Rabia Mayet | rabiamayet@radioislam.co.za

21 September 2024

3-minute read

Cape Town, probably the most famous and definitely the most toured city in South Africa, is certainly the place to be for most South Africans travelling within the country. Famous for Table Mountain, Cape Point and the Waterfront, tourists are spoilt for choice when it comes to sightseeing in and around the city.

Kauthar, coordinator of Optimum Travel and Tours based in Cape Town, shared some of the other sights to visit. Kirstenbosch Gardens, Chapman’s Peak, Signal Hill, Hout Bay, the game reserve close to Worcester, the Elgin Railway in Grabouw, eco-museums as well as planetariums and aquariums, the Castle of Good Hope, and Franschoek for car fanatics; there is no shortage of activities, tours and scenic spots for tourists to choose from. There are also amazing hiking trails at Lions’ Head and Silver Mine.

Despite the colder water, beaches are popular outings in the Cape, especially during the summer months. For warmer waters, beach lovers can spend the day soaking up the sun at Gordon’s Bay and Strand up to the Helderburg area, as well as Fish Hoek and Boulders Beach in Simon’s Town. Adventure seekers can find their thrill doing bungee jumping coming down the Garden Route at Bloustrand, going shark-cage diving, taking helicopter rides from the Waterfront, paragliding from Signal Hill, quad biking in Atlantis Dunes, and choosing from the range of watersports on offer. On rainy days, kids can stay entertained with the number of indoor activity centers in and around the city.

There are many accommodation options in Cape Town from hotels to bed and breakfasts, Airbnb’s and even glamping spots. Online booking apps have certainly simplified the process. When it comes to sightseeing, bookings done in advance are likely to be cheaper and more affordable, and also saves one possible disappointment. Getting around the city, the easiest option would be to hire a car. Compared to other cities in South Africa, Uber is safe to use. For an affordable way to see most of the city, there is the Hop-on Hop-off bus, with the Red Bus running along the coastline and the Blue Bus covering the Stellenbosch route.

No trip to Cape Town is complete without sampling the fresh fish and snoek straight from the sea. Try Snoekies in Hout Bay for the best tasting fish and chips or Fish-On-the-Rocks. There are options for halal food, and Food Trucks are becoming much more popular as they pop-up at markets all over the city, and at particular spots where vendors have come together and created a space to showcase halal foods with a family atmosphere.

With a rich Islamic history in the city there are many places of interest for Muslims, especially in Bo-Kaap area, where the culture of Muslims in the Cape can be experienced by the neighbourly factor and the togetherness that unifies the community. The area also boasts the first masjid in South Africa; the Awal Mosque and museums within its cultural hub.

While there aren’t really any hidden gems in the Cape that only the locals know about, within the West Coast Nature Reserve, an hours drive out of Cape Town, is the Flamingo Bay area, also known as Kraal Baai, where visitors can enjoy the stunning scenery and blue waters of the ocean with floating houses on the lagoon.

Listen to the full interview on the Travel Segment with Ml Ibrahim Daya and Ml Muhammad Kara.