Cape Town Attractions

The Cape Town Diamond Museum captures the essence of South African diamond history.  Visitors are encouraged to explore the journey of diamonds in South Africa.  Explore first hand what mining was like, learn about the 4 Cs and discover a whole new way of appreciating the art of diamonds. 

Unique attractions at the Cape Town Diamond Museum, South Africa:

• the specimens dating back billions of years
• life size replicas of famous diamonds
• the visual timeline

Location

1st Floor, Clock Town Precinct, adjacent to Robben Island Gateway

Closest parking

Clock Tower Underground Parking

The Cape Town International Airport in Cape Town (CTIA), South Africa. is a hub for South African Airways. The Cape Town International Airport is the second-largest airport in South Africa, after OR Tambo International Airport
in Johannesburg, third-largest in Africa and a major gateway for tourist traffic. Until the mid-1990s the airport was named DF Malan Airport after Prime Minister Daniel François Malan.

The Cape Town International Airport handled 7,932,000 passengers per annum up to October 2007, showing a massive increase of 13.6% over 2006 figures. Cape Town International maintains its status as Africa's 3rd busiest airport and has overtaken San Antonio International Airport in the world rankings.

The Cape Town International Airport (CTIA) is undergoing major renovations at a total cost of R1.3 billion to accommodate the expected 14-million passengers by 2015. The new International Terminal has already been completed with the first of two new multi-storey car parkades already operational adjacent to the Domestic Terminal.

The single landside road access has been reconfigured to provide a two-level roadway, with the lower-level for arrivals and upper-level for departures. This increases capacity at the airport and completely alters the face of the airport.

The domestic terminals are received a complete face-lift in conjunction with a new central terminal building at a cost of R900 million, linking the international and domestic terminals. The domestic terminal has been extensively upgraded and expanded, with the central terminal accommodating both additional international and domestic arrivals and departures. Complementing additional capacity, additional glass air-bridges have been added at airside to facilitate direct access from arrivals and departures to the aircraft.

Cape Town International Airport: ground transportation

Luxury bus transfers and Cape Town hotel transfers are available from the Cape Town airport arrival terminal. Taxi services are also available but passengers should ensure to use a registered taxi service - look for clearly marked vehicles registered as taxis. There are a limited number of taxis authorized at the airport.

Cape Town International Airport: airport location and access / directions

By car

Take the N2 highway from Cape Town to direction Somerset West and follow the signs to the airport.

By taxi

Taxis are available from the airport to the city centre (journey time: 20 minutes).

By bus

Door-to-door shuttle bus services are available on demand or by pre-booking in Arrivals (International and Domestic). Schedules vary according to flight arrival times; passengers can also pre-book their return trip to the airport.

Self Drive Around Table Mountain Tour, Cape Town
 
Distance:  50km (31 miles)      
 
Driving Time:  1 ½ hours       
 
Allow:  7 hours
 
General Overview:
 
This tour takes in coastal scenery plus stretches of unspoilt, undeveloped coastline.  A boat trip to Seal Island and stroll through the world-famous Kirstenbosch National Garden. This beautiful drive starts from the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town.
 
Points of Interest: 
 
Sea Point, Clifton, Camps Bay, Hout Bay, Seal Island, (option: Drive to top of Chapman’s Peak), Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden.  
 
Along this scenic route you will see the Somerset Hospital which was the home of Lord Charles Somerset, governor of the Cape between 1814 and 1827. You will pass Green Point Lighthouse. It is the oldest lighthouse on the South African coast built in 1824.  Passing Sea Point and Clifton with its high-rise beachfront apartment blocks. The most beautiful beach resorts are at Clifton and Camps Bay. The next seaside village is Llandudno which nestles at the foot of a mountain called Little Lion’s Head.
 
Visit the picturesque Hout Bay Harbour where one can stop and have lunch at one of the excellent restaurants. The boat ride to Seal Island leaves from the harbour or go to the World of Birds up Valley Road. If you have time the scenic drive to the top of Chapman’s Peak is spectacular. From Hout Bay to Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens is a winding road through a forested area with beautiful views of the Southern Cape Peninsula.
 
The magnificent gardens at Kirstenbosch are world renowned for their beauty and diversity of the Cape flora. The garden covers 36 hectares of indigenous South African plants e.g. cycads (these date back 100 million years), proteas, fragrant and medicinal plants etc.
 
On the way back to Cape Town you will pass the University of Cape Town which was founded in 1829 and is regarded as the top research institute on the African continent. On the right you will pass the historic Mostert’s Mill and finally Groote Schuur Hospital where the world’s first human heart transplant took place in 1967.

Cape Town Self Drive Tour: Southern Cape Peninsula
 
Distance:  110 km (68 miles)      

Driving Time:  3 ½ hours   
 
Allow:  7 ½ hours
 
General Overview:
 
This scenic self drive tour follows the Atlantic coast to the magnificent Cape Point Nature Reserve and the Cape of Good Hope (the most south-westerly point of Africa) and returns along the False Bay coast.
 
Points of Interest: 
 
Groot Constantia Wine Estate, Chapman’s Peak, Ostrich Farm, Penguin Colony, Kalk Bay antique shops. This drive starts from the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town.

Detailed Tour description: 
 
Along this route you will pass Groote Schuur Hospital where the world’s first heart transplant took place in 1967. Next the historic Mosterts Mill  and onto Groot Constantia. This homestead is a fine example of Cape Dutch architecture which was built in 1685 and it is the oldest wine farm in South Africa. The manor house has a fine collection of period furniture and ceramics and taste the wine at the winery noted for its red wines.
 
Now head for Chapman’s Peak Drive which is spectacular. At the highest point is an excellent lookout point and continue along the road which hugs the cliff face and notice the different rock types, below the road is igneous granite and above is sandstone of sedimentary origin. Pass the quaint country Noordhoek Farm Village with its craft shops and restaurants. Along the way you see the tallest lighthouse on the South African coastline – Slangkop. Visit the Cape Point Ostrich Farm.
 
Enter the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and onto Cape Point where many people say that the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet. Take a walk to the lighthouse or go via the funicular railway. Have lunch at the restaurant overlooking the ocean. You will certainly see Baboons but do not feed them.
 
The stretch from Cape Point to the African penguins is spectacular with unique scenery along the False Bay coast. The penguins (an endangered species) at Boulders Beach are often called Jackass penguins as their call is similar to the bray of a donkey. 
 
Pass through the quaint naval town of Simon’s Town which has a Victorian feel and was the headquarters of the British Royal Navy from 1806 – 1957. If you are interested in semi-precious stones visit The Scratch Patch and Mineral World at Dido Valley. Pass Fish Hoek, Kalk Bay with its antique shops and quaint fishing harbour and Muizenberg where surfing is great.  Return to Cape Town.

The Kalk Bay Theatre is a 78-seater theatre situated in the old Kalk Bay church built in 1876.  This church is a heritage protected building.  The Kalk Bay Theatre offers a unique night of entertainment. Dinner, theatre and quality time with friends all under the same roof.

Patrons arrive from 18h45 and are directed upstairs to the restaurant. The open-plan restaurant has been designed to give the customer a feel of eating in a warm, family kitchen. The wooden tables and chairs are set around a gallery, allowing customers to look down onto the stage below.

There are usually 2 set menu choices of 3 course meals or diners can “cherry-pick” dishes off the menu allowing you to decide how much you want to spend/eat on the evening. If you choose a 3 course meal, the starter and the main course are served before the show and the desert and coffee is served after the performance. Patrons make their way down to the theatre after their main meal and return to the restaurant for their desert and coffee. Drinks may be taken into the theatre.

During the early days of white settlement at the Cape in South Africa, Robben Island, which is 500 ha in size and 12 kilometres off the coast, was used as a prison colony. The so-called 'deliquents' that were brought here, were mainly rebellious Khoikhoi. With very few exceptions, attempted escapes failed and most of the escapees drowned during the long swim to the coast.

In 1961, South Africa's most notorious prison was established on Robben Island. Political prisoners of the anti-apartheid movement were kept here together with hardened criminals. The most prominent inmate was Nelson Mandela, who later became the first President of the new democratic South Africa. Here Nelson Mandela spent 27 years of his life in a tiny cell of 5 square metres.

