Cape Town Travel Forum

We will be in Cape Town in late July of 2008 with our 14-year-old daughter, and will have several full days and several half-days for activities to get know the Cape Town area of Africa. We will not be flying out for a 1 or 2 day safari, but doing more local things. We understand this is winter and we have never been to Africa before, but we will be there for business and we want to do some family tour time.

We have heard that the following are good – are there any detailed suggestions on these, or suggestions for other destinations?
> Table Mountain
> Robben Island
> Cape Point
> Chapman’s Peak Road
> Boulder’s Beach and penguins (is it nuts to swim with them in Winter?)
> World of Birds, Hout Bay area

What do people think about:
> Imhoff Farm Village camel rides – we heard they a tourist dump. Are they un-safe (ride along a road) or just not ideal -- are in a rural area (ride on roads to the beach)?
> Westcoast Ostrich Show Ranch, or a place one can ride an ostrich?
> Winter weather -- if it is rainy, cloudy and windy, what options are there for us to get to know Africa and Cape Town?
> Car rental versus hiring a car and driver for a day trip to Cape Point?
> Other unique activities to build family memories of Cape Town and Africa

What are suggestions for a Bed-and-breakfast if we took two days to tour the Cape area? Any comments on these:
> Guinea Fowl House B&B
> Simon's Town and Toad Hall B&B
> Chartfield Guesthouse B&B
> 1 Blue On Blue B&B

Thank you!

What you mention is ALL great!

Cape Town is bustling with life and has loads to do.

Nope, I wouldn't swim with the penguins in winter (June/July, as it is very cold then! Although the Indian Ocean (Fish Hoek, Simon's Town side) is warmer than the Atlantic Ocean (Hout Bay, Clifton Beach and Camps Bay Beach side).

Imhoff is OK, has some nice cheese and arts and crafts... if you enjoy browsing then it's lovely to visit. The camels do not ride on the road, but on the beach, which is lovely. I do recommend this. There are places there to horse ride on the beach too (Long Beach, Noordhoek).

For Ostriches I would venture to Oudtshoorn, which is a bit far out of Cape Town... but I would not condone riding an ostrich, it is NOT healthy for them at all, no matter what people say. It does a lot of damage to their legs.

Winter weather is not great in Cape Town, if it were only cold that would be fine, unfortunately Cape Town gets cold, wet and windy... so let's hope for a mild winter whilst you are there! The cold is chilly but not as cold as other places in SA, like Joburg (inland and on the Highveld).

Car rental is definately best, get a car at Cape Town International. Alamo are a good hire company, inexpensive and we have used them a couple times when we have been back on holiday.

www.sleeping-out.co.za is quite good, as is Rooms For Africa, here is a link to cheap accomm there.

http://www.roomsforafrica.com/dest/south-africa/western-cape/cape-town.jsp?filter=3&sort=4&x=10&y=13

If you have more questions, please do feel free to ask. Happy planning! :)

Hi there,

I can really recommend the Aquarium in the Waterfront if the weather is really crap.

Some stuff is nicer to do in Winter, when its cold and misty. For instance Cape Point-big waves...and easy to imagine that ships crashed there by the dozens.
On the way back take the misty cliffs route. Its stunning.

Also on a cold winters day check out Polaner in Kalk Bay harbour. They have an open fire...and you are one level with the sea and the crashig waves...

Nothing wrong with winter in Cape Town :)

Enjoy!

Michaela
www.arbeiteninkapstadt.com