Cape Town City Sightseeing Tour
The Hop-on Hop-off City Sightseeing bus is definitely the best way to see Cape Town in two days. The busses run daily and there are two main bus routes which you can choose – The Blue Mini Peninsula Tour and The Red City Tour. We decided to do the Blue Tour beginning at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens situated at the base of world famous Table Mountain. From Kirstenbosch the bus takes you along Rhodes drive towards the bustling town of Hout Bay. Rhodes drive is a beautiful scenic road which winds along the mountain side giving you breathtaking views of the mountain above and valley below. Although it was a cool winter’s day the sun was shining bright and there was not a cloud in the sky, so we decided to sit at the top of the bus and enjoy the wonderful views.
As the bus makes its way towards Hout Bay you have the opportunity to hop off at the change point at Constantia Nek, where another bus waits to pick you up. From here the bus takes you to the Constantia Valley Wine Farms and you can choose where you would like to get off. We decided to visit Jonkershuis Wine Farm which is nestled in the middle of the Groot Constantia Wine Estate. The area is surrounded by old oak trees and the famous Groot Constantia Vineyards. After a little tour of the Wine Estate we treated ourselves to a coffee at the quaint bistro set in the gardens of the farm. The bistro is set in a brilliant position with panoramic views of the whole peninsula. We sat enjoying the peaceful surrounding and spectacular views before we had to make our way back to the bus.
From Jonkershuis Wine Farm, you will be taken back to the Constantia Neck change point to get onto the bus travelling onwards towards Hout Bay. Before you enter the main town of Hout Bay you will see signs for “World of Birds” which is the largest bird park in Africa and it is definitely worth visiting if you have not been there before. There are over three thousand birds (and small animals) of different species which are kept in spacious walk through aviaries, allowing you to feel close with nature. We had visited the bird sanctuary before so we continued our way through to the main town of Hout Bay. The next stop is Mariners Wharf, which is based at Hout Bay Harbour. It is a marvellous little hub made up of restaurants, shops, markets and where locals and tourists come to enjoy a good meal, shop or take a stroll down the peer to look at the old fisherman ships.
From Hout the Bay we continued towards the coastal road which takes you to Camps Bay. This coastal road allows for breathtaking views of the ocean and is also a good place to spot whales or dolphins. As the bus makes its way towards Camps Bay, you will pass the little beach town of Llandundo. Llandundo is renowned for its magnificent houses, spectacular views and unspoilt beaches. I would definitely recommend spending a day here soaking up the sun or simply enjoying a sundowner on the beach watching the sun setting over the ocean. If you feeling adventurous you can also take a walk to Sandy Bay – a nudist beach just a ten minute stroll from Llandudno.
Our next stop was Camps Bay – one of Cape Town’s most favourable destinations. With its long stretches of white sandy beaches and streets lined with palm trees, it has become a very a very popular spot for the young & trendy and rich & famous. We decided to jump off the bus here and take a gentle stroll along the beach before having a bite to eat at one of the little restaurants located just off the main beach road. It was a beautiful sunny winter’s day and we enjoyed a delicious meal as we watched the waves gently breaking on the white sand.
Our last stop was the V&A Waterfront. We had been to the waterfront many times so we decided to take the City Sightseeing Canal Cruise, where you will get the opportunity to see the waterfront from a completely different angle. This is a hop-on hop-off cruise, so you might decide to spend some time at any of the stops along the way and rejoin a boat later. The cruise includes a trip through the V&A Waterfront’s beautiful canal and stops at the One and Only, the City Lodge and the Harbour Bridge before arriving at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. While you cruise along the canals you will also enjoy seeing the many luxury apartments rising above on either side of the canal, owed mainly by the rich and famous. Don’t miss out on this exciting Cape Town experience!