The living conditions were, particularly in the early years, extremely bad. Prisoners had to labour in the quarry, were not dressed sufficiently and had to sleep on a thin strawmatt on the stonefloor. Through strikes and endless protests, in 1971 the prisoners achieved the implementation of more humane conditions and were also allowed to study. Mandela himself describes his 27 years on Robben Island very impressively in his autobiography "Long Walk to Freedom".

Today, Robben Island is a national memorial and a museum. The catamaran ferries leave from the Nelson Mandela Gateway at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront's Clock Tower to Robben Island. The boat trip takes about 30 minutes and the guided tour of the island about two hours. A former inmate acts as tour guide around the prison and presents Nelson Mandela's cell. There is a bus one can take to the lime quarry, where the prisoners had to labour in the blinding sun without protection.

The ticket sales office is located at the Nelson Mandela Gateway at the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town.

Robben Island Museum:
Tel +27 21 413 4220/1 (Nelson Mandela Gateway)
Email: infow@robben-island.org.za Tel +27 21 409 5169  +27 21 409 5169 (Robben Island)
Email: infoi@robben-island.org.za

Advance Bookings:
Tel   +27 21 413 4233  +27 21 413 4233 / 37
Fax +27 21 418 3736
Email: rimbookings@robben-island.org.za

Special Tours:
Tel +27 21 411 1037 +27 21 411 1037
Email: specialtours@robben-island.org.za

Cape Town – Table Mountain

Table Mountain Website
Table Mountain Cableway Enquiries: Tel:  (021) 424-8181  (021) 424-8181 or Online Enquiries

Providing a majestic backdrop to the city of Cape Town, Table Mountain is one of the world's most striking natural wonders and South Africa's most recognized icon. Flanked by Devil's Peak to the east, Lion's Head and Signal Hill to the west, the massif of Table Mountain comprises the flat-topped plateau of the eastern and western tables overlooking the city of Cape Town, the eastern buttresses with their forested ravines flanking the city's southern suburbs, and the western buttresses of the Twelve Apostles standing sentinel along the Atlantic coast.

The level summit of Table Mountain is three kilometres long, east to west. Its highest point, at 1 086 metres, is Maclear's beacon. This beacon was erected in 1843 by the astronomer, Sir Thomas Maclear, as part of an experiment to more accurately measure the circumference of the earth. The western end of the narrow plateau supports the upper cableway station, first built in 1929.

In May 1998, the proclamation of the Cape Peninsula National Park placed Table Mountain and much of the remaining unspoiled area of the Peninsula under the custodianship of South African National Parks. The Cape Peninsula National Park is the only national park in the country set in the midst of a bustling metropolis.

Please
 • Be vigilant.
 • Take only photographs, leave only footprints
 • Stick to designated paths, roads and trails
 • Note closing times
 • Keep pets on a leash
 • Consider the privacy of fellow visitors
 • Adhere to road safety rules
 • Choose your mountain route according to the fitness and experience of the party
 • Tell someone exactly where you are going, and when you expect to return
 • Stay put in case of trouble - don't try to find your way down in mist or in the dark.
 • Retrace your steps if you get lost.

Please don't

 • Litter
 • Light any fires without permission
 • Feed, disturb or injure any animal
 • Damage, remove or destroy any seeds, plants or rocks
 • Climb alone or visit secluded areas after dark
 • Leave personal belongings unattended
 • Stray off constructed footpaths
 • Mountain bike in sensitive areas

Landscape of Table Mountain
There is much of geological interest on and around Table Mountain, displaying evidence of the varying rock types from which the mountain is composed, and the geological processes and changing climatic conditions which, over hundreds of millions of years, have served to build and sculpt the landscape we see today. The bulk of Table Mountain is composed of layer upon layer of erosion resistant light grey sandstone of the Peninsula formation (so-called Table Mountain sandstone) and shale and siltstone of the underlying Graafwater formation. These rest upon a foundation of what is, for the most part, Cape granite. In the north the Cape granite gives way to rocks of the Malmesbury group, from which most of Signal Hill is made up, and which run under the city centre and Devil's Peak to the west.

Table Mountain sandstone erodes slowly and produces sandy, nutrient-poor soils that are easily leached. The indigenous fynbos ("fine bush") vegetation is well adapted to such conditions and reaches its greatest species diversity in places where these poor soils are found. Soils derived from Cape granite and rocks of the Malmesbury group, on the contrary, are much richer in nutrients and more susceptible to erosion.

Water on Table Mountain
Van Riebeeck's decision as to where to establish the first European settlement was influenced by the continuous flow of fresh water from the Platteklip Gorge stream, which provided the first supply of water for Cape Town. Until the second half of the nineteenth century the city was able to meet its water needs from the Platteklip stream and from other springs and streams on the north face of Table Mountain.

The discovery of diamonds in Griqualand West in 1867 and of gold on the Witwatersrand in 1886, however, provided the stimulus by which the population of Cape Town trebled from 33 000 in 1875 to over 100 000 by the turn of the nineteenth century. Cape Town became not only South Africa's leading port of entry but also the main service and supply centre for the rapidly
developing hinterland. To address the growing demand for water, work began in 1887 on a plan to cut a tunnel through the Twelve Apostles to bring water from the untapped Disa Stream to the Camps Bay side of the mountain. From here it was fed by gravity through a pipeline to Kloof Nek, and then down to Cape Town. During the late 1800s and early 1900s five storage dams were built on the mountain to augment the supply of water to both Cape Town and the suburbs developing along the eastern and western slopes of the mountain.


Fauna on Table Mountain, Cape Town
The fauna of this area includes a wealth of invertebrate species that may exceed even the flora in their diversity, and which over time have evolved an astonishing array of symbiotic interrelationships with the flora that scientists are only now beginning to understand. No less than 111 of these invertebrates, and one vertebrate - the Table Mountain Ghost frog - are found nowhere else on earth. The visitor to Table Mountain is most likely to encounter the ubiquitous dassie (Rock Hyrax), whose closest living relative is, strangely enough, the African elephant.
While early callers at the Cape commented on the abundance of large animals they encountered here, most of these were shot out or driven away in the early years of European settlement. However, while the larger predators like lion, leopard and hyena have
disappeared, most of the animals found here historically still survive. This is all the more remarkable when one considers that Cape Town has experienced over 350 years of urban, agricultural and industrial development, with attendant pressures on the remaining natural environment.

HUMAN HISTORY
It may never be precisely known when the first people arrived at the Peninsula, but it may have been as early as a million years ago. When the first Khoi-khoi pastoralists arrived with their domestic animals around 2000 years ago, they recognised the natural assets of the area. By the time the first Europeans began calling at the Cape these pastoralists were driving their herds of sheep and cattle here each summer for the good grazing and certain water supply. To these people, Table Mountain was known as Hoerikwaggo ("the mountain of the sea").

SOME MAIN ATTRACTIONS
 • Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden (managed by the National Botanical Institute)
 • Table Mountain Aerial Cableway
 • Signal Hill
 • Rhodes' Memorial
 • Lion's Head

WALKS AND CLIMBS on Table Mountain
Climbers have opened over 350 separate routes to the summit of Table Mountain, ranging from easy to very difficult.

Climbing the mountain should not be attempted without expert advice. The Mountain Club of
South Africa welcomes dedicated mountaineers as prospective members. Walks are organized by volunteer groups known as the Friends of Lion’s Head and the Friends of Newlands Forest.
The most popular trails are the Pipe Track from Kloofnek; Platteklip Gorge; Skeleton Gorge; Constantia Nek towards the dams and Maclear's Beacon; and Kasteel Poort on the Camps Bay side.
For more information consult the map "Approved footpaths of Table Mountain", available in local bookstores, or a number of hiking guidebooks that are available.

