Cape Town, South Africa’s so-called ‘mother city’, is also arguably the highest of the country’s many highlights. Sitting at the foot of a continent - and a spectacular mountain - the city faces the ocean in one of the most iconic of all urban settings. As a result, Cape Town holidays are all about outdoor activities, be that exploring the glorious Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, Silvermine Nature Reserve, Table Mountain, the Cape Peninsula or the scenic drive to Chapman's Peak. Nearby, the vineyards of the Cape Winelands, established by the Dutch and French Hugenots in the late 17th century, stretch for miles around Franschhoek, Stellenbosch and Paarl. Visit for an alluring combination of charming Cape Dutch architecture and ever better vintages of classic European grape varieties such as sauvignon, merlot and cabernet. Then try the local favourite - pinotage. As you’d imagine, we like to give things an Original twist, so how about visiting the Cape wineries by motorbike or sidecar? Ask our Africa experts for other ways to enhance your Cape Town holiday.

Cape Town holiday ideas

A few suggestions to get the holiday planning process started

Cape Town Guide

Practical advice and inspiration to help you prepare for your holiday

What you can find in Cape Town that you won't find anywhere else?

Is there a city anywhere in the world with a finer natural setting than Cape Town? We think not. Now for the geography bit - with Table Mountain as a very obvious focal point, South Africa's 'Mother City' has spilled out of the so-called City Bowl to colonise the various bays around the mountain (Clifton and Camps Bay being Cape Town's classiest beach-burbs), creating a city of villages.

In recent years the city has become somewhat of a hub for an eclectic mix of characters, a world away from its troubled past you'll now find rugby mad Springboks, bearded bohemians, glamourous celebrities and uber-cool musicians happily coexisting in this melting pot city. So what's drawn such a disparate crew to one particular place? There's that drop-dead beautiful scenery for one, and endless ways to explore it, but also a great cultural scene for the less sportif inclined.

Best of all, given this is the country that gave the world the crime against cuisine that is banana as a pizza topping, things on the food front have moved on considerably - Cape Town and the nearby Winelands can now justifiably claim to be Africa's finest gourmet and fine wine destination.

Venturing out of the city to Cape Peninsula is also a must and can be easily arranged on a self-drive day out or private tour. From spotting penguin colonies on Boulders Beach to reaching the most south westerly point of Africa at Cape Point, the wild flora and fauna rich landscapes here are a world away from the city buzz and yet within just a two hour drive - a further example of why we love this deeply diverse city.

To truly make the most of your stay in Cape Town, we can arrange guided tours of the city, taking you not just to the main tourist sites, but to discover the real Cape Town, for instance with a cooking class at a local's home. Or, to travel across the country in style, take a luxury train journey from Cape Town to Pretoria.

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