Best of Cape Town

Johannesburg to Cape Town Road Trip - Part 4

Most people who visit rate Cape Town highly, so I was curious to discover what carried Cape Town over other big cities. Apart from the dominating Table Mountain backdrop (on a clear, fogless day), we found that it didn't offer much more than any other city.

The colourful neighbourhood of Bokamp is photogenic but there's not a lot happening.

There were cafes, bars, restaurants, and shopping malls as you would expect. The bulk of tourists seemed to congregate at the V&A Waterfront, a harbour area rejuvenated into a large, muddled tourist trap of full-priced boutique shops and restaurants. A nearby "market" proved a disappointment as gullible tourists gathered under the white marquee to dine atop fake grass and pallet furniture, paying top dollar for dressed up pancakes and smoothies marketed as organic, vegan, gluten-free, or subscribe to some sort of eco-friendly/health fad.

The best of Cape Town was actually everything outside the city. Using the False Bay neighbourhood of Glencairn as a base allowed us to explore the surrounding coastal towns and the natural beauty of the area. Simon's Town, a one street village of Dutch colonial storefronts, was our choice for a coffee and a much needed haircut for Rob. An afternoon at Boulder's Beach, a little further down the highway, was well spent with a stroll along the dune boardwalk, where we were treated to many close penguin and dassie sightings in the bushes.

You may not find a more beautiful scene than at the Cape of Good Hope. 

Exploring the Cape of Good Hope with the rental car allowed us to visit every corner we desired, and we encountered baboons and ostriches amongst the gorgeous landscapes. Short cliff-top walks with incredible ocean views and a beach hike to a shipwreck added active elements to the full day. A grey, unpleasant day turned into something wondrous when we took the car along the coastal cliffs towards Hout Bay. The trip was worth the toll, as the rocky cliffs and a fierce sea below created an exhilarating drive, and the vision of Hout Bay from above was especially picturesque.

My recommendations if you are to visit Cape Town are to stay in the False Bay or Hout Bay areas and to rent a car. These neighbourhoods are close to the best attractions without the hassle of city traffic, and renting a car in South Africa is cheap and allows you a certain independence that public transport or taxis does not offer.