Cape Town For Beginners

This is our guide to Cape Town… for beginners.

Table Mountain is where you’ll find incredible hiking trails, scenic walks with ocean views and an abundance of interesting fauna and flora. The highest point of the mountain is 1086m above sea level (that’s 3563ft) which allows for incredible ocean and coastal views from the top. If you aren’t going to hike one of the many routes to the top, then be sure to visit the cableway and enjoy 360 degree views as you ascend up the mountain. The cable way opened in 1929 and today it can carry 65 passengers at a time. There are a variety of animals at the top, the most well known being the dassie or Cape Rock Hyrax that provides ample entertainment to those who spot them relaxing on a rock or scampering across a pathway.

There are an estimated 2,200 species of plants on the mountain alone, many of which are endemic to the area and can be found nowhere else in the world.

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Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden was founded in 1913 and grows only indigenous South African plants in its 528-hectare estate. The garden is known for its wide variety of hiking trails, walking routes, picnic spots and garden tours. Every Sunday during summer visitors enjoy live music performed by local and international artists in the garden as the sun sets over the mountain. These Sunday Summer Sunset concerts are always a great experience and a fantastic way to see the beautiful gardens and enjoy some local music at the same time.

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Cape Town also has a wide variety of beaches, if you’re looking to spend the day relaxing on the beach enjoying the waves and gentle ocean sounds, or if you’d rather be in the water surfing or diving – there is a beach just for you. Long Beach in Kommetjie boasts some of the best waves in the Cape Peninsula, particularly because when the south westerly wind is blowing there are both breaks to the left and right giving both regular and goofy surfers their ideal waves. This spot is suitable for beginners too, making it a great day on the beach for the whole family. A few of our other favourite beaches include Llandudno, Clifton 4th, Camps Bay and Muizenberg.

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Food is a hot topic in Cape Town and attracts many local and international foodies. The Last Word Constantia is surrounded by some of the top restaurants in the country and a few of the most prestigious wine estates as well. Some of our favourites include La Colombe, Fox Croft, Chefs Warehouse at Beau Constantia, Eagle’s Nest, Constantia Glen and the Heritage Market at Constantia Uitsig. Weekends are when food lovers gather around the city to enjoy live music, great food, refreshing drinks and fantastic local treats all under one roof. These are a few of the top markets to visit in and around the city – OZCF Market, Neighbourgoods Market at The Old Biscuit mill, the Kirstenbosch Market, Hout Bay Market and Blaauklippen Market in Stellenbosch.