Cavorting in Cape Town

Taking the ferry to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years of imprisonment, is also a must.

A look into his tiny prison cell, guided by an ex-political prisoner who explains what life here was like, first-hand, will put a lump in your throat and have you realizing just how far this country has come in such a short period of time.

Dine and Wine

When hunger pangs strike, head into the city center, or City Bowl, as it's commonly called.

Cape Town's scenic setting and cosmopolitan vibe has been attracting top chefs from across the world, and Cape cuisine, as it's becoming known, is a heady mix of the Dutch, French, German, Indian and Malaysian influences that have made this city a multiculti paradise.

Try stylish eatery Savoy Cabbage for its sugar-cured springbok (think African venison) and soba noodles. For live jazz and smoked alligator, check out The Cape Colony, voted one of the top 10 hotel restaurants in the world. Along Kloof Street -- the Dining Mile to those in the know -- the casual Cafe Gainsborough doesn't take reservations, so get there early for a sidewalk spot to enjoy the view of Table Mountain. Reboville, a former bank now specializing in local seafood to order, features over 12,000 bottles of wine in the original vaults downstairs.

Speaking of wine, a trip unto itself (or a lost weekend, depending on your thirst) is to spend a day or two driving the beautiful Winelands, just a short drive out of the city.

It's home to many of the country's star vintners such as Vergelegen, De Toren, Meerlust and Klein Constantia (the latter famous for the Vin de Constance that caused Jane Austen to wax rhapsodic).

Or check out oenophile John Platter's definitive guide to South African vineyards and buying tips.

Alternatively, make your way to neighboring Stellenbosch and use the hop-on, hop-off Vinehopper Bus to tour five of the estates without worrying about getting behind the wheel.

Whatever you do, be sure to "discover" a bottle of savory Pinotage, which South Africa claims as its own. It was created here in the early 20th century by blending pinot noir with hermitage.

Active Time

	Breathtaking Tabletop

To sweat out all that alcohol, Cape Town has plenty for the outdoor enthusiast, too. After all, this city is surrounded by an enormous national park.

Hikes through the forests and mountain trails are easily accessible, waymarked and even offer baggage portering. An expedition up to the top of Table Mountain is a must-do. (Go early, before "the tablecloth" -- the white clouds that envelop the mesa-like top each afternoon -- obscures the view.)

On a clear day, you can see both sides of the Cape as it juts into the ocean, and the views of the 12 peaks of the 12 Apostles are inspiring -- if only they didn't block the view of Cape Point at its tip.

If that's not how you like to sweat it out, Cape Town's famed nightlife is headquartered in de Waterkant. A derelict part of town five years ago, it's now the hottest neighborhood in town with some of the best preserved colonial architecture. Try the Cafe Manhattan or the big dance floors of Opium.

The famous explorer Sir Francis Drake called Cape Town "the fairest cape in all the circumference of the earth." Almost 500 years later, you'd be hard-pressed to prove him wrong.

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