10 daysCape Town + Kruger
City, Coast, Winelands & Big Five
- A balanced first trip to South Africa
- Best Mar–May, Sep–Nov
From$5,900approx. ≈ £4,450approx. ≈ CA$8,100approx. ≈ A$8,950approx. ≈ €5,050per person sharing
South Africa
Cape Town
Mountain, ocean and a vibrant food scene
Cape Town sits between Table Mountain and the Atlantic, with beaches, wine country and penguins on its doorstep. Its layered history, creative neighborhoods and excellent restaurants make it one of Africa's most rewarding cities.
Few cities have a setting like Cape Town's. The flat-topped bulk of Table Mountain rises straight behind the city center, often draped in its famous "tablecloth" of cloud, while the Atlantic seaboard curves away past beaches and granite boulders toward the Cape Peninsula. You can hike a mountain in the morning, see penguins after lunch and watch the sunset from a beach with a glass of local wine.
History at every turn
Cape Town's story is complex and compelling. The Castle of Good Hope, built by the Dutch East India Company in the 17th century, is the oldest surviving colonial building in South Africa. Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 of his 27 years behind bars, is a ferry ride from the V&A Waterfront. The District Six Museum tells the story of a vibrant neighborhood destroyed by forced removals under apartheid, and the brightly painted houses of the Bo-Kaap reflect the heritage of the Cape Malay community, many of them descendants of people brought to the Cape in slavery from Southeast Asia and beyond.
A creative, outdoor city
Today Cape Town is a hub of design, art and food. Zeitz MOCAA, set in a converted grain silo, showcases contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora, and Woodstock's studios and street art draw a creative crowd. Outdoors, the options are endless: a sunrise hike up Lion's Head, surfing at Muizenberg, paragliding from Signal Hill or a slow afternoon in Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden.
The Cape Peninsula
A day on the Cape Peninsula is essential. Drive Chapman's Peak, stop at Boulders Beach to see its colony of African penguins, browse the harbor village of Kalk Bay and walk to the dramatic cliffs of Cape Point in Table Mountain National Park.
How we plan Cape Town
We recommend at least three or four nights, often followed by the Cape Winelands, the Garden Route or a safari, as on our Cape Town + Kruger journey. We'll arrange private guides and restaurant reservations, and keep your plans flexible around the Cape's famous wind.
Highlights
Table Mountain
Ride the rotating cableway or hike to the summit for views over the city, the ocean and Robben Island.
Robben Island
Visit the former prison where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years, on a tour that brings South Africa's struggle for freedom to life.
Cape Point and Boulders Beach
Drive the peninsula's coastal roads to see African penguins up close and the wild cliffs of Cape Point.
Bo-Kaap and District Six
Explore the neighborhoods and museums that tell the stories of the Cape Malay community and apartheid's forced removals.
Kirstenbosch
Stroll one of the great botanical gardens of the world and walk the treetop canopy walkway on the slopes of Table Mountain.
Zeitz MOCAA
See contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora in a spectacularly converted grain silo at the Waterfront.
Neighborhoods to know
- City Bowl and Gardens
- The historic center beneath Table Mountain, with the Company's Garden, museums, cafés and easy access to the cableway.
- Bo-Kaap
- Cobbled streets and brightly painted houses on the slopes of Signal Hill, the historic home of the Cape Malay community.
- V&A Waterfront
- A working harbor with shops, restaurants, Zeitz MOCAA and the Robben Island ferry; convenient, lively and easy to walk.
- Camps Bay and the Atlantic Seaboard
- Palm-lined beaches, sunset drinks and the Twelve Apostles mountains as a backdrop, a short drive from the center.
- Woodstock
- A former industrial area turned creative quarter, with design studios, galleries, street art and a popular Saturday market.
Food & drink
Cape Town has a celebrated restaurant scene, from inventive tasting menus to casual spots serving superb seafood, whether that's fish and chips on Kalk Bay's harbor wall or fresh line fish on the Atlantic seaboard.
Don't miss Cape Malay cooking in the Bo-Kaap: fragrant curries, bobotie (spiced minced meat baked under an egg custard) and koesisters, spiced doughnuts dusted with coconut. A braai, or barbecue, is a South African ritual, and weekend markets in Woodstock and at the Waterfront are great for sampling local produce.
Wine lovers can taste their way through Constantia, home to South Africa's oldest wine estate, without leaving the city.
Best time to visit
Best months
- Jan
- ✓ Feb
- ✓ Mar
- ✓ Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- ✓ Oct
- ✓ Nov
- Dec
Cape Town is at its best from about October to April. Summer, from December to February, is hot, dry and lively, perfect for beaches and outdoor dining, though the strong southeasterly wind known as the Cape Doctor can blow for days. February to April often brings calmer, warm weather and the grape harvest in the Winelands.
Winter, from June to August, is cooler and rainy, but it's green, quiet and good value, with whale watching along the coast from about June. Spring, from September to November, brings wildflowers and pleasant temperatures.
Getting around
Cape Town International Airport (CPT) is about 20 to 30 minutes from the city center. Ride-hailing apps are widely used and affordable, and the MyCiTi bus network serves the center, the Waterfront and the Atlantic seaboard.
For day trips to the Cape Peninsula and the Winelands, a private driver-guide is the most relaxed option, although self-driving is straightforward if you're comfortable on the left. The center, the Waterfront and the Sea Point promenade are pleasant on foot by day; after dark, use a driver or a ride-hailing app rather than walking through quiet areas.
Journeys to inspire you
Use our featured journeys as inspiration. We'll tailor the dates, hotels, activities, pace and budget around you.
10 days
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Your Cape Town, designed around you
Tell us how you like to travel and we’ll shape an itinerary — the pace, the places, the stays — around you. No payment to start planning.