CAPE TOWN The Big 6

CAPE TOWN BIG 6

Take a journey into the heart of the Mother City. The Cape Town Big 6 represents the perfect combination of dramatic scenic beauty, enthralling history and exhilarating activities that have come to define this beautiful corner of South Africa. Cape Point, Groot Constantia, Kirstenbosch, Robben Island Museum, Table Mountain Cableway, and V&A Waterfront are the iconic destinations that form the core of the true Cape Town experience, and a trip to the city will not be complete without a visit to each Big 6 attraction.

V&A Waterfront

The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront is one of Africa's most visited destinations and attracts 24 million people every year. Its setting, in the oldest working harbour in the southern hemisphere, is simply spectacular: it has Table Mountain as a dramatic backdrop as well as extensive views of the ocean, city bowl and the mountain peaks of the Hottentots-Holland Mountains.

Long established and proud of a rich heritage, the V&A Waterfront nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and Table Mountain, marches with time, embracing change that brings with it exciting new additions for you to discover. Life on the edge of an historical working harbour in the picturesque city of Cape Town has a charm, and it is with warmth that an invite is extended to you to keep discovering. Indoor shopping and entertainment venues seamlessly merge with outdoor restaurants, ocean vistas and mountain views, and the fresh sea breeze and warm African sun add zest to a cosmopolitan, vibrant atmosphere.

This 123-hectare mixed-use development, which caters to both local and international visitors, has everything on offer from residential to commercial property, which includes hotels, retail districts, and extensive dining, leisure and entertainment facilities.

Its many heritage sites and tourism landmarks make it both exceptional and unique, as does the recently opened Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA), which hosts the world's largest collection of contemporary art from Africa.

Savour the tranquility of the Mother City's magnificent Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, and when you stop to catch your breath and absorb the splendour of your surroundings, you’ll wonder how it’s possible that the bustling, buzzing city of Cape Town is just a stone’s throw away. These sprawling, landscaped garden cover 36 hectares on the slopes of Table Mountain, and they blend in so effortlessly and majestically with the natural vegetation that you’d be forgiven for not realising their true scale. And when you consider how much there is to see and do in the garden, from atmospheric sunset concerts and movie screenings, through to guided walks, popular restaurants, and an award-winning treetop walkway, it’s quite likely you’ll be planning your return visit before you’ve even left.

Cape Point

There are few things as exhilarating as standing at the base of a beautiful, 150-year-old lighthouse, perched precariously high above the swirling Atlantic Ocean, and knowing that you’re at the most southwestern tip of Africa.

The panoramic views that spread out before you are breathtaking. Literally, because you’ve just earned them with a final push up the final flight of stairs from the upper funicular station. And once you’re there, it’s impossible not to spend a few silent minutes taking in the gravity of the dramatic location, before you instinctively reach for your camera.

With breath-taking vistas and an edge-of-the-world allure astounding enough to render nearby urban civilisation almost inconceivable, Cape Point is beyond a doubt one of South Africa’s most magnificent sightseeing and tourist attractions.

Groot Constantia

The moment you enter Groot Constantia wine estate you’ll realise you’re in for a unique experience.

This is the South Africa’s oldest wine producing estate, established by Simon van der Stel in 1685, and it is a certified national monument.

What awaits you is a captivating culmination of South African heritage, delectable dining at two restaurants, a museum, art gallery, and, of course, an awardwinning selection of wines, all available for tasting.

The dramatic oak-lined avenue takes you directly into the Historical core of the estate, where

you’ll find the 17th century Manor House, arguably the finest surviving example of Cape Dutch architecture in South Africa, and the view from in front of this grand old homestead will most certainly put you in the perfect mind-set to experience what is easily the Cape’s finest estate.

Rising up as a surreal backdrop to all of Cape Town is the extraordinary Table Mountain, and the state-of-the-art Table Mountain Aerial Cableway will whisk you to the top in a picturesque five-minute ride.

Table Mountain is among the most popular attractions in the world, and it is no surprise that it holds the title as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature.

And while it’s impressive from pretty much anywhere in the City Bowl, including other Big 6 locations of the V&A Waterfront and Robben Island, it’s not until you soar to the top in an exhilarating ride on the cable car, with its rotating floor, that you can truly appreciate its stature, and the incredible city of Cape Town that bustles far below.

Robben Island Museum

There are few places in South Africa that bear the weight and sheer historical importance of Robben Island, and a trip to the former prison serves as a jarring reminder of country’s troubled political past.

At the same time, it reveals itself as a powerful symbol for the triumph of the human spirit and offers fascinating insight into the reconciliation and resilience that played such a key role in the development of a new South Africa.

From the moment you arrive at the humble island, just a short ferry ride from the V&A Waterfront, you’ll feel the impact of this World Heritage Site.

A former inmate will guide you while on the island, and you’ll receive unparalleled insight into the significant role that each of the Robben Island’s inmates collectively played throughout apartheid.