A brief walk in Africa's most livable city

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Cape Town, South Africa has won prestigious international travel awards because it combines state-of-the-art amenities with a relaxed pace for life and beautiful scenery which makes for an ideal mix of work and play.

Here are the things to look forward to if you are considering settling in, or at least visiting Cape Town.

1. Catch a cable car up Table Mountain

Enjoy the calm view from Table mountain by following a cable car up the iconic mountain and back down. However, if you crave an adrenaline rush, follow a 112m rope down the mountain by abseiling. Another way up the summit is hiking up the trail on foot. It's also possible to camp for five days along the long-distance Hoerikwaggo Trail up from the Cape of Good Hope.

2. Dive into shark-infested waters

South Africa has an incredibly diverse shark population. A quarter of the world’s shark species (98 to be precise) dwell in South African waters and around 40 of these call the waters around Cape Town home. In Gansbaii, the white shark capital of the world, it is very possible to shark cage dive. Prices are round R1,100 for a session.

3. Try the best South African food

Cape Town's has some of the best food to get your gastronomy juices flowing. Around the central city, find dishes that like tender Chalmar beef fillet with oxtail.

4. Get a history lesson

Robben Island and the District Six Museum are must-visits for anyone interested in the history of South Africa, like the period of apartheid, which came to an end in 1990. Robben Island is a symbol cruel oppression and the triumph of hope, having held the former leader of the free and democratic South Africa, Nelson Mandela, in its maximum security prison for 18 years. The award-winning community museum, District Six symbolises the time when the ruling government declared the area ‘whites only’ and the coloured people had their houses were reduced to rubble.

5. Visit the beaches

Wishing to dip your foot in the water? Head to one of these secluded sandy shores for some undisturbed rest and relaxation. Beta Beach is situated a convenient ten minutes’ drive from the city centre, Oudekraal lies right next door to Beta Beach, Smitswinkelbaai is in the direction of Cape Point and Tietiesbaai is just under two hours’ drive from town. They offer exciting packages like snorkelling, etc.

7. Explore Africa's street food

Cape Town offers adventurous street food worth travelling halfway around the world for. Xhosa fare like samp (crushed maize used in porridge), marog (African spinach), spongy injeras (flatbreads) from Ethiopia, or Cape Malay cuisine.

8. Take home an African memento

Visiting Africa and not taking back a momento is such a wasted opportunity. There are so many tourist markets in South Africa you can visit to get quality and well-priced artefacts. Visit the Pan African Market, Greenmarket Square, Heartworks, Imagenius, Baraka for lots of old folk art, souvenir garments, and a broad range of local crafts from rural Africa.

9. Discover the Cape Jazz rhythm

Cape Town’s jazz scene is a stems from artists finding inspiration in their struggles during the apartheid years — a crucial part of its heritage. The city’s rich jazz music has also evolved into its own genre, Cape Jazz, a style with a distinct African spice. Visit a Jazz bar in town or anticipate the popular Cape Town Jazz festival.