April 2024, January/February 2025
I visited Namibia in April 2024 (the travel report is still pending). When I was planning my trip, I saw that a flight connection went via South Africa, so I decided to stop in Cape Town. I had already been impressed by this region on my two trips in April/May 2013 and March 2017. Therefore, I spent a week in Cape Town and a week in Stellenbosch in 2024. I liked it so much that I returned in January 2025 from Argentina via Sao Paulo in Brazil and this time spent two weeks in Cape Town and two weeks in the Stellenbosch wine region.
This website is a summary of the two Cape Town stays in 2024 and 2025 and also includes four links to gourmet restaurants in Cape Town and the surrounding area.
I will present the Stellenbosch wine region and the restaurant visits in this area on separate websites (not yet completed).
Table of Contents
Cape Town
Table Mountain
Table Mountain is without doubt the most famous attraction in the Cape and at 1,085 meters high, it dominates Cape Town. I am starting the website with Table Mountain, as the topography around Cape Town is best understood from this mountain. Many sights are visible from Table Mountain.
The view from Table Mountain is truly stunning!
View of Cape Town, the peak on the left is Lions Head, the spur to the right of Lions Head is Signal Hill
Lions Head again on the right, in the middle the settlement of Camps Bay with its beach
View along Table Mountain to Blouberg beach and Big Bay
I saw these marmot-sized rock hyraxes (called ‘dassies’ in South Africa) on Table Mountain. They are common throughout Africa and western Asia.
In 2024 I had to take the cable car because of an injury, but in 2025 I climbed the mountain.
The inside of the cable car rotates during the ride like its model, the Rotair cable car on the Titlis near Engelberg in Switzerland.
Signal Hill
The 350 meter high hill is the closest to the town. In the past, signal flags were hoisted from this hill to warn of storms and to indicate anchorages to incoming ships.
View of the stadium that was built for the 2010 World Cup.
View of Lions Head
Every evening, many people make a pilgrimage to Signal Hill to admire the beautiful sunsets. On the left is Lions Head.
Lions Head
Like Table Mountain, the 669-metre-high Lions Head is a landmark that shapes the landscape of the Cape.
Picture from the one-hour ascent
View from the summit with a view of Signal Hill and Cape Town, …
… of Table Mountain, …
… of Cape Town
… and along the coast to Camps Bay
Cape Town
Historic center
Entire streets with historic buildings have been preserved in the old town.
The Company’s Garden
The company refers to the Dutch East India Company, which established the garden in 1652 to supply the colony and ships docking at the Cape with fresh vegetables. It is the oldest in South Africa. From 1680, the garden also had a botanical section, which was known worldwide for its diversity thanks to the climate. Today, the garden is a recreational area.
Castle of Good Hope
Built between 1666 and 1679 by the Dutch East India Company, the fort is the oldest building still standing in South Africa.
Salon Restaurant
This gourmet restaurant, which I describe on this website, is located a few kilometers outside the old town.
Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
In 1860, Prince Alfred, the second son of Queen Victoria, laid the foundation stone for the construction of a safe harbor at the Cape. From 1988, the harbor was converted into an attractive area with stores, hotels and restaurants and is now the main entertainment district of Cape Town.
This clock tower was built in 1882.
When I wasn’t eating at a gourmet restaurant, I often went to the Sevruga restaurant.
The food was always excellent!
A pedestrian drawbridge
Table Mountain in the background
There is also a seal platform, which the animals like to use for sunbathing.
Attractive apartments and the new port facility
The marina at dusk
There are dozens of restaurants in the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront complex. The two restaurants ‘Pier’ and ‘Waterside’ in the Pierhead building are particularly worth a visit.
Pier Restaurant
This restaurant is said to be the best on the site. My visit in April 2024 is described here.
Waterside Restaurant
Just below is another gourmet restaurant. I describe my meal at Waterside in February 2025 on this website.
Two Oceans Aquarium
Right next to the V&A Waterfront is a large aquarium complex named after the meeting of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. One section is dedicated to the penguins living in the Cape. They swam so fast that I couldn’t get a good photo of them.
Grand Africa Café & Beach
Located right next to the V & A Waterfront, this café and bar is a great place to chill out.
Penguins on Boulders Beach near Simon’s Town
Around 40 km south of Cape Town is one of the most beautiful beaches in the Cape.
One part is a protected area, as a large colony of African penguins lives there.
On land, they waddle around awkwardly.
A breeding den
Dassies also live on the beach.
Unfortunately, these penguins are threatened with extinction because the anchovies and sardines that the penguins eat are becoming increasingly rare, partly due to climate change, which is warming the water, but also because of the fishing industry. Meanwhile, the penguins have to swim up to 30 km out to sea to find enough food. At the beginning of the 20th century, 3-4 million penguins lived on the coasts of the Cape. In 2000 there were still 200,000 and ten years later there were only 55,000.
Muizenberg Beach
25 km north of Simon’s Town I came to Muizenberg Beach, which is famous for its colorful beach huts.
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens
Founded in 1913, the garden is located behind Table Mountain around 10 km from Cape Town. It is an oasis of tranquility.
I will come across South Africa’s national flower ‘King Protea’ (Protea cynaroides) a few more times.
A Cape francolin, a species of pheasant found in the Cape and Namibia.
There are several works of art worth seeing in the garden …
… and a few dinosaur sculptures.
Sea Point
I rented an apartment in Sea Point, which is about 5 km from Cape Town on the coast. It’s a modern, safe place with good restaurants right by the sea.
View of Sea Point. This promenade is excellent for jogging.
At dusk
Mouille Point is between Sea Point and Cape Town, with Lions Head in the background
Further out of town is Camps Bay, also a tourist town with a wide, long beach
Houts Bay
Around 20 km south of Cape Town, Hout Bay lies on a large, sheltered bay from where fishing boats depart.
The ‘Mariner’s Wharf Harbour Front Emporium’ restaurant is known for its seafood dishes. I opted for the oysters.
Silvermine Nature Reserve
While looking for new places to visit, I discovered this paid-entry nature reserve above Hout Bay. It took me an hour to hike through a fantastic landscape to a viewpoint.
Big Bay
On the way to ‘De Grendel Wine Estate and Restaurant’ I made a stop at ‘Big Bay Beach’, which is on the opposite side of the bay from Cape Town.
De Grendel Wine Estate and Restaurant
From Big Bay further inland I reached this wine estate with its popular restaurant, which I describe on this website.
There are also a few wine regions around Cape Town. The oldest and most famous is ‘Beau Constantia’.
Beau Constantia
It is a wonderful area that produces excellent wines. I took this photo from the ‘Chefs Warehouse Beau Constantia’ restaurant.
Chefs Warehouse Beau Constantia Restaurant
On this website I describe my meal in this restaurant.
Maastricht Wines
This winery is 26 km from Cape Town and amazed with its beautiful location and very good wines. Only the Cabernet Sauvignon was not intense enough for this grape variety.
After my stay in Cape Town, I spent a week in 2024 and two more weeks in 2025 in the nearby Stellenbosch wine region. I describe the experiences in this area on another website, which is not yet available.
The area around Cape Town is becoming one of my favorites. Fantastic landscapes, countless great restaurants, opportunities for jogging in the clean sea air and good value for money make this region unique!