Cape Town Travel Forum

I was planning to visit Cape Town for around 10 days in mid-late April, but one of the main things on my list was the white shark breaching tour in False Bay. Apparently this is much better during the middle of the "season" around June. If I do Cape Town then, I'll only have around 7 days. I was following the standard 1-day-per-thing schedule which leaves plenty of downtime, but any advice on whether the following "wishlist" would be possible in 7 days? If so, without knowing the layout of the city, how would you arrange - which items could easily be combined into 1 day?

* Table Mountain
* Table Bay cruise
* Robben Island/Mandela Gateway
* Planetarium
* Holocaust Centre
* Cape Flats tour
* District Six Museum
* District Six walking tour
* Cape of Good Hope
* False Bay white shark breaching tour

Thanx

I think a visit to some of the local vineyards is an absolute essential. So much so I will doing just that in 3 weeks time :-))

Regards

John

Hi,

I think Table Mountain deserves a full day - we took a guided hike (kabboadventures), and it was great. You see so much more than if you just take the cable car. The shark breaching tour will probably be a daytrip too, as far as I remember they take you direction Gaansbai and back to Cape Town. Another day should be reserved for Simonstown/Penguins, Cape Peninsula National Park/ Cape of Good Hope and Chapmans Peak Drive (can be combined in a daytrip). That leaves you four days for the rest of your itinerary - should be do-able.

Best regards - Michael

I'd suggest doing a guided tour that combines the District 6 and its Museum with a tour of the Cape Flat townships. This allows you to see District 6 and the townships in one day and, if you'd like, you can always go back and explore the areas further (or add something else onto your itinerary that you discover while in Cape Town... like the winelands, which I think is a must). I highly recommend a tour guide named Brian Smith at Grassroute Tours (www.grassroutetours.co.za). I can't imagine a better guide to these areas... he's incredible. He was born in District 6 and then was moved to one of the colored townships, so he gives you a very interesting insight. You'll also visit black townships, see some business that have been set up in the townships. I have to say, its an incredible tour and Mr. Smith is an amazing guide. He even gives you a great historical lesson on Cape Town.

The other reply said that you should visit the penguins at Boulders beach. This can easily be combined with a visit to the Cape of Good Hope (and I agree, its very worthwhile).

hi

some thoughts :

table mountain - half day - great

Cape point- Cape of good hope - great full day

robben island and table bay cruise - can be done together - table bay cruise probrably not necessary- rather do just robben island- thats in table bay!!!- popular- but try pre book - they get booked up often - half day


Winelands- only half an hour out of the CBD- Franschoek or stellenbosch- find out here you will need one full day - lovely- relaxing and good scenery - full day


An alternative to the breaching story is shark cage diving -you can do that in one day- a day trip 2 hours from cape town.



Planeterium and holocaust centre- are close to each other- almost back to back- so do that on the same day - distict six museum is also quite close you may be able to do the 3 of them in one day- unless its too much to deal with.- half day

you can do the district 6 tour and the district six museum together - they are close by each other half day

Ikm in sydney now visiting- will be back home in cape town next week- shout if you need any more info :)

Mandy

I would combine Robben Island with the Table Bay since they are in VA Waterfront. Buy your tickets to Robben before going. Robben Island is 3 hours and Table Bay is like 1 hour.

I would wake up early and go to the Holocost Center then Planetarium which are in Company Gardens location. The exhibits in the Holocost Center is long.

Table Mountain can be combined with District 6 and District 6 walking tour. District 6 is a lot of reading.

If you do a cape flats tour I think you should also go to the townships since they are not that far away or Boo-kap.

I WOULD BOOK TICKETS FOR ROBBEN ISLAND BEFORE YOU LEAVE UK IF POSSIBLE AS THEY ARE DIFFICULT TO GET HOLD OF IN CT COS THEY ARE BOOKED UP WEEKS IN ADVANCE .

Hello there,

If you do Robben Island anyway you might not want to do the table bay cruise in addition-its the same view. Or you do the table bay cruise on the spirit of Victoria at sunset. Thats an old sailing boat.

Table mountain takes you half day (hike up platteklip and take Cable way down) afterwards you might want to sit in the planetarium to relax.

I think the district six walking tour includes the museum.

Holocaust center can be combined with beautiful Kirstenbosch botanical gardens...very uplifting experience.

Cape of good Hope. Plan a whole day in. Have some seafood at live bait Restaurant in Kalk Bay harbour or Black Marlin just after Simonstown. Stop at the penguins. Dont forget to drive past Misty Cliffs. Its mindblowingly stunning.

I heart that white shark diving is lots better in Gansbaai in April. Maybe you should consider that. Its 2 hours drive.

Michaela Gabriel
www.arbeiteninkapstadt.com

concerning shark diving: We went in february which is not the best time to see sharks and we still saw 5, several came multiple times. true, starting with april it gets better, but even in january/february there is a good chance you will see some. according to the operator, in january/february the chance to spot sharks is still 70/80 percent compared to 100% in the spring/summer season

When you are at the V&A Waterfront, put time aside to visit the Two Oceans Aquarium. It's well worth a visit (I would say a 'must do' even if you're not a lover of what's under the sea!), essentially the exhibits are from around the coast of South Africa, showing typifying the diversity of 3 distinct ecosystems.

No breaching Great Whites as in False Bay, or those found in Gansbaai, but they swim over you in the half tunnel for viewing. If you have a Diving Ticket, you can swim with them too - more tame than cage-diving, but it gives some, an adrenalin rush all the same. They are fed once per week on a Sunday by the staff divers.

Among other exhibits, the 2nd largest one is the Kelp Forest with fresh seaweed and great mood!

Winelands are a MUST, as mentioned ... and if you're really pressed for time there are also some great wineries in the Constantia Valley, right in Cape Town.

It is a stunning city and unbelievable in what it has to offer in every respect.
Both my suggestions here can be done in one day, if need be.

Cape Town enthusiast!