Cape Town in South Africa has become one of the top 10 travel destinations on earth during the past couple of years. It comes as no surprise: with a list of ‘must-sees’ longer than that of any other city in Africa and Christmas weather to die for, it’s the ideal destination during the bitter winters of the Northern half of the world.
One of the main reasons for coming to Cape Town is of course its numerous beautiful, white, sandy beaches. When the rest of the Northern Hemisphere is shivering under a layer of snow, those lucky enough to be in Cape Town is basking in the sun, sipping a South African beer.
Cape Town is an ideal family destination. Even if you have a baby in the family that need not stop you from having a holiday filled with fun in the sun. Fly in, rent a car, get baby-friendly accommodation and start to have the time of your life. For the baby’s sake, just make sure the car is fitted with a graco car seat.
Just to illustrate the level of sophistication of many guest houses in Cape Town: our family recently stayed in a guest house which even provided us with a spa baby so we could bath the new family member in the natural, upright position. Not all guest houses will have one of these - enquire before you arrive.
The second biggest attraction of Cape Town (if not actually the biggest), is Table Mountain. This legendary mountain overlooks the city of Cape Town like a guardian angel. There is a cable car to the top and from there you have a 360 degree view that can in no other way we described as breathtaking.
And then there is the V&A Waterfront. Here you can dine at one of the numerous world class restaurants while watching boats come and go in a living harbor. A little further afield you will find the Cape Winelands region - where some of South Africa’s top quality export wines are produced. Another must-see is the Cape Point nature reserve. Here you can take a cog-wheel train to an observation post point where you can watch two of the world’s great oceans meet: the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. There’s also a fine restaurant with views of False Bay and the granite mountain ranges of the Cape Peninsula.
It’s unlikely that you will have the opportunity to read a lot in Cape Town, but by all means pack your digital book reader. When everyone else in the family has fallen asleep, you can finish reading your favorite detective story while listening to the gentle sound of waves breaking on the rocks.