South Africa 2002 Part 2: Cape Town

We stayed at the Holiday Inn Waterfront at Cape Town (Now the Southern Sun Waterfront). It is very handy for the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. which is the main area for tourists with lots of shops restaurants and street entertainers. There is a shuttle bus to and from the waterfront but it is only a 10 minute walk away. Walking is fine during the day, but we were advised against it at night as it is working harbour and as there are a lot of homeless it would not be a good idea to walk about in the dark.

The holiday Inn is a really nice hotel and would not break the budget and is very handy if you are intending to drive in Cape Town as it has an underground Car Park and is on the main road in Cape Town next to the convention Centre. We love it around the waterfront as there are so many great restaurants and shops to choose from. One of our favourites is the City Grill as they have lots of great choices such as springbok, Kudu and lots of other Africa Favourites as well as steaks - my hubby loves the mixed grill and the beef carpaccio.

I am very fussy when it comes to Steak and mine has to be very well done all the way though with no pink or blood and very few restaurants do this for me. I get sick of sending food back, but here it is always perfect.!!!!! The prices are very reasonable in Cape Town where they use the Rand. You can eat at the best restaurants for very little.

We went up Table Mountain and this is a must for any visitor to Cape Town. You are best going in the morning as there are sometimes large Q's. It takes about 10 minutes to get to the top and has a 360 degrees revolving platform as it travels up the mountain. It is ZAR130 (approx £10) or if you are feeling very energetic you can hike up although this is recommended with a guide and not alone.

If the weather is windy or stormy the cable cars may not run, so it is best to check before going. It was also recommended to us that we try and go up the mountain on a Monday morning (weather permitting) because the pollution is less evident then. The view from the top is second to none. You can see Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated, and all over Cape Town. There are also thousands of different species of flowers and plants - more than are indigineous to the UK.

There are lots of restaurants and shops in the centre of Cape Town just a short cab ride away and you should go to Greenmarket Square where they have a market selling all sorts of African souvenirs, bags, clothes and even food. I would recommend this as you can pick up some bargains just be wary of pickpockets.

We had another trip booked which was a cultural tour to District Six and a town ship in Khayelitsha. District Six was a cultural area where all races lived peacefully together until Apartheid. All the 'Non Whites' were forced out to the Cape Flats which is where the Townships are. The white people left were not happy so they all moved away also and the only building still standing is the white Church. We were taken to District Six and the small museum which is there.

They have a huge map which covers the floor in the museum and past residents have marked where they lived. When the buildings were demolished the street signs were also saved. This is definitely worth a visit. On the tour we were taken to the Chris Hani School in Nyanga. This is run by Maureen Jacobs and provides an education for the children of the Townships who cannot afford to pay for their education. The school relies on donations.

Vickys' B and B is in Khayelitsha and gives people the opportunity to experience a real Township. It is a small community and everybody looks out for each other. We have met Vicky and her children and they are all very friendly and welcoming. You can email Vickys' B and B at vickysbandb@yahoo.com

If you want the stay in the best hotels in Cape Town or if money is no object, stay at the Cape Grace which is a 5* luxury hotel and every room has a view of the mountain. Or as an alternative, our friend Heinrich works at the luxurious Winchester Mansions in Sea Point, Cape Town.

Part 3 coming soon...