Cradled by spectacular mountain and beach scenery, cosmopolitan Cape Town, South Africa’s premier tourist destination, is a haven for the soul in more ways than one.

1. Walk up Table Mountain
Cape Town’s most defining landmark, Table Mountain, with its well-known cloudy tablecloth, presides over the Mother City like an imperious, but watchful guardian. If you’re relatively fit, a walk up Platteklip Gorge on a clear morning is both invigorating and spiritually rewarding. Imbibe the spectacular aerial view of the city from the flat table top with the dassies, have breakfast in the restaurant and take the cable car down. For the more adventurous, guided trails of the mountain, called Hoerikwaggo by the indigenous San, can be arranged. The six-day Top to Tip Trail of Table Mountain National Park, from the bottom of the table to the bottom of the spine at Cape Point, includes luxury accommodation. Contact Barry Washkansky (washer77@gmail.com) to climb Devil’s Peak, explore Tranquillity Cracks or discover the Valley of the Red Gods, tailored according to your fitness levels.

2. Sunrise at Cape Point
If the trail is too strenuous, hire a car and head for Cape Town’s southernmost point before the sun comes up. Take a packed breakfast, choose a beach (the reserve offers maps at the entrance, which include historical buildings), but beware of the baboons. Though they’re well-monitored, tourists who feed them are partly responsible for their sometimes marauding behaviour. If you’re well-heeled and want to really bliss out, hire a self-catering cottage in the reserve (http://www.capestay.co.za/capepointcottage/) and take advantage of the complimentary massages.


3. Spa at V&A
In need of inner rejuvenation to banish shopping woes? The Cape Grace spa at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront has a sauna, steam room, mineral spa bath, rain shower, body shower as well as an indoor pool to wash away stress and strain. Or have a refreshing facial, wax treatment or one of a range of other beauty treats to get your boy in tiptop condition. Owned by Dubai developers, the massive mall with restaurants and shopping of every description, has a spectacular view of the reclaimed yacht basin and boasts South Africa’s biggest aquarium.

4. Picnic at Boschendal wine estate
One of South Africa’s most famous wine estates, Boschendal, originated by the French Huguenots in 1685, is a healing balm for the travel-weary spirit. While the restaurant, housed in a Cape Dutch-style manor house dating back to 1812, offers buffet luncheons and Le Café light lunches and teas, a specially packed picnic on the grass, complemented by a selection of the finest Cape wines, is the best way of combining social and spiritual aspects of your soul. If you want to get out into the country, there are plenty of other wine estates to choose from near Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. For a unique experience, head for Solms-Delta, a modern wine estate with a museum commemorating the slaves who worked there over the centuries, and order a tailored picnic from the Fyndraai restaurant.

5. Chill out at Bakoven
Nestled below a cluster of quaint seaside cottages between Llandudno and Hout Bay, Bakoven Beach offers secluded bathing and a wild view of the sea from a set of large boulders. A great spot for relaxing or a mellow cocktail party when it’s not too hot, the idyllic cove is much more intimate than Camps Bay, its upmarket neighbouring big sister. The backdrop of majestic mountains makes for pure surreal escapism; beach bathing doesn’t get more spiritual than this.

6. Jazz in Green Point
Feed your soul with soothing jazz and delectable eats in happening Green Point. The Best Ugly Rhythm Bar and Restaurant in Main Road is perfect for light starters and laidback entertainment, while the Pigalle Restaurant offers upmarket seafood and Mediterranean fare. Or get Cuban at the Bueno Vista Social Club, which has a really laidback vibe and chilled latino vibes to transport your mind. Guest houses and holiday accommodation make this area, close to the new soccer stadium being built for the 2010 World Cup, a popular haunt for trendy tourists.

7. Surf lesson in Kalk Bay/Muizenberg
Muizenberg, with its long white beaches and gentle, consistent waves, is popular with professionals and beginner surfers alike. If you’ve never tried it and want to experience the natural high of hitting the lip, contact Gary’s Surf School (+27-21-788-9839) for affordable lessons. For those already in the loop, surfboards are also available for rental. Or try the Surf Shack School (+27-21-788-9286) where professional, experienced instructors will ensure you get hot coffee at the coffee bar after you’ve caught a wave.

8. Horseriding on Noordhoek Beach
An endless expanse of white sand, Noordhoek Beach, on the other side of Chapman’s Peak, the sheer illusion of boundlessness is sure to open even the most jaded soul. Though it’s often too windy to bask in the sun, horserides, from Kommetjie past the Kakapo shipwreck, are the most adventurous way to experience the area’s spirituality. Contact the Imhoff Equestrian Centre on 082-774-1191 or info@sunsetbeach.co.za for a champagne breakfast along the way.

9. Sundowners on Chapman’s Peak
Winding 9km from Noordhoek to Hout Bay, Chapman’s Peak Drive, which was carved into the mountain nearly 100 years ago, offers spectacular 180-degree views of the Atlantic Ocean. Picnic spots and viewpoints are dotted along the way and provide the perfect setting for an evening sundowner. Don’t forget your camera; the dramatic manganese-layered cliffs and seascapes make this one of the world’s most famous marine drives, especially when the whales are mating.

10. Sunset concert in Kirstenbosch Gardens
Besides being Cape Town’s premier showcase of indigenous flora, spectacular Kirstenbosch Gardens in Newlands offer visitors panoramic views from the lower slopes. Open 365 days a year, the gardens are ideal for a long leisurely strolls, with or without dogs, or a laidback picnic, stocked with delectable fare from the Fynbos Deli, during the day. Or sample world-class cuisine in style at the Silvertree Restaurant. Popular with locals and tourists alike, the gardens range from interesting herbs to local fynbos and rare cycads. For a really novel experience, take a walk in the ‘blind garden’ where plants can be identified by smell and touch. If you’re there on a Sunday evening during November to April, unwind on the grass and tune into one of the many international and national musical acts between 5.30pm and 6.30pm.

(Published in Aquarius, Dubai. Copyright owned by the author.)