Cape Town’s Top 5S

Top 5 Fun Facts:

1.Cape Town’s nickname is the Mother City. 2.The winter season starts in May and ends in September. Summer is from November to March. 3.The first successful heart operation was performed in Cape Town. 4.Afrikaans is the most spoken language in Cape Town (English is also common). 5.Chapman’s Peak scenic drive took seven years to build with a pickaxe.

Top 5 Places to Visit

1.Table Mountain: Table Mountain is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most iconic landmark of Cape Town. It has a cable car that will take you to its top, where you can enjoy 360-degree views of the city. If you’re adventurous, you may choose to hike one of the trails up and down the mountain.

2.Cape of Good Hope: The Cape of Good Hope is the south-westernmost tip of Africa. It is close to where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans converge—the waves are so intense, it seems like the intersection of two oceans.

3.Boulders Beach: People don’t come here for the beauty of the beach or its crystal-clear waters, Boulders Beach is popular for being a breeding ground to over 2,000 endangered African Penguins. You can observe the penguins from the board walks.

4.Langa Township: Langa is the largest and oldest of Cape Town’s Townships. Townships are bitter legacy of Apartheid era. They are urban areas on the periphery of cities designated for black and other non-white people. Black people were evicted from their properties in designated “white only” neighborhoods and were forced to move in the Townships. It is recommended to tour with a guide.

5.Muizenberg Beach: A beach known for its brightly painted beach huts and waves for surfers.

Top 5 Foods to Try

1.Malva Pudding: Malva pudding is a traditional South African dessert consisting of a pudding base covered in a creamy, sweet sauce. The dessert is typically served warm, preferably with ice cream, whipped cream or vanilla custard on the side.

2.Vetkoek: A traditional South African fried dough bread. It literally means "fat cake" in Afrikaans. It is similar in shape to a doughnut without a hole and is made with a yeast dough.

3.Gatsby: Gatsby is Cape Town's signature sandwich consisting of a crusty, toasted roll that is stuffed with bologna slices, French fries, ketchup, lettuce, and hot piri-piri sauce. The sandwich is so big that it can easily feed several people. There are also a variety of different ingredients that can be selected for the filling, from masala steak to calamari.

4.Biltong: Biltong is a traditional South African beef snack that is cured in a unique way. The beef is dried with vinegar which cures the meat and adds layers of texture and flavor. It is seasoned with salt, pepper, and coriander, and the meat is much thicker than beef jerky.

5.Umxhaxha: A South African dish that is a mix of corn, butternut squash and eggplant.

Top 5 Things You Should Know About Cape Town

1.Cars drive on the left. 2.Don’t swim too far out. 3.Tap water is drinkable. 4.Uber is a great way to get around!

Top 5 Don’ts of the Culture

1.Don’t shower for more than a few minutes. 2.Don’t throw cigarettes out of car windows. 3.Don’t leave valuable items unattended in cars. 4.Don’t ask if locals speak ‘African’ (in Cape Town you’re likely to encounter isiXhosa, Afrikaans and English the most). 5.Don’t accept the first price at curio markets – haggle!

Top 5 Activities to Do

1.Go shark cage diving. 2.Hike Lions Head at sunset. 3.Take a ferry to Robben Island. 4.Eat at Mzansi’s Restaurant (reservations required). 5.Visit the Old Biscuit Mill’s Saturday market.