Cosmopolitan yet relaxed, with a comfortable Mediterranean climate, Cape Town is the ideal gateway into Africa. Sandwiched between Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean, the city enjoys one of the world’s most spectacular locations. Take a cable car to the summit of Table Mountain for superb views over Cape Town to the beaches beyond; visit Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for three decades, or stroll along the attractive Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in the city’s old port area, full of vibrant restaurants, shops and cafes.
Other excursions delve deeper into South Africa’s political past and open doors to communities not always visible in the city itself. The colourful Bo-Kaap area is one of the oldest residential areas in the city, and home to the Malay community. A closer look at one of South Africa’s townships, areas created for black residents under the Apartheid regime, can be an eye-opening experience, while a visit to a successful Uthando project, one of our chosen charities in South Africa, shows some of the work being done to help the disadvantaged in the area. Extending south of the city are many chic and leafy suburbs. Camps Bay is well known for its beachfront sidewalk and lively restaurant and café culture. The prestigious Upper Claremont district is close to the magnificent Kirstenbosch Gardens, from where hiking enthusiasts can climb Table Mountain.