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Cape Town

Fill your days with mountains, fresh air, crashing surf and sensational sun sets.

Enjoy lazy days on soft sandy beaches with the warm sun on your back.

Dine outdoors on balmy nights before you simply party the night away.

Meet filmmakers, artists and lots of laid back friendly people who live there.

Do day tours in all directions and experience vibrant and diverse cultures.

Plus, with a favourable exchange rate, prepare to shop till you drop!

Welcome to this glorious place at the tip of mama afriKa: Cape Town.

The 7 Wonders of Cape Town

1. Victoria and Alfred Waterfront - the most popular tourist destination in South Africa.

2. Robben Island – SA’s most (in)famous prison island! Get your tickets from the waterfront.

3. Table Mountain and the revolving cable car journey to the top.

4. Cape Point - where oceans meet at the tip of afriKa.

5. Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens - catch a sunset concert there!

6. Groot Constantia - the city's only wine estate.

7. Whale Watching call it global warming but, nowadays, Cape Town offers whale sightings!

Below is a brief summary of the who, what and where of Cape Town!

The Different City Areas

Camps Bay

There are far too many cafes, bars and restaurants to mention here, but go and watch the sunsets on this palm fringed beachfront with its enormous soft, sandy beach.

City Centre

1. Cape Tourism Info Office - corner of Burg and Castle Street, 487 6800 for maps and tourist information.
2. Green Market square – by day, this great market is a vibrant centre of the city. But be warned, it's closed on Sundays!
3. Pan African Market - visit this colourful African market and bargain hard before you buy!
4. Church Street Pedestrian Arcade - perfect for antiques, galleries and coffee shops.
5. Take a Stroll - walk l down Government Lane for St Georges Cathedral, parliament and the national gallery.

City Lunch Time:

If you're in the city at lunchtime then there's a great selection of restaurants at Heritage Square, corner of Bree and Shortmarket. There are also great lunch spots and shops along Loop Street right up to the top of Kloof Street.

City Dinner time:

1. Africa Café - variety of African continental cuisine, 442 0221.
2. Antique Restaurant - kick of your shoes and enjoy penthouse views, 419 0672.
3. On Broadway - musical cabaret and dinner, 424 1194, www.onbroadway.co.za.
4. Rozenhof restaurant - stylish dining in this cosy city restaurant, 424 1968.
5. Savoy Cabbage restaurant - fine dining for many years, 424 2626, 6. Zingara - intoxicatingly flamboyant, 426 2458/2351, www.zingara.co.za.

Clifton – Beaches 1,2,3 and 4

Parking gone by 10am. There are no shops, so pack plenty of suntan lotion, a sun cap, something to eat and lots of water! The 3rd beach is gay and full of beautiful people while beach 4 is the family beach. La Med bar, between Clifton 4th and Camps Bay, is the ideal spot for sundowners, music and views.

De Waterkant – also known as the Gay Village Holiday apartments, colourful cottages, cute gardens, restaurants and shops.
Stroll around this safe area's galleries, interior stores and many outdoor cafes.

The lively and friendly gay scene is also concentrated around De Waterkant.
Bars generally close as the last revellers leave. Venues in this area include:

www.bronx.co.za – nightly action bar that is open 'till the wee hours.
www.cruzcapetown.co.za - stylish club, bar, lounge, 425 4010.
Cafe Dutch - a wee bit of Holland right here in the cape, 425 0157.
www.hothouse.co.za - men only.
www.knights.co.za - ultimate men to men indulgence, in or out,434 0428.
www.leatherbar.co.za - for men only who are into leather and boots.
www.manhattan.co.za - great meeting place with the best burgers in town, 421 6666.
Rainbow Trade - pride store, 082 359 4343.
Club Sliver - party upstairs, downstairs, on the balcony or in the garden.
Soho Restaurant at the Village Lodge, 421 9898

Distances from De Waterkant village to:
Greenmarket Square = 0.8km
Greenpoint = 1km
Waterfront = 1.5km
Cable car = 4km uphill
Camps Bay = 6.5km

Sandy Bay nudist beach is a 25min drive from the city towards Hout Bay. Take water, snacks, sun protection, sandals, towel and car keys.

Gardens

Gardens Shopping Mall - cafe bars, restaurants, banks, shops and supermarkets.
Mount Nelson Hotel - a daily 5-star high tea that's fit for a queen! 483 1198 www.museums.org.za/sang - South Africa's National Gallery.
Medi Clinic - 24 Hour Emergency, 21 Hof Street 464 5500 or 464 5555

Greenpoint

www.pigallerestaurants.co.za - chandeliers and art; the perfect place for lunch and dinner, 421 4848.
www.beluga.co.za - a classy contemporary venue, 418 2948.
Manos restaurant - popular local lunch time venue.
Vida eCaffe coffee bar – live jazz on Sunday mornings.
Melissa's - her home made deli goods will get you hooked.
Giovanni's - this deli will spoil you with its continental choice. Plus, there's flowers too.
Woolworths (unlike UK) - for fabulous food, flowers, snacks, ’biltong’ and magazines.
Ultra Liquor - for private sundowner stocks. Closed on Sundays.
Greenpoint - stadium and metropolitan golf course.
Virgin Active Gym - weekly membership, indoor and outdoor pools, 434 0750.

