Cape Town’s inhabitants refer to their home as the ‘Mother City’. Whether this is meant in admiration or jest (as it takes nine months for anything to get done here) is up for debate. One thing is certain, however – stress and hectic living are not on the agenda in Cape Town. The city’s dazzling white beaches are reason enough to succumb to the relaxed pace of life here, inviting you to just take life as it comes.

Must see

Table Mountain. No visit to Cape Town would be complete without a trip up the 1086-meter-high Table Mountain. At least twelve different routes lead up to the peak, ranging in difficulty to suit both ramblers and more experienced climbers. One of the more beautiful routes begins at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, and takes around five hours. The cable car will zip you to the summit in a mere seven minutes. The car’s floor rotates during the journey to ensure a 360-degree view of the surroundings.
Lower Cable Station, Tafelberg Road, Tel. +27 (0)21/ 424 8181, http://tablemountain.net/

Clifton. Film crews and fashion magazines from all over the world flock to this glamorous suburb – the perfect backdrop for their films and photo-shoots. Huge granite blocks separate the four coves of Clifton, which are a hangout for millionaires, supermodels, and starlets. The beaches are the perfect spot for people-watching, sunbathing, or a game of beach volleyball.

Bo-Kaap. The cute Bo-Kaap quarter, stretching from Buitengracht Street to Signal Hill, is not to be missed. Pastel-colored houses snuggle up to little cafes where time seems to stand still, while small cobblestone laneways wind their way up the hill. The scent of the orient wafts through Wale Street, where Atlas Trading sells spices from all over the world (94 Wale Street, +27 (0)21 423 4361). This is the oldest quarter of Cape Town and was populated from 1780 by Asian slaves and prisoners, and is still often referred to as the ‘Malay Quarter’.

Culture

Michael Stevenson Contemporary. Once in the Michael Stevenson gallery, it is easy to see that South Africa’s art scene is booming. This is THE gallery to visit in South Africa, featuring exhibitions from photography to sculpture and everything in between.
Buchanan Building, 160 Sir Lowry Road, Tel. +27 (0)21 421 2575, www.michaelstevenson.com

Gold of Africa Museum. The fantastic Gold of Africa Museum is located in a former rectory dating back to 1782. Here all that glitters is in fact gold – from the sandals of tribal leaders, to belt buckles, jewellery and masks. www.goldofafrica.com In the Gold Restaurant, you can also enjoy.

Bars/Nightlife

Baraza Groove Bar. Camps Bay’s oldest beach bar is just as hip today as ever. Order a strawberry mojito and some snacks and watch the sun go down over the ocean, as a mix of funk and house pump from the stereo. Jennifer Lopez has been seen shaking her stuff at Baraza – and if it’s good enough for J-Lo…
The Promenade, Victoria Road, Camps Bay, Tel .+27 (0)21/ 4381758, http://www.baraza.co.za/

Shopping

Old Biscuit Mill. Every Saturday The Old Biscuit Mill on Woodstock’s Albert Road hosts the Neighbourgoods Market, a famous source of fine foods and artisan products. The area around the mill is garnering a reputation as a hotspot for creative types, with cafes, design shops and small galleries springing up like wildflowers.
373 - 375 Albert Road, +27 (0)21 448 1438, www.theoldbiscuitmill.co.za/

Restaurants

Haiku. In the polished interior of this hip restaurant, you can enjoy not only sushi, sashimi and seafood tapas but also crispy duck, all served up in a fresh and alternative fashion.
33 Church Street, Tel. +27 (0)21/4247000, http://bukhara.com/haiku

The Tank. This popular eatery is situated right in the heart of the trendy Cape Quarter shopping area. The seafood nibbles are served up either directly at the high-tech sushi-bar overlooking an illuminated fish tank or al fresco under white parasols.
72 Waterkant Street, Tel. +27 (0)21/4190007, www.the-tank.co.za/

Sport

Sea Point to Mouille Point. The Cape Towners’ favourite jogging route runs right along the coast, covering six kilometers from Sea Point to the Mouille Point Lighthouse. Also perfect for skating, biking or simply taking a stroll.

Company's Garden. The residents of Cape Town head for their favourite park at lunchtime to spend their break in the shade of exotic trees, or to stroll through the former vegetable garden. Wandering through the park youencounter local artists selling their wares at colourful stands, plus plenty of restaurants and cafes.

Swimming: Sea Point Pool. If the Atlantic is a little too chilly for you, why not dive into the seawater pool at Sea Point. The Olympic-sized pool (50m long) and the view out to the ocean will delight even the most seasoned swimmer. The pool is at its quietest in the morning and on workdays around lunchtime. Open from 7am to 7pm (10th April-16th October) and from 8.30am to 5pm (17th April-10th October).
Sea Point Pavilion, 50 Beach Road, Kapstadt, Tel: +27 (0) 21/434 3341, www.capeswim.com/seapointpool.htm

The whole city is plastered with giant billboards bearing the World Cup slogan, “Ke Nako” – “It’s time”. And it is time indeed to take another look at Johannesburg, previously known for its high crime rate, backwardness and poverty. South Africa’s largest city, a former gold miners’ town, has developed at break-neck speed into a financial metropolis. Today, it boasts the country’s widest streets and tallest skyscrapers. Life is fast-paced, and the desire to get rich is great – reflected in the shining-new shopping malls and the colorful nightlife that goes on well into the wee hours of the next morning.

