Take the Family holiday rating
| Flying Time | 12.00 hours  |
|---|---|
| Carbon Footprint | 11.24 tonnes CO2 |
| Timezone | GMT +2 |
| Local Currency | South African Rand |
Because South Africa’s second-largest city and legislative capital together with its surrounding area make for an ideal family holiday destination, with great weather, superb beaches, friendly people and the chance to get close to animals in the wild that you’ll only see in zoos over here.
Though it’s up to 12hrs away by plane, the time difference is just 2hrs, meaning that you can be a long way from home without suffering jet lag. And perhaps best of all, the pound is still strong against the Rand, meaning that South Africa remains one of the best-value family holiday options.
For the best weather, come between November and March; for better prices, try to come just as the season turns – in April and May, you can still enjoy good weather at less cost.
If you're here for New Year, kids enjoy the noise and colour of the Kaapse Klopse minstrel dancers, who take over parts of the city in a centuries-old tradition.
British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and South African Airways fly non-stop from London to Cape Town, with return flights in economy costing about £400–£500. Flying time is around 12hrs, but if you sleep on the overnight journey, you’ll be bright-eye and bushy-tailed on arrival, without jet lag. See our flight deals page.
It’s a 20-minute journey from the airport into the centre by taxi if you’re not picking up a hire car (a set of wheels is more or less essential for getting around the area); the trip should cost 150–220 Rands but may vary according to the time of day and number of people.
Among the many hotel and apartment options in Cape Town, at prices to suit all budgets, you’ll find the luxurious, legendary pink Mount Nelson, and the Bantry Bay Luxury Suites.
Take the revolving cable-car up Table Mountain and have a walk around at the top (keep an eye on the kids – the cute-looking dassies or rock rabbits have been known to bite), enjoying the panoramic views and perhaps eating alfresco at the café. Then visit popular Camps Bay beach for a taste of the laid-back Cape Town lifestyle.
Take the ferry out to to Robben Island, to see where Nelson Mandela was held prisoner. Now a World Heritage Site, the island has awesome views across the bay, against the backdrop of Table Mountain. Daily visits (3.5hrs including the boat trip out and back) include a tour of the island, a tour of the prison led by a former political prisoner and a look around the museum. You’ll also see African penguins – the island is home to the world’s largest colony (8,500 breeding pairs) of the endangered species.
Visit the Two Oceans Aquarium on the Victoria and Albert Waterfront, with lots of sealife from the two mighty oceans that meet at Africa’s southern tip, the Atlantic and the Indian. The Waterfront is great for eating and drinking (see below) as well as being a lively place to just hang out, watching the boats and ships glide in and out of the harbour, the buskers and entertainers perform, and the seals bob up and down in the water.
Explore the lovely national park on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, popular for shaded walks, mountain-biking, horse-riding and braai (BBQs). Also on the eastern slopes are the gorgeous Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, with amazing South African plant life, streams, paths and hiking trails up the mountain, picnic lawns, and cafés and restaurants. In summer the Gardens host sunset concerts.
Seek out Africa’s biggest bird sanctuary, World of Birds, home to 3,000 birds and small mammals in a natural setting, at Hout Bay just south-west of Table Mountain.
Meet the jackass penguins, all 3,000 of them, at Boulder Beach about 40 minutes from Cape Town, in Simon’s Town. Local residents complain about the noise and pungent smell of these black and white waddlers, but if you’re lying on the beach and one jiggles past, it’s a real treat (there are viewing platforms too). You might even get to swim alongside them. The sheltered beach is a great spot for a picnic. Also in Simon’s Town is Scratch Patch, where kids enjoy ‘scratching’ for tumble-polished gemstones covering the floor, and beside it, the Makula Mine Experience, an ancient volcanic pipe where miners used to hunt for gold and gemstones (not for the claustrophobic or anyone afraid of the dark or of bats, spiders or snakes!)
Continue 25km south of Simon’s Town, to Cape Point within the quite wild Table Mountain National Park, where you can spot various unusual plants and animals, including ostriches and several types of bok.
Indulge in some of the world’s finest whale-watching just over an hour down the coast at Hermanus – just stand on the cliffs and see the mighty beasts for yourself. You can also fish for chokka (squid) off the harbour wall (buy a bait licence from the Post Office first).
On the ‘Whale Route’ down to Hermanus, make a stop off at the Monkey Town Primate Centre, a conservation centre with more than 220 species from around the world, guided tours, a ‘touch farm’, a playground, a restaurant and even the Monkey Manor hotel.
Venture to Spier, a wine estate in the heart of the Cape Winelands, at Stellenbosch 56km east of Capetown. It has a lake to picnic beside (the on-site deli sells home-made bread and other treats, and there’s a wine shop), Cheetah Outreach, a conservation fund where you might get the chance to pet hand-raised cheetahs, the Eagle Encounters raptor rehabilitation centre with daily flying demonstrations, walks and trails, horse-riding and supervised pony-and-cart rides for kids. Kids under-12 stay free at the Spier Hotel.
Cape Town’s extensive and lively waterfront has restaurants and cafés galore. For information on the types of food that are available locally, see our destination guide to South Africa.
Specifically in Cape Town, don’t miss afternoon tea at the Mount Nelson hotel (see above), described by many visitors as among the world’s best, with a buffet featuring goodies from savoury empanadas, smoked salmon-choux puffs and finger sandwiches to cakes of all kinds, éclairs, coconut ice and other tooth-jangling treats. You won’t need dinner afterwards. Or try the fantastic local fish and chips, especially at Cape Town's waterfront or on the seafront in Hout Bay.
The pound is still strong against the Rand, making virtually everything in South Africa good value.
by Sam Woulidge
Buy from Amazon.co.uk - Save 30%
Offers local advice on how to get the most out of your visit and every one of the 320 pages is dedicated to giving you the best travel tips.
by Richard Everist
A guide packed full of information about all areas of South Africa.
Orient Express
Cape Town’s leading luxury resort ideally situated within a nine acre lush garden estate. More
* per night per room including breakfast, 4 hours of babysitting, kids room service dinner, children's turndown service, 4 tickets to Table Mountain, internet, complimentary shuttle service within a 10 km radius, and all taxes.
