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Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town

Gateway to the Rainbow Nation

Cape Town tailor-made holidays & self-drives

Introduction

Gateway to the Rainbow Nation, Cape Town is famed for its natural beauty, diverse culture, fine wines and celebrated restaurants. It's also a city made for outdoor living, with a host of adventure activities right on its mountain-framed doorstep.

Indeed, it's a setting enjoyed by South Africa's finest city hotels, which, from the large and luxurious to the delightfully boutique, are dotted between the lively waterfront and city centre, and tucked away amid the many picturesque bays and on the slopes of iconic Table Mountain.

V&A Waterfront

The buzzing and bustling V&A Waterfront is the cosmopolitan heart of Cape Town. Still a functioning maritime port, it's fluttering sails and busy docs are testament to the city's maritime heritage. But it's now set alongside a full spread of trendy bars, restaurants and street food stalls that form one of the city's most eclectic culinary centres. That's alongside any number of museums and exhibits, designer boutiques and luxury hotels, including one of our favourites – the excellent Cape Grace. The V&A is within walking distance of the city centre and regularly showcases musical, artistic and cultural exhibitions.

Cape Grace at the V&A Waterfront
Cape Grace at the V&A Waterfront

Table Mountain

Table Mountain dominates the Cape Town skyline, a looming flat-topped crag that provides one of the world's most iconic city settings. And tumbling down from its often cloud-topped summit, Table Mountain National Park is globally recognised for its rich biodiversity. Here, an entire floral kingdom is host to more than 2000 species of fynbos plants as an entire network of walking and cycling trails link flower-strewn valleys with scenic viewpoints. The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway offers five-minute rides from city to summit where fabulous 360-degree views take in the coastlines of the Cape Peninsula.

Robben Island

Robben Island once served as a place of banishment, isolation and imprisonment for South Africa's most famous political prisoners, including Nelson Mandela, who spent 18 years there. A poignant reminder of the country's recent struggles, today this World Heritage Site is a must-see attraction, accessible by ferry from the mainland.

Robben Island, Cape Town
Robben Island, Cape Town

Townships

Many informal settlements surround Cape Town and, of these, Langa and Khayelitsha are perhaps the best known. Built by the apartheid government, they are the oldest and largest of the city's townships, where many residents now take part in innovative arts and crafts projects, which, alongside street food restaurants and cultural centres, can be explored on locals-led guided tours.

Cape Peninsula

The Cape Peninsula is one of the world's most diverse and complex marine environments, a place where mountains and seas collide. Driving south from Cape Town, you'll have the opportunity to explore the Dalebrook Marine Reserve, visit the fishing harbour at Kalk Bay, meet and even swim alongside African penguins at Boulders Beach or cage dive with Great White Sharks. Further along the coast, the dramatic landscapes of Cape Point signal where the Indian and Atlantic oceans meet.

Cape Peninsula, South Africa
Cape Peninsula, South Africa

 

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Special offers in Cape Town

Southern right whale, Hermanus

South Africa: Cape Town, Wine & Whales

11-day tailor-made self-drive from £3,430 pp incl. flights

Special
offer

Early booking offer – Save up to £450pp
Book by: 31 January 2025

Turn out from Cape Town’s welcoming charms, golden-sand beaches and iconic skyline to taste your way through South Africa’s finest vineyards in the endlessly rolling Winelands before discovering the world’s best land-based whale watching in Hermanus.

Cape Town, South Africa

South Africa's West Coast Discovery

11-day tailor-made self-drive from £2,950 pp incl. flights

Special
offer

Free night at Bushman's Kloof during May-Aug – Save up to £340pp
Book by: 31 January 2025

Pair the headline acts of Cape Town with some off-the-beaten track luxury in Paternoster and the spectacular Bushman's Kloof Wilderness Reserve.

South Georgia, Antarctic

Chile to South Africa on Silver Wind

25-day expedition cruise holiday from £10,900 pp incl. flights

Special
cruise offer

Save up to £2,000 pp
Book by: 20 December 2024

This is a rare chance to explore the remote islands of the southern Atlantic. Sailing between the wilds of Patagonia to South Africa’s mother city, Cape Town, you’ll experience some of the remotest locations on Earth.

