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The best things to do in Cape Town

LTC Team — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 11:08:19 +0000

Cape town is an amazing place in South Africa to enjoy a lot of activities. There is a real cultural and natural beauty. So I would like to advice you about activities, which you cannot miss.

The most beautiful beaches in Cape Town

You have to go to Camps bay, Clifton, Llandudno and Muizenberg. At most of them, you can do surfing, kayaking, swimming, play volleyball, football and tanning.

The most athletic activities in Cape Town

You have to hike Table Mountain and have a drink at the top during the sunset. It is a really good experience even if it is difficult, you will be so proud of yourself and the view is just incredible. You can climb Lion’s head or Devils peak too.

The funniest experience in Cape Town

You can taste pretty good wines in Cape Town. If you are a wine lover, it is possible to taste some of it in Constantia but there are other wine tasting farms in Durbanville and Helderberg. For another experience, you can go to Stenllenbosch or Franschhoek, outside the city. The perfect option is to choose 4 or 5 estates that tickle your fancy and just have fun.

The most relaxing experience in Cape Town

Do you love nature and garden? Kirstenbosch is a beautiful place to walk in nature and have a quiet moment. It is a big and amazing garden with a canopy, waterfalls, and a place for concerts. You can enjoy live shows on Sundays or enjoy an open-air cinema. It’s definitively a place that you can’t miss.

Kirstenbosch

The most amazing experience in Cape Town

If you have enough time to do the Garden Route, it is just a beautiful experience. You leave Cape Town for 3 days and you can discover the beauty of the south coast, you can go to George and experience an amazing tour.You can kayak, hike, swim in waterfalls, do the highest bungee jumping of South Africa, enjoy a Safari and discover an elephant sanctuary.

Obviously, it is just some ideas and there are a lot of other activities to experience in Cape Town. In my opinion, it is the best city ever because you cannot get bored, especially in Summer whether it is day or night.You will always have something to do, so come on and join us in South Africa.

Article written by Julie from France, student and intern in Cape Town.

My Cape Town experience

LTC Team — Fri, 01 Feb 2019 08:30:45 +0000

Let me introduce myself, my name is Barbara, I study in Maastricht in the Netherlands and can call myself very fortunate because I’ve been given the opportunity to do my internship in the most beautiful country in the world, South Africa.

I can’t believe I’ve been in Cape Town for four months now, on one hand ,it seems like I’ve been here a lifetime already but on the other hand, the time has flown by so fast.

South Africa is a vibrant country where multiple cultures, languages,people, religions and unify. Did you know South Africa has eleven official languages?

But like any other country, South Africa has its own manual, because every country has different habits, norms & values. So if you’re planning a trip to South Africa, and more specifically Cape Town and want to get the most out of your stay here, I will share some tips and tricks and tell you a little bit about my experience here.

Before departure

Make sure the following things are arranged before traveling to Cape Town:

Valid passport (of course)
Flight reservations
Credit card
South African phone provider – I used Vodacom myself but most of my friends had CellC
Proof of medical cover valid in South Africa
Apply for Visa (All documents need to be filled in in English and with a black pen)
Applying for a Visa can be time consuming so make sure you start early, you’re dependent on other institutions such as the bank, hospital, police and of course the government. You can contact an immigration lawyer to help you throughout the process.
Always bring a warm sweater or jacket, the saying that Cape Town can have 4 seasons in one day is not a lie.

Accommodation

Home sweet home, wherever you go, a place where you feel happy,comfortable and safe is essential. A nice home where you can unwind after a busy day at the office or an adventurous activity. There are a lot of places to stay in Cape Town, such as hotels, apartments, hostels but the best option I believe would be a host family. A host family will not only provide you with a nice place to live but they can also be your helping hand. Ask your school,mediator or maybe even family and friends for help when finding a nice place to stay.

I personally lived in two neighborhoods in Cape Town, the first month of my stay I stayed in Observatory (aka Obs). Obs is known to be quite a safe place to live, it is a very hipster and vibrant part of Cape Town, located next to Woodstock. It is, however, a bit further away from the city centre. But I really enjoyed the vintage vibe Obs had, some lovely coffee places, café’s and restaurants are located in Obs so it’s definitely worth the visit. The other neighborhood I stayed in was Bo Kaap. Well known for its colorful house sand Muslim community Bo Kaap is a nice place to stay.

