Susanne - Wine tours are another popular activity in Cape Town. The Cape Winelands produce some fantastic red and white wines. Some of the favourite wine lovers’ destinations include the Constantia Valley – a suburb within the city, and the Cape Winelands near Franschoek, Paarl and Stellenbosch. Stellenbosch itself is home to South Africa’s oldest universities while Franschoek has many fine restaurants that have established it as a culinary capital of South Africa.
- Whale watching is extremely popular with tourists in Cape Town. Southern Right Whales and Humpback Whales can usually be seen between August and November while Killer Whales can be seen throughout the year. Bottlenose Dolphins and Dusky Dolphins live in False Bay. Every year the town of Hermanus hosts a while festival at the end of September, which is mating season for the Southern Right Whales which can even be seen from the cliffs in the centre of town.
- There are a lot of annual events in Cape Town and these are enjoyable not only for local people but also tourists. The Cape Town Flower and Garden Show takes place in October and the Two Oceans Marathon is popular among runners from all over the world and most of the roads are closed during marathon season. Also known as the Kaapse Klopse, the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival is New Years day’s festival and the whole town is full of marches.
- Spectator sports are another popular activity in Cape Town which regularly hosts high caliber athletics, gymnastics, cycling, fencing, hockey, canoeing and other sports events. Major events such as the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2009 Indian Premier League cricket tournament as well as the 1995 Rugby World Cup have also been held here.
- Township tours: For an introduction to the apartheid history of South Africa that still casts a shadow over the present, a township tour will give you insight into the poverty of many of the black neighbourhoods of town. Khayelitsha is the largest and fastest growing township in all of South Africa and has an estimated population of more than 400,000 people, about 70% of whom still live in shacks. For safety reasons, it is advisable to only venture into the townships with a guided tour, where the locals welcome tourists with their friendly manner. As a form of social tourism, township tours support the local economy. There are even bed and breakfasts located in various townships where you can stay overnight.
The southernmost city in Africa, Cape Town has become one of the world’s most popular dream destinations. The stunning landscape of Table Mountain and the Cape overwhelms the visitor with the beauty of nature while Cape Town itself offers any urban amenity that a traveler could wish for. The surrounding wine country offers fantastic opportunities for excursions. Given all these unique factors, it is not surprising that Cape Town is the most popular tourist destination in all of Africa.
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