Cape Town is Magnificent

29/07/2010 by Russell.

Cape Town – top to bottom approach

If you have never had the good fortune to visit Cape Town, then it should be high on your priority list regardless of the cost of the flight. I am not able to recount the words of the many Alan Whickers’ and Judith Chalmers’ who have been here before me, but will try to give you a flavour of what delights lie in wait to those who follow these words of wisdom.

First off, before you arrive here, if you think this is an ordinary city with open top bus tours then, yes, they are to be found. Take the hop on hop off red and blue routes around the city and you can make it less tiring and also lots of fun too. However, I would suggest you do a quick fitness regime before coming here to enjoy an enriching experience of Cape Town and what it offers the visitor.

Here goes, if you are planning a visit then you must climb the mountain which dominates the surroundings, the cable car is easier, but less challenging. It towers about a 1,000 metres over the city – yes you can climb a kilometre. Take the Platteklip Gorge, it is straight up and will take about 2-2.5 hrs. We went up at first light, magnificent, with the expected reward being a hearty breakfast at the top. No such luck, the cable car wasn’t running – it was a true gale force at the top, hence no cafe open or other visitors. For a while there were only 2 of us up there. The climb down is just as ardous, about an hour and a half, but the sense of achievement is immense. You can see 60km away to the very end of Africa.

Lucky too because, although this was CT’s winter the weather was in the eighties fahrenheit during the week, however, as the week wore on the table was covered in its notorious table cloth, the cable cars were running though. So reason 1 - to be fit for the climb

Reason two is to take the ‘daytrippers.com’ tour to the Cape. It is 60 km away, so a car is required or this tour. It is excellent because you cycle the final 13kms to the Cape of Good Hope itself, is that not a fulfilling achievement too? It costs just over £50 for the full day including lunch, bike and entrance fee to the National park. The things you see are remarkable, visiting the Penguins on Boulders beach, seeing baboons in gardens of houses, Ostrich, dassies and if lucky like us - whales – incredible, and that is not even including the pleasure of cycling on the Cape to the iconic ‘ Cape of Good Hope’ sign, the most south westerly tip of Africa – awesome. Eat your heart out Rob Fletcher -it’s a trip made in heaven for you. It also include visiting Cape Point, which you can walk to from Cape of G hope, or ride in the mini bus.

Reason 3, is walk through Kirstenbosch botanical gardens, take the guide for an extra 40 rand (4 quid) and have a personal guide in a golf buggy round the park. A most satisfying tour for anyone, even if you are not interested in anything botanical, you can get there on the blue route bus, or a taxi or train. It is a designated world heritage site and lies at the foot of Table Mountain. I visited in winter, but it is still lovely to see. The garden is huge so need your energy levels to be good for this part too. A great cafe here at gate 1 too.

These sites are all safe -if that is a nagging thought. To put the record straight, you will be going to places black people (if you are put off coming because such stories about blacks and muggings) do not really frequent. You are not going to be hassled either. The waterfront is consumer paradise, whether beautiful hand made crafts or fashion boutiques like Louis Vitton, Paul Smith, etc or just a simple pharmacy. Restaurants abound here and are quite expensive, but that’s up to the individual. Fish and chips, burger bars and pizza places are available. But don’t miss the little malls with arts and crafts and the diamonds of course. Do not buy in the Victoria mall, go to ‘Diamonds of Africa’ in the clock tower mall, behind the Robben Island Ferry. They are most helpful and informative there.

Robben Island is a must for most people, it is a 3hr trip and sailings are dependent on the weather, I enjoyed it, but felt more could be done, you see Nelson’s cell, the garden and have a fantastic view of Table Mountain when you look to the mainland. Your guide is an ex-con. I couldn’t help but think of the envy these ex-cons must feel to prisoner 466/64 who is now seen as the world’s leading statesman. They go back to prison everyday, he sits in relative comfort and safety.

Black people do live in Cape Town, they are in and around you, but they will not be bothered with you, they are just making a living like you. They are most friendly and helpful, you are not going to find yourself off the beaten track and have your safety compromised. Townships are some distance away, read about District 6 and what the whites did there in the 60s.

What else? Long Street, Bo Kaap, District 6, museums, wine tours, there is so much more, as I said you just gotta to put money aside for Cape Town, it is a romantic and splendid city. Also you could stay in the excellent hostel – Zebra Crossing, I could see the table from the balcony at any time of day or night (in silhouette)

Oh, and the diamonds are reasonably priced if you know what to look for, so what price a point 32 carat diamond , rated as VS2 with a K/L colour?

Up at 6 for a long flight to Delhi on Saturday 24^th.

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