Public transport

Make sure that you’ve installed the Uber app (you need a credit card for this) on your phone. Though Cape Town has a lot of option when it comes to public transport, Uber is the safest and most trustworthy one and probably cheaper than taking a taxi too.

All Uber drivers are checked and inspected by Uber. The airport has a few currency exchange offices so make sure to draw some South African Rands.

Another good option is taking the My City Bus, though I don’t have any personal experience taking the bus, I’ve heard a lot of positive feedback about it.

My favs

Now that I’ve given some general information about Cape Town, I would love to share some of my own experiences:

There’s a lot of amazing things to do in Cape Town. Climb Lions Head and visit Wally’s Cave, Table Mountain, watch the sunset on Signal Hill with a bottle of wine and good company, have a stroll along V&A Waterfront and have some lunch at the Food Market there, visit some of the many amazing museums (I loved Zeitz Mocaa and Slave Lodge was impressive and interesting too).

My standard weekend would be as follows, Fridays my friends and I would have some pre-drinks at la Parada Bree street,afterward, we would go to Long street.. Saturday morning, a few friends and I would go to Muizenberg to surf. There are a couple of surf schools where you can rent a suit and board. In the evening we would have a ‘’family braai’’ at our friend’s house and play some board games.Sunday Funday we would start the day at the beach, this was either Camps Bay or Clifton Beach no2. A list of other nice beaches would be:

Platboom
SN. Tidal Pool
Bakoven
Hout Bay
Llandudno
Maiden’s cove
Soetwater, Kommetjie
Buffels Bay

Food, food and more food.

Before I came to Cape Town I wasn’t aware of the amazing food they have here. Besides gaining experience and knowledge, I’ve also gained some weight being here in South Africa, because the food is just scrumptious (it might have been the wine as well). I’ll first give you a list of my best lunch spots:

Dunes – Hout Bay
Truth Coffee – 36 Buitenkant St Cape Town
Folk – 7 Bree St. Cape Town
Kleinsky’s Delicatessen (best bagels in town!) – 95 Regent Rd or 32 Parliament St.
Giulio’s- Cornerstone House, 16 Loop St.
Haas Collective – 19 Buitenkant St.
Clarke’s – 133 Bree St.
Jason Bakery – 185 Bree St.
Smak – 22 Bree St.
Kauai – Multiple locations

There are a lot more lunch spots, so these are just a few. There is however one I would like to mention in particular, ”Die Strand Loper’’if you are a fish lover just like me this place is heaven. Die Strand loper is a very low key spot (kind of makes you feel like you’re in a pirate movie)where you get 10 delicious meals and its BYOB (bring your own booze). Die Strand loper is an hour and a half drive from Cape Town,but it is most definitely worth your time. You will just have to experience this amazing spot for yourself (it is advised to make a reservation in advance, just visit their website).

Now let’s continue with a few great restaurants for dinner, I have to be honest with you, this list consists of both affordable and a bit more expensive restaurant:

Mzoli’s – is a Butcher, ‘Braai’-restaurant in Gugulethu, one of Cape Town’s Townships
Mama Africa – 178 Long Street (typical African food)
JC – 18 De Villiers Rd, Zonnebloem
Tiger’s Milk – Multiple locations
Mantra – 43 Victoria Rd, Camps Bay
The Bungalow – 3 Victoria Rd, Camps Bay
Jerry’s Burger Bar – 123 Lower Main Rd. Observatory
Oishi Sushi – Online or via Uber Eats
Asoka -68 Kloof St, Gardens
Kloof Street House – 30 Kloof St, Gardens
Your’s Truly – 73 Kloof St.
Today & Tomorrow – 71 Kloof St.
Villa 47 – 47 Bree St.
Beluga – 70 Prestwich St.
Three Wise Monkeys – La Rhone Building, 77 Regent Rd.
Love Thy Neighbour – 110 Bree St.

Always something to do

South Africa provides so many amazing activities and opportunities to make your time abroad the best ever. Near the end of September my friends and I went on a road trip to Hermanus, and this I highly recommend. We stayed there for two nights and went kayaking with whales (if you want to go kayaking in Cape Town go to Atlantic Outlook). Being in such close proximity to such a majestic animal feels unreal.

The drive to Hermanus is already a breath-taking experience itself.

Saturdays are not for sleeping in but for waking up early so you can visit one of many green markets. Visit the Old Biscuit Mill market for the best food and souvenir shopping or go and take a look at Oranjezicht market near Waterfront to do some healthy groceries or try some of the fresh food from one of the booths.