* Approximate Walking Times (add time for stops)

Constantia Nek to Maclear’s Beacon 1085m 4 Hours*
Skeleton Ravine to Maclear’s Beacon 1085m 3.5 Hours*
Platteklip Gorge to Maclear‘s Beacon 1085m 2.5 Hours*
Kasteel’s Poort to Maclear’s Beacon 1085m 3.5 Hours*
Lion’s Head 669m 2 Hours*

• Abseiling (Western Table)
 • Angling and diving (Oudekraal and the Karbonkelberg)
 • Braaiing (barbequeing) and/or picnicking - (Oudekraal, the Glen, Van Riebeeck Park, kirstenbosch, Signal Hill)
 • Hang-gliding and parasailing (the Karbonkelberg and Lion's Head)
 • Hiking (trails traverse the entire area)
 • Mountain climbing and rock climbing (Lion's Head and Table Mountain)
 • Scenic drives (Tafelberg Road, Signal Hill Road, Victoria Road)
 • Mountain biking (below Tafelberg Road)
 • Dining (restaurants at Kirstenbosch, Rhodes Memorial and the upper cableway station on Table Mountain)


FLORA
The Cape Floristic Region is internationally recognized for its extraordinary floral biodiversity. Table Mountain and the Peninsula are home to some 2 285 plants species - more than 25% of the species found throughout the Cape Floristic Region. Table Mountain alone has over 1 500 species of plants, more than the whole of the United Kingdom, many of which are endemic. The most common regetation type on Table Mountain, as with the rest of the Cape Peninsula National Park, is fynbos.

This generally low-growing, shrubby vegetation includes heaths (Ericaceae), reeds (Restionaceae) and proteas (Proteaceae). Some of the most conspicuous fynbos species on the mountain are from the protea family, and include the King Protea Protea cynaroides, South Africa's national emblem. Also found are the larger-growing "Waboom" Protea nitida and the "Kreupelhout" Leucospermum conocarpodendron which can grow to the size of a small tree. Another member of the protea family is the endemic Silver Tree Leucadendron argenteum, which is found on the slopes of Lion's Head and above Kirstenbosch.It is in the shrubs found below these larger species, however, that one finds more striking evidence of the extraordinary species diversity for which fynbos is famous. This is particularly so with the geophytes (plants that grow from underground bulbs), such as members of the Disa, Gladiolus, Moraea, Watsonia, Babiana and Iris genera. Many geophytes are well known for their spectacular displays when flowering en masse, particularly in the wake of fire. The second vegetation type of Table Mountain, Renosterbos ("rhinoceros bush"), is also rich in geophytes. Found on Signal Hill and the lower slopes of Devil's Peak, Renosterbos takes its name from the drab, grey ericoid shrub Elytropappus rhinocerotis that is generally abundant. Alsocharacteristic of Renosterbos is the presence of grasses, which in this veld type take the place of restios, and the virtual absence of proteas. Lastly there is afro-montane forest and thicket. This covers only around 3% of the Cape Peninsula, and is mainly established along the cooler, well-watered ravines on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, and in Orange Kloof. Together these vegetation types constitute a flora so rich in species that it is not only the most diverse corner of the Cape Floristic Region, but also, from a botanical point of view, the richest area, for its size, anywhere on the planet, surpassing even the tropical rainforests in its diversity. This is the reason that the Cape Peninsula has been nominated for World Heritage Site status.

DID YOU KNOW?
The Sacred Circle - The pioneers of Islam in the Cape were political prisoners and slaves brought from the East during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Most had been exiled for leading their nations' resistance to colonialism. In 1694, for example, Sheikh Joseph was banished to the Cape by the Dutch after the conquest of Java and Sumatra. Because of the lives and works of these religious leaders, and the sitting of their kramats (tombs), Muslims have come to regard Cape Town as a holy place. Sheik Joseph's resting place is one of a number of kramats that form a sacred circle around the city. The road between Lion's Head and Signal Hill runs past the domed kramat of Mohamed Gasan Gaibie Shah, while the kramats of Sayed Abdul Haq and ten others are found in the Deer Park, a common place of refuge for Muslims during colonial times. Anotherkramat is that of Sayed Abdul Malik, a doctor and spiritualist who came to the Cape at the end of the eighteenth century as a slave from Batavia.

Cannons - In former years, a small cannon was fired from the summit of Lion's Head, signaling the approach of ships in Table Bay. This was relayed to the interior by cannons mounted at other vantage points, summoning distant farmers to the city with provisions for trade, or to defend the harbor against attack.

Noonday Gun - The South African Navy fires Signal Hill's Noonday Gun at 12a.m. every day but Sunday. The famous Lion's Battery on the slopes of this 335m hill overlooking Table Bay is also used to fire salutes for visiting ships and on ceremonial occasions.

A Missing Link - The Wynberg caves are the only place on earth where the missing link between worms and insects occurs. The velvet worm peripatus is regarded as the evolutionary link between segmented worms like earthworms and arthropods, such as millipedes.

The Tablecloth - Devil's Peak got its name from a legend concerning a Dutch pirate named Van Hunks, who is said to have spent his days smoking his pipe where the saddle of land connects Devil's Peak to Table Mountain. One day, he challenged the Devil to a smoking contest, with the condition that if he won he could reclaim his previously forfeited soul. So much smoke was generated by the contest that the "tablecloth" formed over the mountain.

The Guardian of the South - From various myths and legends, the Portuguese poet, Luis Vas de Camoes, (1524-1580), developed the character "Adamastor" - the monstrous Guardian of the South who was said to have been vanquished by the Portuguese explorers after they had rounded the Cape of Good Hope. The Peninsula was portrayed as the supine form of Adamastor after his death. In Xhosa legend, Djobela - the Earth Goddess turned mighty giants, placed in the four corners of the earth, into mountains to guard the world. The greatest giant of them all – Umlindi Welingizunu was Table Mountain, the Watcher of the South.

Constellation - Table Mountain is the only geographical feature in the world that has a constellation named after it - the Mensa ("table" in Latin).

The beachfront promenade in Blouberg has a wide variety of restaurants and cocktail bars. Enjoy a cold beer as you watch the surf roll in at the Lower Deck Bistro at the Blue Peter Hotel. Another notable eatery is the 'On The Rocks Restaurant' beautifully situated at the water’s edge. Feast on enormous seafood platters as you sip on the Cape’s finest chilled chardonnay and enjoy the views of Table Mountain and Robben Island in the distance.

Bloubergstrand, meaning “blue mountain beach” in the Afrikaans language, is a long, beautiful sandy beach with a magnificent Table mountain view.  It provides the perfect playground for outdoor activities.  The beach is known as a surfing and windsurfing hotspot because of the large waves inspired by the Cape’s southeaster winds.

The main beach, Big Bay, hosts highly rated surfing contests every year. The wind factor also has a lot to do with Bloubergstrand’s most popular pastime: kite-surfing. With a wide, spacious beach (Dolphin Beach, a perfect launch pad), 10–30 knot winds and unbelievable views of Table Mountain it’s not surprising that this place attracts foreign visitors to enjoy a kite-surfing safari.

Day Drive to Melkbosstrand / West Coast
 

Places of interest: 

- Bloubergstand

- Melkbosstand and

- Koeberg Nuclear Power Station
 

Bloubergstrand:

It is renowned for its superb views across Table Bay to Table Mountain and the city.  The original name was Blaauwberg (Blue Mountain) named by the Dutch as the hill nearby appears blue when viewed from vessels approaching Table Bay. The Battle of Blaauwberg was fought here in 1806 when the Cape was occupied by Britain. It is renowned for its superb views across Table Bay to Table Mountain and the city. Its beaches are ideal for sunbathers, surfers, windsurfers and anglers. There are also well-known restaurants.
 
Melkbosstrand:

Melkbosstrand is named after the milkwood trees growing along the coastal dunes north of the town. The sandy beaches are popular with sunbathers and surfers.
 
Koeberg Nuclear Power Station: 

This is the only nuclear plant in Africa and is based on the pressurized water reactor (PWR) design. Construction began in 1976 and completed in 1985. The Koeberg Nature Reserve, just north of the power station, is an area to protect the strandveld flora and fauna and visitors can explore this area.

 

Camps Bay beach is a beautiful sandy beach with a grass edging and tropical palms. It has also a sheltered natural tidal pool.

It is an ideal location to watch the sun setting and enjoying sundowners or a picnic or enjoy  a leasurely walk along the beach.

All restaurants are located along the Main Road overlooking the beach and tropical palm trees.

There are many high class restaurants and bars in which one can enjoy your dinner while watching the sun set. 

A diversity of food is served, a la carte and menus.

