Kaapstad bezienswaardigheden

When people talk about wildlife in Africa, they usually mean the Big Five: Elephants, rhino, buffalo, lions and leopards. But World of Birds, a unique park just outside Cape Town that’s home to more than 400 different species of wild birds, proves there’s more to this diverse continent than just its massive mammals.

More than 3,000 birds and other small animals call this aviary home. Visitors can explore their well-kept habitats, which spread over a generous four hectares of land. The scenic backdrop of Table Mountain, Little Lion’s Head and the Twelve Apostles makes it an ideal spot for photos, too.

Meer dan 300 jaar lang was Robbeneiland een gevangenis, waar politieke gevangenen, waaronder Nelson Mandela, vastzaten en afgezonderd werden van de rest van de wereld. Daarnaast was het een vrijwillige opvangplek voor melaatsen. Ondanks dit smakeloze verleden, neemt Robbeneiland een belangrijke plaats in de geschiedenis van Zuid-Afrika in. Het is een duidelijk teken van de moeizame weg naar democratie in Zuid-Afrika en de strijd tegen apartheid.

Robbeneiland werd in 1999 uitgeroepen tot Werelderfgoed en het Robbeneilandmuseum heeft als doel de herinnering en bijdragen van de vrijheidsstrijders levendig te houden. De tentoonstellingen vertellen het levensverhaal van de gevangen, in het bijzonder dat van Robert Sobukwe en zijn strijd voor Pan Afrikanisme. Een multimedia-expositie leert bezoekers over de geschiedenis van de democratie in Zuid-Afrika.

When the Dutch East India Company arrived in the area of what is now Cape Town in 1652, one of the first things they did was create a garden to help feed the settlers. The Company's Garden still exists, today as a public park.

Company's Garden covers a whopping 19.76 acres in the middle of Cape Town, near the parliament building, and includes a fish pond, rose garden and multiple statues and monuments. There's a tea room restaurant on the grounds, and an 18th-century sundial. Attractions near the garden include the Iziko South African Museum, St. George's Cathedral and South Africa's National Library. Of particular note among the many historic trees is the oldest cultivated pear tree in South Africa, planted around 1652.

Originally a jetty built in 1654 to refresh sailors for the Dutch East India Company, the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is now one of the most-visited attractions for foreigners in South Africa. The area is a development consisting of two harbors, retail shops and museums, seascapes and mountain views, and plenty of places to bed down, drink up or eat away.

The V&A Waterfront describes itself as a "Haven for Sailing Enthusiasts" and offers full amenities alongside historical charm. Walking and bus tours, sports and mind-blowing boats are sure to cast a hook for visitors of all types.

A former Cape Town neighborhood is remembered in the District Six Museum, built in the neighborhood itself.

District Six was created in the 1860s, but by the mid-1960s the government began forcibly removing the non-white residents to a slum-like township miles away in order to make the neighborhood whites-only. In all, some 60,000 people were relocated, and their homes destroyed. Very little development was ever started in the area, however, and post-apartheid the government said they would recognize property rights of former residents. The District Six Museum was founded in 1994 to honor those who were forcibly removed from their homes. Some fragments of the former neighborhood are on display, and there is a district map on the floor where former residents have noted where their houses once were. The museum and District Six Foundation also exist to help people moving back to the neighborhood develop the area into a thriving community again.

South Africa is increasingly well-known for its wines, with the wine country near Cape Town being a particularly popular stop with oenophiles and foodies alike. One highlight of any wine tasting trip near Cape Town is to the oldest wine estate in South Africa at Groot Constantia.

The property in Constantia was given to Simon van der Stel in 1685 by the Dutch East India Company, which had an outpost at the Cape of Good Hope. At the time, van der Stel was the Dutch East India Company’s Governor of this area, and it’s his name that later was used at Simon’s Town south of Cape Town. He built a manor house and began farming grapes for wine production. In 1779, a wine-making family purchased the part of the Groot Constantia estate that included van der Stel’s manor house. It’s that family, the Cloetes, who is to thank for making Groot Constantia one of the area’s top wine estates, especially noted for its Constantia dessert wine.

