Adventures to Find

There are endless things to do in Cape Town…It is an incredible mixture of urban life and natural beauty and all the great adventures and events that go along with each!

There is Greenpoint Stadium – built for the 2010 world Cup – it serves as the main venue for both football matches and concerts all year round. Another great sports spot is Newlands Stadium – lots of rugby matches!

Greenpoint

USA v. Bafana Bafana 

You can also visit the surrounding areas of the city as they are quite beautiful and offer a completely different vibe, culture and scenery….

There is Simonstown and Kalk Bay. Both of which are seaside towns easily accessible by train. These towns are on the way south toward the Cape of Good Hope – a MUST SEE for anyone is Cape Town— and are little fishing towns with a hint of shopping and more delicious food!

Simonstown: http://www.simonstown.org/

Kalk Bay eats: http://www.harbourhouse.co.za/

Simonstown

Then there is Langa…Langa is one of the oldest suburbs of Cape Town that was originally selected as an area for Black South Africans during apartheid. Here, you find some of the kindest people, smiliest children and eye-opening takes on life…There is a cultural center in Langa that sells local crafts and showcases local talent in the other art forms as well and is something I highly recommend visting. Langa is also home to the first Township Bread and Breakfast (:

Stay at Ma Nao's B&B:http://www.mycapetownstay.com/Ma_Neo_s

Next up is the suburb of Woodstock and the infamous Saturday morning Biscuit Mill extravaganza. Woodstock is a bustling, industrial-like suburb that houses a weekly market, fair-type event each Saturday. The Biscuit Mill offers a lot of different types of cuisines and a chance to chill out and people watch…

Old Biscuit Mill: http://theoldbiscuitmill.co.za/

If you’re a bit more of an adrenaline fanatic you can indulge in things like paragliding, surfing, sandboarding and even cage diving! These extreme adventures can be a bit costly so check them out before hand and plan and save accordingly as they are worth every cent...

Sandboarding: http://sandboardingcapetown.com/

Cage Diving: http://www.sharkcagediving.co.za/

(also, for those worried about how age diving can impact shark's association of humans with food: http://saveourseas.com/content/pdf/South_Africas_White_Shark_Cage_Diving_Industry_-_Is_there_cause_for_concern.pdf)

Bantry Bay, Clifton 1 through 4, Camp’s Bay and Llandudno are all synonymous with breath taking. These beaches are some of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen and are just on the outskirts of the city. Rugged coastlines, silky sand and blue-green water are everywhere you look. The water is freezing but on a hot summer day, it feels perfect! Can get here via mini bus or taxi most easily and is totally worth it! Check it out….

Llandudno

Hout Bay

Getting From A to B

Another thing you should know before you arrive in Cape Town is a little bit about how to get around. First off, unless you already hail from a country with drivers on the left, it will take a bit of getting used to. Crossing the street can even become a task and a half so be mindful (:

Roadtripping and getting used to driving on the LEFT /:

Taxis are a possibility but can also prove to take quite the toll on your wallet so I suggest public transit whenever possible...

One of the best way to explore Cape Town and its surroundings is by either train or mini bus. Train stations scatter the landscape and the fare is quite reasonable. Mini buses are also a great way to get around and nearly 14 milion people a day utilize the system! The up sides: cheap, chance to meet locals and they are EVERYWHERE! The down sides: they can be crowded and sometimes take a little while to get to your destination. The best way to describe this system – which is something I miss quite a bit about Cape Town – is organized hitchhiking.

Cape Town Train Station

Mini Bus Taxi

Metrorail Timetable: http://www.capemetrorail.co.za/_timetables/timetable_index.htm

City Living

If you’re reading this you’re likely interested in visiting South Africa and there are a few things you should know before you go It’s a land in and of itself – like no other place on this planet in almost every imaginable way.

Cape Town proper is an urban area complete with high rises, traffic and a mixture of people. Wandering the city, you’re likely to stumble onto the renowned Long Street – Cape Town’s famous strip complete with restaurants, shops, bars and more.

There is Royale – a twist on your typical ‘burger joint’ – offering gourmet style burgers, veg renditions and delicious chips (fries). Next up is Poza – open late and owned and operated by a friendly Israelite who has perfected the art of the falafel burrito (: Then there’s Cape to Cuba – a lively, Caribbean/Che inspired atmosphere with exotic drinks and Cuban goodies. Other places to check out include Joburg, The Waiting Room, Marvel , Chrome, Fiction and Zula Sound Bar.

-Royale: http://www.royaleeatery.com/

-Cape to Cuba: http://www.capetocuba.com/

-Chrome: http://www.chromect.com/

Continuing to meander, you’ll come across the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront – a renewal project of the historic harbour constructed by Prince Alfred in 1860. The Waterfront has shops and restaurants galore but warning, as they are not too cheap. The Waterfront offers a beautiful angled view of the city’s iconic Table Mountain and is also the port for excursion to Robben Island – where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years during the apartheid era. The V&A Waterfront also has a great aquarium – very worth checking out!!!

-Sneak Peek Waterfront: http://www.waterfront.co.za/Pages/home.aspx

-Robben Island Tours: http://www.robben-island.org.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=13&Itemid=13

-Two Oceans Aquarium: http://www.aquarium.co.za/

V&A Waterfront with table Mountain in the background (:

Entrance to the Waterfront and the "tablecloth"

Two Oceans Aquarium

View of Cape Town from Robben Island ferry

Prison on Robben Island

View from Robben Island

There are endless facets to the city of Cape Town…Everything from the picturesque cobble stone roads of greenmarket square to the colorful homes of the Cape Malay area and everything in between…Cape Town is beautiful…See for yourself…