Cape Town

Whether you ride the revolving cableway or put in the leg work and climb, attaining the summit of Table Mountain is a Capetonian rite of passage. Weather permitting, your rewards are a panoramic view across the peninsula and a chance to experience some of the park’s incredible biodiversity. Schedule time for a hike: the park’s 245 sq km include routes to suit all levels of fitness and ambition, from gentle ambles to spot fynbos (proteas, heaths and ericas) to the two-day, 33.8km Cape of Good Hope Trail.

A Unesco World Heritage Site, the former prison on Robben Island is a key location in South Africa’s long walk to freedom. Nelson Mandela and other Freedom struggle heroes were incarcerated here, following in the tragic footsteps of earlier fighters against the various colonial governments that ruled over the Cape. The boat journey here and the tour with former inmates provides an insight into the country’s troubled history – and a glimpse of how far it has progressed on the path to reconciliation and forgiveness.

There’s been European horticulture on the picturesque eastern slopes of Table Mountain since Jan van Riebeeck’s time in the 17th century, but it was British imperialist Cecil Rhodes, owner of Kirstenbosch Farm and surrounding properties, who really put the gardens on the map when he bequeathed the land to all Capetonians. Today it's a spectacular showcase for the Cape Floral Kingdom, which was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site for its incredible biodiversity. Take in the view from the treetop walkway known as the Boomslang.

More than 40 years on from when most of the homes in the inner-city suburb of District Six were demolished, and their multiethnic owners and tenants relocated to the blighted communities in the Cape Flats, the area remains largely barren. A visit to this illuminating, moving museum provides an understanding of District Six's tragic history and the impact it has had on the lives of all Capetonians. You can also arrange a walking tour of the area, led by a former resident.

Cape Town’s top sight in terms of visitor numbers, the V&A Waterfront is big, busy and in a spectacular location, with Table Mountain as a backdrop. There’s a pirate’s booty of consumer opportunities, from chic boutiques to major department stores, plus plenty of cultural and educational experiences, including walking tours of its well-preserved heritage buildings and public sculptures, the excellent Two Oceans Aquarium, and the spectacular new Zeitz MOCAA museum of contemporary art. Be sure to take a harbour cruise, too – preferably at sunset.

Make the spectacular journey out to this historic headland, and onward to Cape Point, the dramatic tip of the peninsula protected within Table Mountain National Park: rugged cliffs shoot down into the frothing waters of the Atlantic Ocean; giant waves crash over the enormous boulders at Africa’s most southwesterly point; and the Flying Dutchman Funicular runs up to the old lighthouse for fantastic views. Afterwards you can relax on lovely beaches such as the one at Buffels Bay, which is lapped by the slightly warmer waters of False Bay.

Franschhoek is the smallest – but for many the prettiest – Cape Winelands town. Nestled in a spectacular valley, Franschhoek is also the country’s undisputed gastronomic capital. You may have a tough time deciding where to eat – the main road is lined with top-notch restaurants, some of them among the best in the country. The surrounding wineries likewise offer excellent food and no shortage of superb wine. Add a clutch of art galleries and some stylish guesthouses and it really is one of the loveliest towns in the Cape.

Painted in vivid colours straight out of a packet of liquorice allsorts, the jumble of crumbling and restored heritage houses and mosques along the cobblestoned streets of the Bo-Kaap are both visually captivating and a storybook of inner-city gentrification. A stop at the Bo-Kaap Museum is recommended to gain an understanding of the history of this former slave quarter. Also, try Cape Malay dishes at one of the area’s several restaurants, or stay in one of the homes turned into guesthouses and hotels.

The Garden Route is known for its outdoor pursuits on both land and sea. The coast between Mossel Bay and Plettenberg Bay boasts some of the Western Cape’s best surf, great whether you’re a pro or just starting out. Herolds Bay and Victoria Bay, near George, are particularly pretty spots to catch a wave, and offer excellent beaches for nonsurfing travel companions. In Victoria Bay you can try a beginner lesson or rent a board and join the experts on a more challenging day trip.

This delightful False Bay fishing village – named after the kilns that produced lime from seashells, used for painting buildings in the 17th century – offers an abundance of antique, arts and craft shops and great cafes and restaurants, as well as a daily fish market at its harbour. A drink or meal at institutions such as the Brass Bell pub or Live Bait restaurant – nearly as close to the splashing waters of False Bay as you can get without swimming – are fine ways to pass the time.