Back to the ‘Mother City’

As the airplane landed, Martins and two of his colleagues on a business trip were in a haste to leave the aircraft.

On getting off the Boeing 777, they paid less attention to the great holiday deals on display at every corner of Cape Town International Airport as their preoccupation is locating representative of their host who will take them to their hotel.

Four days later, they were back to the airport waiting for their flight back to Accra. Having arrived early at their Boarding Gate, they had enough time to play around and even to listen to the sustained arguments of some other passengers.

“The Table Mountain was incredible,” one of those arguing enthuses. “No, the highlight for me is the shark tank”; another interjects.  What about the vineyard and Mandela’s former cell? The youngest of them asks.

Sadly, the trio could not recall how memorable their visit was. All they they could think were seminar papers, speeches, presentations and hotel meals.

“No. I am coming back to Cape Town on holiday this summer,” the most aggrieved among them says.

If you have been to this vibrant South African city just for business or mere visit, you need a return visit to truly savour the pristine nature and man-made offerings that will leave you refreshing and lingering memories.

Truly, a trip to Cape Town without experiencing its rich tourism offerings is like seeing an elephant without tusks. There are many things to see and do in Cape Town, aptly tagged ‘Mother City’ because of its breathtaking landscape, tourism attraction and liveliness of the city.

Obviously, this port city, also reputable for its vibrancy and rare wine offerings, will get right under your skin, whether you visit in summer or winter.

The first point of call is the great Table Mountain and Cable Car. If you are adventurous, climbing up and down the 112 metres peak of the Table Mountain via the Cable Car is a sure bet. The serenity atop the mountain, the refreshment and most importantly, the breathing views of the city, the confluence of Atlantic and Indian oceans, among others at bird’s eye view, is worth your money and stress of jumping into the Cable Car. The photo session atop the mountain is stamps a visit.

Diving into the shark infested waters surrounding Cape Town is an experience worth a visitor’s while, especially if the visitor is adrenalin junky.

South Africa has an incredibly diverse shark population. A quarter of the world’s shark species dwell in South African waters and around 40 of these call the waters around Cape Town home.

It is intriguing to make the 175-kilometre (110-mile) journey to Gansbaii, the white shark capital of the world. Of course, shark cage diving is big business in Cape Town with eight companies offering visitors memorable experiences with sharks via the tanks. From R1,100 for a session, including refreshments, shuttle service to and from Cape Town, you can share a moment with the sharks.

However, the less adventurous can take the safer option of visiting the Two Oceans Aquarium or The I&J Predator Tank, the pièce de résistance, with its mob of ocean predators, including ragged tooth sharks, blue stingrays and black mussel crackers, all drifting together in seeming harmony until 3pm, the feeding time.

Also, Robben Island and the District Six Museum are must-visits for anyone interested in South Africa’s period of Apartheid, which came to an end in 1990.

The fascinating and inspirational Robben Island is a symbol both of centuries of cruel oppression and the triumph of hope. It has become synonymous with Nelson Mandela, former leader of the free and democratic South Africa, who spent 18 years in its maximum security prison.

As well, the award-winning community museum, District Six lays bare the time when the ruling government declared the area ‘whites only’ and over 60,000 of its residents were forcibly taken from their homes and shipped out to the Cape Flats, before their houses were reduced to rubble.

You can waddle down to a penguin colony to enjoy some beach time with the endearing jackass penguins who call the African Penguin Colony at Boulder’s Beach home. For R5 extra, you can spy on slippery sea life or beach babes through the binoculars dotting the walkway.

The wineland also beckons. It is only about an hour drive from town featuring rolling vineyards, towering mountains, historic wine estates and more than enough wine to keep even the thirstiest old soak satisfied.

The town offers adventurous eaters tastes from across the African continent and the world over. There are various accommodation options on offer, from luxurious waterside rooms, city views, push lodges to bread and breakfast services.

But one excitement to try if you have fat pocket is riding on the luxury yachts that dot Cape Town waterside. The yachts offer premium services, best of wine, gourmet, and sleeping places and take guests far into the ocean and back to some of the chic restaurants by the waterside.

So, why wait. Repeat your botched visit to Mother City to truly feel the pulse.

OBINNA EMELIKE