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Cape Town tours and excursions

Cape Town tours

Township tours

Township tours are increasingly popular, but choose a responsible operator or you could be herded around, gawping at people’s (often tough) lives. A few tour operators have also set up special projects to help local youth stay away from the influence of gangs and drugs and Vamos (tel: +27 72 499 7866; vamos.co.za) is one such operator.

Bicycle tours

Whatever your fitness level, cycling can be a great way to admire the Cape peninsula’s spectacular scenery, and companies like Daytrippers and Downhill Adventures offer a range of hike-and-bike day tours. Take a ride along the Atlantic seaboard, experience the exhilarating Chapman Peak Drive to Cape Point or go on a gentle cycle tour of the winelands or city bowl. More strenuous mountain biking is offered on a number of routes, including Table Mountain, and extended trips are available.

Daytrippers
Telephone: +27 21 511 4766
Website: www.daytrippers.co.za

Downhill Adventures
Telephone: +27 21 422 0388
Website: www.downhilladventures.com

Cape Town excursions

Constantia Wine Route

The closest wine route to central Cape Town (a 20-minute drive), the Constantia Valley offers spectacular scenery, beautiful old wine farms and sassy newcomers. It also boasts some of Cape Town's best restaurants, so make a day of it. Most estates offer free or paid-for tastings and some run cellar tours.

Tel: +27 76 742 5366
Website: http://constantiavalley.com

Cape Point

Set 60 kilometres (37 miles) from Cape Town, Cape Point boasts towering sea cliffs and a 8,000-hectare (19,770 acres) headland jutting into the open sea. Zebra, ostrich and baboons roam the windswept landscape, which is home to many rare plants. From the Two Oceans restaurant, a funicular leads to the lighthouse. Activities include hiking, swimming and whale- and penguin-watching.

Tel: +27 21 780 9010
Website: http://www.capepoint.co.za
A digital image at https://illuminoto.com

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Featured Hotels

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Hippo Boutique Hotel

Just off Kloof Street, close to Cape Town’s CBD and within easy reach of many bars and restaurants, the Hippo Boutique Hotel has sleek, modern rooms with wooden floors and whitewashed ceilings. Facilities include kitchenettes, air-con and Wi-Fi, and there’s also a small rooftop pool. Although there’s a bar downstairs, double glazing keeps the noise out.

Cape Royale Luxury Hotel & Spa

This all-suite hotel is as big on space as it is on design and luxury. The Sky Bar with a rooftop pool deck is the perfect spot to enjoy ocean views before dinner; stay in and try one of their restaurants (which offer Italian Indian and Asian among others) or walk ten minutes to the V&A Waterfront. A complimentary shuttle will transport guests within a 5km (3 mile) radius.

The Grand Daddy Boutique Hotel

This hotel in the CBD offers funky rooms and suites, but it’s the Rooftop Trailer Park which everyone loves here. Seven Airstream trailers imported from the USA have been revamped and individually (and playfully) themed, and although they’re not cheap to stay in they’re certainly unique. There’s also a rooftop bar and cinema, a restaurant and an inside bar called The Daddy Cool that’s a local favourite.

Cape Grace

This award-winning hotel offers stylish accommodation as well as world-class facilities and service. Located on its very own private quay at the harbour of the V&A Waterfront, the Cape Grace enjoys a convenient location at Cape Town's most popular shopping district. The Cape's colourful past can be seen in the hotel's exquisite furniture, rare fabrics, intriguing artefacts and original antiques. Sumptuous tasting menus, rare whisky pairings, luxurious spa treatments and indulgent Afternoon Teas are all thoughtfully created to enhance your stay at Cape Grace.

Daddy Long Legs

Rooms in this art hotel have been decorated by artists, poets, photographers and musicians and themes include music, travel and the tattoo artists, among others. There’s a bar/lounge and balcony overlooking lively Long Street, and self-catering apartments are located nearby. No breakfast, but Long Street is filled with breakfast options.

The Fritz Hotel

In a quiet spot near Kloof Street and just up the road from buzzing Long Street, this charming guesthouse proves that budget doesn’t have to mean bland or unstylish. Original art deco furniture and commissioned pieces give the rooms a quirky feel, and some have balconies with views of Table Mountain, Lions Head and Signal Hill.