Camps Bay has a theatre - Theatre on the Bay - which presents many shows, including drama,  comedy and musicals.

Enjoy pre-show drinks at the bar or dinner at the restaurant before and after the show where you may be able to chat to the actors. 

Adderley Street can be referred to as Cape Town's main street.  This vibrant and busy street in the heart of Cape Town reaches from the Heerengracht up to the entrance of the park Company's Garden. In 1850, Adderley Street was named in honour of the British parlamentarian Charles B. Adderley, who vehemently and successfully fought against the plan of the British government to make Cape Town another convict colony.

Adderley Street in Cape Town, South Africa, is lined on each side by big old office buildings, many belonging to the South African insurance, financing and banking groups.

At one end of Adderley Street, one finds the Cape Town's railway station (Central Station), the traffic of the overland busses also has its centre here.  On the square in front of the station is a permanent open-air market. Here one can find, besides leather goods and shoes, curios and handcrafted goods, cheap clothing and imitations of famous sportswear brands (Diesel, Quiksilver, Nike) for the shortlived good impression. A pedestrian bridge leads to the Golden Acre Shopping Centre which is South Africa's oldest shopping centre. Nowadays the St. George's Mall is more popular for shopping. It runs parallel to Adderley Street and many of the shops have entrances on both sides.
Between Strand Street and Darling Street, lies the famous Flower Market. Freshly cut flowers have been sold here on weekdays for more than a hundred years.

The upper part of Adderley Street is characterised by a number of historical buildings. On Church Square is the entrance to the Groote Kerk, one of the oldest churches in South Africa and motherhouse of the first parish of the NG Kerk (Dutch Reformed Church). At the end of the street is the Slave Lodge with a statue of Jan Smuts in front of it. The Dutch-East-India Company imprisoned its slaves there. Today it is a museum for cultural history.

Just before the entrance to the Company Gardens in Cape Town, South Africa, lies the Slave Lodge. Built in 1679 by the Dutch-East India Trading Company, this single-story building was used to accommodate about 600 slaves. At the same time it also served as a mental asylum and a prison. In the year 1810 a second story was added and from then on it housed the High Court. Today the museum is dedicated to different aspects of the history of Cape Town with its big collections of ceramics, tools, toys, textiles and jewellery.

The Canal Walk Shopping Centre is one of South Africa’s premier super-regional shopping centres and features the world's most desirable brands with shopping convenience all in a commanding majestic setting.

With over 400 stores representing top local and global brands, Canal Walk offers the most comprehensive and compelling lifestyle shopping experience in South Africa, including the widest selection of speciality stores in the Southern Hemisphere.

Situated a convenient 10-minute drive from Cape Town’s city centre, Canal Walk provides secure parking in 6 500 parking bays and is open daily from 9am to 9pm.

This beautiful farm on the east-facing slopes of the magnificent Constantiaberg and barely 12km from False Bay, originally formed part of the Constantia Estate, which was founded by Simon van der Stel, the first Governor of the new Dutch colony at the tip of Africa.

First sold as a 200 morgen sub-division to Cornelis Brink in 1773, Buitenverwachting changed hands all too often. And yet it flourished as a wine farm, due mainly to the 90 000 vines planted in 1825 by Ryk Arnoldus Cloete, brother of the famous Hendrik Cloete of Constantia.

A small block of Hanepoot table grapes which still bears fruit despite its ripe old age of nearly 100 years, has been retained as a growing tribute to the heritage of Buitenverwachting

Buitenverwachting Restaurant overlooks the vineyards and Constantiaberg Mountains.A la carte and set menus are daily available for lunch and dinner together with an extensive wine list., the best from theEnjly Constantia Region plus  from rest of the Cape. 

Picnic:   November - April. Mon - Sat from 12h00 - 1600 (Closed Christmasa and Nee Year)

Enjoy a picnic in summer in the beautiful gardens under the oaks. Pre-booking is essential. Picnics are served in baskets. Tables and chairs are provided.

Cape Town Scenic Self Drive Tour: Constantia Wine Route
 
Distance:  60km (37 miles)      

Driving Time:  1 ½ hours          

Allow:  4 ½ hours
 
General Overview:
 
If you want to relax, spend a peaceful day in beautiful surroundings, eating and drinking the best, visit these four wine estates. They are located in the centre of the Cape Peninsula in the elegant suburb of Constantia with its oak trees and gabled Cape Dutch homesteads. Constantia was S.A.’s first wine-growing region and has a number of wine estates which has top restaurants, hotels and a golf course.
 
Top Wine Estates: 
 
Steenberg Wine Estate, Constantia Uitsig Wine Estate, Buitenverwachting Wine Estate, Groot Constantia Wine Estate.
 
Steenberg: 
 
Steenberg Vineyards was named as South Africa’s leading wine estate at the World Travel Awards in 2007. Its flagship Sauvignon Blanc Reserve wins top awards year after year.  The beautiful Steenberg Estate is home to two restaurants , Catharina’s (named after the first owner of the estate) serves sophisticated contemporary South African cuisine. Bistro Sixteen 82 serves an easy lunch and wine tasting takes place there. A tapas bar opens at 4.30p.m.  The Steenberg Estate in Tokai also features a magnificent golf course.
 
Constantia Uitsig: 
 
The Constantia Uitsig estate is home to 3 restaurants. 1. La Colombe style is French fusion, was voted ‘Best Restaurant in Africa and the Middle East’, 28th in the world in 2006 and top restaurant in South Africa for four consecutive years. 2.  Constantia Uitsig Restaurant provides Mediterranean/Italian cuisine and consistently among South Africa’s top ten restaurants. It is housed in the original 19th century manor house. 3. The River Café provides alfresco style and incorporates the wine-tasting area.
 
Buitenverwachting: 
 
This historic wine estate in Cape Town was established in 1796 and is renowned for its excellent wines. The road winds around picturesque vineyards, horse paddocks and even a rugby field for the use of staff. It has an award- winning restaurant which is consistently rated amongst the top ten in the country and provides contemporary continental cuisine with an African touch.  The Café Petit at the estate serves lighter meals.
 
Groot Constantia: 
 
The Groot Constantia wine estate in Cape Town is the oldest wine estate in South Africa.  It is known as the birth place of South African wines. The cellar and wine tasting facilities are near to the entrance of the estate. Visit the homestead of Cape Dutch architecture with its fine collection of period furniture and ceramics. Simon’s is the main restaurant in a vineyard setting which provides casual lunches e.g. alfresco. It will provide picnic baskets on the lawns under the shade of a tree.  Jonkershuis is a bistro with a vast menu offering a blend of traditional local dishes as well as contemporary cuisine. 

Oficial website Click Here:   Website

Wines Sales Click Here:        Wine

News & Events:                      Events

Attractions:
Wine Tasting Sales and Souvenirs
Orientation Centre (Iziko Museum)
Jonkershuis Restaurant
Manor House (Iziko Museum)
Cloete Cellar (Iziko Museum)
Cellar Tour and wine tasting and sales
Simon’s Restaurant
Historical Bath

Tel:     +27 21 794-5128         +27 21 794-5128
Fax:    +27 21 794-1999
Email:  enquiries@grootconstantia.co.za

Open:  7 days a week, including public holidays
Closed only on Good Friday, Christmas Day and the 1st of January.
Wine Route: Constantia

Heritage
The story of Groot Constantia, the finest surviving example of Cape Dutch architecture and one of South Africa’s foremost historical monuments and tourist attractions, dates back to 1685. In that year Simon van der Stel, the popular commander and later governor of the Cape, was granted land for a farm, which he named Constantia. When he died in 1712, the property was divided and a smaller farm created around the homestead and its outbuildings.
This new estate was bought in 1716 by Captain Oloff Bergh, who bequeathed it to his wife Anna de Koningh. After her death, successive owners were Carl George Wieser, Wieser’s stepson Jacobus van der Spuij, and Jan Serrurier, the owner of the neighbouring farm Alphen. Serrurier had it for only 11 months before he was forced to sell, apparently because of hail damage and crop failure, to Hendrik Cloete in 1778.

