South Africa, Part 4: Cape Town (2/2)

If you haven't read the other stories in this South Africa guide, make sure to do so before you'll read this bit! Earlier on, we have traveled from Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth and from 'PE' to 'CT'. In this second and last story about Cape Town, we will check out contemporary African art in quite a special silo museum, and climb the world famous Table Mountain that can't be missed when you're in Cape Town.

Climbing Table Mountain.

So basically everywhere in Cape Town, you will be able to see the famous Table Mountain, the mountain which is, indeed, shaped like a table! And because the top bit of the mountain is so flat, it's very tempting to hike up and take in the vista. There are several routes to the top of Table Mountain, and for all routes there's probably two important tips: make sure you have enough water, and leave early!

Some pictures from the top.

We took the easiest, but already rather steep 'Platteklip Gorge' route up, and although we had enough water on us, we left too late in the morning and in January, the weather become quite hot around mid-day. Because the way up is easier than the way down, we decided not to take the same route back down, but go for the easy option: the cable car!

Taking the cable car down, back to the city.

After losing so much sweat and calories on our way up Table Mountain, we're allowed to have a big lunch at what's probably the most fancy restaurant in town: Loading Bay. From here, it's also a small walk to the colorful houses of Bo-Kaap. This bit of Cape Town wasn't always as sunny and bright: during Apartheid, these houses weren't allowed to be painted in all these colors. In the Bo-Kaap Museum, you can learn that "the brightly coloured facades are attributed to an expression of freedom by the new homeowners, as all the houses were painted white while on lease."

Bo-Kaaps house facades are brightly colored.

To learn something about the state of contemporary African art on the last day in South Africa, we visit the grain silo turned museum Zeitz MOCAA; the Museum of Contemporary Art Africa. As the only museum in Africa which is solely focused on African art, this museum is a must-visit. My tip: take the glass elevator all the way to the top, check out the former grain silos from above (see the video below) and work your way down. You will not be dissapointed.

After traveling from 'Jozi', to 'PT', after driving the Garden Route all the way across South Africa, after stopping over in the whale watching village of Hermanus, the dried meat capital of Albertinia and the wine lands of Stellenbosch, after checking out the vibrant Kaapse Klopse Festival and visiting the impressive Robben Island Prison, this visit to MOCAA's modern art collection in Cape Town concludes my South Africa guide. I hope you have enjoyed all my words, pictures, vids, tips and tricks. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out!

MOCAA’s contemporary art is a must-see.

Hoi! My name is Joost Bastmeijer, and I’m a Dutch freelance travel writer and photojournalist currently traveling through Africa. Check out my photos on Instagram at instagram.com/joostbastmeijer, or visit my website to see some more of my work: joostbastmeijer.com!