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Cape Town
Cape Town Overview
Editor's note: Former Cunard ocean liner Queen Elizabeth 2 -- recently purchased by developers with plans to convert it into a luxury hotel in Dubai -- is now expected to serve as a floating hotel in Cape Town for 18 months, to coincide with the 2010 World Cup. An exact timeline has not yet been determined; the application for the berth was filed as of July 2009. According to tourism officials, it is reported that the QE2 will be refurbished during her stay in Cape Town before returning to her final berth in Dubai in 2011.
Beautiful, sophisticated, socially progressive, democratic, engaging, hopeful -- words which all capture Cape Town's very essence. Table Mountain majestically holds court over the city, which is nestled betweeny Table Bay on one side and the Cape Flats. This South African jewel is the ideal home base for intrepid travelers wishing to explore all of the Rainbow Nation -- from the Cape of Good Hope and, the rolling Winelands, to the adrenalin-charged safari game reserves, near the country's northeastern border.
This fishhook-shaped peninsula, lashed by the fierce Atlantic Ocean, is an enigma. Cape Town often feels more like an old European bastion than an African outpost. Since banning apartheid in 1990, the city has become more cosmopolitan, while still struggling with the effects of more than 40 years of social inequality. Case in point? Cape Town's Lamborghini dealership is just blocks from the massive townships east of Table Mountain. While apartheid may have ended nearly two decades ago, 50 percent of the population still lives in poverty today, and nearly 25 percent is unemployed. Yet, there's an infectious sense of hope there, and the residents are some of the friendliest you'll find anywhere in the world.
The 2010 World Cup soccer matches will be played in South Africa, and there's a great deal of building to capitalize on the influx of visitors. In Cape Town, you'll see the development of the new African Renaissance Stadium, near the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. (If you have time, take the stadium tour that also delves into the history of Cape Town itself.)
Whether you're most interested in learning about South Africa's tribal past; its wine lands; its Dutch, British, and Cape Malay influences; its freedom fighters, who helped to end apartheid; or simply its flora and fauna, Cape Town is mesmerizing.
Cape Town Quick Facts
Don't Miss
Iconic Table Mountain is the image most closely associated with Cape Town. Almost always blanketed by a "tablecloth" of clouds, the mountain actually dissects the city and offers views of Table Bay, Robben Island, the Cape Flats, and Cape Peninsula. If you wish to snap the quintessential photo of Cape Town, take the 10-minute cable car ride to the summit of Table Mountain. Go whenever the weather is good. If you wake to a sunny, cloudless day, run to Table Mountain! You may not get this opportunity again during your trip, since the clouds can roll in at any time. This entire area is part of Table Mountain National Park, and you'll find many hiking trails to suit all ability levels.
To learn more about South Africa's apartheid-tainted past, visit Robben Island. This outpost in the Atlantic Ocean was a prison during the apartheid years (1948?1990), when racial segregation was ruled by law. Political dissidents like Nelson Mandela and Robert Sobukwe were sent here and treated brutally in the hope that they'd give up the fight for equality. That never happened. Today, former prisoners lead guided tours of the island, explaining what it was like and discussing the strides South Africa has made since banishing apartheid in 1990.
img src="http://www.cruisecritic.com/images/star2.bmp" align="left" border="0"> Visitors know they'll encounter the big five -- lion, leopard, African elephant, Cape buffalo, and rhino -- in South Africa. But most don't know that they can also visit with African penguins. In 1983, a pair of penguins showed up at Foxy Beach in Boulders Bay. Within a few years, the population had grown immensely. Today, there are more than 2,500 penguins in the Boulders colony, near Simonstown (40 minutes south of Cape Town). The best viewing spots are Boulders Beach, where you can mingle with the birds, or Foxy Beach, where you'll view the colony from a raised boardwalk (tel: 021-786-2329).
Language
The population here is multi-lingual, but everyone speaks English. The three ethnic, tribal languages you'll hear spoken most often are Zulu, Xhosa and Afrikaans. In fact, South Africa will wow you with the nearly dozen official languages it embraces. Besides the four languages previously mentioned, you may also hear Sepedi, Sotho, Tswana, Swati, Venda, Tsonga, and Ndebele.
Getting Around
On Foot. During the day, you can easily and safely walk from your ship to the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront complex.
Via Taxi. Taxis are the best way to get around the city. You'll pay about R7 (75 cents) per kilometer. Restaurant hosts and shopkeepers will gladly call a cab on your behalf.
Where You're Docked
Most cruise ships dock at Table Bay Harbour, within walking distance of the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. As a U.S. or U.K. citizen, you won't need a visa to enter South Africa. However, you will need a passport with four empty pages. It must also be valid throughout your stay, as well as six months after your departure.
