Hi Debs,
Well, where you stay will really depend on your budget. There are a lot of great guest houses in the neighborhood of seapoint, many of which are worth a look. Your level of comfort (and your walled) will determine where you stay. As for what to do while you are in Cape Town, the skies the limit. In no particular order, here are the things most people like to do or see with some of my personal favorites dropped in:
- Cape Peninsula Tour with stops to Boulder's Beach and Cape Point (now a part of Table Mountain National Park)
- Trip to Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated (this is a half day trip), be sure to see the jackass penguin nesting grounds
- Hike or Ride Cable Car up to the top of Table Mountain and hike around the top for the best views of the city. (NOTE: do this the first nice morning you have. you never know when the wind will shut the cable car down)
- day or two driving around the winelands of Stellenbosch, Paarl, Franschoek & Wellington, if you're lucky, you might be there during the wellington wine festival
- Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
- Cape Flats tour
- Shark Cage Diving down in Gans Baai
- Drive down to Cape Agulhus stopping at the many little beach towns to the Southernmost tip of Africa
- Drive up the West coast to the Western Cape Nature Reserve
- City tour stopping at the Company gardens and hitting the museums there, Cape of Good Hope Fort, Green Market Square for curios
- Shopping & eating at the Victoria & Alfred waterfront, I like a leisurely afternoon fish and chips at quay four for the people watching and the view. you can't go wrong at Balducci's (pricey, but always a hit)
- Hit Camps Bay, great beach with great restaurants
- Hit the four beaches at Clifton
- Go to Le Med for Sundowners
- Hit the Corner Pub in Sea Point (note, this is a hole in the wall little coffee shop/bar, but the locals here on any given night never fail to have us laughing our asses off, practically rolling on the ground. it is not hip and trendy, the clientelle are mostly pensioners and alcoholics, but you will not be disappointed. if its slow one night, go back the next)
That's all i can think of right now. Cape Town is a place where you should rent a car. Our favorite is AE Car. You can pm me for the number. The last time I was there (last March), I stayed at the Mount Royal Nelson Guest House and couldn't recommend a better place. Very small, parking for your car, incredible hospitality, impeccably clean, well located in Sea Point. Tell Ronald that Holly & Graham sent you. As for safari, well, you're on the wrong side of the country to get the real bush. Enjoy the city and come back to Southern Africa for a proper safari when you have more time.
Good luck and have fun! Holly
