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Africa | Cape Town | Photo Gallery

The 1086 metre Table Mountain towers over Cape Town. The mountain has two satellite peaks: Devil's Peak to the east, and Lion's Head to the west.

The mountain's plateau is 2 miles long, and is visible from a range of 150 kilometres.

Table Mountain (also known as Umlindiwengizimu) from another angle.

Table Mountain, a world heritage site, can be accessed by an Aerial Cableway that has been running since 1929.

Here's a shot on the way up!

A shot of Table Mountain from Devil's Peak. Those who are energetic can climb to the top of Table Mountain. The Platteklip Gorge route is the most popular.

A view of the Cape of Good Hope from the top of Table Mountain.

Cape Town has a range of beautiful beaches to choose from: this is a shot of the golden sand of Clifton Beach.

... and another shot of Clifton.

The water is a little choppier and 3-4 degrees cooler on the Atlantic side of Cape Town.

... which means that that side is popular for surfing.

Here's Cape Town's City Hall, and the adjacent street market.

And a shot of Greenfield Square and its street market.

Built by the Dutch East India Company in the 17th century, the Castle of Good Hope is a pentagonal castle which provided the Dutch with protection against British invasion.

The South African National Gallery has a collection of 10,000 predominantly South African works of art.

The Company's Gardens, established by the Dutch East India Company in 1640, were originally used to grow fresh fruit and veg to help sailors on their way to the far East head off scurvy.

Roses in the Company's Gardens, with Table Mountain in the background.

A fountain in the Company's Gardens.

The Victoria and Albert Waterfront, named after Queen Victoria and her second son (who oversaw the construction of Cape Town's harbour in 1860).

The V & A Waterfront offers great shopping, dining, bars and the Two Oceans Aquarium.

Cape Town's football stadium.

The Cape of Good Hope (also known as the Cape of Storms) is found about 80 kilometres south of Cape Town.

The Cape offers rugged scenery and great wildlife. Whale watching is a particularly popular attraction.

Another must-see is the old lighthouse, at an altitude of 238 metres and reached by a brisk uphill walk or a ride on the Flying Dutchman funicular.

The Boulders Bay penguin colony, about 60 kilometres south of Cape Town, is home to a 2,200 strong colony of African penguins.

These magnificent creatures, which can swim at up to 7 kilometres per hour, are extremely tolerant of humans.

Here are some baby penguins on Boulders Beach.

Founded in 1913, and occupying 528 hectares of land, the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens contain one of the best collections of flora in the world.

Kirstenbosch was donated to the nation by the Cape Colony's first prime minister, Cecil Rhodes.

Here's a bust of Nelson Mandela amongst the foliage.

Kirstenbosch is full of striking sculptures.

And beautiful ...

... and unusual plants

Here's an orange breasted sunbird feeding at Kirstenbosch.

... and more lovely flowers.

... and unusual trees. Don't miss this modern day Eden.

The Winelands, clustered around Stellenbosch, are found about 45 minutes from Cape Town.

Here's Stellenbosch's pretty central church

And one of the Winelands' 100+ wine estates.

Most wineries offer wine tastings, estate tours, wonderful food, and beauty and tranquility.

Sport is a South African national obsession. There is no better place to watch it than the world famous Newlands cricket ground, which has Table Mountain towering over it.

Newlands at night.

Take 30 minutes to check out the Rhodes Memorial on the way back from Kirstenbosch or Newlands.

Robben Island, found 7 kilometres from Cape Town's coast, is a small island famous for having held political prisoners during the apartheid era.

It is accessed by ferry from the V&A Waterfront. If you are lucky, you will see dolphins from your boat!

Visitors are taken on a coach tour of the island ...

... culminating in a talk by an ex-prisoner and a tour of the jail houses in which Mandela and others were imprisoned.

Mandela's cell is the third from the left.

... and here is its interior

Cape Town is also famous for its food. This is the Old Biscuit Mill, which holds a neighbourhoods market each Saturday.

And this is the Atlantic Cafe in Kalk Bay, serving great fish dishes, curries and stews. Central Cape Town has a number of high class restaurants, such as Aubergine (their soufle is a must)!

Hiring a car to drive around the coastline is highly recommended.

You never know who you might find on your adventures -- here's a sealion in Fosh Hoek Bay.

And a lizard on top of Devil's Peak.

Cape Town is quite simply one of the world's best holiday destinations.

Attractions in Cape Town

Robben Island

Table Mountain

Kirstenbosch

Cape of Good Hope

Company's Gardens

The beaches

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Things to do near Cape Town

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