Cape Town in 24 Hours
When we were planning our trip to Africa we originally only allotted for enough time to go on Safari and to Victoria Falls. I had wanted to visit Cape Town since before I even began medical school so I begged my friends to make a quick trip to the beautiful city. Of course this meant I only really had one day to see everything. So here is my one day guide to seeing Cape Town. (I’m definitely planning a trip back though because I missed so much the first time around.)
While in Cape Town we stayed at the Hilton near the City Centre. Since we only had one day to explore we asked the concierge the best way to get around the city. They warned us not to take the Trains and to be careful with public transportation. There are certain areas in the city that are not safe but as long as you avoid them you’ll be fine. The concierge told us we could hire a driver for the day and he could take us around the entire city. It cost us approximately $200 but it was well worth it because we were able to experience a little bit of everything.
Table Mountain
Our first stop was Table Mountain. You can either hike up Table Mountain (which takes 2-3 hours) or you can take a quick Aerial Cableway which provides a scenic view of the mountains. If I had more time I would have done the hike. If you want to take the cable car up make sure you buy your tickets in advance online, this can save you over an hour in line. Once you get to the top you can spend some time taking pictures and enjoying the scenic views.
Cape Town Fish Market
This place is a dream come true for any seafood enthusiasts. I wish I had more time so I could have bough some fresh fish and cooked it while staying in Cape Town, maybe next time.
Boulder’s Beach- Simon’s Town
I had no idea that there is an entire beach filled with penguins in Simon’s Town. Umm who doesn’t love penguins??
There is an entrance fee to Boulder’s Beach where you can walk the pathways and see thousands of penguins. We actually had lunch at a restaurant nearby and were able to spot some penguins on the beach just outside of it.
The restaurant we ate at was called Seaforth. The food was delicious and the view was even better. I would recommend the seafood platter so you can try a little bit of everything. It is located right on the beach and you can watch the penguins while you eat.
Cape Point
So I might have a thing for lighthouses. I mean they’re beautiful and there’s just something romantic about them…or maybe its just me. Well if you love lighthouses too you can’t leave without seeing the Cape Point Lighthouse. Here you can either climb what appears to be a thousand steps or take a tram up. Unfortunately I don’t have any decent pictures of the lighthouse. Just another reason why I must go back.
Cape of Good Hope
This is the most southwestern point of the African Continent. Another area with the most beautiful scenic views.
After a long day of driving all over Cape Town we stopped for dinner at Kloof Street House which is a restaurant near our hotel. The butter chicken and lamb shoulder were delicious. Try to call ahead for reservations because it tends to get fairly busy.
