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Cape Town had been voted as one of the top 10 sustainable cities in the world and most likely to become a global sustainability center by 2020. The South African capital, known also ss the ‘Mother City’ is always looking at new and innovative technologies to create a more sustainable location. They began electricity from wind farms way back in 2008.

Cape Town won Africa’s Leading Destination Award two years in a row and continues to increase the number of tourists visiting it each year and it has been voted as one of the world’s best destinations.

The city is encouraging an idealistic outdoor lifestyle with investment in bike routes and its My CiTi rapid service to help people get around without a car and in an effort to reduce the cars, allows people to transport their bikes on buses for free. Many people have started to grow their own vegetables and make use of solar panels.

“In a world of increasing population pressures and depleting natural resources some cities, such as Cape Town, are proactively adjusting their practices today as well as implementing sustainable long-term practices,” said Ethisphere Institute executive director Alex Brigham.

Cape Town and Sustanability

“This entrenches Cape Town’s credentials as a beautiful, eco-friendly destination committed to solid planning and construction principles in both its lifestyle and business sectors,” said South African Tourism (SAT) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Moeketsi Mosola.

Mr Mosola also added that tourists are becoming more and more aware of sustainability and green tourism practices, and Cape Town boasts a large offering that is not only sustainable, but that are also increasingly mindful of the impact that humanity has on the planet.

Photo credit: SkyPixels / Wikipedia
The city was also included in a list of the ‘20 cities of 2020’ by the Ethisphere Institute, a New York business ethics and social responsibility organization, that chose it as a ‘2020 Global Sustainability Centre’.

“In a world of increasing population pressures and depleting natural resources some cities, such as Cape Town, are proactively adjusting their practices today as well as implementing sustainable long-term practices,” said Alex Brigham, executive director of the Ethisphere Institute.

Cape Town focused not only on the environmental and sustainability practices but also on health and recreation; education; arts and culture; economic and business environment; regulatory framework; law enforcement and transparency; media and speech; transportation and housing and innovation and investment.

“Cape Town is synonymous with rolling waves, rocky shores, dolphins, whales, and sunsets on pristine beaches,” the City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment Marian Nieuwoudt said.

South Africa is among the countries most affected by climate change, particularly drought and increased temperatures. The threat of Global warming has raised awareness about how our actions affect the environment and those around us. The country joined the Paris Climate Agreement and intends to have carbon-neutral electricity generation by 2050.

The City of Cape Town’s Economic, Social Development and Tourism Committee has adopted a Responsible Tourism Policy and Action Plan, which is the first of its kind in South Africa. The goal is to set the city as a leading tourism destination.

Cape Town was also named the world’s Earth Hour Capital in March 2014 by the WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature). Cape Town demonstrates how city strategies to reduce carbon emissions and fight climate change can also help other development priorities such as food, energy, and water security.”

Cape Town is truly an environmental example to follow for the rest of the developing world.

The number of tourists that are looking for closer interaction with the local people in the country they visit is growing and experience its real natural and cultural heritage.

People are becoming more and more aware of the impact of their travels and are beginning to take steps to reduce it in the places they visit.

Want to learn more about South Africa? Check our other posts.

Main photo credit: SkyPixels / Wikipedia

Cape Town is South Africa’s greenest city in Siemens’ African Green City Index. Cape Town’s topography allows the city to introduce new green spaces and its population has driven the rise of farmers’ markets and growth in locally sourced food.

South Africa was colonized by the Dutch in 1652 and then from the British Empire and its independence was granted on May 31, 1961. South Africa has increasingly become an attractive tourist destination due to its varied cultural offerings, eclectic food scene, architecture, and natural beauty.

In this post, we put together the top 10 things to do in the city.

Best Things to do in Cape Town

Cape Town has plenty to offer from its world-class restaurants and golden beaches, colorful historic districts and hipster farmer’s markets to the stunning coastal suburbs of Simonstown, Hout Bay and Fish Hoek await nearby and award-winning vineyards.

Photo credit: South African Tourism / Flickr

Visit Robben Island

The name of the island come from Dutch for “seal island.” Robben Island is a World Heritage Site and museum, offering daily tours. This was a place of isolation for nearly 300 years, housing many political prisoners and serving as both a lunatic asylum and leper colony, one of them was the legendary South African president Nelson Mandela who spent 18 years here during his imprisonment.

The tours are led by former prisoners and include a return ferry ride from the island, a tour of the island and also a visit to some of the old cells.

Photo credit: Jonathan Gill / Flickr

Climb the Table Mountain

Table Mountain is a flat-topped mountain forming a prominent landmark overlooking the city of Cape Town in South Africa. It is a significant tourist attraction, with many visitors using the cableway or hiking to the top.

The ride on the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway is one you’ll never forget. The journey up the mountain takes about five minutes and the car rotates 360° as it ascends, slowly revealing better and better views as you approach the summit.

The Cableway operates from 8:30am until 5:30pm in winter and closes later in summer

You can gain free entry to Table Mountain Aerial Cableway with Cape Town City Pass. The pass also gets you free entry or amazing discounts on over 70 other Cape Town attractions!