Top itineraries in Cape Town

Aerial view of Knysna, Garden Route, South Africa

Highlights of South Africa

16-day tailor-made self-drive from £3,410 pp incl. flights

This is the perfect introduction to South Africa. A spectacular drive along the Garden Route will see you link Cape Town’s beachside charms with the country’s finest vineyards before ending with an all-inclusive Big-Five safari.

Pool, Motswari Game Lodge

Classic Cape, Blue Train and Kruger Safari

16-day tailor-made holiday from £6,435 pp incl. flights

Follow in the tracks of kings and presidents with a trip aboard the Blue Train, its 19th-century luxuries linking Cape Town with an all-inclusive Big Five safari. Return from expert-led game drives in a private reserve to four poster beds and gourmet meals.

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Cape Town, Kruger & Victoria Falls

11-day tailor-made holiday from £5,150 pp incl. flights

Discover the icons of Cape Town, the world-famous wildlife of Kruger National Park and epic Victoria Falls on this spectacular Southern Africa adventure.

Selati Camp, Sabi Sand

Cape to Kruger by Rovos Rail

14-day tailor-made rail holiday from £8,850 pp incl. flights

Travel in sheer opulence aboard Africa's most luxurious train as you swap Cape Town’s beach-framed urban sophistication for a Big-Five safari on an all-inclusive private reserve.

See all itinerary ideas

Top places to stay in Cape Town

Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel- Cape Town

Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel, Cape Town

Historic hotel

Without a doubt one of the most famous and iconic hotels in Cape Town, Mount Nelson is set on the lower slopes of Table Mountain and within nine acres of lush gardens, just minutes from the fashionable Victoria & Alfred Waterfront and Cape Town’s stunning beaches.

Queen Victoria Hotel, Cape Town

Queen Victoria Hotel, Cape Town

Contemporary hotel

Positioned within a precinct of heritage buildings the prime hotel location boast some of the finest retail outlets and designer stores, restaurants, craft markets and cinemas alongside boat cruises to Robben Island and entertainment in the amphitheatre.

Cape Grace, Cape Town

Cape Grace V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

Traditional hotel

With a classically inspired exterior and graceful elegance within, the Cape Grace is a 5-star hotel offering warm, personalised hospitality – a perennial contender for best city hotel in Africa.

Victoria and Alfred Hotel, Cape Town

Victoria & Alfred Hotel, Cape Town, Western Cape

Historic hotel

The V&A Hotel provides a quality stay with first-class views, and easy access to some of the finest shopping and dining in Cape Town.

See all places to stay

When to go to Cape Town

Average temperature (℃)
Average rainfall (mm)
  • 30
  • 20
  • 10
  • 0
  • 160
  • 120
  • 80
  • 40
  • 0

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Max temp Min temp Rainfall

There’s no bad time to visit Cape Town, but the weather in the Cape Winelands and along the Garden Route is most favourable between January and late April, when the weather is warm and the beaches are at their best. The late summer, when there’s little in the way of vegetation, is also the best time to view wildlife in the Eastern Cape reserves, while spring (September to November) offers the best chance to see whales off the coast of Hermanus. Those headed inland to the Klein Karoo will experience the most dramatic weather conditions, with icy winters and very hot summers.

See regional weather

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  • Best Food and Wine in the World

    The best food and wine holidays in the world

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  • Romantic hotels around the world

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See all articles

Meet our Cape Town experts

Speak to a tailor-made specialist on 020 7590 0797

Meet the team

Why book with Wexas Travel?

At Wexas, we specialise in bespoke travel experiences. Our itineraries are just samples of what we can arrange, and can be changed depending on your precise needs, finances and ideas by our experienced destination specialists.

Contact one of our consultants on 020 7590 0797 to discuss how we can tailor your holiday.

Learn why Wexas is the leader in creating luxury holidays. What is tailor-made travel?

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Every step of the way

Every step of the way

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