TOURS - YOU SAY WE DO!
Because of its unique setting Cape Town offers something to match every relish. There are no limits to cultural and sporting activities. You have a wide selection from an array of most of the sports on offer. One can choose between diving, sailing, surfing or hiking, mountain biking, cycle racing or horse riding for your pleasure. One can even soar into our South African skies by paragliding or parachuting... there are so many offers available, simply inquire at our office and we will gladly assist you.
If you take the effort to climb Table Mountain, you will be rewarded with the spectacular bird's eye view of Cape Town. There are numerous paths that can be taken up Table Mountain, which can be conquered from within half an hour to three hours, depending on your vivacity. For the less adventurous, there are cable car rides to the top of the mountain. This service is available daily and offers a student discount. On the mountain, visitors have the option to visit the cafe restaurant or take advantage of the indigenous flora and fauna views whilst enjoying a private picnic. The level surface and crisp breeze on the mountain top invites one to take pleasant strolls. *It is advisable to take along some warm clothing.
The prospects to shop 'til you drop in Cape Town are endless! There are numerous shopping malls, such as The Victoria Wharf at the Waterfront, Century City or Tyger Valley are already an event in themselves! A visit to the prestigious Cape Town V&A Waterfront is a must! The Waterfront is situated on Cape Town's prehistoric harbor. Its numerous shops offer many possibilities ranging from curio shops to clothing stores of internationally renowned brands, from restaurants to 3D cinemas, there is also an Imax- Cinema, aquarium and a marine museum.
The 'Two Oceans' aquarium, as the name suggests, exhibits fascinating marine life from the two principal oceans of the world, namely the Atlantic and the Indian oceans. Students also get a discount.
Visitors who are interested in the political history of South Africa can also travel from the Waterfront by boat to Robben Island where Nelson Mandela, (South Africa's former president) was imprisoned.
Cape Town also offers a variety of restaurants, bars and nightclubs for those who have a zest for nightlife. Long Street, the oldest street in the city, offers much possibility for fun and entertainment. One can join the festivities of music and dance, or simply relish the culturally rich and vibrant ambience. If you prefer to be more laid back, there are many comfortable jazz bars where one can delight in a glass of wine or beer on a soft sofa. For a quiet yet entertaining evening, one can visit our opera houses or the theatres.
There are also various worthwhile museums and galleries for the culturally inclined. The 'Koopmans de Wet House' gallery portrays life in Cape Town around the 1800's. A visit to the 'District Six' Museum will give you insight into the life of South Africans and our ethnic population during the apartheid era. The 'Jewish Museum' is dedicated to all those who had suffered and had witnessed the Holocaust during World War Two.
The 'Houses of Parliament' give an interesting insight into South African refinement and history. In the first part of the year, the public can attend civic debates. The 'South African Museum' is a national memoir museum established in 1825 which provides insights into South African archaeology, ethnology and marine biology. It also contains an adjoining planetarium presenting all indigenous lives of the Southern Hemisphere. The 'Castle of Good Hope' completed in 1697 served as the residence of previous Cape governors. This castle is the oldest building in South Africa! The largest collection of South African art is to be found in the 'South African National Gallery' In addition to this, there are works by Dutch, German, French and English masters, dating from the 1700's up to the present day.
Visitors can also visit Cape Town's various trading markets such as that of the Green Market Square, Short Market Square or Hout Bay Flee markets. Here, one can exhibit their bargaining skills for the best prices for African carvings, sculptures, jewelry and clothing. Most times, original prices can be undercut to a third or more of the original price for bartered goods. This is an exceptional opportunity that no foreign visitor should miss out! Those who need to retreat from the bustle and hustles of the vigorous City life will not have difficulty finding a sunny beach in reachable distance.
Atlantic side beaches (Clifton beach, Sandy Bay, Camps Bay and Bloubergstrand) are all renowned for beautiful sights and sand. The view of Table Mountain, Cape Town city and twelve apostles could be enjoyed from these points.
The Botanical Gardens in Kirstenbosch offer a spectacle of more than 5000 species of natural greenery. From December to March, summer musical concerts can be enjoyed whilst viewing the sunset.Under no circumstances should foreign visitors miss out on a trip to the Cape in their travel plans. You can take a drive around Cape Town through Sea Point, Camps Bay and Llandudno to Hout Bay. You can also savor the best local Fish and chips at our various fishing harbours.
Chapman's Peak drive, which begins in Hout Bay, is one of the most beautiful coastal drives in the world. The drive takes approximately 20 minutes to Cape Point. To travel up the mountain of Cape Point, one can take the scenery footpath or make use of the carrier coach. The Portuguese sailor Diaz gave the Cape its current name in 1488, in the colloquial tongue it is also often called the 'Cape of Storms'.
Upon reaching the mountain, visitors are to climb a further height of 133 steps to reach to the legendary zenith of the 'Cape of Good Hope'. The breath taking Mountain Views of the Atlantic Ocean, the Cape Peninsula and False Bay create memorable and superb souvenir photographs for tourists to take home. On the trip back from the Cape Point, one can travel through the naval base of Simon's Town, passing Boulders Beach where you will find an indigenous penguin colony. These penguins are known to be the smallest of its kind, and they are simply adorable animals to fall in love with.
About 60 km from Cape Town is the prehistoric town of Stellenbosch, which is over 300 years old. Besides the dazzling vineyards that surround the town, its colonial architecture with its Bourganvillia gates all contribute to Stellenbosch being the cradle of our intellectual society and has also made it the most beautiful town in South Africa. In the Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschoek wine estates, one can taste various makes of wine and its outstanding cuisines.
The Huguenots that settled in Franschhoek have made it the 'France of Africa' with numerous wine estates and gourmet restaurants. Other beautiful places to go on outings to are the Lagoons of Langebaan, north of Cape Town. Hermanus, approximately 110km east of Cape Town, is a renowned tourist attraction for whale watching in the autumn months of October/November.
For the culturally inquisitive, the Garden Route boasts the most beautiful coastal villages in South Africa. The Drakensberg Mountains and the Kruger National Park are also renowned tourists' must-sees!
It is noteworthy that Cape Town makes a good departure point for many travels to neighbouring countries namely Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique as these countries are all easily assessable from Cape Town by car or plane.
We organise trips in and around Cape Town for our students with various tourist companies.
Simply come into our office for further details or contact us via email or telephone.
We are glad to assist our students to the best of our ability and to make your visit to South Africa a memorable and pleasurable experience!
Should you require any further information, please contact us. |