Mouille Point

The perfect spot for lunch with panoramic sea views:

Radisson Hotel - between Mouille Point and Waterfront, 441 3000.
www.wakame.co.za - sushi restaurant, 433 2377.

Seapoint

Enjoy a sunset walk or jog along the beachfront promenade, all the way to Camps Bay! Alternatively try these great eateries:

Buzbey Grill - finest steaks and seafood around, 439 5900.
La Perla Seafood on Beach Road - breakfast, lunch or dinner - an institution!
Winchester Mansions Hotel - Sunday brunch and courtyard jazz, 434 2351.

The Waterfront, www.waterfront.co.za
Shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, sunset cruises and the Robben Island ferry.

The Two Oceans Aquarium, 418 3823, www.aquarium.co.za.
Baia Seafood Restaurant, 421 0935/6/7.
Balducci's Cafe Bar, 421 6002.
Willoughby & Co. Seafood Restaurant, 418 6115/6.

Day Tour Ideas

Driver guided day tours from the city or, if you prefer, drive yourself!

Hout Bay - A 20min scenic drive from Camps Bay lays Hout Bay's picturesque harbour with the awesome Chapman's Peak drive towards Cape Point.

Lunch in Hout Bay - Chapman’s Peak Hotel - calamari and Portuguese steak in pans + rice or fries!

Winelands - 1hr self drive from the city or guided day tours and visit 2-3 estates per day.

There are far too many wine farms to mention here but some gems:

www.boschendal.co.za, between Franschhoek and Stellenbosch www.fairview.co.za, Paarl www.morgenhof.co.za, Stellenbosc www.simonsberg.co.za, Stellenbosch cheese farm.
www.neethlingshof.co.za, Stellenbosch
www.meerlust.co.za, Stellenbosch - spoil yourself with a bottle of 'Rubicon' red!

Lunch in the winelands:
Somerset West - a memorable forest picnic! www.vergelegen.co.za.
La Petite Ferme Restaurant, Franschhoek, 876 3016/8.
www.rhebokskloof.co.za

Your own wine lands picnic:
A good red wine, Simonsberg camembert, brown bread, fig preserve and biltong.

Dinner in the winelands:
Moyo Restaurant - a true afriKan experience! 809 1131, www.spier.co.za.

Cape Point, www.capepoint.co.za
Do a day trip from the city via Hout Bay, Chapman’s Peak and Noordhoek farm village to Cape Point and return via Muizenberg side to see the penguins at Boulders Beach before lunch at the Black Marlin 786 1621, 4km before Simonstown

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and sunset concerts - 762 9585, www.sanbi.org

Sunset cruise to Clifton: various - departs waterfront.

Table Mountain, www.tablemountain.net and www.tmnp.co.za

Miss the mountain crowds - cable car up for sunset - down by night...

Guided mountain hikes 487 6800 - waterfalls/views/full moon hikes!

Whale watching – July to November, sightings all around the Cape coast, but a 2hr drive to Hermanus, will ensure world class land-to-sea whale watching

General Travellers’ Tips

Arts and Crafts

Pick up an 'arts and crafts map' from the tourist info centre on the corner of Burg and Castle Street in the City

What's on listings
The Cape Times - mornings.
The Argus - afternoons.
Also various free listings from hotel foyers, cafes and Café Manhattan

Theatre

Check local press for details, but here are some of the main theatres.

Theatre on the Bay, Camps Bay, 438 3301, www.theatreonthebay.co.za.
Artscape Theatre, City, 421 5470, www.capetownopera.co.za.
Cape Town Convention Centre, City, 410 5000, www.cticc.co.za.
Baxter Concert Hall, Rondebosch, 685 7880, www.baxter.co.za.

Pre book tickets on www.computicket.co.za or via 083 915 8000

Taxi services

Seapoint taxi's 434 4444 or Marine taxi's 434 0434 Hop-on hop-off city bus - great orientation tours, 511 1784

Useful telephone numbers

Ambulance: 10177
Cape Town Airport: 937 1200
Directory Inquiries: 1023
Fire: 434 0030
Hospital: 464 5555
International Inquiries: 0903
Police Emergency: 10111
Time: 1026
Weather: 934 0450

What to pack:

Travel light and casual. Pack walking boots, sandals, light clothing, T-shirts, shorts, swimming costume, jeans, sun cap and shades.

General Safety:

Like anywhere in the world, walk like a warrior and don’t flash valuables.

Source: www.rainbownetwork.com