also found in more surprising locations around the world. Boulders Beach happens to be home to the Jack ass penguin, so called because of the sounds it makes. So, make time to visit while you’re in Cape Town. You can view these beautiful creatures via the boardwalks across the beaches.

Hopefully, this has served as a brief introduction into Cape Town. As you can see, it’s an extremely appealing part of the world to visit, and you should definitely add it to your travel bucketlist!

 

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