Live in Africa's Leading City Destination of the Year
Category Property news
Cape Town was recently named Africa's Leading City Destination at the 2022 World Travel Awards. It comes as no surprise, with over 28 million tourists choosing to visit annually, and some so captured by its beauty that they choose to move to the Mother City permanently.
Local and international tourists flock to Cape Town year-round for the abundance of natural beauty and world-class lifestyle with every imaginable convenience. From the vibrant, bustling city centre and beautiful beaches to the historic Winelands and magnificent landmarks like Table Mountain, the winner of Africa's Leading Attraction for the fourth year in a row.
Cape Town is undoubtedly one of the best places to live in South Africa, and locals agree. In 2021, 35% of people who semigrated from other national cities chose to relocate to Cape Town, settling across the many neighbourhoods that cater to their preferred lifestyle.
The city is very safe, but like other major global cities, you need to be aware of your surroundings and exercise caution. Stay in well-lit areas at night or use ridesharing services like Uber or the MyCiTi bus system to get around. During peak hours, locals usually flood the city, especially in well-populated, busy areas.
Regardless of which view you'd like to wake up to, from the vast cityscape with views of Table Mountain and the endless Atlantic Ocean to world-famous Winelands known the world over, Cape Town can offer you a beautiful life, wherever you choose to settle.
ENTERTAINMENT AND DINING
From the club-going avid socialite to the food and wine connoisseur and the cultural enthusiast, there are plenty of entertainment options for every type of person in the Mother City.
The bustling nightlife scene offers a variety of experiences across the spectrum from glamourous to grungy at lounges and clubs to pubs, bars and live music venues. While Long Street has always been the standard for nightlife, the streets that run parallel, Bree and Loop, have also become increasingly popular with locals and foreigners. These streets are decorated with top-notch restaurants, cafés and wine bars that serve delicious local and international cuisine paired with award-winning local wines.
For those who want to experience a cultural experience, Cape Town's colourful history and rich, multicultural heritage are worth exploring through gallery visits, walking tours of historical areas like Bo-Kaap, museums like the District Six Museum and ZEITZ Museum of Contemporary African Art, and performance venues like Artscape Theatre Centre.
On the first Thursday of every month, the inner streets of the city come alive as cultural enthusiasts explore art galleries and attend events in support of the local art scene. Restaurants, bars and lounges often close sections of the street to allow for more interactive experiences.
THE BEAUTIFUL OUTDOORS
For those who prefer being one with nature, Cape Town is nothing less than a haven for outdoor lovers. From tanning on one of the many beautiful beaches along the coast to mountain hikes that lead to waterfalls and picturesque walking trails through forests with towering pine trees, you can choose the outdoor lifestyle that suits your mood.
If you're not active but still enjoy the outdoors, there is a wide selection of parks, gardens and other green spaces like Company's Garden, Green Point Park and Biodiversity Garden, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and Constantia Greenbelt. These are ideal for families with children and dogs.
Cape Town also offers outdoor experiences that cannot be had anywhere else in the world. Boulders Beach is the only place in the world where you can relax on the beach surrounded by African penguins and the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway allows you to summit Africa's Leading Attraction and one of the New 7 Wonders of the World in less than five minutes.
For wine lovers, Cape Town has around 900 estates producing more than 9000 labels annually. The closest to the city centre is the Constantia Wine Valley, the country's oldest wine region, but if you drive just 40 minutes outside of the city, you can explore Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. These charming towns offer spectacular mountain and valley views and are home to some of the country's best restaurants and centuries-old vineyards that produce world-renowned, award-winning wines.
SWEET ESCAPES
If a day isn't enough to see all the wine farms in the region, simply stay at the wine farm of your choice for a few days or book into one of the many accommodation options in either Stellenbosch or Franschhoek.
Franschhoek is nestled in one of the most beautiful wine valleys in the world. The village is lined with restaurants, cafés and galleries, and is where you can hop on the Wine Tram that offers an easy hop-on, hop-off way to experience the cuisine and wine farms in the valley.
Just an hour outside of the city, in the opposite direction along the West Coast, there are beautiful coastal towns with unspoilt beaches like Yzerfontein, Langebaan and Paternoster and amazing mountainside villages like Citrusdal and Clanwilliam to spend a few relaxing days exploring.
Two hours out, in the semi-arid Karoo, you can experience a safari at Aquila or Inverdoorn, private game reserves that allow you to experience the Big Five and an abundance of other wildlife up close.
If you prefer being in or near the city, there is a wide range of options for staycations along the Atlantic Seaboard. Hire an Airbnb with spectacular views in Sea Point, Bantry Bay or Clifton, or treat yourself by booking into one of the boutique hotels in sun-drenched Camps Bay and live your best life along the famed beachfront strip at one of the many gourmet restaurants and chic cafés.
MAKE IT YOUR HOME
Cape Town is a diverse, multicultural destination with a melting pot of interesting people from all over the world. There is an abundance of fascinating places to explore, plenty of memorable experiences to be had and a plethora of beautiful neighbourhoods to settle in, evidenced by the large community of expats who have chosen to set down roots in this vibrant, cosmopolitan city.
If you're interested in making Cape Town or the greater Western Cape your home, give us a call at +27 21 763 4120 or email info@greeff.co.za to get in touch with one of our area specialists.
Author: Greeff Christie's International Real Estate
