Cape Town tours and excursions

Township tours

Township tours are increasingly popular, but choose a responsible operator or you could be herded around, gawping at people’s (often tough) lives. A few tour operators have also set up special projects to help local youth stay away from the influence of gangs and drugs and Vamos (tel: +27 72 499 7866; vamos.co.za) is one such operator.

Bicycle tours

Whatever your fitness level, cycling can be a great way to admire the Cape peninsula’s spectacular scenery, and companies like Daytrippers and Downhill Adventures offer a range of hike-and-bike day tours. Take a ride along the Atlantic seaboard, experience the exhilarating Chapman Peak Drive to Cape Point or go on a gentle cycle tour of the winelands or city bowl. More strenuous mountain biking is offered on a number of routes, including Table Mountain, and extended trips are available.

Daytrippers
Telephone: +27 21 511 4766
Website: www.daytrippers.co.za

Downhill Adventures
Telephone: +27 21 422 0388
Website: www.downhilladventures.com

Constantia Wine Route

The closest wine route to central Cape Town (a 20-minute drive), the Constantia Valley offers spectacular scenery, beautiful old wine farms and sassy newcomers. It also boasts some of Cape Town's best restaurants, so make a day of it. Most estates offer free or paid-for tastings and some run cellar tours.

Cape Point

Set 60 kilometres (37 miles) from Cape Town, Cape Point boasts towering sea cliffs and a 8,000-hectare (19,770 acres) headland jutting into the open sea. Zebra, ostrich and baboons roam the windswept landscape, which is home to many rare plants. From the Two Oceans restaurant, a funicular leads to the lighthouse. Activities include hiking, swimming and whale- and penguin-watching.