Things to do
Weather
Self-Drive

BAOBAB trips to Cape Town and the Peninsula can be arranged on a tailor-made and self-drive basis. Please examine the accommodation guide for a choice of hotels and guesthouses with guideline prices and itineraries and then contact us for a precise quote for your chosen holiday (or for further assistance to help you make up your mind!!).

Accommodation in Cape Town & the Peninsula

In 1580, Sir Francis Drake described Cape of Good Hope as the most stately thing, and the fairest Cape we saw in the whole circumference of the earth. Today, Cape Town and the Peninsula still remain one of the most stunning and most visited places on the African continent.

The first European to view Table Mountain was the Portuguese navigator Bartholomeu Diaz in 1488. Rising dramatically above the city of Cape Town, it is probably the most famous mountain on the African continent after Kilimanjaro. Its fame lies in its impressive appearance rather than its size - at a maximum height of 1,087 m it is only 2 m higher than Snowdonia. However, there is nowhere in Cape Town that is not dominated by the sight of this remarkable mountain.

Things to do
Cape Town and the Cape Peninsula offer a range of places of interest and activities most definitely worth visiting and which easily fill 3 action-packed days in this south-eastern corner of South Africa. For example:

Table Mountain: The easiest way to reach the summit of Table Mountain is via the Cableway, taking about 5 mins, but offering stunning views in all directions thanks to its rotating floor. For the more adventurous visitor there are several hiking routes, which range from gentle to challenging. Allow at least ½-day and probably a full day if you intend to walk to the summit - the spectacular views across the Cape and the City are well worth the effort.

Robben Island: The famous prison on Robben Island has now been proclaimed a UN World Heritage Site. The standard guided tour is 2.5 hours long and is lead by one of the prison's former inmates. The guide is always happy to answer your questions, particularly about Robben Island's most famous resident Nelson Mandela.

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens: These botanical gardens are devoted exclusively to South Africa's indigenous plants with around 9,000 different species, hence you will always find something in flower. During the summer months, the gardens also host a Sunday afternoon concert in the Mandyville Open Air Theatre.

Constantia Wine Route: A region of ancient vineyards and leafy forests claiming to be the birthplace of South Africa’s wine industry. No wine route experience is complete without a wine tasting event. BAOBAB recommends Buitenverwachting, on Klein Constantia Road, a family run vineyard whose operations immediately benefit the local community and workforce.

Two Oceans Craft & Culture Centre: Situated next to one of the region’s largest townships, offering township tours, which provide vital funds for e.g. clean water supplies and education for some of the country’s poorest residents. Two Oceans also has a vegetarian restaurant and offers traditional interactive drumming in its Kraal Theatre.

Simon’s Town: South Africa’s third oldest European settlement with a rich cultural heritage and a number of excellent museums, e.g. Simon’s Town Museum in its Residency Building (dated 1777), which also provides guides for walking town tours. The town also offers excursions of its naval base and for the more active sea kayaking.

The Boulders: Within walking distance of Simon’s Town you will find a sheltered cove named the Boulders, famous as one of only two mainland locations on the African continent to house an African penguin colony.

Cape Point: One of the regions most frequently visited sites is the southernmost tip of the Cape Peninsula, part of Cape Peninsula National Park. It offers dramatic viewpoints, a number of secluded beaches & picnic sites and a superb diversity of native fynbos species.

Whatever season you have chosen to visit Cape Town, be warned of the old joke: Cape Town has four seasons - sometimes all in one day. Keep this in mind, especially if you plan to go hiking or be outdoors for the day.

Cape Town & the Peninsula's summer time (our winter) has a Mediterranean climate with little rain and lots of sunshine. Its winter time (our summer), also called the secret season, can have days of rain and wind, however often you will have perfect temperate days.

Self-drive is very common in South Africa with generally good quality roads and they drive on the left (good for Brits, not so good for other Europeans & Americans). Cape Town and the Peninsula are quite easy to get around with distances allowing day trips from Cape Town across the Peninsula. The roads outside of the city are generally spacious and virtually empty.