Here’s a selection of tours to Table Mountain – both hikes and cable car; a mix of the two, or a proper adventure:

• Cape Town: Table Mountain National Park Guided Hike
• Full-Day | Table Mountain Hike – Cape Town
• Cape Town: Table Mountain Half–Day India Venster Hike
• 5-Hour Table Mountain Hike with Cable Car Descent
• Cape Town: Half-Day Table Mountain and City Tour 
• Explore Table Mountain: Half and Full-Day Hikes
• Cape Town: Table Mountain 4-Hour Hiking Adventure 

Photo credit: Olga Ernst / Wikipedia

Walk with the Penguins at Boulders Beach

Boulders Beach is located in the Cape Peninsula, near Simon’s Town towards Cape Point, near Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Cape Town has many beautiful beaches, but Boulders Beach offers up something the others don’t – a large colony of African penguins!

These African penguins are only found on the coastlines of Southern Africa – South Africa & Namibia. They are adapted to live in a warmer climate and you can see these little birds up close at Boulders Beach. It is located approximately one hour’s drive south of the city center. At the beach, an observation platform gives you the option to observe the penguins. There is a small conservation fee, which goes towards ensuring the future of this sadly endangered species.

Here’s a selection of the best tours that go to Boulders Beach:

• Boulders Beach Penguin Colony: Kayak Trip
• Table Mountain, Penguin Colony & Cape Point Shared Tour 
• Cape Point and Penguin Explorer Full-Day Tour from Cape Town
• 9-hour Cape Peninsula Guided Cycling Tour
• Cape Peninsula and Penguin Colony Full Day Tour
• Cape Peninsula Full-Day Tour from Cape Town
• Cape Point Full-Day Tour From Cape Town
• Private Cape Point & Peninsula Full-Day Tour
• Cape Peninsula Full-Day Shared Tour with Penguins

Photo credit: Ralph / flickr

Tour the World Famous Cape Wineries

If you want to explore outside the city borders Cape Winelands is one of your choices. It spreads out around the famous wine-making regions of Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek. Here you’ll find some of the world’s finest vintages.

Groot Constantia has been producing wine of outstanding quality uninterruptedly since 1685 with its award-winning wines still celebrated around the world today. The Simon’s and Jonkershuis restaurants at Groot Constantia offer visitors al fresco dining expertly paired with the estate’s award-winning wines.

If you have limited time then one of the best ways to see several different wineries is to book a tour on the Franschhoek Wine Tram. You can enjoy wine tasting, go for a tour of the cellars or a gourmet meal in a local farm restaurant with breathtaking views. Another wineries that you could add to your list are the iconic vineyard Spier Wine Farm.

Photo credit: Delyth Angharad / flickr

Visit Kirstenbosch Gardens

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens is an oasis in Cape Town’s city center. Nestled beneath Table Mountain, this botanical garden is one of the most famous places to visit in Cape Town, this garden is one of the most beautiful in Africa. It is the first botanical garden in the world to be declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004.

It offers many fantastic places to have a picnic. It also hosts concerts between November and April every Sunday, art exhibitions and more.

Photo credit: John Hickey-Fry / flickr

Explore the City’s Culinary Scene

Locally growth produced is boost also by the restaurants who offer fresh, local ingredients. The South African capital has a unique multi-cultural heritage that inspired culinary scene influences. The wineries themselves often house some of the region’s best restaurants. It has some pretty amazing restaurants, some of whom have earned internatonal awards.

V&A Waterfront Food Hall is one of the best places to eat in town.
Cape Town’s coolest restaurant strip is Bree Street in the Central Business District.

Photo credit: SkyPixels / flickr

Explore Bo-Kaap

Bo-Kaap is known for its brightly coloured homes and cobble stoned streets. The area is traditionally a multicultural neighbourhood with immigrants from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, India and Indonesia, and most of its population is Muslim.
Translated from Afrikaans, Bo Kaap means ‘Above the Cape’ and it has a long history dated back to the 1760s. It is a former township, situated on the slopes of Signal Hill above the city center and is a historical center of Cape Malay culture in Cape Town.

The area is filled with history, visit the museum for a glimpse of the past and find out about the architectural heritage.

Camps Bay

Camps Bay is considered Cape Town’s most beauteous living. It’s also known for its white sands and dolphin sightings, natural rock swimming pool and views of the Twelve Apostles mountains. Just a walk from the beach where you can find many trendy restaurants and cafes, cozy accommodation.

Nearby you’ll find also the Promenade Mall boutiques selling fashion and beachwear and the intimate Theatre on the Bay performing drama, musicals, and comedy.

Photo credit: Stockvault

Walk Around the Beaches

Cape Town is home to some of the most picture-perfect beaches in the world, each with its own unique advantages.
The beaches along the False Bay coastline boast warm water and good swimming conditions when the Atlantic coast beaches have much colder water with a brilliant shade of turquoise.

Photo credit: flowcomm / flickr

Zeitz Museum of Contemporary African Art

Zeitz Museum offers the largest collection of contemporary African art on the continent features works from all over the diaspora. You can check out the Afro-futurist goggles by Cyrus Kabiru, anti-patriarchal needlework by Ghada Amer, oil portrait by Kehinde Wiley, and cowhide sculptures by Nandipha Mntambo.

The museum located at the V&A Waterfront opened on September 22, 2017.

Responsible Tourism is a unique approach to the management of tourism, which aims to maximize the benefits of the destination for both tourists and locals.

Want to learn more about South Africa? Check our other posts.
Main photo credit: Pe_Wu / Wikipedia