Cloete family
From this time until 1885, when it became the property of the Cape government, Groot Constantia remained in the hands of the Cloete family for five generations. It was they who did most to beautify the estate and it was during their tenure that Constantia wines, whose unique quality had already acquired an international reputation, were much sought after by the royal courts of Europe, the rich and the famous and were celebrated in literature.
Groot Constantia, the mother of wine estates in South Africa, was sold to the Cape Government for £5 275 at a public auction in 1885. The purpose was that the estate should become a model for viticulture purposes, and the project was expected to become commercially viable.
The first person appointed to manage this task was Baron Carl von Babo, who came from the famous viticultural school at Klosterneuberg in Austria. Although Von Babo was only marginally successful, he must be honored for producing and propagating the first natural table wine in the Cape at Groot Constantia (until now fortified wines had mostly been produced). Von Babo was succeeded in 1889 by Herr C Mayer from the German viticultural school at Geisenheim. Although successful in other agricultural ventures, the quality of wines produced at Groot Constantia during the years of Van Babo and Mayer left much to be desired.

De Waal and Pillans
Mr. JP de Waal was appointed as manager in 1890, and Mr. Eustace Pillans as agricultural assistant and inspecting officer in 1893. Great viticultural changes were implemented with the planting and propagating of grafting stock that was free of the dreaded phylloxera (Peritymbia Vitifolii) infestation. Viniculturally, a shift was made with the alteration of winemaking styles and methods - the most important being that wines were made according to the consumer’s taste. Despite this, the capital expenditure and maintenance expenses on the farm greatly exceeded the income.
Under the management of De Waal and Pillans, the estate gradually improved. Visitors to the estate were becoming a regular feature and the production of table grapes received attention. Between 1893 and 1896, wine sales were such that the current expenses could be met. However, there was a setback when phylloxera infestation invaded the Constantia Valley in November 1898, reaching Groot Constantia in 1899. The infestation had been anticipated by De Waal and Pillans: the only answer to the disease was to graft on the American wild vine stock, and the estate, being an experimental farm, had half a million cuttings ready, and immediately prepared more land to plant the wild vine. Groot Constantia had saved the wine industry.
De Waal and Pillans understood the importance of contact with other wine producing countries, and De Waal brought the Shiraz vine to Groot Constantia from Australia, where he discovered it during a tour. Pillans furthermore raised the point that the historic buildings on the estate should be preserved and extensive repairs were undertaken during his management.
De Waal and Pillans retired in 1901 and 1902 respectively. Between then and the early 1920s, activities on the estate lacked direction, oscillating between farming for experimental / training purposes and for commercial purposes. This was further confused when South Africa was unified in 1910, as the estate’s importance in the agricultural portfolio of the Union diminished. It was finally decided that it was not the function of the government to run an ordinary wine farm, and that Groot Constantia should be an experimental station. As a result, a loss was shown in 1922 and the three years that followed. Groot Constantia was neither fulfilling its function, nor paying its way - it was becoming an increasing financial burden to the state.
Shortly before Christmas 1925, the historic homestead was gutted by a fire. This disaster forced the government to take a fresh look at the estate, which, ironically, ultimately proved to be the salvation of Groot Constantia. Franklin Kendall, a renowned architect and colleague of Sir Herbert Baker, was appointed to restore the manor house.

Department of Agriculture
In 1927 land was leased to a private company and the estate experienced a period of growth. However, on 30 April 1957 the property was handed back to the Department of Agriculture to start a redevelopment programme, as the vineyards, buildings and equipment were found to be badly neglected. The Groot Constantia Advisory Committee was formed, representing the government, academics, and KWV among others. New vines of mainly Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz were planted, to develop the production of good quality red wines. At this time it was decided to mature the best wine of each vintage in wooden vats and to sell the remainder of the vintage in bulk to provide funds for running the farm.
Control of the farm was handed over to the Agricultural Technical Services in 1963. From now on, the estate wines would be bottled and sold on the estate. Furthermore the wines would be bottle-matured beforehand. This means that Groot Constantia was the first estate to sell red wines which were both wood- and bottle-matured before marketing. The first such wine to be marketed was an outstanding 1963 Shiraz, sold on 19 July 1967. Groot Constantia wines became highly commended in wine circles.
By the mid 1970s, other established estates in the Constantia Valley, including Klaasenbosch, Alphen, Silverhurst and High Constantia, were being developed. The danger existed that parts of the Groot Constantia estate would be sold and developed to settle debts. However, through the mediation of a few sympathetic visionaries, such as Messrs Kent Durr and Roger Hulley, Groot Constantia remained intact. In 1974 Hoop op Constantia was acquired by the state, and the adjoining Nova Constantia by the Divisional Council. These pieces of land were consolidated into Groot Constantia in 1975, and adjoining property, Coleyn, in the early 1980s.
Control of Groot Constantia was streamlined in 1976, when the state founded the Groot Constantia Control Board. The Control Board’s objective was to preserve the historic buildings on the estate, to utilise the farm’s agricultural potential to the full and to operate it as a financially independent wine estate.
Vineyards were once again re-established in order to produce wines from both red and white varietals. This replanting programme took into account the microclimate of specific areas, soil types, and consumer preferences regarding specific wines.
Between 1885 and the early 1990s, Groot Constantia Estate had, except for a few short intervals, relied heavily on state funding for its survival. The Estate was never as successful as in Control Board years, but the situation was becoming increasingly difficult to handle. Although the Control Board managed the estate as an independent business, the state remained the owner of the land and buildings. Thus the Control Board was responsible for operational and capital expenditure on property belonging to the state. This state of affairs was brought to a head when major political, economic and social changes were taking place and appeals for government involvement elsewhere were increasing tenfold. The number of parties which had a stake in managing the Estate needed to be consolidated and the operation streamlined to make the Estate a totally independent business.

Groot Constantia Trust (a company under section 21 of the companies act.)
The main objective of the new dispensation on the Estate was to take Groot Constantia into trust, fund it, and run it commercially at all levels so as to promote and preserve it as a cultural historic monument, as an educational asset and as a financially independent wine producing estate.
Accordingly, the Groot Constantia Trust, replacing the Groot Constantia Control Board, was formed for this purpose as an association without gain. Ownership of the Groot Constantia Estate was handed over to the Trust on 22 June 1993. All relevant assets, liabilities, rights and responsibilities of the government and the Control Board were transferred to the new non-profit company.
The board of directors of Groot Constantia Trust represents the broad population and is committed to the interests of the Estate.
The fourteen directors are representative of, among others, the wine industry, the local residents of the Constantia Valley, the tourism trade, government and conservation organisations. The directors receive no remuneration for their services.
The board views the Estate holistically: equal attention is given to the re-establishing of noble grape varietals and the conservation of its historic legacy.

Klein Constantia is the oldest vineyard in the region of the Cape and lies in the verdant Constantia valley on the slopes of the Constantia mountain. It has produced the famous sweet wine since 1689. It is family owned and run by the Jooste family. Klein Constantia's philosophy is founded on quality rather than quantity, and has produced the famous sweet wine since 1689.

It is situated 20 kilometres from Cape Town's city centre.The estate, which spands 146 hectare, is set amid trees and lush greenery with superb views across the Constantia valley and over False Bay.The homestead is of Cape Dutch architecture dating back to 1824 

Their wines win many accolades both locally and internationally. It is the only winery in the Cape to have won a merit award from the SA Institue of Architects. It produces an array of varietally labelled premium wines e.g. Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay. Riesling etc. The most famous and admired wine is the Vin de Constance, a re-creation of the legendary sweet Constantia.

Klein Constantia's well-qualified winemaker (since 2004 vintage) is Adam Mason, who has brought an injection of enthuism and overseas experience to the winery. 

The Rondevlei Nature Reserve is situated in Grassy Park, a suburb of Cape Town, South Africa. The bird sanctuary covers approximately 2.2 square kilometres of mostly permanent wetland and consists of a single large brackish lagoon.

The Rondevlei Nature Reserve, South Africa, is among the most important wetlands for birds in South Africa.  A number of islands on the vlei act as vital breeding sites.

The Rondevlei Nature Reserve is home to about 230 bird species, a variety of small mammals and reptiles like caracal, porcupine, Cape fox, grysbuck, steenbuck and mongoose, as well as a Hippopotamus population which was re-introduced in 1981 as a means to control an alien grass species from South America, which had covered the shoreline and was threatening to engulf the vlei itself.

