We are flying (my wife and I) to Cape Town in 10 days, and have two weeks there. We'd love to crash for the first week - somewhere nice, good pool, peaceful, near the beach - and then be more active for the second week.
Anyone have any good recommendations on places to stay/things to do?
2007-02-05 00:22:42 · 17 answers · asked by Jonathan W 2 in Travel ➔ Africa & Middle East ➔ South Africa
Drive out to Hermanus and forget Cape Town, it is so beautiful. Also check out the Peninsula - Simonstown, etc.
2007-02-08 17:28:24 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 19⤊ 0⤋
To start with I must just point out that although Jeffery's Bay is a truly spectacular beach with waves perfect for surfing its on the other side of the Garden Route on the way to Port Elizabeth up the N2 freeway from Cape Town. So not exactly in the immediate vicinity.
I know of a place called Silvermist Mountain Lodge that is situated right in the middle of the peninsular quite high up the side of the Constantiaberg mountains where you can stay including breakfast or as self catering - perfect for chilling!!!!!!!!!!! You could take a walk along the contour path from here to Kirstenbosch or if you are really brave have a go at the least strenuous walk up Table Mountain from the back. Views are to die for!
Then I would suggest any of the hotels situated in the V&A Waterfront for a more up beat time. You can stay in the Cape Grace for oodles of money (and be wonderfully pampered - if you can afford that) or at the Breakwater which is within the old prison. but quite modern and fun inside. (there are a few more hotels in between these prices also available at the V&A) The point being that you will not need a car to be in the action and do day trips to the winelands and table mountain(via the cable car) etc from there.
But the thing is wherever you stay, you will have the most wonderful time, enjoy.
2007-02-05 04:33:23 · answer #2 · answered by london.oval 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are going to love Cape Town - Depends on your budget where you can stay! I recommend that you stay out side CApe Town as it is packed with tourists - Thats if you want peace and quite. Then the next week you can stay in Cape Town. Harmanus which is about 2 hours outside Cape Town is really nice and there is a nice beach there - This is where you can see whales! there are some really nice B&B's there. When you get into Cape town there are plenty of places to visit - The V&A waterfront is wonderful (you can shop, go on a harbour tour, hae some fish and chips etc), visit Robbin Island (where Nelson Mandela was in prison - offers you excellent views of the mother city and Table Mountain), you must go up Table Mountain ( you can go up by cable cars or hike up tis is a MUST SEE) A beautiful beach to go to is Camps Bay (very upmarket and trendy), You must visit Hout Bay and Simons Town, Cape Point is also a nice place to go to (just be careful of Baboons - they attack people with food) and another thing you should do is visit the wine estates (deffinately do some wine tasting!) i really hope you enjoy your stay!
2007-02-07 05:14:38 · answer #3 · answered by Pegglet 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A few people mentioned Hermanus to see whales, unfortunately their season is over : o ( I live here at the moment, - my screenname southernrightwhale refer to the species of whale that come to visit Hermanus - and their season is from May til December. It is fantastic to see them - it is one of the best spots in the world, so next time you plan a trip to South Africa, you should come in the whale season : o )
Hermanus is extremely beautiful though, and a short drive from Cape Town (110 km). I think you would really enjoy a stay here. We have a beautiful large beach called Grotto (one of several) and at the moment there are not that many tourists - lots of space!
There are also many smaller beaches, sometimes you can have them all to yourself. And it is easy to get around - Hermanus stretches about 10 km, but it is very narrow because the most beautiful mountains limits housing to the one side, and beaches and cliffs to the other side. You can get anywhere on a bike. If you really want to take it easy, I think you will enjoy Hermanus. There is still lots to do - beautiful nature reserve where you can walk in the mountains, and there is horse riding, all activites related to the sea and the lagoon. The town is really nice too - very quaint, but lots of coffee shops and restaurents.
There is lots of accomdation here in Hermanus, I think Voelklip is the nicest area because you are really close to the beaches and with great mountain views.
www.safarinow.com is a good place to find accomodation (also for Cape Town), you can get quotes online, and for some places you can see availability. You can also have a look at www.hermanus.co.za where you can read more about Hermanus.
You can rent a car and drive from Cape Town, but there is also a transfer service called Splash, that you can contact via email. splash@hermanus.co.za
Cape Town is fantastic too, so make sure you spend enough time there too.
The botanical garden of Kirstenbosch is beautiful, you can see all the wonderful proteas that are endemic to the western cape.
The cape point nature reserve is great - good beaches too.
Enjoy!
2007-02-08 02:00:24 · answer #4 · answered by southernrightwhale 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well cape town hotels in close proximity to the beach - i would suggest the president hotel which is right on the beach, or one of the hotels along bantry bay, clifton beach or camps bay - its lovely. yes you have to be careful of crime - don't travel around alone at night especially. you will love the place itself - like a little bit of greece. these websites should help you - enjoy it but be careful.
as for things to do, any of the hotels will have activity guides for you. there are countless excellent winefarms with wine and cheese tasting to visit like boschendal, murati and fairview.
many historical buildings all around cape town - the opera house if you like theatre. plenty of good restuarants - visit hout bay and have lunch at mariners wharf for the ultimate seafood experience.
doodles rstaurant overlooking the table view blouberg beach has the greatest calamari i've ever tasted, which goes down well with a sundowner and sunset over the sea.
take a ride up the cable way and hike along the top of table mountain - maybe you will be lucky to have a sundowner up there and watch the table cloth roll in.
sailing sundowner cruises around the bay from the waterfront. craft markets all over - be careful with your money and wallets and be prepared to bargain down at least a 1/3 - never pay the first price offered lol.
visit the world of birds, tygerberg zoo and kirstenbosch gardens. take a tour down to cape point. visit historical stellenbosch area. your options will be endless. have a blast.
2007-02-05 15:11:31 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Anybody that says that Cape Town is the most beautiful city in the world is just stupid, or has not travelled anywhere else.
Yes it is a lovely city but the most beautiful,I can think of dozens of cities that I have been to that are more beautiful. Starting at Stockholm in the North to Rio in the South. Not to mention the cote d'azur.
By the way did you see last nights newsnight. It's official, Jhb is as violent as Bagdad.
2007-02-08 20:03:09 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The president hotel,Bantry Bay. Planet Africa, Sea Point.
The Mount Nelson is approx 1 mile from the Waterfront - Overpriced.
2007-02-05 08:05:48 · answer #7 · answered by Yourhighness 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Seems you are committed but check out the crime sites before you go. Cape Town has the highest per capita murder rate in South Africa and numerous tourists were attacked on Table Mountain over the Christmas period. There have been attacks on the Beaches and in one case a German Tourist guide was raped on the beach. Prince Harry's bit on the side , Chelsy Davy , was held up at gunpoint and robbed in a Cape Town restaurant a few months ago and there are numerous reports of tourists attacked in their Hotels or at Tourist sites. You are very brave to visit the crime capital of the World and I sincerely hope you survive.
2007-02-05 02:38:37 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
Welcome to the most beautiful city in the world..You will see that i am not speaking a word of a lie when you get here...I would recommend that you look at places in Camps Bay or Sea Point...i live here and i havent even checked out all the places, but log onto www.capestay.co.za and have a look...hope you have a marvelous time.....
2007-02-05 00:33:42 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have heard that Cape Town is stunning. My friend highly recommended it - I am thinking about going myself.
I found this useful ... Yahoo! has info, pictures, hotel guides and user reviews, I never knew it was there before!
2007-02-05 00:48:59 · answer #10 · answered by puddleduck1990 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