Where to go on a Cape Town holiday Most people head to South Africa to embark on a safari. While the country is famous for its excellent wildlife spotting opportunities, there are plenty of other things to do here, especially in Cape Town. Read on to find out what you can get up to in this exciting city. Relax in Camps Bay Cape Town is situated on South Africa's south-western coast, offering tourists great opportunities to take in brilliant sights of the South Atlantic Ocean. If you want to make the most of this, you could stay beside the sea and get a taxi straight to the popular area of Camps Bay when you step off your long-haul flights to Cape Town. This destination is a suburb of the city on the Western Cape Coast, allowing people to reach the centre in a matter of minutes, while still being able to enjoy the peace and quiet of being next to the water. Over the years, this area has become particularly trendy and there are now plenty of restaurants, cafes and bars on the promenade opposite the beach. Whether you choose to stay here or not, this is a great location to visit if you fancy a special night out or want to walk along the city's rugged coastline, taking in the sight of the deep blue water and rocky shore, as well as golden-sand beaches. Hermanus If you really love being by the coast, the Western Cape has plenty to offer holidaymakers. A great location situated further down the coast is Hermaus, and this area is most famous for being one of the best places in South Africa to go whale watching. You don't even have to hop in a boat here, as the creatures are known to come up to 200 m close to the shore of their own accord. Should a whale crier blow the kelp while you're here, they may even venture as near as 20 m. Among the different species that swim along the coast between June and November are bryde's, southern right and humpback whales. For the best chance to see these creatures, take a tour out on the water, where you can get extremely close to the whales. Robben Island Holidaymakers who enjoy being out on the sea might also enjoy a trip to Robben Island, situated 9 km away from Cape Town. Taking a guided tour of the famous isle will appeal to those who are interested in learning more about South Africa's brutal history. This is because it was once used as a prison island where people were incarcerated for years on end. Its most well-known resident was the former president Nelson Mandela, who served 18 years of his 27-year imprisonment here. By taking a 3.5-hour tour of the island, you will be able to see the small cell he spent all those years, and the trips are led by former prisoners themselves, so you will certainly get a good impression of what life must've been like for them here. In 1999, Robben Island was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its significance, as many convicts here - including Mandela - were political prisoners fighting against racism in the country. Table Mountain For a chance to take in the breathtaking view of Cape Town and rest of the coastline, head to the summit of Table Mountain. The peak reaches 1,085 m and there are 11 viewpoints at the top from which you can look out over the scenery below. Many people choose to make the most of the beautiful sights of the Table Mountain National Park by embarking on treks to the summit, often lasting a few days at a time. During these, you have a chance of spotting some of the park's wildlife, such as girdled lizards, agamas and porcupines, so keep an eye out for any movement. If you don't fancy walking all that way or you're short on time, hop in a cable car to the top of the mountain. You will enjoy a 360-degree vista of the city below and of the slopes themselves as the cable car has a revolving floor. This trip certainly requires you to have a camera, as you will want to take as many pictures of the lush mountain and breathtaking coastline as you possibly can. Cape Town is an ideal location for you to visit if you're looking for a holiday that combines historical attractions, national parks and wildlife spotting. At Netflights, you will find a choice of long-haul flights to Cape Town, so you can be in the South African city in no time!
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