It boasts unusual and threatened ecosystems like strandveld, Sand Plains Fynbos and indigenous Coastal Fynbos vegetation with unique plants found nowhere else in the world.

The Grand West Casino & Entertainment World which is situated just outside of Milnerton is a great attraction for young and old.

Amongst others, the Grand West Casino & Entertainment World features:
- Movies
- Ice skating: an Olympic-size skating rink, mini-rink for tots, ice hockey and figure skating makes the Ice Station a wonderful entertainment destination
- Ten pin bowling
- The Magic Company: complete with carousel rides, bumper cars, go-kart racing, a mini fun fair, arcade games
- Food Court
- Family Restaurants
- Bars/Night Clubs
- Hotel
- Grand Arena:  Seating over 5000 people and hosting live entertainment, the sensational Grand Arena promises to be the most splendid Superbowl
- Roxy Revue Bar: Showcasing the ultimate in live musical and theatrical shows, Roxy’s is one of Cape Town’s most renowned revue bars.

Directions to the Grand West Casino & Entertainment World:

N2 From the Airport
Take the N2 towards Cape Town and follow signs for Goodwood / Malmesbury / N7. This road becomes Vanguard Drive. Continue straight and follow GrandWest Casino signposts. Cross Viking Road. Take the off-ramp before the bridge on your left. At the traffic lights, turn right.

N2 From Cape Town
Take Exit 11 ( M17 Jan Smuts Drive / Pinelands / Epping) and keep to your left. Follow the first off-ramp left (M16 / M17 / Market / Epping / Goodwood). Continue straight and drive through 2 traffic light intersections. Take the off-ramp left (signposted GrandWest Casino) immediately before the third intersection.

N1 From Cape Town
Take the N1 towards Paarl. Take the Sable Rd / Century City Drive lane on your left-hand side. Follow the Goodwood off-ramp which turns sharply to your left and doubles back towards Goodwood. This road becomes Vanguard Drive. Continue straight on Vanguard Drive, past Wingfield Airbase on your right. Cross over Voortrekker Road. Take the off-ramp to the left (before the bridge).

N1 From Paarl
Take the N1 towards Cape Town. Follow the Goodwood / Malmesbury / N7 turn-off – which becomes the N7, and then Vanguard Drive. Drive straight across two sets of traffic lights. Continue across Voortrekker Road. Take the off-ramp to the left (before the bridge).

The Cape Town International Convention Centre ( CTICC ) is centrally located in Cape Town's city centre.  Conference delegates who are attending events, conferences and meetings at the Cape Town International Convention Centre have the choice of several three, four and five star hotels in Cape Town where they can stay.  The closest hotel being the 5 star Westin Grand Arabella Quays which is adjacent and connected to the Convention Centre.  The Southern Sun Cullinan Hotel, which is also a 5 star hotel, is located just across the road from the Cape Town Convention Centre.

Located in the hub of the city’s beautiful northern foreshore, the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) is a cosmopolitan showcase where ideas and cultures from around the globe are able to meet and mingle against the stunning backdrop of Table Mountain. World-class standards and specifications mean that the CTICC is not only designed to meet any conference or event expectation, but also ensures the experience as a whole is an unforgettable one.

Delicious food, personalised service and an inspiring venue in one of the world’s most beautiful cities are what make dining at the CTICC such a unique and impressive experience. From a formal state banquet to light luncheon or simply snacks, our culinary team can transform any vision into reality.
Our gastronomy team offers event organisers a flexible, personal and customised service, discussing the event in detail and taking all aspects into consideration in order to draw up a perfect proposal.
The kitchen at the CTICC is one of the largest and most advanced in the Western Cape and is linked to seven satellite kitchens strategically located around the centre, to ensure efficiency and quality of service.
Flair, friendliness and extreme efficiency is the order of the day, with chefs and their key staff internationally trained and well-practised in the logistical challenges behind delivering hot, fresh meals to any number of people for any type of event. Their innovative menus and in-depth knowledge of cosmopolitan cuisine, culinary classics and contemporary South African dishes mean that even the most discerning of palates are catered for.

Amenities:

• Coffee Shop: This is situated in the main foyer on the ground floor.
• Foreign Exchange Bureau: For all personal foreign exchange transactions.
• Business Centre: Business services available include printing, photocopyng, faxing, binding, laminating,  typing, email and internet access, an international courier service, and even a short-term cell phone rental.
• Marimba Restaurant: Offers a-la-carte cuisine and entertainment such as live music.
• Medi-Clinic: This is equipped to provide first-rate medical assistance.
• Transport: Easy access to world tourist attractions, business institutions, transport terminals and major road networks. A full range of transport services are available - taxis, buses or coaches and shuttle buses run between the airport, hotels, the city centre and most major tourist destinations.      
• Car hire is also available.
• Trains: Cape Town Central Station is situated in the heart of the city, while an extensive rail system connects the city centre with the rest of the region and the greater Western Cape.
• Water Taxis: This unique canal runs between Victoria & Alfred Waterfront and the CTICC
• On two wheels: Bicycles are a very popular form of transport and the proposed expansion will even include a dedicate bicycle hiring facility.
• On foot: The City Centre is only a short walk. 

The Green Point Lighthouse in Scottsburgh, KwaZulu-Natal, is a national monument of South Africa, which was erected in 1905. It beams out a powerful warning to passing ships of the dangers of the Aliwal Shoal.

The beautiful sandy beach in Hout Bay provides a great location from where to enjoy magnificent views over the harbour, Chapmans Peak Drive and the ocean.  It is a popular beach for swimming, walking, and sun-bathing.  Picnics provide an unforgettable experience while watching the magnificent sun set in this sheltered bay.

The Hout Bay Museum is a museum on Andrews Road in Hout Bay near Cape Town, South Africa. The museum features displays on the history of the Hout Bay valley and its people, focusing on forestry and mining.

The Hout Bay Yacht Club is situated in the working harbour and provides moorings for both recreational, fishing and sailing boats.

The World of Birds Wildlife Santuary and Monkey Park in Hout Bay, Cape Town, is the largest bird park in Africa and one of the few large bird parks in the World.  Over 3 000 birds and small animals of 400 different species are uniquely presented in more than 100 spacious landscaped walk through aviaries, allowing visitors the closest encounters with nature.

A tropical garden setting in the Hout Bay Valley, South Africa, is the environment in which the aviaries are spaced over 4 ha of land, framed by the magnificent back of Table Mountain, the Twelve Apostles mountain range, Constantiaberg, Chapman’s Peak and Little Lion’s Head. A paradise for nature lovers and photographers, the World of Birds is one of Cape Town’s premier tourist attractions which no visitor should miss.

100 000 visitors annually enjoy the outing to the World of Birds Park in Hout Bay, Cape Town.  Visitors have the opportunity to enjoy a fascinating glimpse into the private lives of birds. Get a close-up view of them as they feed, sing, display, socialise, build nests, incubate eggs and feed chicks - an unforgettable experience which changes with the seasons.

The Kalk Bay Theatre is a 78-seater theatre situated in the old Kalk Bay church built in 1876.  This church is a heritage protected building.  The Kalk Bay Theatre offers a unique night of entertainment. Dinner, theatre and quality time with friends all under the same roof.

Patrons arrive from 18h45 and are directed upstairs to the restaurant. The open-plan restaurant has been designed to give the customer a feel of eating in a warm, family kitchen. The wooden tables and chairs are set around a gallery, allowing customers to look down onto the stage below.

There are usually 2 set menu choices of 3 course meals or diners can “cherry-pick” dishes off the menu allowing you to decide how much you want to spend/eat on the evening. If you choose a 3 course meal, the starter and the main course are served before the show and the desert and coffee is served after the performance. Patrons make their way down to the theatre after their main meal and return to the restaurant for their desert and coffee. Drinks may be taken into the theatre.

Walk with resident baboon troops in their natural environment.

The historical Cape farmstead Imhoff Farm in Kommetjie offers something special for everyone and makes for a wonderful outing for families.  It has an old world  atmosphere, is original, beautifully situated, full of fun and easily accessible on the busy tourist route to Cape Point.

