The World Design Capital – An Ideal Place For Inspiration

Heading back towards the Atlantic Seaboard, just past Hout Bay is Seal Island, which is well known for its Great White Shark spotting since the island is packed with the shark’s favourite meal. And if getting up close and personal with these toothy mammals is what floats your metaphorical boat, Gaansbaai offers shark-cage diving for those who want to see this magnificent creature in its natural environment. Other marine life that can be spotted around Seal Island include whales and dolphins.

Before a groan escapes your lips at the mere mention of the word “history”, let me assure you that I am not about to bore you with details of Jan van Riebeeck, but rather elaborate on places like Simons Town and Robben Island. Home to South Africa’s largest naval base, Simons Town is a hub of activity, with Boulders Beach being a major attraction. About 3000 African penguins waddle around in amongst the massive rocks and visitors are able to be on the beach and in the water with them – but as with most cute-looking animals, these little creatures are fierce and bite hard.

Simon’s Town sometimes spelled Simonstown, is a town near Cape Town, South Africa, which is home to the South African Navy

Many people will know of Robben Island as being the place where the world’s most famous president, the late Nelson Mandela spent 18 years imprisoned. The island has since become a major tourist attraction, taking visitors around to see the school, hospital, leper colony and military base that were there, as well as, most notably, Mandela’s actual prison cell.

Cape Town as a whole has a very warm summer climate, which invites some of the world’s best supermodels, photographers and actors to its shores. Many movies are filmed in Cape Town, so the chance of you bumping into an A-lister there is high.

An unknown fact to many is that The Mother City was voted the World Design Capital in 2004. The WDC is run every second year and as per their website, recognises the accomplishments of cities that are truly leveraging design as a tool to improve the social, cultural and economic life of cities, throughout a yearlong program of design-related events. The J&B Met, held annually at the Kenilworth Racecourse, is a perfect example of this, as 2016 saw the haute couture equestrian event come to life with a theme of “A Rare Blend”. Bidders staked their claims, while fashionistas strutted their stuff alongside well-groomed ponies. Music from local artists blared over the speakers and it was considered a great day out for all.

For those who like to experience the crisp, clean air of Cape Town, from nothing more than a bicycle seat, clad-in spandex, the Cape Town Cycle Tour (formerly the Cape Argus) is the largest timed cycling event in the world. Mapping out 109km of the Cape Town’s roads, from the Misty Hills of Scarborough to Muizenburg and Chapman’s Peak, this tour is attended by over 35 000 riders annually, including foreigners.

Tourists, celebrities, and even locals based in other areas of South Africa tend flock to this location, and with all that it has to offer it is clear as to why.

Simon’s Town is now in effect a suburb of greater Cape Town