Cape Town Activity Guide

If you like lazing on the beach or by the pool all day then Cape Town makes a great holiday, but to make it really special set aside time for exploring the area. The "must do" is a trip to the wine growing area around Stellenbosch, about 40 minutes drive east of Cape Town. There are about 30 wine estates with beautiful architecture, lovely gardens, excellent restaurants and, of course, tours around the vineyards and wine tasting. Even if you are not a wine buff, it makes a great day out.

Also on the "to do" list are sunbathing with penguins at Boulders Beach, a visit to Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, driving down to the southern tip of Africa, a visit to the West Coast National Park 40 miles north, riding on ostriches at a nearby farm, a visit to Mandela's prison on Robben Island, shopping at the V&A Waterfront, soaking up the atmosphere at Camps Bay - Cape Town's answer to St Tropez - and much, much more. You could do something everyday for a month without repetition - although why not save something for next year's trip?

Kitesurfing capital of the world

Kitesurfing is the fastest growing action sport and Cape Town has quickly become known as one of the best locations in the world. The reasons are simple: regular wind from the perfect direction and massive beaches. The wind is known as the "Cape Doctor" as it blows in over the mountains from the Pacific clearing the air of any pollution. The first sign is the Tablecloth, cloud lapping over the edges of Table Mountain and then by 3pm the wind will be 15 knots from the South East. There will be plenty of people out, locals and visitors, but there is loads of space for everyone.

There are usually waves and whilst the surf is fairly big, it makes this area best suited to intermediate or expert kitesurfers. If you want to learn it is best to drive north for an hour to Langebaan a shallow lagoon which gets the same wind, but no waves. And if there's no wind Cape Town has plenty of other watersports on offer, both on the surface and under water. The whole of the Cape peninsular is famous for its surfing and scuba diving and if the wind's too strong for kiting, the windsurfing is epic.