18 things not to miss

It’s not possible to see everything that Cape Town and the Garden Route have to offer in one trip – and we don’t suggest you try. What follows is a selective and subjective taste of the highlights, including outstanding national parks, spectacular wildlife, thrilling adventure sports and beautiful architecture. All entries have a page reference to take you straight into the Guide, where you can find out more. Coloured numbers refer to chapters in the Guide section.

1 Table Mountain Aerial Cableway The revolving cable car is the most spectacular way to ascend Cape Town’s famous peak.

2 Ocean safaris Take to the waves for incomparable encounters with South Africa’s whale and dolphin species.

3 Sundowners Relax with a tipple in Camps Bay as the sun turns into a glowing orb and sinks into the ocean.

4 Township tours See the reality of daily life for most Capetonians in one of the city’s sprawling townships.

5 Zeitz MOCAA The Waterfront’s new Museum of Contemporary Art Africa occupies an ambitiously repurposed grain silo.

6 Cape Point Roam the treacherous rocky promontory south of Cape Town and experience one of the most dramatic viewpoints in the country.

7 Penguins Teeming with African penguins, Boulders Beach offers a surreal landscape of enormous sea-worn rocks and fine, safe swimming.

8 The Bo-Kaap On the slopes of Signal Hill, meander through the city’s most colourful quarter.