Cape Town Holidays

There’s a reason why South Africa stands firmly at the top of countless bucket lists. Nowhere else will you see a continent’s worth of diversity packed into one country. While some dream of the seductive viniculture of its gorgeous vine-clad Winelands, others long for a Big 5 safari in the Kruger’s iconic game-rich savannahs. Add on a couple of days in Cape Town, a cosmopolitan hive of buzzing artist studios and world-class restaurants, all under the staggering plateau of Table Mountain. Then there’s the hypnotising landscape where you could stand for hours stupefied by the jagged peaks of the sweeping Drakensberg Mountains and the spectacular Swartberg range, best explored on a road trip that slices through vividly coloured quartzite and steep geological formations.

In a land of sheer variety, surprising encounters pop up around every bend as frequently as the whales in the Eastern Cape. See them on a trip around the Garden Route, South Africa’s famed stretch of irresistible coastline encompassing high-rearing mountains and forests peppered with gold-sand beaches and pretty seaside towns. Nearby lie unbelievable game reserves perfect for families who can take advantage of the malaria-free aspect. Further north, history is rife in the KwaZulu-Natal province, home to the battlefields of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift where fans of the movie Zulu can relive the heroism of those significant military events.

In a country that’s as colourful as its national flag, planning a trip is easier than you think with the help of our destination insiders. Just ask and they will assist you with your every whim when it comes to satisfying your South African wanderlust. And the best thing? The favourable exchange rate between the pound and the rand so that you can explore the country’s sweeping diversity in surprisingly more affordable ways.

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Cape Town Hotels

Our recommendations for the best places to stay in Cape Town

Victoria & Alfred Hotel

This converted warehouse is at the heart of Cape Town's historic Waterfront

Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, Cape Town

More than a century of service and style at the foot of Table Mountain, this Belmond hotel is exc...

The Winchester

Built in the 1920s, The Winchester is an iconic heritage landmark at the heart of Cape Town’s Sea...

Southern Sun The Cullinan

Between the centre of Cape Town and the V&A Waterfront, this is a stylish, comfortable resort wel...

The Silo

Sister to La Residence in Franschhoek, this industrial design hotel combines modern luxury and am...

The Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa

A mountainside retreat within an exquisite UNESCO World Heritage site.

Taj Cape Town

At the heart of vibrant Cape Town, the Taj offers a rich history wrapped in elegant contemporary...

Cape Cadogan

Exuding a welcoming vibe, this elegant hotel offers a great mix of the old and new.

More Quarters Neighbourhood Hotel

Enjoy an independent stay in the city in one of these beautiful, modern apartments right in the h...

African Elite Waterfront Apartments

A great value way of experiencing Cape Town

Queen Victoria Hotel

Tucked away from the bustling harbour, this chic boutique hotel combines classic elegance with co...

The Bay Hotel

With the Twelve Apostle mountain range towering behind and the white sand of Camps Bay below, you...

One&Only Cape Town

There are not many hotel's where you can order from Nobu for room service, but this is one.

Pepperclub Hotel & Spa

A fresh urban retreat at the foot of Table Mountain.

Garden Court Victoria Junction

At the foot of Signal Hill, Garden Court Victoria Junction immerses guests into the thick of Cape...

With a range of experiences and activities on offer, discover the Highlights of Cape Town by road, rail, independent itinerary or with an intimate escorted tour

A few ways to see one of the most iconic cities in the world, Cape Town, include a guided small group tour, independent tour, self-drive itinerary or rail journey – but rest assured, whichever you choose our experts will help you plan the perfect holiday. Our escorted tours are intimate and led by local tour leaders with insider knowledge. They also include immersive experiences; as part of a wider tour, a stop off at Cape Town is perfect for those wishing to explore this beautiful city as they make their way through South Africa. Train journeys are one of the finest ways to see the country’s breathtaking scenery without having to compromise on comfort, and self-drives are a fun way to soak up the sights with the freedom of being totally independent.

Our recommended Cape Town tours

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My Cape Peninsula Tour

Discover the Cape Peninsula on this private scenic day trip, at your own pace, which includes the option of vineyard lunches, penguin encounters and kayaking with seals. The tour starts with a 30-minute scenic drive down the peninsula to Cape Point, one of the southern-most points in Africa. You can either walk from here or take the Flying Dutchman funicular railway to the Cape Point Lighthouse for the best views over the coast.

For the second portion of the tour you have three options. The first is to stop at Boulders Beach, which is a breeding site for African penguins, followed by lunch at Cape Point Vineyard, a mountainside estate with views over Noordhoek Beach. Alternatively, you can visit Hout Bay, where you’ll take a short boat trip to Seal Island which is home to a colony of Cape fur seals. You’ll have time to observe the seals from the boat before heading back to Hout Bay for a seafood lunch. The last option is perfect for adventurous travellers as it involves a kayaking trip from Simon’s Town, to view the penguins.

