Nature and Environment

African Wildlife

Although Cape Town and the Western Cape are probably not the best places to experience a safari (Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal provinces are better known for that), it is possible to have an encounter with South Africa’s big game not far from the Mother City. Read more.

Bellville

Bellville is set among the Tygerberg hills, about 25km (15mi) from central Cape Town, and has spectacular views of the winelands and Stellenbosch mountains. Read more.

Bikini Beach, Gordon’s Bay

Situated at the base of the Hottentots Holland mountains on the False Bay coast, the pretty village of Gordon’s Bay is a relaxing holiday spot. Read more.

Birding

Birding, or avitourism, is one of the fastest-growing sectors in ecotourism internationally. The avitourism division of BirdLife South Africa (BLSA) has established several birding routes throughout the country. Read more.

Boulders penguin colony

There are few places in the world where you can get this close to a breeding colony of penguins, swim close to them in the sea and enjoy their private sandy beach. Read more.

Camps Bay

Under the looming Twelve Apostles and Lion’s Head, with views out across the turquoise-coloured sea, Camps Bay sports some of the trendiest places in Cape Town to see and be seen. Read more.

Cape Garden Centre

With a big outdoor playground and the largest indoor play area in Cape Town, the Cape Garden Centre is a popular attraction both in sunny weather or even when it rains. Read more.

Cape Point

Cape Point is a spectacular, narrow finger of land, covered in endemic fynbos and home to picturesque bays, beaches, rolling green hills and valleys. Read more.

Chapman’s Peak and Noordhoek

Chapman’s Peak Drive winds its way between Noordhoek and Hout Bay and is touted as one of the most spectacular marine drives in the world. Read more.

City Sightseeing Bus Tours

The open-top double-decker buses of City Sightseeing are one of the best ways to take in the highlights of Cape Town. Read more.

Clara Anna Fontein

About 30 minutes from central Cape Town is Clara Anna Fontein, the only game reserve within the greater Cape metropolitan area. Read more.

Clifton

Home to Millionaire’s Row, fashionable Clifton is known as Cape Town’s St Tropez, and its four beautiful beaches attract holidaymakers in their droves. Read more.

Constantia vineyards

The elegant suburb of Constantia is situated in the Cape’s oldest winelands and is home to renowned wine estates and numerous award-winning restaurants. Read more.

Dick Dent Bird Sanctuary

The Dick Dent Bird Sanctuary is located in a natural wetland populated with waterfowl, migrant waders and Ethiopian snipe. Read more.

Durbanville

Boasting several shopping centres, Durbanville, north of Cape Town, is one of the fastest-growing towns in South Africa with a plethora of restaurants, pubs, guest houses and bed and breakfasts to suit your needs. Read more.

Durbanville Nature Reserve

Two rare plant species, indigenous veld types, short hiking trails, bird watching and picnicking are the main attractions of the Durbanville Nature Reserve. Read more.

Durbanville Rose Garden

When blooms on thousands of rose bushes in Cape Town’s Durbanville Rose Garden unfurl their tender petals to the warming sun, the profusion of colour makes for a truly beautiful and uplifting spectacle. Read more.

Edith Stephens Wetland Park

The Edith Stephens Wetland Park is a place where the natural biodiversity of the Cape Flats and the needs of the local communities are brought together. Read more.

Fynbos and the Cape Floral Kingdom

Fynbos, meaning “fine bush”, is a unique and strikingly beautiful group of flora endemic to a small section of the Western Cape of South Africa. Read more.

Giraffe House Wildlife Awareness Centre

It may have the longest neck of any animal in the world, but did you know that the majestic giraffe has exactly the same number of neck vertebrae as humans do? Read more.

Gordon’s Bay

Gordon’s Bay is a harbour town with excellent beaches, which lies against the Helderberg. Read more.

Green Point

Green Point has been called the Soho of Cape Town – with its funky restaurants and busy nightclubs, the place has an energy all of its own. Read more.

Intaka Island

The word “intaka”, which means “bird” in isiXhosa, is a fitting name for an island that offers a safe haven to many feathered species. Read more.

Kalk Bay

Enjoy the views of the beautiful False Bay coastline as you wind your way along Boyes Drive to the scenic town of Kalk Bay. Read more.

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

Kirstenbosch is South Africa’s world-famous national botanical garden, set against the backdrop of Table Mountain and Devil’s Peak, and home to over 22 000 indigenous plants. Read more.

