While many international cities may boast about a huge population or how modern they are, few can lay claim to the title of Mother City.

The city of Cape Town is simply beautiful with a myriad of exciting entertainmant you can take part in. Known as the “city bowl”, the commercial district may look dwarfed against the lumbering backdrop of Table Mountain. This city is a giant, packed with entertainment and unique places for visitors to experience.

Depending on the duration of your stay, you can easily find wonderful distractions that cater for your time frame. Going up Table Mountain, in the cable cart is a breath taking experience and will fill in the morning to return about at midday to enjoy lunch at a seaside restaurant. You will be spoilt for choices when it comes to great places to eat.

The Atlantic seaboard of Green Point and Sea Point has petite taverns and bistros, where you can have a sea view while eating the catch of the day. You could enjoy a Cape salmon or crayfish at the Royal Yacht club or even a picnic in the famous Kirstenbosch gardens. This beautifully preserved area allows you the opportunity to enjoy the contrasting tranquility to that of the busy city of Cape Town City below. Take snap photos of the famous Rhodes Memorial there as well.

The drive up Signal Hill is remarkable and once you have parked the rented car from Cape Town City, cnr Whale and Buitengracht, you can take photos of the entire city bowl, stretched out below you.

You will also have a spectacular panoramic view of the harbour and sea stretching all the way out to Robbin Island. The daily tour boats that operate off this harbour, take visitors out to the once jail and home of Mr Nelson Mandela.

There are other day trips out to the Cape Fur seal habitats and even sunset cruises. By the late afternoon, take part in Cape Town’s favourite pastime, namely “sundowners”. Any bar or tavern with a sea view, will suffice, as local and tourists make themselves comfortable, sipping drinks as the sun sinks magnificently over the Atlantic Ocean.

Ask for a map at your car rental office and you will discover that most sites of interest are within a 30 kilometre radius of the city bowl. Stellenbosch for example is a half-hour’s drive away. Although vine filled region, world renowned for its superior wine production, has plenty of other attractions for the tourist.

• Boat trips out to the Cape Fur seal island:
  20 Northoaks,
  Hout Bay

  Tel: +27 21 791 4441 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              +27 21 791 4441      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              +27 21 791 4441      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              +27 21 791 4441      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              +27 21 791 4441      end_of_the_skype_highlighting
  Fax: +27 21 791 4442
  Cell: 082 658 7055
  Website: drumbeatcharters@intekom

The departure times for the Seal Island boat trips to Duiker Island leave at 09h15; 10h00 and 10h45.

• Robben Island and the Robben Island Museum
  Tel +27 21 413 4220/1 (Nelson Mandela Gateway)
  Email: infow@robben-island.org.za
  Tel +27 21 409 5169 (Robben Island)
  Email: infoi@robben-island.org.za

  Advance Bookings:
  Tel +27 21 413 4263/4 Fax +27 21 418 3082
  Email: rimbookings@robben-island.org.za
  The ticket sales office is located at the Nelson Mandela Gateway at the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town.