Whichever tour you choose, you’ll make your way back to Cape Town in the afternoon via Chapman’s Peak Drive. This spectacular curvy road twists alongside the ocean and the 12 Apostles Mountain Range. You’ll drive by the popular sandy beaches of Camps Bay and Clifton before being dropped at your hotel in Cape Town. This tour is a great way to get out of the city for a day and explore the Cape’s incredible nature, wildlife and scenery.

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Sidecar tour of the city

Experience a tour of Cape Town like no other – in the sidecar of a decommissioned military bike. Strap in for a ride along the wondrous landscape of the Chapman's Peak Drive via the Atlantic Seaboard, where you'll pass by the scenic sights of Camps Bay, Hout Bay and the Constantia winelands in this unique adventure. Suitable for all ages, there are also longer sidecar tours available with the option to tailor-make your own two, four or eight-hour routes.

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Walk to Freedom and Robben Island

Learn about apartheid in South Africa on this unique Walk to Freedom tour. You’ll hear Nelson Mandela’s story on Robben Island and visit the townships where residents were gravely affected by apartheid laws. You'll also get the chance to talk to the people who live in these communities today.

This full-day tour starts at 09.00am on the site of District Six, one of the old residential areas of the city. This once busy, multi-racial community was destroyed during apartheid when the government ordered mass evictions and sent people to townships miles outside of the city centre. Next, visit Langa, a typical black African township where you’ll be greeted by a community site guide who lives here and will show you around, perhaps even introducing you to their family. The tour continues with a visit to Bonteheuwel, a former mixed heritage township where you’ll learn how people were classified as ‘non-white’ during apartheid and separated into different areas. The final stop is at Gugulethu, where you will visit the Gugulethu Seven Memorial which commemorates the deaths of seven young black activists killed by police in 1986 and the Amy Biehl Memorial, who was a young American student and anti-apartheid activist who was murdered here.

At about midday, you will be dropped at the V&A Waterfront where you can grab a bite to eat before boarding the boat to Robben Island. This part of the trip is run by the official Robben Island Museum and is split into two legs, a one-hour bus tour of the island and a tour of what used to be the maximum-security prison, led by a former political prisoner. You’ll get to see Nelson Mandela’s cell representing an incredibly important moment in South Africa’s history.

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My Cape Town City Tour

Discover Cape Town on this day trip, where you’ll experience everything from Table Mountain to Bo-Kaap street food and the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. The day starts with a cable car ride up Table Mountain where you’ll enjoy views over the city to the coastline and Robben Island. Your guide will point out the mountain’s exotic fynbos and wildlife such as the rock hyrax. After taking the cable car back down, the tour continues in Bo-Kaap, which was originally home to slaves from Malaysia and Indonesia who were brought over by the Dutch in the 1760s. The area is famous for its colourful houses and offers a mix of history, culture, music and flavour. Taste some samosas and vetkoek, a type of doughy bread that can be filled with jam, cheese or curry. From here, you’ll visit the nearby Company Gardens, where many of the Cape Malay people worked, supplying Dutch ships with fresh fruit and vegetables.

Next, you’ll be driven to the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens which has thousands of species of plants and trees set over 528 hectares. There are themed areas to explore, such as a fragrance garden and greenhouses, canopy walkways and lawns where summer concerts are held. Then you have a choice of two options for the remainder of the day, visiting either the Groot Constantia winelands or Kalk Bay.

Groot Constantia is the oldest wine farm in South Africa. Here you’ll enjoy a three-course lunch and wine tasting session at Simon’s Restaurant, in the stunning vineyard. Alternatively, you can go to Kalk Bay for lunch at Harbour House, which overlooks the ocean and is known for its fresh seafood. Boulders Beach lies Just 20 minutes from Kalk Bay, where you’ll finish the tour by observing a colony of cute African penguins.

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Cape Town City Walking Tour

Take a private guided walking tour of Cape Town to learn about the Mother City's complex past. The tour is a great way to get under the skin of this beautiful city; there’s so much variety from the Waterfront to the Central Business District, historical landmarks, and Table Mountain. It’s good to do this tour when you first arrive in Cape Town so you can get your bearings and gain an overview of the city’s history.

Begin in the Dutch East India Company’s Gardens, a green oasis that began as a vegetable patch in the 1650s. Here you’ll also get to see the Houses of Parliament, which have decorative porticos and a dome. Other key sites you will visit include Church Square and the Slave Lodge, where your guide will explain about the long, challenging history of slavery in South Africa. You’ll also see St George’s Cathedral, which is the oldest in Southern Africa and known as the ‘People’s Cathedral’ as it played an important role in the struggle against apartheid.

This tour is private and personalised to suit your interests. If you have Jewish heritage you may want to visit the Jewish Museum, or maybe you’ve seen pictures of the colourful houses in Bo-Kaap, where Muslim-majority slaves were once segregated under apartheid and want to visit this area. Not only will the guides explain about Cape Town’s history, but they can also point you in the right direction for the best restaurants and shopping areas.

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