Cape Town
Top Tourist Attractions
Cape Town has so much to offer as a tourist destination. It is blessed to have South Africa’s top six tourist attractions within one hour’s drive from the city centre, the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, Table Mountain, Cape Point, the Cape Winelands, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and Robben Island, a short boat trip away.
1. Table Mountain
South Africa’s world-renowned icon, Table Mountain, was afforded National Park status in May 1998.
Table Mountain offers something for everyone – magnificent views, cable car rides, mountain-biking, hiking, serious rock climbing, cross country running, fascinating botany, birding and for the more adventurous, abseiling and paragliding. Visitors are treated to a spectacular view during the ride to the top of Table Mountain aboard a modern cable car with a revolving floor.
2. Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
Cape Town’s Victoria and Alfred Waterfront has established itself as a leading world-class waterfront. The unique working harbour with scenic views of Table Mountain combined with entertainment options like shopping, street musicians, museums, an aquarium, boat trips and cinemas promise to make any visit an unforgettable experience.
3. Robben Island
Robben Island is one of South Africa’s four World Heritage sites. This barren windswept island was the prison home of former President Nelson Mandela for 18 years. Here you can experience the view that kept Nelson Mandela’s dream of freedom for his country alive.
4. Winelands/Wine Routes
South Africa and the Western Cape produce some of the world’s best wines. The first wines in South Africa were produced at Steenberg in 1695 and Groot Constantia is the oldest productive wine estate in the country situated within the city of Cape Town.
5. Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
Kirstenbosch is internationally acclaimed as one of the great botanical gardens of the world. Situated on the south eastern slopes of Cape Town’s magnificent Table Mountain, the estate covers 528 hectares and includes a cultivated garden and a nature reserve. Indeed the tiny Cape Peninsula has more floral diversity than the whole of Europe combined.
6. Cape Point
The Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point form part of the Cape Peninsula National Park and are managed by South African National Parks. Visitors can enjoy the 7 750 hectares reserve of indigenous flora and fauna and over 150 bird species and can also travel with the only funicular in Africa to the viewing platform 678 metres above the sea.
Safety and Security
While there may be perceptions to the contrary, Cape Town is as safe as most international cities. Making Cape Town’s Central Business District (CBD) the safest in the country was the main driver behind the establishment of the Central Improvement District (CID) in November 2000. This Public Private Partnership collects over R14,5 million a year from property owners, of which nearly half pays for extra security on the streets of Cape Town’s central city.
A security force of 129 community patrol officers, 15 private security ground patrols and eight mounted patrols keep the streets of the central city of Cape Town safe for all those who work in, visit or live in the city of Cape Town. A 75-camera surveillance network, paid for by the City of Cape Town, assists in keeping crime at bay. In addition, Cape Town now also boasts a municipal police force. Three hundred and fifty officers have already been trained: 35 are allocated to the central city specifically.
Travel to Cape Town
When visiting Cape Town, delegates will mostly arrive and depart by air. Once here, getting around is relatively simple and convenient, whether by rail, taxi, inner city bus or hired car. Both Johannesburg and Cape Town have modern airports with facilities to match. Apart from shops and restaurants, international arrival halls have banks and foreign exchange outlets. There are also business class lounges and many spots at airports have Internet access, either via wireless Internet access or “hot spots” where coverage exists. Many hotels and major cities have extensive wireless coverage.
Allow at least two hours for international check in – but preferably three for travel to the USA or Israel due to increased security measures. An hour is normally adequate for domestic check-in Foreign visitors leaving South Africa may claim back Value Added Tax on purchases from the VAT refund administrator.
The goods and proof of purchase slip have to be shown to the administrator before check-in. There are public telephones, which use coins or phone cards, in all terminals, as well as rentals for mobile phones and SIM cards.
The Cape Town International Convention Centre and other conference venues and hotels in Cape Towh are a mere 30-minute drive from Cape Town International Airport. Whilst a number of international and national carriers service Cape Town International Airport direct on a daily basis, the bulk of carriers terminate in Johannesburg. Cape Town is a short two-hour domestic flight from Johannesburg.
Getting around
By Taxi or Coach
Luxury air-conditioned coaches and shuttle buses will move delegates between the airport, hotels, the CTICC and their functions. Metered taxis are also available.
By Train
Cape Town station is situated within walking distance of the Westin Grand South Africa Arabella Quays Hotel, and the functional Metro Rail system connects the city centre with the northern suburbs, southern suburbs and Cape Flats.
For the Conference
As part of the value-add to the conference, arrival transfers from Cape Town International airport to major conference hotels will take place on the two days immediately preceding the opening of the conference. There will be help desks at the airport with meet and greet services. Transfers between major conference hotels and the venue will also be scheduled, as well as to major events such as the gala dinner.
