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Cape Town, South Africa

Quick Overview

Who is this Trip For?

Cape Town is a must-see destination for anyone looking for a unique & exciting trip!

Experience the African continent from this stunningly beautiful city: Hike Table Mountain, Surf with the locals at Muizenberg Beach, Enjoy the Sunset in Camps Bay, & Explore the endless nature and adventure opportunities!

Perfect for Young solo travelers, Families, or young-hearted people looking for beautiful nature, people, and sunsets!

Suggested Activities

The World Famous & iconic Table Mountain is a must for any visitors!

Either Hike or take the Cable Car (we recommend Hiking up and Cabling down).

There are multiple routes to take, the Platteklip gorge route offers the most stunning view of the city, whereas the Skeleton gorge is most popular (slightly less challenging).

Expect to take around 3 hours, but once you reach the top, you will remember the view of the City & Ocean for a lifetime!

For the cable car, you can buy tickets online or onsite (base or peak), but beware of long queues at the base.

The Mountian is also famously often covered in clouds, and statistically, this happens every other day: so if you have a clear day, make the MOST of it!

Lion’s head is almost equally iconic as table mountain and is in fact the more popular hike for the locals.

With this hike, you will be rewarded with a 360-degree panoramic view of the city, the twelve apostle mountain range, table mountain, and camps bay!

Again taking roughly 2-3 hours, you will hike up in a spiral loop around the head, summiting to a flat viewing platform at the top.

This hike is absolutely incredible, with many many hikers in the morning and late afternoon. If you want to hike in the least busy time, this is actually between 11:00-15:00. But beware of the Temperatures & Wind!

If you are interested in the rich history of South Africa, take a boat day trip to Robben Island.

The island is close to the city, and is the location where the national hero Nelson Mandela famously spent most of his 27-year prison sentence!

The island also has an interesting history, with dutch settlers having to keep their cattle there from fears of wild animal attacks on the mainland.

Camps Bay is a popular Cape Town suburb with a beautiful beach, vibrant Cafés, Restaurants, and Nightlife.

If you want to see the natural beauty of the City and explore the more upscale atmosphere, spend an afternoon (or sunset) here!

Top tip: Head here in the morning and enjoy a hip, healthy breakfast at the Kauai Restaurant right by the beach.

This is a must-see for any nature lover visiting Cape Town!

The Nature Reserve is about 1hr30min from Cape Town, located at the southernmost tip of the Cape Peninsula.

Here you can explore (either on foot or by car) the coastline, and see spectacular animals like Baboons, Ostriches, and Antelopes.

The Famous local surf beach has beginner/intermediate-friendly waves and a beautiful beach.

Definitely worth a trip if you want to surf, watch some surfers, or possibly see a shark alarm!

Top Tips

Although South Africa is in general fairly warm, the Cape can get extremely windy, so make sure to pack some windproof clothing if you want to stay warm

South Africa is a very diverse country, with a rich history and many different cultures. Be sure to learn and respect local customs, especially when visiting townships and rural areas.

If you are traveling from a country such as the US or from Europe, then a currency conversion App can be very useful to make estimations of prices much easier.

At the time of writing, the conversion is at around ZAR17 (South African Rand) to $1 USD.

Make it Unique

If you want to see some of the famous Wild Animals (Lions, Elephants, Giraffes, Leopards, Rhinos…) then a Safari, either a day tour or overnight, is the way to go!

The most recommended safari tour near Cape Town is the Aquila Private Game Reserve. 

Townships are areas in South Africa that were created during the Apartheid era and are mostly inhabited by non-white South Africans.

Visiting Townships helps directly support local community aid organizations working to empower the locals there that live in poverty, as well as giving you the opportunity to learn about the impact of Apartheid on the country’s people.

When you take a township tour, make sure it is with a reputable and responsible company. Stay Safe.

This stunning & unique hike will lead you to a rock platform that sticks out from the cliff, where you will have an incredible view and an amazing Photo!

Around 5km long, this is a great morning hike to get the blood pumping!

This link shows you the trail map (link here).

How to get There?

Flying: Most people fly into Cape Town International Airport, which is roughly 20 minutes outside of the city center.

Other: There are Train and Bus options from other cities in South Africa, and even flights from Johannesburg to Cape Town. 

How to get Around?

The MyCiTi bus system is reliable and affordable.

Alternatively, you can take a taxi or an Uber, or rent a car.

How to get There?

Flying: Most people fly into Cape Town International Airport, which is roughly 20 minutes outside of the city center.

Other: There are Train and Bus options from other cities in South Africa, and even flights from Johannesburg to Cape Town. 

How to get Around?

The MyCiTi bus system is reliable and affordable.

Alternatively, you can take a taxi or an Uber, or rent a car.

Safety Concerns

Cape Town is a fantastic destination for experienced travelers, and is one of the safest cities in the Country, but South Africa has a very high level of Crime.

Be aware of your surroundings and exercise caution.

Here are some specific tips:

  • The main tourist areas are the safest in terms of violent crime,
    and here you must mainly be aware of pickpockets and petty crime.
  • Avoid walking alone at night.
  • If you can avoid it, do not drive outside the city at night.

Where to Stay?

We recommend the Gardens or City Centre neighborhoods if you want to be near the center. Or Camps Bay if you want to be near the Beach.

  • Hostels: There are many great options for affordable hostels. Hostelworld is a great resource to find and book beds. This is the best value option and ideal for solo travelers. The Backpack hostel is most highly recommended.
  • There are many Airbnb offerings, and this option may be the best value for families or groups.
  • Hotels are a good option for families, or people mainly looking to relax.