rl757pvd From United States of America, joined Dec 1999, 4537 posts, RR: 13 Posted (1 year 7 months 3 weeks 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 743 times:
So I found an incredible deal out of my local airport (Binghamton NY) to Cape Town for $1,100 (BGM-DTW-AMS-CPT), and I figured Id never get to go there for that price ever again. (plus its pretty much instant silver medallion and almost a free domestic skymiles award ticket with purchase).
I will be there for 4 full days around thanksgiving (7 days total trip including travel), I wont have a rental car (staying downtown), what are some of the must-see's as well as things to avoid? I hear most things close on sundays there too.
Im traveling solo, so looking for either things to do on my own (safely) or part of an organized tour.
Experience is what you get when what you thought would work out didn't!
travelavnut From Netherlands, joined May 2010, 1381 posts, RR: 5 Reply 1, posted (1 year 7 months 3 weeks 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 738 times:
A great destination for a few days! Here are my top tips:
- Getting drunk in Long Street
- Hike or take the gondolla to Table Top Mountain, but do it EARLY in the morning before the clouds and masses of people show up
- If you DO decide to get a rental car at least one day go south and just follow the coast, some really really great scenery there.
- Chill out on the beach
CXfirst From Norway, joined Jan 2007, 2702 posts, RR: 1 Reply 2, posted (1 year 7 months 3 weeks 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 729 times:
Abseil the table mountain. A friend did it and said it was incredible (and scary). But the people running it were very professional, so she felt safe. She said views from table mountain were incredible, but they got so much better during the abseiling!
signol From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2007, 2948 posts, RR: 7 Reply 4, posted (1 year 7 months 3 weeks 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 722 times:
There's shopping on the V&A Waterfront.
Take the train down to Simonstown, about 2km further on is the penguin colony at Boulders Beach (also a great seafood restaurant there at Seaforth Bay).
Catch a rugby or football match at Newlands (same train line as above) or Cape Town Stadium at Green Point.
Go up to Bloubergstrand for the iconic view of Table Mountain, accessible with the MyCiti IRT bus system (also serves the airport).
Take a train to Paarl or Stellenbosch to visit the wineries.
Though I've not done it myself, a township tour can be enlightening - book through the tourist office for reputable operators.
Cape Town is awesome, enjoy! Just take sensible precautions against theft - other train lines to the 2 mentioned above, and minibus taxis (not the IRT) might be best avoided if not in a group.
ogre727 From Spain, joined Feb 2005, 693 posts, RR: 2 Reply 5, posted (1 year 7 months 3 weeks 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 705 times:
I was there for a couple of days. I strongly recommend:
- Table mountain. Unlike the above posts, I recommend late afternoon, it wasnt crowded at all... and the view was amazing.
- Drive along the coast, there is a place where you take a small boat and go look at the whales, sea lions, etc.
- Penguin beach, don´t remember the actual name, but it was good
- Kirstenbosch gardens ... sounds gay, but it is absolutely beatiful and a must.
It is one of my favorite cities in the world. Enjoy.
Birdwatching From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 3573 posts, RR: 52 Reply 7, posted (1 year 7 months 3 weeks 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 688 times:
Here's the one thing you should DEFINITELY do when in Cape Town. Catch a ride on this beauty:
They fly from the Victoria and Alfred waterfront several times daily, the fare is totally reasonable (50$), the short sightseeing flight is great but if you have more time, they do combat-style flights. And if you want (and if you're quick) you get to sin in the outside seats (facing out). Awesome. Simply one of the greatest flying experiences I've ever had.
Seriously, there is no excuse for an aviation enthusiast to leave Cape Town without doing this.
rl757pvd From United States of America, joined Dec 1999, 4537 posts, RR: 13 Reply 8, posted (1 year 7 months 3 weeks 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 677 times:
Quoting andz (Reply 6): Nice drive along the coast from Gordon's Bay.
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