Must Do's TRAVEL
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hether you’re on holiday, or on business, Cape Town is one of the most spectacular cities to explore in the world. Taking in all the picturesque sights, sounds, tours and tastes can be quite overwhelming as there are a million things to do in this Mother City. We break down the must do’s in this Mother City to suit every pocket, so sit back and relax as we take the time to plan out your next holiday to Cape Town for you. Must-stay’s First on the list when planning a holiday is where to stay. If you’re planning a romantic getaway for you and your partner and budget is no issue, why not check-in to the 12 Apostles Hotel and Spa overlooking the scenic beach route, backed by majestic views of Table Mountain and the Twelve Apostles mountain range. With a 5-star guest service, and a helicopter shuttle on request you can visit the award-winning wineries in Stellenbosch and surrounds or get to the airport in just a few minutes. The fabuluxe hotel boasts two pools perched above the ocean, an award-winning health & beauty spa, lavish suites and
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Writer: Seugnet van Zyl
in the Mother City a 16-seater private cinema. Rates start from R4 970 per night during off-peak season and from R5 685 per night for two people sharing including a full breakfast during peak season. For more special offers see www.12apostleshotel.com. Self-catering apartments are becoming the accommodation trend for families and business travel. Opting for an apartment, is much cheaper than booking a hotel, and also offers a home-like feel so you aren’t confined to just one room. One such apartment group is the Lawhill Luxury Apartments situated at the infamous V&A Waterfront. With a range of one, two and three luxuriously designed bedroom apartments overlooking the waterfront, some even with a private deck and pool, what more could you ask for?
Public Sector Manager • December 2014
Must-do’s Undoubtedly one of the best ways to explore the Mother City is on the red City Sightseeing double-decker buses. Come rain or shine, these hop on, hop off buses are perfect for a tour of the City Bowl and its surrounds, plug in your earphones you have your very own tour guide in 16 languages. A one-day red route ticket costs R170 per adult or R150 if you book online at www. citysightseeing.co.za/capeTown. Table Mountain has always been the iconic tourist drawcard and even more so now that it has been named one of the world's New Seven Wonders of Nature. Feeling adventurous? Why not abseil down the mountain. For the less adventurous there is always the quick ride up the aerial cable car overlooking the city and Robben Island. Want to experience the mountainous views with your loved one, visit the mountain from 6pm to experience the African sunset from atop. Another big hit for families is the colourful Kirstenbosch Gardens, situated on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain. This internationally acclaimed site is one of the seven most magnificent botanical gardens in the world. The gardens new aerial walkway called the Boomslang is a 128m long, 12m tall walkway that allows you to see the gardens from the top of the many indigenous species. Entry to the gardens is just R45 for adults and R10 for kids, with little ones under 6 being free.
Public Sector Manager • December 2014
Robben Island is an iconic location that needs no introduction. The island which is a World Heritage Site was named Robben after the Dutch word for seal early settlers. Over the years, the island was the home to former president Nelson Mandela who spent 18 years of the 27 years imprisoned on the island. The tour includes a return trip across Table Bay, a visit to the Maximum Security Prison, and a bus tour of the Island. Tours start from R280 for adults and Children from R150. For more information visit www.robben-island.org.za. Coffee connoisseurs can travel the city’s biggest township, Khayelitsha to sample the Department of Coffee’s barista creations. Founded in 2012 by three young locals, the coffee bar at the Khayelitsha train station is a massive tourist drawcard. If you’re more of a tea drinker, then how about a posh high tea experience at the Mount Nelson Hotel. With a range of sweet and savoury spoils and signature tea blends you can’t go wrong here. The Cape is infamous for its winelands, but have you ever explored the vineyards by tram? With old-fashioned locomotives through the vineyards, from Franschoek Valley, stopping at the Huguenot Museum, Haute Cabrière, Dieu Donnè, Chamonix, Rickety Bridge and Grande Provence, the Franschhoek Wine Tram hop-on hop-off tour. The trams allow you to hop on or off at any stop.
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Must- eat Food is always the best part of any holiday or trip. One of the greatest trends that has taken over Cape Town is the awesome food truck culture. This amazing fast-food approach to fine dining is a great, informal way to enjoy the best culinary creations the city has to offer. From divine wood-fired folded pizzas known as calzones to yummy Nutella bombs Limoncello is one of the oldest and greatest food trucks around. Fancy more gourmet styled diner or street grub, then the Grubbery is right up your alley with its pulled pork sandwiches, chilli poppers, corndogs, burgers, and Oreo and Nutella milkshakes. Fish and Chips is an absolute must-have in the mother city, and the V&A waterfront is an absolute must-see site. For a combination of both, pop on over to the traditional yet contemporary styled Willoughby & Co. Their asian spiced sushi menu is out of this world, and their seafood dishes are pretty hard to beat. If you’re looking for a fun, fine dining experience, then the Test Kitchen or the restaurants, headed by award-winning Chef Luke Dale-Roberts at the Old Biscuit Mill are definite musteat at spots. His unique sharing dish concepts are out of this world and the Passion Fruit and Ginger Sake is sensational. Whenever and wherever you find yourself in Cape Town, rest assured these must-see , must-stay and must-eat spots will make your visit to the mother city memorable.
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Public Sector Manager • December 2014