Just beyond the peaks of Table Mountain and Lion’s Head, lies the Twelve Apostles, a range of rocky cliffs that line the coast of the Cape Peninsula. Travelers can enjoy the views during a scenic drive from Cape Town, or while relaxing on the sandy shores of Camps Bay. Grab lunch along the bustling promenade and then head to the trails, since a climb to the top of the Twelve Apostles offers an unmatched view of Clifton and the bay. Afterwards, relax with a sun downer at the Leopard Lounge, known for extensive collection of South African wines and its famous Twelve Apostles cocktail.

In the small town of Betty's Bay near Cape Town sits a colony of African penguins at a promontory called Stony Point. The colony is not as well-known as the one at Boulders Beach, but there are thousands of the little penguins in Betty's Bay – and, usually, fewer tourists. The colony is fenced in to protect it from predators, and there are raised walkways that allow visitors to watch the birds without disturbing them.

African penguins – also called Jackass penguins for their donkey-like braying – typically nest on islands, and the Stony Point colony is one of only three mainland colonies in South Africa. The penguins have also been known to make themselves at home in Betty's Bay residents' backyards.

If you're visiting Cape Town, Table Mountain is a must-see. Whether you choose to hike or drive to its flat-topped summit (hence the name) or take the Aerial Cable Way, you'll be treated to spectacular views of the city, Devil's Peak and Lion's Head.

Once you're at the top, there a 3 different walking paths to take: the 15-minute Dassie Walk, the 30-minute Agama Walk (providing you with a panomramic view of Cape Town and the peninsula), and the Klipspringer Walk, which ends above Platteklip Gorge. All of these provide you with plenty of photo opportunities, especially if you are into animals; rock hyrax, porcupines, mongooses and more live on the mountain, as well as some poisonous snakes (don't be afraid, just be careful).

Greenmarket Square in Cape Town's city center is an historic square which has served many purposes over the years. The square was built in 1696 in front of a burgher watch house. Today, the square is overlooked by the Old Town House, built on the site of the burgher house in 1761, which once served as the city hall. In different years, the square has been home to a slave market, a produce market, and even a parking lot.

Today, Greenmarket Square is the setting for a popular craft and flea market, including a wide variety of African art, clothing, music, and jewelry. There is a nice selection of restaurants, cafes, and hotels lining the square.

Located on the Victoria & Albert Waterfront in Cape Town, the Two Oceans Aquarium is - as the name suggests - a celebration of the unique collection of marine life that lives off the coasts of South Africa. The Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet off the country's southern shore at Cape Agulhas, 138 miles from Cape Town.

There are two galleries in the aquarium, one for each of the two oceans in the name, among seven total galleries with large windows to see the sea life. Among the creatures in the Atlantic Ocean Gallery, there are rare Knysna seahorses, and in the Indian Ocean Gallery you'll see clownfish. There is also a penguin exhibit, an activity center for kids, and a predator exhibit with sharks and stingrays. Certified divers can even dive in the tank with the sharks.

Simon's Town has long been an important military base and, more recently, a popular tourist destination near Cape Town. Sitting on False Bay, the town has been home to the South African Navy since 1910 and was even founded in 1680, with many of the historic buildings dating back to the Victorian era.

The most popular attraction in Simon's Town is the penguin colony at Boulders Beach – one of only three mainland colonies of African penguins in the country. Other things to see in town include the Simon's Town Museum and the picturesque St. George's Street.

Cape Town's Diamond Works offers a glimpse at South Africa's diamond mining industry through the eyes of a custom jewelry maker. Yes, Diamond Works is essentially a jewelry store, and you can certainly visit with the intention of buying some custom-made diamond jewelry. Even if you're not in the market for diamonds, however, a visit to Diamond Works is worth it to learn more about this fascinating industry.

Diamond Works offers what it calls a “Sparkling Tour,” during which you'll see diamond cutters and jewelry designers at work, you'll learn about the history of diamonds, and find out what to look for when evaluating a diamond.