Staying in Touch
You will find a few Internet cafes in and around Cape Town, including M@in Internet Cafe; 50 Kloof Street and Cafe Erte; 256a Main Road, Sea Point.
Lunching
Some of Cape Town's finest restaurants are closed for lunch, but you'll still find a huge variety of options for your midday meal -- including locally inspired Cape Malay, Indian, and Continental cuisine. Seafood is very popular there, so don't miss your chance to enjoy fresh fish and shellfish. The langoustines are a real treat!
If you wish to live like a local, head to any of the docks for fish and chips. Kalky's (tel: 021-788-1726) at Kalk Bay is a favorite. This place is as unassuming as it gets, with indoor and outdoor seating (tables and benches). But, the fresh hake, snoek and chips are delectable.
Panama Jacks, located in Table Bay Harbour, is a tourist favorite. The seafood-heavy menu features hake, trout, tuna, prawns, lobster, calamari, mussels, and more. The menu also features sushi and entrees like prime rib and lamb.
The Western Cape is also home to the Cape Malay style of cooking, brought to South Africa by Indonesians and Malaysians. Curry dishes, bobotie (minced meat, sweetened with brown sugar, raisins, and apricots), and samoosas are examples of this cuisine and can be sampled at Bo Kaap Kombuis (7 August Street, tel: 021-422-5446). You'll also be dazzled by the sweeping views of Table Mountain.
Shore Excursions
Here are our choices for the best ship-sponsored shore excursions:
Best Choice for Nature Lovers and Shutterbugs: Most visitors to Cape Town opt for motor coach shore excursions to the Cape Peninsula to see Cape of Good Hope -- the continent's most southwestern point, where the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet. Keep your camera at the ready during the scenic drive to the peninsula; you'll want to capture the beauty of Bantry Bay, Camps Bay and Hout Bay, where you can watch Southern Right whales frolicking offshore. Most ship-sponsored excursions will also stop for a moment of reflection at the Twelve Apostles mountain range. Once at the Cape of Good Hope, you'll spot hundreds of different species of birds, Chacma baboons, wild zebras, elands, dassies, mongooses and other animals that call Table Mountain National Park home. You'll also visit the Cape Point Lighthouse, which boasts dramatic views of the ocean from cliffs high above. You can climb over 100 steps to the lighthouse or ride a funicular. On the return to your ship, you'll visit Boulders Beach for a meet-and-greet with a colony of African penguins and make a stop at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Duration: 8 - 9 hours.
Best Choice for Wine Connoisseurs: The wine lands, forty minutes east of Cape Town, are South Africa's answer to Napa Valley. Food and wine aficionados shouldn't miss the chance to tour this premier wine-producing area. Cruise ship excursions usually visit the following towns, all of which offer a variety of vineyard tours and excellent European-style restaurants: Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl. Your tour will likely include a visit to the Stellenbosch Museum; free time to stroll the Town of the Oaks and do some shopping while admiring the Cape Dutch, Georgian and Victorian architecture; a wine tasting at a vineyard or two; and lunch. Duration: 4 - 5 hours.
Best Choice for Adventure-Seekers: If you are planning an extended pre- or post-cruise stay in the area, definitely book a safari with your cruise line. Common packages include travel to the malaria-free Madikwe Private Game Reserve; Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve or Timbavati Private Game Reserve, both near Kruger National Park or Phinda Private Game Reserve in northern KawZulu-Natal, South Africa. Some cruise lines also offer safaris in bordering Namibia and Botswana or to nearby Zambia for Victoria Falls. Most game lodges offer morning and afternoon game drives, walking safaris, all meals and some beverages. Duration: 1 - 5 nights.
Currency & Best Way to Get Money
While locals refer to their currency as the "buck", rand (ZAR) is the official term. Each rand equals 100 cents. Note denominations include R200, R100, R50, R20, and R10. The current exchange rate is one U.S. dollar to 9 rand. (We recommend visiting www.xe.com for up-to-the-minute exchange rates.) While MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Diners Club are widely accepted, it's a good idea to carry rand for small, spur-of-the-moment purchases. There are many foreign exchange facilities in Cape Town, including American Express and Rennies Travel.
Hanging Around
Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, with Table Mountain in the distance, is a focal point of Cape Town and is home to shopping centers, restaurants, hotels, Two Oceans Aquarium, and the Iziko South African Maritime Museum. Begin your adventure at Victoria Wharf Shopping Center, a typical American-style mall, boasting 400 shops and dozens of restaurants.
Port Profies are provided by CruiseCritic.com, an award-winning cruise community, giving you objective, unbiased information to help you choose the right cruise.
