Beginning Our Cape Town Adventure

Pam Carey-Mackenzie
Sep 21, 2025
3 min read

Since we were in Africa for our safari we decided to also visit Cape Town. Don's grandfather had lived in Cape Town and was buried there so we thought we would try to see his grave and experience and explore Cape Town. Funny when I went to book the flights from Nairobi to Cape Town I thought it would be a quick flight, I was wrong it was a 6 hour flight. Yes Africa is a BIG continent.

A few facts about Cape Town:

was founded in the 1400's by the Portuguese explorers looking for a spice trading route to the West Indies. Has heavy Dutch and British influences given both colonized it over the years.
it is South Africa's oldest and second-largest city by population and a major industrial center, with significant activities in ship repair, tourism, food processing, and wine production
is South Africa's legislative capital (Pretoria is finance capital and Bloemfontein is the judicial capital)
11 official languages (#1 English, #2 Zulu, and #3 Afrikaans)
known for its diverse natural beauty, including the iconic Table Mountain
has as a significant wine industry
has sites of historical importance such as Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned

It is such a beautiful city. Marked by the iconic Table Mountain's near vertical cliffs and flat-topped summit (over 3,300 ft high), and with Devil's Peak and Lion's Head on either side, forming a dramatic mountainous backdrop, which creates the City Bowl. The Cape Town region is characterized by an extensive coastline, rugged mountain ranges, coastal plains and inland valleys. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and False Bay.

We toured the city the first day. One area we explored was "Bo-Kaap" (not "bou kamp") which refers to a historic and colorful neighborhood renowned for its distinctive brightly colored houses, cobbled streets, and vibrant culture. Originally established by Dutch colonialists to house slaves and exiles from various Asian and African countries, it is now a celebrated cultural center.

We explored the V & A Waterfront area where our hotel was located. It is a large tourist and port area - lots of restaurants and shops!The statues at V&A Waterfront's Nobel Square represent South Africa's four Nobel Peace Prize Laureates: Albert Luthuli, Desmond Tutu, FW de Klerk, and Nelson Mandela. These life-size bronze monuments pay tribute to the figures who played a role in the country's journey toward democracy after apartheid.

Table Mountain is the focal point of Cape Town and is one of the NEW Seven Wonders of Nature. A few facts:

Table Mountain is one of the oldest mountains in the world and is older than the Alps, the Andes, the Rockies, and the Himalayas
has a level plateau approximately 2 miles from side to side, edged by steep cliffs
the plateau is flanked by Devil's Peak to the east and by Lion's Head to the west
most visited national park in South Africa with 4.2MM visitors year
visitors either hike one of the many trails or use the cableway

We had a beautiful view of Table Mountain from our hotel room and I loved taking photos at various times. We were lucky to see it most days but many people visit to find the mountain hidden by clouds and or fog, as we did one day too.

Here are photos of Devil Mountain (first photo) and Lion's Head Mountain ( second photo). They flank Table Mountain.

We took the cableway up to the top of Table Mountain to explore the National Park. It was incredible way to experience Cape Town. Definitely not for anyone that is afraid of heights!

We also visited the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, it is nestled at the eastern foot of Table Mountain in Cape Town. Beautiful and very hilly!! We saw the following:

First four pictures -- King Protea: South Africa's national flower, featuring large, striking flowers and found throughout the fynbos.
Fifth, Sixth and Seventh pictures -- Pincushions: Known for their bright, yellow flower heads with firm, bent styles that resemble pincushions. Baboons like to eat these!