Stretching from Kommetjie to Noordhoek is a surfing paradise.  Endless beach walks at sunrise or sunset or simply hanging out for sundowners make for un unforgettable experience. Watch marine bird life or spring into action with kite surfing or horseriding. And do look out for the Cape Clawless Otter.

This chapel was built by Italian craftsmen in 1948 as a memorial to Joseph Rubbi, an early inhabitant of the area.

The Slangkop Lighthouse in Kommetjie is operational since 4 March 1919.  This is the tallest cast iron tower on the South African Coast, 100 feet from base to its balcony.   

The lighthouse is equipped with a revolving electric light which emits four flashes very 30 seconds. Not all the flashes are visible with each revolution from any one point. It is one of the 4 strongest lighthouses in Southern Africa with a range of 33 sea miles. The light has an approximate candlepower of 5 000 000 C.D.

The lighthouse is a 33 meter circular cast iron tower, painted white. The focal plane of the light is 41 meters above high water which means it often remains visible below dense mist.  The lighthouse was established as the result of a commission appointed in 1906 by the Governor of the Cape of Good Hope, His Excellency, the Honorable Sir Francis Hely-Hutchinson, to enquire into proposals for the improvement of and additions to the safeguards against shipwrecks along the Southern Coast of the Colony.

The original light, lit on the 4 March 1919 was three mantle 55 mm petroleum vapour burner that produced 500 000 C.D. The original light was replaced by a 4 kW electric incandescent lamp in 1936 which increased its power to 16 000 000 C.D. In 1974 the 4 kW light was replaced by a 1.5 kW lamp which reduced the light to approximately 5 000 000 C.D.  The Slangkop Lighthouse in Kommetjie became fully automated in 1979. From an original three-man station it has been manned by a Senior Light keeper only since this date.  The Slangkop lighthouse draws its power from the Cape Municipality  and has a standby diesel alternator that takes over in the event of a break in the mains supply.

This is a hot spot for marine coastal birding. The Middens Traditional Seafood Boma offers a unique dining experience and guided tours.

Sunset Beach in Kommetjie is an excellent spot for a stroll and for watching the sunset over the Atlantic Ocean.

The Zandvlei Lake in Cape Town's residential suburb of Lakeside, offers a number of activities such as yachting, windsurfing and canoeing.

The estuarine Zandvlei lake is an important regional recreation resource in South Africa's Western Province.  Furthermore, it is also an important nursery for migrant juvenile marine fish species in the False Bay area. Extensive urbanisation in the catchment, and the regulation of lake water levels,
have brought about changes to the water chemistry, hydrology and biota of the system. These perturbations have compromised the fish nursery role of the estuary and pose water quality-related health and aesthetic threats to the sustained recreational use of the lake system.

Zandvlei, an estuarine lake which is the focus of an intensively utilised regional recreation area is situated on the northwest shore of False Bay, Cape Town. The lake is 2.6 km long, 0.5 km at its widest point and has a maximum depth of approximately 2 m. The 93 km2 catchment, which is under the jurisdiction of
3 authorities, consists mainly of residential development, but also has areas of viticulture, agriculture, forestry and undeveloped . The lake level is artificially maintained with a weir, and the mouth remains closed in summer through the natural
formation of a beach sandbar.

The African Penguin

Penguins are flightless, aquatic birds, which live in the southern oceans in climates as varied as Antarctica and the Galapagos Islands on the equator. There are seventeen species but the African Penguin is the only one to inhabit the African continent and its inshore islands. It used to be known as the Jackass Penguin, based on the braying sounds which it
makes on land, but the name 'African Penguin' has now been adopted to distinguish it from the Jackass Penguin found in South America, which is slightly different in appearance and behaviour. The closest relatives of the African penguin are, in fact, the Humboldt and Magellanic penguins of South America and the Galapagos penguins of the Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador. Penguins are ancient birds, probably evolving about 65 million years ago, at the time that dinosaurs became extinct.

Since penguins are well adapted to the cold, the South American and African penguins feel the heat on land and have evolved various ways to cope with the sun. African penguins have a black stripe curving across the top of the chest. They are insulated by air trapped between their feathers. This makes the birds extremely vulnerable when they are moulting, which they do annually, and for this period of about three weeks (at Boulders this occurs around the month of November) they are land-bound, getting thinner and more bedraggled until the moulting process is completed. Before moulting they eat hugely and put on about 30% more fat. Moulting takes about three weeks, during which their weight almost halves.

Although the African penguins are quaintly clumsy on land, and ungraceful emerging from the water, in the sea they are extremely skilful swimmers, reputedly reaching speeds of 24 kilometres per hour. Rather than using their feet to swim, as many aquatic birds do, they use their wings that have been modified to form extremely efficient flippers. Their webbed feet are used mainly when swimming on the surface of the water. Their feathers have become very small and waterproofed, overlapping to provide better insulation. The African and South American penguins have shorter feathers than the Antarctic birds, since they do not face such great cold. Penguins also have heavier bones than most birds to enable them to dive. African penguins live an average of 10 to 11 years but sometimes reach as much as 24 years.

The Boulders Colony

In 1983 a pair of African penguins were spotted on Foxy Beach at Boulders and in 1985 they began to lay. Since then the colony has grown rapidly, increasing initially at about 60% a year. By 1997 there were 2350 adult birds. Such a quick growth of the colony was the result of immigration, particularly from Dyer Island, as well as by reproduction. Although Simon's Town is very proud of its penguins, nearby residents suffered badly as the birds invaded their gardens, destroyed the undergrowth and were generally very noisy and messy. The great increase in tourists has also been a problem. As a result, the area has now been taken over by Cape Peninsula National Park, the penguins have been restrained from wandering inland by a fence, board walks and an information room have all been established. Boulders still remains the only place in the world where one can actually swim amongst the penguins as they have continued to invade more beaches. They are remarkably untroubled by people but one should avoid harassing them by getting too close or chasing them as they have a vicious bite.

The Blue Route Shopping Mall in Tokai is ideally located in the heart of the Cape Peninsula, at the gateway to the Constantia wineroute.  The Blue Route Mall is a mere 20kms from the Cape Town City Centre and ten minutes from the heart of Claremont and the False Bay coastal suburbs. Surrounded by the beautiful tree lined suburbs of Kirstenhof and Tokai, the Blue Route Shopping Mall is nestled in one of the most beautiful parts of the Western Cape.   The Blue Route Mall in Tokai offers a great variety of different shops , with shops ranging from current fashion to groceries, jewellery, a Ster Kinekor cinema and different restaurants.

Visitors are offered free parking with ample security to ensure a safe shopping experience.  The Blue Route Mall is an active centre in regards to events happening in the centre itself such as talent shows, workshops, Christmas shows and many other promotions.  

Victoria and Alfred Shopping areas, Cape Town

The Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre forms the bulk of the retail space at the Waterfront, and presents the shopper with a wide variety of national retailers, boutiques and services, along with a large selection of restaurants, coffee shops and fast food outlets.

The Clock Tower Centre, across the swingbridge from the Pierhead, is the latest addition to the V&A Waterfront’s retail offering. It brings South African crafts, arts, designs and foods together in one centre, along with facilities appealing to tourists and locals alike.

The Alfred Mall & Pierhead is situated within the historic Pierhead and overlooks the small craft harbour and adjacent dry dock. Those seeking quality specialist artefacts, jewellery, curios and art with a nautical or African flavour will find a wonderful selection here.

The Red Shed Craft Workshop, adjoining the Victoria Wharf centre, is filled with an eclectic mix of handmade merchandise and art and has an atmosphere that brings the shopper closer to the creator.

Waterfront Craft Market represents the Waterfront's culture of entrepreneurship and micro business development. This vibrant indoor craft market, adjacent to the Two Oceans Aquarium, features a diverse assortment of innovative designs and traditional handcrafts, antiquities and holistic lifestyle accessories.

Shopping Hours 

All stores within the V&A Waterfront, with the exception of the V&A Craft Market & Wellness Centre, are open from 09h00 till 21h00 daily.
Sundays and Public Holidays
For your convenience, stores are now open from 09h00am till 21h00pm on Sundays and Public Holidays.
V&A Craft Market & Wellness Centre
Stores are open from 09h30am till 18h00pm daily.

