Places to Stay in Cape Town
Host to 6 World Cup 2010 group matches, a quarter and a semi-final, Cape Town is not only one of the World Cup’s hubs but also one of the world’s most beautiful cities and the best spot in South Africa for an extended stay. Why? Stunning beaches, fantastic food (especially seafood), great wine (it that’s your poison), fabulous views from Table Mountain and the cutest little penguins you’re ever going to meet...
Stadium
Green Point (capacity: 70,000)
World Cup Games in Cape Town
Friday, 11th June 8.30pm, Game 2 - Group A, Uruguay vs. France
Monday, 14th June 8.30pm, Game 11 - Group F, Italy vs. Paraguay
Friday, 18th June 8.30pm, Game 23 - Group C, England vs. Algeria
Monday, 21st June 1.30pm, Game 30 - Group G, Portugal vs. Korea DPR
Thursday, 24th June 8.30pm, Game 44, Group E, Cameroon vs. The Netherlands
Tuesday, 29th June 8.30pm, Game 56, Round of 16, 1H vs. 2G (winner = 8)
Saturday, 3rd July 4pm, Game 59, Quarter Final, 2 vs. 4 (winner = B)
Tuesday, 6th July, 8.30pm, Game 61, Semi Final, A vs. C (winner = I)
Weather in Cape Town
The bad news is June is in the heart of the South African Winter. The good news is that a Cape Town winter is about the same as June in the UK temperature-wise (day time max 17 °C, night time min 9 °C). Unfortunately, June is also Cape Town’s wettest month – and when it rains, it rains. The city gets over 7 inches of rain in June – the average in the UK even in our wettest months is just over 2 inches. Still, you’re more likely to get sun than rain and when the sun shines, you’ll get days to rival the best of the British Summer. But remember, it’s winter so the days are short – any kick-off after 6pm is going to be floodlit.
Things to do in Cape Town
Take the cable car to the top of Table Mountain (8.30am to 6pm, R160). It takes 4-5 minutes from base to summit and you don’t need to be too fussy about where you stand as the floor of the car rotates as you ascend to the summit. The views from the top are stunning and you’ll probably come across a rock hyrax, a furry little fellow like a big squirrel.
Robben Island (ferries depart 9am, 11am, 1pm and 3pm, R180) has been a convict station, a leper colony and a lunatic hospital, but it's most famous for the 30+ years it was used as a maximum security prison for political prisoners, most notably Nelson Mandela. Ferries depart from the Victoria & Albert Waterfront and tours are often conducted by ex-inmates. Well worth a visit.
Take a stroll around Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens (8am to 6pm, R35). Botanical Gardens may not be your thing, but these are the most stunningly sited botanical gardens in the world, located on the slopes of Table Mountain.
For something a little different, jump in the car or take Metro Rail and a Rikki (minibus taxi, via Simonstown) to Boulders Beach. Why? This is the only place in the world you can swim with penguins – jackass penguins in this case. If you don’t fancy a swim – you can just hang out with them on the beach.
You’re spoilt for choice for beaches. The Atlantic Beach suburbs – Clifton Bay, Camps Bay and Llandudo – are amazing but if you fancy a dip the water’s going to shrink your assets faster than any credit crunch. The False Bay Beaches offer a much more bearable swimming experience.
Nightlife in Cape Town
Most nights out begin in the beach cafes and cocktail bars of the Atlantic Beach suburbs and gravitate towards the City Centre, where the late night action is centred around Long Street. Or you can park yourself in the V&A Waterfront and gravitate from food, to beer, to boogie with little relocation required.
Most of the places to eat are in the City Centre or the V&A Waterfront – go for seafood, steak or venison and wash it down with a glass of the local vintage (South Africa’s Winelands are a short drive away).
Most restaurants stay open late – often til midnight – which is good because that’s just when the clubs are starting to warm up. Cape Town’s not exactly the world’s clubbing capital, but there’s plenty of choice.
Beer-wise, for once it’s not just about the ubiquitous Castle Lager and Windhoek. Cape Town has a few micro-breweries, Mitchells Brewery (at the V&A) and Boston Brewery amongst them, although you’ll have to hunt out their draught offerings in particular.
