Table Mountain.

Cape Town, like a good bottle of wine, is meant to be savoured. It’s meant to be swilled lazily, it’s glorious colour appreciated, it’s fragrant nose breathed in, it’s fruity undertones enjoyed. A visit to Cape Town cannot be rushed. Capetonians are known to be laid back, it’s just, like, their vibe dude, and it’s pretty easy to discover why…the scenic beauty lulls them into a sort of hazy ecstasy: the world can’t be bad when it looks this good.

You won’t be immune, trust me. You’ll step off the plane, feel the sun’s warm rays embrace you, breathe in the unique scent of oak trees, mountains and sea, you’ll gaze up at an impossibly blue sky and down at an impossibly blue sea, you’ll realize you’re surrounded by mountains and one of two things will happen: your soul will sing, or your head will explode, either way the effect is the hazy ecstasy mentioned earlier.

The cable car up Table Mountain.

Cape Town’s star attraction is Table Mountain of course. It dominates the skyline, all the time. Everywhere you look, there it is, calm, beautiful, serene, and the city feeds off this energy. An expedition to the top is a must, and you have the choice of the lazy way by cable car, and the less lazy way of walking up. But even walking up can be done lazily, because the pine forests and shady mossy oases along the way make you wonder if you really have stepped into another dimension. And the views from the top…well, they’re insane. You’ll just want to laugh.

On top of the world: The view of Lion’s Head and Robben Island where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years as a prisoner.

The thing with Cape Town is that the natural beauty is constantly taunting you, calling you outside, challenging you to immerse yourself deeper. And there are so many gorgeous places to go, you’re totally spoiled for choice: spend a day on the beach in Camp’s Bay, it’s glamorous, pretentious and über-cool; eat seafood on the beach in the refreshingly less pretentious Gordon’s Bay; drive or cycle along Chapman’s Peak which easily rivals the Amalfi Coast in beauty, and has considerably fewer crazy drivers; stroll around the harbour in Hout Bay, and explore the Bay Harbour Market on weekends; go horse riding in Noordhoek, or if equine activities don’t thrill you, then just go and walk on the freakishly white sand of Llandudno beach, pick up shells and marvel at how the mountains plunge into the sea; make the scenic drive to the Natural World Heritage Site of Cape Point and peer over the edge of the mountain to the sea 200 meters below. When you see a baboon, close all your windows…quick! If you are around in October you’ll probably see groups of Southern Right whales chilling in the shallow waters with their newborn calves. Take a bottle of wine and some cheese, and drive along Clarence Drive, the coastal road between Gordon’s Bay and Rooi Els. There are loads of look out points where you can park, and if you’re feeling adventurous climb down onto the rocks, pop the cork and toast to the beauty of life. If you listen carefully you’ll hear the whales blowing from their blow-holes down below.

The view from the top of Table Mountain.

The famous Chapman’s Peak stretches from Noordhoek to Hout Bay and rivals the Amalfi Coast for it’s spectacular sea and mountain views.

As if Cape Town doesn’t have enough going for it already, Mother Earth also blessed the region with perfect conditions for growing grapes, and so the winelands of the Cape hold their own against Napa Valley, Mendoza or Bordeaux. Venture forty minutes inland to the historic university town of Stellenbosch, Paarl or Franschhoek, and choose from literally hundreds of wine farms nestled between breathtaking mountains. Indulge in wine tasting, world class cuisine, and good old ‘parking off’ in the sun, and feel your body relax.

Stellenbosch is nestled between the mountains.

Weltevreden Estate in Stellenbosch has a fabulous play area for kids, but they’ll have just as much fun searching for acorns, climbing trees, and splashing in the stream while you have a relaxing al fresco lunch.

If you’re travelling with kids, Cape Town is the perfect destination. Sure, it has countless activities geared for keeping your littlies entertained: the aquarium, scratch-patch, boat rides, indoor play areas, zip-lining are just a few. But because Cape Town compels you to spend so much time outdoors, the kids are permanently entertained. Nature is their playground, so take off their shoes and let them run.

It’s impossible to rush in Cape Town, your body just won’t do it. So give yourself time to explore slowly, to sample it’s beauty gradually, be patient with your senses because they’ll be in overdrive. And always remember to look up, because the mountains are never far away.

Sweeping views from Table Mountain.