If you’re in the mood for some tranquility and nature, visit the Kirstenbosch Garden, this beautiful park is filled with exotic birds and plants and is the perfect place to have a nice and peaceful day out of the house.

The Company Gardens is also perfect for a peaceful stroll to escape the busy city life.

If you’re a love a good glass or bottle of wine just like me, visit either Franschhoek or Stellenbosch, and enjoy one of the many wine tastings while drowning in the stunning scenery around you.

My favourite was the Zandvliet Wine Estate because my family and I were allowed to blend our own wine and it had a lot of sentimental value to us.

If you’re planning to stay in South Africa for a longer period the Garden Route is of course something you cannot miss!

I honestly don’t think I have enough writing space to tell you about all the amazing places and experiences here in South Africa. This country is extraordinary.

All the things I’ve experienced here in South Africa have honestly changed me as a person. Learning about different cultures and habits, seeing the harmony between various religions. I’ve come to realize I’m not very musically talented and don’t have any rhythm compared to African people. The kindness people show each other and of course the wildlife and breath-taking nature. The proximity of stunning beaches and mountains. I would like to thank everyone who made this experience one to never forget, I’ve learned to really appreciate the small things in life and to take nothing for granted, to be kind to everyone around you and to help wherever you can. To appreciate nature and everything it’s given us.

What activities to do in and around Cape Town

LTC Team — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 13:04:49 +0000

Are you either going to have a fun day at one of the many wine farms around Cape Town, being active while hiking table mountain or rather sniff some culture at Robben Island?

Township tours Cape Town

There are a lot of things to do in Cape Town. A great way to experience Cape Town on its best is via organised tours. There is the Red Bus tour, Wine tours, Robben Island tours and in this case… the Township tour!

What are Townships exactly?

Townships are living areas on the edge of the city, which were supplied for ‘non-white’ inhabitants until the end of the Apartheid. The living conditions are far below average, but after the end of the Apartheid and the new government there are major projects busy to improve their house-and living conditions. Cape Town is a beautiful city with many sightseeing’s and a beautiful nature. This is also why Cape Town is the number one tourist destination around the world! I think it’s also very important to make people aware of the other side of Cape Town. Their house-and living conditions, the high unemployment rate and the homeless.

Township tour

I’ve been to the Townships and I found it an unforgettable experience. I’ve had good conversations with the people and we played and laughed with the children. The people are very friendly, hospitable, funny and simply amazing! It’s good to see that there are projects busy with building apartments and houses for these people so they can develop and improve themselves.

With a township tour you are going with a few people and a guide to the townships. He/she will tell you about their history, their living conditions etc., and they will walk with you through the Township. I can’t recommend this eye-opening experience highly enough to anyone who’s visiting Cape Town.

Besides of this amazing experience, there are a lot other things to do in Cape Town. Recommended is to visit Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was kept as a prisoner by the apartheid regime of South-Africa.

Robben Island

About

Robben Island is located 12 kilometres from Cape Town. During the Apartheid, it functioned especially as a prison for political troublemakers who were against to Apartheid for over 400 years. The water around the island is ice cold because of the cold see current that comes through here. In these 400 years, only 3 prisoners managed to escape from the island and survived their flight to the coast.

Why is Robben Island so famous?

Robben Island has become famous worldwide because of the imprisonment of Nelson Mandela during the Apartheid. Nelson Mandela and a few other anti-apartheid fighters had to work in a limestone mine to win limestone. This was the only place where they could talk to each other. However, they were not allowed to talk about politics. The prison closed in 1996 when the last criminal was transferred.Robben Island tours

With the Robben Island tours you will make a 30 minute trip with a double-decker boat, leaving from the Nelson Mandela gateway. The Nelson Mandela gateway can be found near the V&A Waterfront Clock Tower. A lot of the tours a guided by former political prisoners from the Island. In this way you will get the best view of the prisons history, but also their personal story. The highlights of the tour are the Nelson Mandela prison and the Limestone Quarry. The tour will be 4 hours and the first thing you will do is visit the former most secured prison. After this, a 45 minute bus tour will guide you around the island details such as the military base, hospital and leper colony.

There are a lot of tours organised in Cape Town. This is one of the best ways to visit Cape Town and learn about it at the same time. Besides of the Robben Island tours, there is the Red Bus tour, the Township tour, Wine tours and more!

