Our members choose Cape Town to:
- Explore the mountains and winelands
- Cage dive with sharks, surf or just relax on the Atlantic and Indian Ocean beaches
- Go on a family holiday where the kids can walk through clouds and play with penguins
Cape Town's natural beauty, great food and unique culture make it an ever-popular destination for members. Ten UK's travel expert Gengis Khan says:
WHALES AND WINE
A visit to Cape Town isn't complete without venturing out of the city, and members are increasingly using their hotel as a platform for exploring hundreds of miles of stunning surroundings, especially the winelands and the Garden Route along the coastline.
Whale-watching town Hermanus, a few hundred miles along the coast, is much loved by Ten members. Knysna and ‘Plet' (Plettenberg Bay) are also cool seaside hang-outs. Inland, at winelands towns like Franschhoek and Stellenbosch, you can go on a wine-tasting odyssey and join locals at buzzy street cafes.
BOUTIQUE HOTELS
Boutique hotels have sprung up throughout the city. The Twelve Apostles, The Bay Hotel (both in Camps Bay) and the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront Hotel (on the Waterfront pierhead) are often specifically requested by members. For old colonial charm, the pink Mount Nelson (affectionately called ‘The Nellie' by locals) has been a Cape Town institution for both rooms and afternoon tea for many years.
CAPE COOKING
The city's evolving so fast and restaurants are changing all the time. Our members are keen to enjoy Cape cooking with its ultra-fresh ingredients, and Ten can advise on the latest hotspots.
The Showroom Restaurant is popular among members for its modern Cape cooking and the Bayside Café in Camps Bay is also a favourite. At the old Dutch homestead of Groot Constantia, you can savour Karoo lamb surrounded by mountains and vines.
What you'll notice, wherever you eat, is the unbelievable quality and quantity of meat, fish, fruits and vegetables. Try huge - and we mean huge - hunks of steak straight from the farm, cuts of ostrich and crocodile cooked on a braai (South African barbeque), fresh-caught snoek and calamari, and farm shops overflowing with luscious fruits like guava, grenadilla and lychees.
TOURS
Ten can arrange private one-day tours of Cape Town for members, taking in everything from the cable car up Table Mountain to a tasting in the winelands and a great lunch. We can also charter yachts and arrange bookings for hard-to-get-into restaurants.
From the Waterfront shopping and leisure mall, boats go out on tours of Robben Island where you can see where Nelson Mandela spent his prison years. Cape Town also offers a vast choice of activities, such as diving, sailing and watersports.
Shopping in Cape Town takes in everything from food at farm stalls and local favourite deli Melissa's, to clothes and African crafts at the Waterfront. The exchange rate with the pound makes our members rate Cape Town as a value-for-money destination, and appreciate its welcoming approach to tourists.
TAKE THE FAMILY
Cape Town is an ideal family holiday destination. Members say their children love getting the cable car up Table Mountain where they can walk through clouds, seeing the exotic fish at the Two Oceans Aquarium at the Waterfront, and playing with penguins on Boulders Beach.
Other favourites are Cape Point, where the two oceans meet, and the botanical garden at Kirstenbosch.
TWO OCEANS
Cape Town isn't often considered as a beach destination but it offers a unique choice of beaches on two oceans: the Atlantic and the Indian meet here.
Members enjoy the range of watersports on offer, from cage diving with sharks to surfing. For swimming, the warm Indian Ocean offers miles of gentle waves and white-sand beaches that are popular with families. Kalk Bay, a seaside village on this coast, is also popular with members and is well-known for its antique and art shops.
Cooler, though, in every sense, are the beaches on the Atlantic side. The water here is too icy for any but the ultra-brave to swim, but the white sand and azure water enclaves at Clifton and Camps Bay nestle in the foothills of mountains and are the place for posing, with trendy beachside restaurants and bars. You'll probably recognise the unrivalled Atlantic coast: it's one of the most photographed scenes in the world.
TRAVELLING THERE
For flights from the UK, South African Airways and Virgin often trump British Airways for travellers to Cape Town. The courteous service and exotic juices on SAA in particular are a welcome introduction to the polite officials and incredible fresh foods of South Africa. But from June, luxurious airline Emirates will be flying from Dubai to Cape Town - ask Ten about why this is a great cheaper option for a flat bed if you're thinking of a round-trip.
As in any developing country, safety is an issue to be aware of, so check with locals - and us - on the latest guidelines for avoiding crime and where in the city is safe. Be sensible (don't walk at night alone or stop at traffic lights with windows down) but in most places on the Cape Town tourist circuit, you can relax.