Must see
Carlton Centre. If you have a fear of heights, you may want to skip this attraction. But for everyone else, the Top of Africa observation deck, located on the 50th floor of the continent’s tallest skyscraper, is a good way to get to get a feel for the city before you set out to explore. The platform offers breathtaking views of Johannesburg’s streets – that look a bit like Manhattan’s from 223 meters from above.
152 Commissioner Street, Johannesburg 2001, +27 (0) 11/ 308 1331

Soweto. A great way to get an up-close-andpersonal look at the way the city is changing is to go on a tour of the Soweto township. Previously a shantytown, the area is now dotted with showy houses and hotels – and even has a shopping mall. Harleys and Porsches roar past the district’s 150 soccer fields, 400 markets and countless corrugated iron huts – the new black middle class is showing what it can do. Be sure to visit Ngakane Street, the world’s only street that was home to two Nobel Prize winners. Nelson Mandela’s house, now a museum, is just a stone’s throw away from Nobel Peace Prize recipient Bishop Desmond Tutu’s former place of residence. And no Soweto tour is complete without a visit to a shebeen, a semi-legal bar in a backyard or living room. This is where the locals’ social life plays out. You should definitely book a guided township tour.
We recommend Jimmy’s Face-to-Face Tours, (+27 (0)11 331 109; ww.face2face.co.za) and JMT Tours (+27 (0)11 980 6038; www.jmttours.co.za).

Shopping

Consumerism as a way of life: Johannesburg is known for its multitude of supermodern, sprawling malls. Some of the most popular shopping destinations include The Zone in Rosebank, Sandton City and Sandton Square, Fourways Mall, and Eastgate.

Maponya Mall. Businessman Richard Maponya made a powerful statement by locating this mall in Soweto. Opened in 2007 by Nelson Mandela, it is South Africa’s first-ever shopping center in a township – and is also an architectural masterpiece.
Maponya Mall Old Potchefstroom Road , Soweto Tel: +27 (0)11/938 4448, www.maponyamall.co.za/

African Craft Market. Located on two floors of the Rosebank Mall on the corner of Craddock Avenue and Baker Street, this flea market is the ideal destination for souvenirs, jewelry, arts and crafts, colorful clothing and accessories at very affordable prices. Every Sunday, the market spills out onto the roof, and features street musicians and snack stands. Open daily from 9am to 6pm
+27 (0)11 788 5530, www.themallofrosebank.co.za/

Food
Gramodoelas. The list of famous guests at this exclusive African restaurant is extensive and ranges from Elton John and Catherine Deneuve to Bill Clinton and David Bowie. Even Queen Elizabeth II herself is alleged to have enjoyed a customary gin and tonic here. Gramadoelas will open twenty-four hours a day throughout the World Cup.
At the Market Theatre, Bree Street, Tel. +27(0)11/838 6960, http://www.gramadoelas.co.za/

Art/Museum
Goodman Gallery. This world-renowned gallery specializes in photographs, collages, paintings and prints by African artists and up-and-coming stars.
163 Jan Smuts Avenue Parkwood, +27 (0)11 788 1113, www.goodman-gallery.com

Bars/Nightlife
Roka Lounge. A wonderfully laid-back venue, with live jazz every Wednesday. Various other acts are on show throughout the rest of the week to cater to all tastes and ages.
44 Stanley Avenue, Milpark, Tel. +27 (0)11 /4822038, www.rokalounge.co.za

Walking-Cycling-Running
Zoo Lake Park. A welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, and just 15 minutes away from the center, Zoo Lake Park is ideal for shaking out your picnic blanket or taking a walk by the waterside. At the weekend the park is especially popular with joggers, walkers and skaters. If you prefer a slow amble, then a circuit around the lake will take around an hour and a half – although naturally you should also plan for a stop at one of the restaurants along the way. At the junction of Jan Smuts Avenue and Westwold Way, Parkview. At the junction of Jan Smuts Avenue and Westwold Way, Parkview.

Emmerentia Dam & botanic garden. Another place you might want to check out if you want to enjoy the open air is the Emmerentia Dam – this man-made lake and its surroundings are ideal for swimming, canoeing, picnics, cycling and jogging. On the west side of the water, the botanic garden with its ancient trees and terraced rose garden stretches out over 148 hectares. Picnics and barbecues are permitted in designated areas. Open every day from dawn until sundown.
Olifants Road, Emmarentia, Tel. +27 (0)11/782 05 17, Information about all parks in Johannesburg at: www.jhbcityparks.com