Summer is here, and the days are long and beautiful. It is warm and sunny, and the mother city’s is bursting with opportunities to explore and experience. Even locals working from nine to five have plenty of daylight to enjoy the magic this summer. Here are s10 Reasons to visit Cape Town this Summer.
Award-Winning
We are globally famous! News 24 reports that Time Out Magazine has rated Cape Town as the second-best city to visit after New York City. It does not stop here. This is only one rating of many travel magazines with millions of readers voting, including the well-respected Conde Nast.
2. Friendliest People
South Africans are the friendliest people in the world! Having travelled globally, I agree. South Africa has also been rated as the friendliest country in the world, according to a recent survey. Our guests come for nature but return for the people. My conversations with tourists in the Cape Town outdoors have been enlightening and memorable. Dressed in my outdoor gear, I am often mistaken for a tourist and am offered tips by a local wanting to start a conversation. It is beautiful, and restores hope in humanity.
3. Natural Wonders
The most famous icon of Cape Town is unarguably Table Mountain. This natural marvel is ginormous and diverse, luring nature lovers from all over the world. Take a hike! Literally, get out and see for yourself. Many trails lead up to Table Mountain. A web of beautiful hikes that showcase the best views in the Cape and that have made this mountain a memorable adventure. In 2012, Table Mountain joined the Amazon rainforest, Vietnam’s Halong Bay, Argentina’s Iguazu Falls, South Korea’s Jeju Island, Indonesia’s Komodo, and the Philippines’ Puerto Princesa Underground River as the newly listed seven natural wonders of the world.
4. Incredible Views
The Cape, undeniably, has some of the best vistas in the world. Rather than towering concrete, Cape Town and her suburbs are guarded by ancient rock giants, surrounded by pristine ocean. When looking out from East or West, you can enjoy some incredible ocean views, mountain backgrounds, and cityscapes. The best perspective of the Cape is from her cliffside drives and panoramic mountain trails. Drive or hike the Peninsula and see for yourself!
5. Memorable Sunsets
Sunset over the Cape Atlantic is the best way to end a day in Cape Town. Go alone to find your soul, cherish the moment with friends, or flatter your sweetheart with this romantic activity. There are many spots along Cape Town’s western shoreline. To mention a few: Blouberg Strand, Signal Hill, Camps Bay, Clifton, and my favourite, the summit of Lions Head. Crack open a beverage of your choice, and cheers to your beautiful city and inspired soul. Lions Head is a great activity to do outdoors at night, and you can watch the moon rise and city lights glimmer.
6. Best Beaches
I am not only talking about the famous Camp’s Bay or Clifton. In my adventures around the Peninsula, I have found some peaceful nooks that give me the feeling I am on a deserted island. My most recent was Windmill Beach, next to Simonstown. Refreshing water to swim or snorkel, seals, penguins, and giant boulders to launch yourself into the crystal water below. Another isolated beach on the Indian Ocean Seaboard is Smitswinkel Bay. On the cooler Atlantic side, you can enjoy tranquillity at Glen Beach and Oudekraal, to name a few.
7. Great Weather
The summers in Cape Town are hands down the best in the country. The days are sunny and warm, and the winter rains leave a dryer heat than the humid tropics. A “Mediterranean climate”. Those bothered by the wind can go to the “other side” of the mountain, sheltered from one of our two prevailing winds, the South Easterly and South Westerly.
8. Wild Life
The wildlife in the Cape is exceptional. One of six floral kingdoms in the world boasts more plant species than Europe. With this habitat comes an array of beautiful bird species. Birding has become one of the fastest-growing outdoor activities in South Africa. The Cape has a vast ocean habitat and some of the best pelagic birding trips. From this ocean came a particular animal, the endangered African penguin. Boulders Beach is a rare land-based penguin colony where you can swim with these fantastic creatures.
9. Culinary Capital
Picture vineyards that stretch to mountains and oceans. Deliciously bold and crisp wines that tantalize your palate. Pair these with mouth-watering dishes that boast international standards. Not surprisingly, Cape Town has been rated the Culinary Capital of South Africa. Almost every outdoor activity around Cape Town is near a delicious winery, restaurant, bar, or coffee shop. A short drive from Cape Town is Franschoek. Nestled in a wine valley, this village has eight of South Africa’s one hundred best restaurants, winning South Africa’s culinary capital year after year. Not to mention, Cape Town and its surrounding areas are quickly becoming the home of South African micro-breweries. Sit back in the sun or shade and sip on a range of hand-crafted beers fit for the adventurous traveller.
10. Outdoor Capital
Cape Town is officially the Legislative Capital of South Africa. However, Wild Things Africa has unofficially named Cape Town the best outdoor city in South Africa. It is iconic in the minds of many locals and abroad. When travellers think of Cape Town, they remember it as an incredible journey. Memories of landscapes, wildlife, and people. An easy drive in all directions to a plethora of outside options. After reading this publication from Travel Start, it is evident that the Cape takes most places of interest in South Africa. Undoubtedly, this summer should be the one where you step out into a city of possibilities and enjoy the adventure.
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