Captivating CAPE TOWN
Cape Town, South Africa
Table Mountain
A trip up Table Mountain in the cable car or by foot is an absolute must for visitors. The views are incredible and there are opportunities in October/November for photographers to capture close-ups of sunbirds feeding in flowers atop the mountain. Keep a close eye on the weather when choosing when to go. Aim to avoid high winds and low cloud which obscure the views. Keep in mind it can be crowded but the views are well worth a visit. If you hike a few hundred metres from the peak of the cable car the crowds will start to thin.
African Penguins – Boulders Beach, Simon’s Town
Boulders Beach is home to nesting African Penguins and some rather tame Dassies (small herbivorous mammals also called hyraxes). Boulder’s Beach is a popular spot to see the threatened African Penguin. Photographers may be underwhelmed as it can be difficult to capture the penguins in the right light from a crowded boardwalk.
Worth exploring are the nearby bays and beaches. Within walking distance of the entrance to Boulders Beach are some uncrowded scenic beaches – perfect for a swim and you may just see a penguin away from the crowds.
Cape of Good Hope
After an early morning visit to Boulders Beach it’s well worthwhile continuing south towards Cape Point. There are rugged beaches to comb, scenic spots to lunch, a variety of wildlife, and a wonderful array of flowering plants found in the Fynbos Biome known for both diversity and endemism. You may spot Bontebok and Ostrich at Olifantsbos Beach.
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
The world renowned Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens are well worth a visit. The Fynbos section at the top of the gardens is a great spot to watch and photograph endemic Cape Sugarbirds and a few different species of Sunbirds, including the Orange-breasted Sunbird. Photographers should go early morning to get the best light.
You may also spy Spotted Eagle-Owls, African Paradise-Flycatchers and Cape Cobras if you’re lucky. The gardens are a 20 minute Uber ride from downtown Cape Town.
Closer to Down Town you can wander around the colourful houses of Bo-Kapp, explore the Victoria Waterfront (where daily ferries leave for Robben Island – keep an eye out for the Cape Fur Seals near the pier) and grab a coffee at one of the world’s best cafes – the steampunk themed Truth Cafe. Truth has excellent coffee and breakfast options in a fantastic setting. For dinner, it’s hard to beat drinks and a meal as the sun sets over Camps Bay.
A little further afield you can visit the world-renowned wineries of the Stellenbosch region or head to Hermanus to catch a glimpse of Southern Right Whales. These amazing creatures can often be spotted from the shore line and there are some whale watching boats that can ferry you out for a closer look.
A day trip to the north of Cape Town will take you to the Wets Coast National Park where you can spot pink Flamingos and visit !Khwa ttu – a heritage centre dedicated to the San and !khwa ttu people. It’s also a fabulous spot to photograph the African Golden Weaver in the garden adjacent to the very nice restaurant and gallery.
All images Copyright David Sinclair