V&A Waterfront Parking 
Parking's an absolute breeze at the V&A Waterfront, with the new Breakwater Parking Garage (11*) now open - 800 undercover bays available over two levels with unique retail stores - including a magnificent Aston Martin showroom...want to know a little secret too? "An elevated bridge will give shoppers access to the main entrance of Victoria Wharf when complete."
How about that view? If ever you're looking to capture that breathtakingly picturesque postcard moment, to leave friends and family, especially those who've left our sunny shores, absolutely green with envy...then you definitely need to soak up the marvellous views on offer; from the Breakwater Parking Garage...they're just to die for!!
 Parking Garages - Available Now
• Breakwater Garage (11*): 800 undercover bays over two levels.
• Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre Garage (10*): 1240 undercover bays.
• Clock Tower Centre Garage (16*): 240 undercover bays.
• Portswood Square Garage (15*): 400 undercover bays.
• Ulundi Garage (14*): 210 undercover bays.
• Granger Bay Garage (12*): 150 undercover bays.
• BP Building (4*): 105 undercover bays.
Surface Parking - Available Now
• Victoria Wharf area :
- 150 bays adjacent to Table Bay Hotel (8*) FREE OF CHARGE
- 150 new bays next to Table Bay Hotel over Breakwater Boulevard (7*) FREE OF CHARGE
- 75 bays behind the Security Operations building (9*) FREE OF CHARGE
• 'Mini Table Mountain' area (5*): 200 bays above Breakwater garage (left off Beach Rd entrance) FREE OF CHARGE
• Clock Tower area (2*): 220 bays next to the Silo Building
• Coen Steytler entrance (1*): 900 bays adjacent to the Canal
• Portswood Ridge area (4*): 152 bays on terraced area next to BP Building and GSB FREE OF CHARGE
(* denotes position of parking garage on the map below)

Still not sure where to park?
Portswood Square (15*), Ulundi (14*), Breakwater (11*) and Granger Bay undercover parking garages (12*) are ideal if you plan to stay a while.
Victoria Wharf (10*) and Clock Tower (16*) undercover garages are perfect if you're popping in and out of the respective centres.
And if you'd prefer not to pay for parking, there are:
575 free bays within short walking distance of Victoria Wharf, which you'll find at "Mini Table Mountain" (5*) behind the new Breakwater Parking Garage.
Including the area in front of the Table Bay Hotel side of Victoria Wharf (8 on map), next to the Table Bay Hotel (7*) and behind the Security Building adjacent to Victoria Wharf (9*)

Contact Information:

tel: +27 (0)21 408 7600
tel: +27 (0)21 408 7790 (V&A Waterfront Information Kiosk - Victoria Wharf)
email: info@waterfront.co.za
Website: http://www.waterfront.co.za

The Two Oceans Aquarium is an all weather, all year round destination which offers its visitors a glimpse into a world usually reserved for a fortunate few.

Showcasing the diversity of marine life off the South African coastline, the Aquarium is one of Cape Town's top tourist attractions. More than 50 exhibits in 6 major galleries explore the habitats surrounding the southernmost tip of Africa.

The four largest exhibits are the I&J Predator Exhibit (2.2 million litres); Kelp Forest Exhibit (800,000 litres), the Sappi 'River Meander' exhibit (a series of smaller exhibits), and our temporary exhibit 'The Living Dead' - travelled in time, locked in rock.

For further information about ticket prices and opening times please click here:

Physical Address:Two Oceans Aquarium
P.O. Box 50603
Waterfront
8002
South Africa
Tel:+ 27-21-418-3823
Fax:+ 27-21-418-3952
General Enquiries:aquarium@aquarium.co.za

Visitor information at Two Oceans Aquarium

To make the most of your visit to the Two Oceans Aquarium, we suggest that you plan your day by reading through the visitor information below.

It is recommended to allow 1 to 2 hours to enjoy the diverse and magnificent displays. Please wear comfortable shoes

Indian Ocean at the Two Oceans Aquarium

The Oceans of Contrast - Indian Ocean Gallery presents life from the warm Indian Ocean off South Africa's east coast. The gallery includes a beautiful live coral display and a tropical fishes exhibit showcasing the dazzling colours of Indian Ocean fishes.

The Agulhas Current, one of the most powerful currents in the world, flows southwards down the east coast of South Africa, bringing warm Indian Ocean water from tropical regions.

Diversity is the name of the game on the east coast and a great variety of colourful fishes, such as butterflyfishes; damsels, surgeons and angelfishes add spice to life on the reef!

Rainbow nation on the reef

Most tropical fish are brightly coloured and use colour as flags or advertisements. Some colours warn of danger and others advertise useful cleaning services. Patterns and colours also help to camouflage the fish, making it difficult for predators to see its true shape amongst the corals and sponges. Some fish mimic other species. The mimic blenny imitates the colours and behaviour of the harmless blue cleaner wrasse, but instead of cleaning, it tears flesh from unsuspecting fish waiting for a clean!
Colour also helps to identify "friend" or "foe" on the reef. Many fish are territorial and will chase fish of the same species. Females and juveniles are different in colour and markings so that males will allow them to feed in their territories.

Atlantic Ocean at the Two Oceans Aquarium

A series of some thirty-two exhibits comprises the Oceans of Contrast - Atlantic Ocean Gallery which introduces some of the animals from beneath the waves of the cold Atlantic. Our volunteers at the Touch Pool and Microscope will provide you with fascinating snippets of ocean information whilst you experience close encounters with some weird and wonderful ocean creatures.

Off the west coast of South Africa, the Cold Benguella Current flows sluggishly northwards. The west coast is one of the richest fishing grounds in the world and supports huge commercial fisheries.

Play hide and seek at the Cryptic Fish and Shyshark exhibits. These Atlantic Ocean inhabitants have mastered the art of camouflage and we challenge you to tell us how many of these elusive creatures you can count. Silver grey fishes drift above a sandy bottom amongst waving kelp fronds in the Cold Water Reef Fringe Exhibit. A feast of west coast, east coast and south coast crayfish can be seen in three separate displays. Snake-like hagfish, which have no jaws, eyes, fins or scales, lie entangled with one another in an ooze of slime. Juvenile ragged-tooth sharks hover in the dim light of a rocky cave exhibit.

River Meander at the Aquarium in Cape Town

This exhibit traces the course of a river from its mouth, back through a freshwater reedbed, to its origin as a stream high up in the mountains. A small colony of African Penguins (an endangered species) and Rockhopper penguins (a sub-Antarctic species) lives on the beach washed by gentle waves. Here you can see them feeding, preening and darting to and fro beneath the waves. Several African black oystercatchers (another endangered species) can also be seen, wading at the water's edge.

Further along, you are transported to a crisp mountain setting where waterfalls cascade into a variety of rock pools, surrounded by lush green vegetation. These pools are home to freshwater fishes unique tot he Western Cape and highly endangered. These include Clanwilliam Yellowfish and Redfin minnows.

The value of this display as an educational resource is outstanding, as one is able to gain an overall perspective of an entire river ecosystem at a glance.

Predator Exibit at the Two Oceans Aquarium (Cape Town)

The I&J Predator Exhibit contains some 2.2 million litres of seawater and is perhaps the most dramatic exhibit in the Aquarium. Ragged-tooth sharks; shoals of Yellowtail, Garrick and many other fishes; several species of rays and a turtle are visible through an enormous 11 metre wide by 4 metre high acrylic panel.

There are several spectacular viewing points such as the semi-tunnel, which hugs the perimeter of the exhibit. This affords visitors a thrilling encounter as sharks drift menacingly overhead.

The feeding of the inhabitants in the I&J Predator Exhibit is a spectacular sight and a definite highlight in a visit to the Aquarium.

There is a 'general feed' in which all the fishes in the display are fed. This feeding frenzy is astounding as the fishes swim at great speeds and devour everything in sight (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 15h30). The gully sharks, eagle rays and a loggerhead turtle are fed on a separate occasion. The turtle keeps everyone amused as it hovers around the divers, occasionally giving them a nip if it is being ignored for too long (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 15h30). The most exciting feed, which has everyone transfixed in anticipation, is the hand feeding of the Ragged-tooth sharks on Sundays at 15h30