| If you asked the mirror on the wall for the fairest city of them all, well…. Cape Town would most likely be the hot favourite to send an evil stepmother city into a jealous frenzy! Sir Francis Drake, adventurer/explorer/’buccaneer’ of the British empire, said in 1580 that the Cape Peninsula was “the fairest Cape we saw in the whole circumference of the Earth”. Cape Town lies at the bottom tip of the African continent and is blessed with spectacular scenery and breathtaking beauty. Its numero uno attraction is Table Mountain, a rugged dramatic mountain over 1 000 m high, the centrepiece around which the city nestles. Rotating cable cars take multitudes of visitors up (and down) the Mountain, from where they can marvel at ancient rock formations, diverse fynbos (flora), small animals and be bowled over by unparalleled views. There is much folklore about Table Mountain’s “table cloth” – fluffy cloud cover which often appears suspended around the Mountain’s summit. One story talks about Van Hunks, an 18th century Dutch pirate, who retired on the slopes of Devil's Peak and enjoyed smoking his pipe on the mountain. One day, the Devil challenged Van Hunks to a smoking competition in which neither was victorious and, to this day, the two continue trying to “outsmoke” each other. Their cloud of “tobacco smoke” then typically spills over the Mountain. Co-incidentally, the table cloth tends to appear when the “Cape Doctor” or South-Easter blows in summer. Cape Town’s climate is Mediterranean which means the chilly rainy season is in winter (June, July, August). When the wind gusts and showers lash the coast, Cape Town can put on a pretty miserable face. Summer, on the other hand, is hot (dry heat), smiley and sunny - the days are long and lazy with the sun setting around nine at night. There’s little rain and sometimes summer brings drought conditions.
Cape Town is headquarters for the South African government with most political action taking place in the stately Houses of Parliament. You can walk in the adjoining Gardens (originally established by the Dutch East India Company) and feed the squirrels. Nearby are the South African Museum (the oldest in the country), the Planetarium and the South African National Gallery, all well worth visiting - entrance free on Wednesdays. South Africa’s oldest building, The Castle of Good Hope, was built more than 350 years ago and has an intriguing history, including gruesome accounts of torture and executions. Not surprisingly, ghosts are believed to haunt the buildings, one of the most famous being that of socialite Lady Anne Barnard, who lived in the Castle for a time. Gracious Cape Dutch architecture and the colourful houses of the Muslim Bokaap are distinctive styles found in Cape Town. Groot Constantia, the 1692 manor house on the wine estate of then Governor Simon van der Stel, is a wonderful Cape Dutch example. Many wine estates in and around Cape Town follow a similar architecture. Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens are the ultimate family playground. Pack a picnic and get close to nature - children can bounce on rolling lawns, amidst old trees, proteas and indigenous plants and search for tadpoles in clear streams under the imposing backdrop of the Mountain. Music concerts are organised every Sunday evening from December to March. The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront buzzes along Cape Town’s dockside and harbour. There are restaurants for every mood and taste, shopping till you drop, hotel accommodation and a stunning Aquarium, showcasing the marvels of underwater and marine creatures. The Aquarium offers puppet shows, kids’ activities and interactive touch and feel displays of underwater flora and fauna. You can take a number of cruises from the Waterfront, the most popular being to the world heritage site of Robben Island where national hero and international icon, Nelson Mandela, was imprisoned for more than two decades. Younger kids would appreciate a boat trip to Seal Island (from Hout Bay Harbour) even more. At destination, thousands of slick Cape Fur Seals can be watched (and smelt) in their natural colonies. You may even be lucky enough to see dolphins, whales or a Great White shark. Cape Town is flanked by two oceans – the Atlantic and Indian. The Atlantic Coast beckons with invigoratingly icy water at Sea Point, Camps Bay, Llandudno, Clifton, Hout Bay, Noordhoek, Kommetjie. When the weather is great, take a drive along Chapman’s Peak Drive. It’s closed from a certain point due to hazardous rock falls, but worth exploring the stretch that’s still open for magnificent views over Hout Bay and the Sentinel with azure/aquamarine waters glittering in the sun. Mouille Point and Kommetije’s impressive lighthouses are worth a snapshot for the family holiday album. The most famous postcard images of Table Mountain are taken at Bloubergstrand, also on the Atlantic. Because of the South Easter’s love affair with this side of the coast, Blouberg is a kiteboarder’s perfect spot, but less so for windswept beach outings. Table Bay, Big Bay & Melkbosstrand have gained popularity and joggers, surfers, cyclists and micro lights add energy, colour and vibrance to the action along these beaches. The warmer Indian Ocean swimming beaches attract bigger crowds, especially at Muizenberg. Wherever you are on the Peninsula, settlements, smaller beaches and secluded coves pop up unexpectedly. Parents especially love the little gem of St James with its trademark Smartie coloured huts. Further along the Indian Ocean Coast, Boulders Beach at Simonstown, is a ‘must do’ destination for families with children. Here you can watch from platforms as tuxedoed African penguins waddle to the water, take a dip, schmooze, snooze and relax in the sun. The two oceans ‘meet’ at Cape Point, located within a nature reserve. You can take the funicular up to the lighthouse and look down at the “dividing line’, smaller lighthouse and distant mountains on the far side of Table Bay. The wind often pumps – so hold little hands especially tight and be alert to aggressive baboons demanding tidbits. They’re dangerous! Cape Town and the Peninsula abound with surprise and splendor wherever you go. When you’re having outdoor fun and spending quality time with the kids, you’re always against the background of one of the world’s most scenic places - and most definitely a masterpiece from Mother Nature! | 
