Cruises to southern Africa attract the true adventurer. With its game-rich savannahs, fine vineyards, cosmopolitan cities and architectural heritage of a great colonial past, the region begs to be explored.
Few cities are blessed with a setting as spectacular as Cape Town, nestling as it does in the foothills of the 3,000ft flat topped Table Mountain, just a few miles from the southern tip of Africa - the Cape of Good Hope. You will see straightaway why it is called the 'Garden City' of South Africa, as there is so much greenery in the many parks and botanical gardens mixed in among some well-preserved historical buildings.
But you will be most impressed first of all by the Victoria and Alfred (V&A) waterfront development right by Cape Towns cruise port. Imaginatively landscaped and linked by a series of bridges, the V&A has a mouthwatering array of classy shops, quirky boutiques and handicraft stores, as well as tasty cafés and restaurants, most with superb ocean views.
But do not linger too long as there is much to explore further afield in the vineyards, nature reserves and beaches around the city. One of the biggest problems facing the first-time visitor to Cape Town is how to fit in all the attractions - Table Mountain, Seal Island, Boulders Beach with its penguin colony, Cape Point, the Cape Winelands and the Cheetah Park are all in striking distance.
The city centre is small and compact, and contains a fascinating mix of architectural styles, including Cape Dutch, Victorian and Edwardian, wedged between modern skyscrapers. Table Mountain, with its cable car to the summit, towers over it all, and is a constant landmark and point of orientation. The upper slopes of the eastern arm of the city house the Bo-Kaap (Top Cape), also known as the Malay Quarter.
Offshore, lies Robben Island, the prison where Nelson Mandela was gaoled by the apartheid regime. The embarkation point for Robben Island is the Victoria and Alfred waterfront, a bustling, working harbour that has been immaculately restored and now houses a vast range of restaurants, shops, museums and other attractions, including the world-renowned Two Oceans Aquarium.