Kogelberg biosphere

Home to one-fifth of all fynbos species, the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve is recognised as one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. Read more.

Kommetjie and Kommetjie Lighthouse

Kommetjie (“small basin” in Afrikaans) gets its name from early beginnings, when settlers apparently used the natural basin as a convenient fish trap.  Read more.

Kuils River

Kuils River, originally a cattle fold for the Dutch East India Company, is about 30 minutes’ drive from Cape Town. Read more.

Language Schools

Live and learn English in one of the world’s most beautiful cities, Cape Town. Read more.

Llandudno and Sandy Bay

Only 18km from the Cape Town city centre, an arc of fine white sand gives away the secluded location of one of Cape Town’s most beautiful beaches, Llandudno. Read more.

Macassar Dunes Project

The Macassar Dunes Project is located on the Cape Town coast adjacent to Macassar and Khayelitsha and is bounded by the Eerste River, Baden Powell Drive and False Bay. Read more.

Melkbosstrand

Melkbosstrand’s 7km-long stretch of white sand beckons visitors to slip off their sandals and enjoy a stress-relieving stroll. Read more.

Milnerton

The suburb of Milnerton – with its lagoon, beach and golf course – is the perfect spot for some well-earned rest and recreation.

Read more.

Muizenberg

This laid-back seaside town on the shores of False Bay comes alive in season, with holiday-makers crowding its streets as they make their way down to what is perhaps Cape Town’s nicest swimming beach. Read more.

Observatory

Observatory or “Obs” as the locals call it, is Cape Town’s bohemian suburb and lies east of the city centre. Read more.

Responsible Tourism

Many tourists in this day and age are looking for more than beautiful scenery and efficient booking systems: more and more visitors are chosing destinations and experiences that practise responsible tourism. Read more.

Rondevlei Nature Reserve and hippos

Rondevlei Nature Reserve is a haven for many bird and mammal species, including hippo. Read more.

Signal Hill and the Noon Gun

Signal Hill is a prominent landmark from which the historic noon gun is fired, and forms the “lion’s body” for the adjacent Lion’s Head mountain top. Read more.

Simon’s Town

This pretty coastal town is South Africa’s main naval base and consists of lovely Victorian buildings, quaint streets and walkways and a fascinating history. Read more.

Somerset West

Surrounded by orchards, farmlands and vineyards, the scenic suburb of Somerset West lies at the foot of the Helderberg mountains. Read more.

Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB)

Since 1968 more than 85 000 seabirds have been taken in and treated by the dedicated staff at Cape Town’s Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB). Read more.

Southern Line rail route

Take a trip on a slow train – a wonderful way to appreciate the fascinating and ever-changing landscape between the Cape Town city centre and Simon’s Town. Read more.

St James

Just a little further on from Cape Town’s well-known Muizenberg beach (with its ubiquitous Victorian bathing boxes) is St James. Read more.

Strand

With its beautiful white 5km-long beach, the Strand is an ideal family venue for swimming, sunbathing and a variety of water sports. Read more.

The World of Birds

The largest bird park in Africa, Hout Bay’s World of Birds fits neatly into a valley that provides a perfect sanctuary for a four-hectare series of aviaries. Read more.

Tokai arboretum

The Tokai Arboretum is a park-like area on the slopes of Constantiaberg near the Silvermine Nature Reserve that’s ideally suited to walking, biking and learning about various tree species, including oaks and Californian redwoods. Read more.

Two Oceans Aquarium

With more than 3000 marine creatures on view – including sharks, turtles and penguins – the Two Oceans Aquarium is one of the finest aquariums in the world. Read more.

Tygerberg Nature Reserve

After an absence of 100 years from the area, bontebok once again roam freely throughout the 300-hectare Tygerberg Nature Reserve, thanks to the efforts of the nature conservation branch of the City of Cape Town. Read more.

Wagon trail, Sir Lowry’s Pass

Early colonial pioneers in ox-wagons used Sir Lowry’s Pass to cross the mountains – and the evidence is still there to see. Read more.

West Coast Ostrich Show Ranch

For a tourism experience with a difference, visit the West Coast Ostrich Show Ranch. This family-owned ostrich business includes informative tours. Read more.

Woodstock

Woodstock, one of Cape Town’s oldest suburbs, is located within the City Bowl and within easy access of the central business district. Read more.

Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve

The 200ha Greater Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve is a wetland, river system and estuary near Muizenberg on the False Bay coast. Read more.