Africa
Cape Town
Mountains, vineyards and coastline in one city, and December here is summer.
Overview
Cape Town packs an unusual amount into a small area. Table Mountain sits above the city centre, the Cape Peninsula runs south to two oceans meeting at Cape Point, and the winelands at Stellenbosch and Franschhoek are under an hour inland.
The seasons run opposite to the northern hemisphere, so our December and January groups get long, dry summer days. South African visitor visas need planning, so we start applications early and build the itinerary around a confirmed appointment date rather than an optimistic one.
Things to see and do
Table Mountain
The cable car runs only in settled weather, so take the first clear morning you get rather than saving it for the last day.
Cape Peninsula drive
Chapman's Peak, Boulders Beach penguins and Cape Point in one long day. Hire a car or take a private guide.
Robben Island
The ferry from the V&A Waterfront and a tour led by former political prisoners. Book well ahead, and note that sailings are cancelled in rough seas.
Stellenbosch winelands
Oak-lined streets, Cape Dutch architecture and estates that welcome day visitors. Several offer juice and chocolate tastings for non-drinkers.
Good to know
- Start the South African visa application at least ten weeks out. Appointment availability, not processing, is the bottleneck.
- Book Table Mountain and Robben Island on flexible dates. Both are weather dependent.
- Rent a car if you are comfortable driving on the left. The Peninsula is far better self-driven than on a coach.
- Evenings are cool even in summer. One warm layer is enough.
