Top places to visit

South African Museum and Planetarium The fossil gallery and the whale well are fascinating and contain skeletons dating back to over 300 million years ago. Children are bound to enjoy these exhibits.

Dating back to the Portuguese occupation of this area in the mid 1600s, the castle was built from 1669 to 1679. Construction lasted about 13 years and the product was a massive pentagonal structure, a classic example of Portuguese defense measures. The construction material comprised of slate quarried from Robben Island but some features are distinctly European such as the bell at the entrance which came from Amsterdam. The Ramparts of the now headquarters of the South African Defense Force are swarming with visitors from the world over. The military museum is interesting especially for those curious about European colonization of this part of the world. The William Fehr Collection is even more spectacular and is home to a number of paintings and sketches depicting the transformation of this area under the supervision of the Portuguese. The paintings generally shed light on life under colonization.

This lodge was built in 1670 during the period of colonization as an abode for the slaves of the Dutch East India Company. A great way to learn of the slave trade that occurred in Cape Town; this lodge now home to the South African Cultural History Museum gives an even better understanding of South African history. Paintings, sketches, drawings and photographs depicting Cape Town during the era of colonization are all on exhibit here. Timings: Daily 10 A.M- 4 30 P.M Admission: R 10 [Adults], R 5 [Children] Address: 49 Adderley Street Tel: 021-460-8200

This was built in the 1800s and houses some of the most interesting artifacts pertaining to South Africa. The san rock paintings are stunning as are the Lydenburg heads dating back some 1500 years. African symbols for numbers and alphabets are also on display here along with other interesting exhibits such as traditional medicines. The fossil gallery and the whale well are also fascinating and contain skeletons dating back to over 300 million years ago.

This monument was erected to honor the soldiers and officers killed in the battle for Delville during the First World War sometime in 1916. Of the over 3000 soldiers who went into battle only 700 survived and of the 150 officers who went into battle only 5 survived. Lukin was the general who commanded the South Africans in WW I.

African gold is celebrated in this museum which houses one of the most exquisite and beautiful gold collections the world over. This museum gives insight into the history of this gold and the evolution in design over the years. Artisans from all over the African continent from countries such as Ghana, the Ivory Coast, Mali and Senegal are paid tribute for their skills in carving and designing extraordinary gold pieces.

This gorgeous late 18th century mansion was home to a famed socialite of Cape Town. Today it serves as a museum and on display is an even more gorgeous collection of carpets, antiques, paintings and porcelain. The exhibits are stunning and there is a guide book available containing details pertaining to every piece.

This is one of the most well known tourist hotspots in Cape Town. Visitors can spend much of the day picnicking and barbequing in addition to admiring and appreciating the scenic beauty of this reserve where the beaches and the cliffs are a sight to behold. Tourists can also appreciate the diversity of wildlife; with respect to the various species of animals and birds that inhabit the place. Zebras, baboons, ostriches, seagulls and red hartebeests prowl around the area. For the more adventurous, the Gifkommetjie and Platboom beaches are ideal for surfing whilst the Bordjiesdrif is ideal for swimming. This coast is famous for the numerous shipwrecks that have occurred here and the remains of one such still lie here.

This has to be one of the most stunning attractions in all of Cape Town. Another renowned tourist hot spot, these gardens are arguably amongst the top five most beautiful gardens in the world. Located on the slopes of Table Mountain, it is the ideal place for vacationers to unwind amidst this serene and beautiful setting. The different plant species that are grown here astonish visitors with the variety and color. A number of cafes and eateries dot the gardens and these gardens are often the venue of many a concert. Timings: Daily 8 A.M- 7 P.M [Sept-March], 8 A.M- 6 P.M [April-Aug] Admission: R 27 [Adults], R 5 Children Address: Rhodes Avenue, Newlands Tel: 021-799-8899 Website: www.nbi.ac.za

This is a beautiful place where the natural beauty of the landscape is almost overwhelming. Amidst these boulders i.e. large granite blocks and bays roam gorgeous African penguins. This would constitute an outing for adults and children alike. The more adventurous can opt for a quick swim here in Foxy Beach. Timings: Daily 7 A.M- 7 30 P.M Admission: R 25 [Adults], R 5 [Children] Address: Simon’s Town Tel: 021-786-2329

Irma Stern is arguably South Africa’s most celebrated artist. The museum opened in her house pays homage to her by exhibiting her work depicting African people and their lives the continent over, and her collection of African artifacts from the same region.

This gallery is small and elegant. Whilst there isn’t such a great collection of art on exhibit here due to lack of space; this is a must stop for those visiting Cape Town. It allows for visitors to have a much more critical and generally a deeper understanding of South Africa’s history and culture and the evolution this country has undergone. Fighting sticks and traditional African beadwork in addition to masks and other pieces of art are on display. This gallery plays host to many traveling exhibitions. Often there is a photography exhibition shedding light on the AIDS problem plaguing the country and the region that is both brilliant and tragic.

The aerial cable cars take tourists around the table mountain, Cape Town’s most distinctive feature, at the bottom of which the city has been built. From these cable cars tourists are treated to some of the most fantastic and spectacular views of Cape Town.

This island is probably the most glorious of Cape Town’s attractions, all the more so because of its painful and turbulent history. It has served many a role since its colonization by the Dutch. These functions included being a prison for Henry the Hottentot imprisoned for opposing colonial rule and then Sobukwe [President of the Pan African Congress] since the 1960s and Sisulu [Secretary General of the African National Congress] two brave individuals who dared to speak out against the apartheid. Its most notable prisoner was Mandela who spent decades here. It also served as a colony for lepers, an asylum for the mad and as a base for the military.

This is a fantastic aquarium in South Africa and perhaps the world over. It will definitely be one of the most memorable experiences for adults and children alike. Some of the most stunning views of the most rare and beautiful species of fish and white sharks amidst the deep red coral reef are afforded by this aquarium. Over three thousand species of sea creatures are on display here. In addition to these exhibits are a number of simulations of a river eco system and tidal pools. Children will be thrilled by the touch pool where they will be able to touch star fish, shells and other such underwater creatures.