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens

About

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden is one of the greatest botanical gardens in the world. It’s also known as the most beautiful garden in Africa. The area is named after Johann Friedrich Kirsten who managed this area in the 18^th century. The Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden is not only a garden. It’s part of a nature reserve, which contains protected forest and fynbos. The botanical garden covers 528 hectares of ground with a very diverse flora. The garden includes plants from different regions, including fynbos, savannah and vegetation from the Karoo.

Trails & Paths

There are different paths which can be walked when visiting the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. The Braille trail is a 15 minute unassisted walk in the forest for people who can’t see. It starts and ends in the Fragrance Garden. The Boekenhout trail is a 30 minute walk which starts at the Old dam. This trail is known for its unusual views of the Table Mountain. The Stinkwood trail will take about 50 minutes to walk. You can explore the oldest parts of the forest with the largest trees here. The yellowwood trail will take about 1,5 hour to walk and will also take you to the skeleton waterfall. The Silvertree trail is the longest walk, is 7.7km long and will take about 3 hours. It starts and ends at the Rycroft gate and you will see the silver trees, the gardens irrigation dam and also on this path you will have spectacular views of Table Mountain.

Activities

The Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden has the perfect setting for a good musical concert, a picnic, but also for a hot chocolate and some shopping. With the beautiful nature and the diverse of plants and birds, this garden is the best place to have a picnic with friends and family!

Sometimes there a musical concerts organised, where you can enjoy a lovely night of music at the Kirstenbosch amphitheatre. These concerts are on Sundays during the summer months from December until March. Even Michael Bubble, Bryan Adams and Katie Melua have performed here!

In the visitor’s centre you can go shopping in various outlets or go for a coffee in their coffee shop. At the information desk you can receive a lot of information about the garden, different maps, but also about other things to do in Cape Town.

Boulders Bay

Boulders Bay, also called Boulders beach, is one of Cape Town’s many beaches. Boulders Bay is part of the Table Mountain National Park, which is a park that protects the wild and botanical all around Cape Town. It is a popular tourist destination because a colony of African penguins settled here back in 1982. It is located in the Cape Peninsula near Simon’s Town in Cape Town. It is possible to observe the penguins from a close range, which can’t be done in many places. The colony has grown to over 3000 penguins nowadays!

You can also hang out at Boulders Beach and False Bay where you can swim in the warm and calm waters. The 540 million old granites provide some shade against the sun and shelter for the big waves. Boulders Bay is the only place in the world where you can actually swim among the penguins. We have to warn you to not feed or touch the Penguins. They seem very nice and cute, which they are, but if they feel threatened, they will bite the odd finger with their beaks as sharp as razors!

The African penguins

The African Penguin, also known as Jackass Penguin, is the only specie who settled at the African continent. They are often called Jackass Penguin because of their donkey-like bleating call. Penguins are very ancient births who evolved about 65 million years ago. Normally penguins are well adapted to the cold. The African penguin has found various ways to deal with the sun. The Penguins weigh about 2-4 kilo and their average age is 10-11 years but sometimes they get older and reach as much as 22 years. Did you know the African Penguins are listed as an endangered species?

Whale watching Cape Town

About

One of the best places in the world for whale watching is South Africa. You can do it from land or from boats, you will definitely see them. Every year, these whales migrate from Antarctica to warmer places such as South Africa. They reach South Africa in June. And that’s where the whale season begins!

Where to go?

There are different places to go whale watching in Cape Town. You can go by yourself but there are also various boat trips organised by qualified and registered whale guides who know the best places to watch whales. The best viewing places are Walker Bay, with Hermanus on its north and Gansbaai on the south, which are known as one of the best places in the world! You can also go various ways from Simon’s town or Seal Island to watch whales, sharks and dolphins. You can even go shark cage diving!

Facts

There can be found at least 37 species of whales and dolphins in the waters of South Africa. Estimated is that there are about 3000-4000 southern whales present in South Africa. You can notice them in various ways:

Breaching: this is when the whale comes out of the water with a backflip and falls on his back. It is not yet proven why they do this. Men think they do this to shake parasites of their skin, or maybe as a way to communicate.
Blowing: As whales reach the water surface to breath, you will see it as white splash, which can be caused by water resting on the top of the blowhole.
Lob-tailing: It appears to be a way of communication when whales slap their tales on the surface.
Spy hopping: when a whales comes to the surface and holds a vertical position out of the water. In this way he can actually see what’s happening nearby the surface. It often occurs when you go whale watching.

I would recommend whale watching in Cape Town as a must see activity for everyone!