Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront Provides Relaxation and a Historic Introduction to South Africa

Photo by Clive DeBruyne - Cape Town Tour Guide Co.

Cape Town has emerged over the past few decades as one of the leading tourist destinations in the world. It serves as an attractive and exotic gateway for visitors seeking to experience the majesty of South Africa's game preserves, its extraordinary landscapes, the history of the Zulu Nation, the relaxation of wine country and other adventures.

For practical reasons, the economy of Cape Town has always focused on trade and commerce. Dutch merchants and bankers needed a place for their ships to replenish supplies when traveling around the Cape of Good Hope enroute to faraway lands, and so did the British fleets in later years. Moreover, the farmers, colonists and native people of the region were for many generations completely dependent on imports for basic manufactured goods. One of the places in Cape Town which reflects these traditions is the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront district, commonly known as the V&A. The V&A largely consists of reclaimed land that was once part of the colonial harbor constructed during the British occupation. Prince ALfred, who was the second son of Britain’s Queen Victoria, visited the Cape Colony in 1860 as a sixteen-year old Royal Navy Midshipman. He inaugurated the construction of the first basin of the harbor, and later, the second basin was named after his mother. While British visitors often think it was misnamed and should be the Victoria and Albert Waterfront, Alfred is the correct name.

Beginning in 1988, a state-owned transport corporation launched an ambitious plan to redevelop the generally run-down docks and warehouses that once covered the harbor area by upgrading the port facilities there and constructing a series of neighborhoods with modern housing, tourist attractions, and shopping areas. Today the V&A offers an impressive range of activities that should be sampled as part of any introduction to the city and the nation it represents. Because of the overall ambience of the location, it is considered by some people to be South Africa's most popular destinations. With the scenery of Table Mountain on one side, the harbor and boats on the other, and plenty of entertainment options in between, it is the kind of place that makes people relax as they begin to explore the many fascinating sites of South Africa. Here are some great things to see there:

Shopping - The V&A Waterfront consists of nine different districts or neighborhoods. Retail shops and stores are quite prominent in five of them. In total, the waterfront has more than 450 retail outlets which are located within several different shopping centers and in standalone stores.

Some of the most popular retail items for purchase at these retail outlets include jewelry and gems, local and imported fashions, leather goods, technology equipment and housewares. It is one of the few shopping areas in South Africa that has been successful in attracting luxury brands from Commonwealth Nations and around the world such as Gucci, Versace, and Pringle of Scotland. The largest shopping establishment there is the two-story Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre. This center was originally constructed in 1992, but it has been upgraded several times since then to add space and a more modern look. With three anchor stores and hundreds of other stores and eateries, it is a popular place to cool off or to spend some time in between visiting the many attractions nearby. One place with a more local flair is The Watershed where local tenants sell their wares, arts and crafts. Another emerging shopping area is the Clock Tower Retail Center which can be reached directly from the mainland or by crossing a movable bridge. In addition to some stylish shops, there is an artistic theme and feel to the place.

Food - Food establishments are also a popular place to spend time at the V&A. There are several dozen restaurants and cafes interspersed throughout the districts and many offer outdoor dining with pleasant views. Some people also visit the V&A Food Market or the Oranjezicht City Farm Market to purchase fresh produce and local delicacies for home cooking or consumption there.

Attractions - Like other successful city waterfronts, the V&A also contains numerous attractions to bring people down to the site. One popular place is the Cape Town Diamond Museum at which visitors can learn about the process of producing diamonds and see how South African merchants design and cut these precious gems from representatives of the Shamansky jewelry firm. There is also the 131foot high Cape Ferris wheel which revolves on a pier next to the water and offers spectacular views of the cityscape for 15 minutes. Other attractions include the Two Oceans Aquarium, the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary African Art, several cinemas, and a waterfront amphitheater where artists perform on a regular basis. While not technically part of the waterfront district, the massive Cape Town stadium located nearby is visible from all directions. This 55,000-seat arena was built for the 2010 World Cup and now serves as the home stadium for soccer, rugby and cricket teams, and a regular concert venue.

Maritime Happenings - It is important to remember that the V&A Waterfront remains an operating harbor with some shipping piers nearby, a marina district for local yachtsmen, a fishing fleet, and a cruise terminal. Cape Town has emerged as a point of embarkation and a destination stop for an increasing number of cruise ships. MSC, Azamara, Oceania, and Crystal Cruises now have itineraries that include stops in Cape Town during the summer months of December to March. Landlubbers can also enjoy the water by taking short cruises from boat operators to see Table Bay or to enjoy seals and other marine life.

Historic Sites - The V&A Waterfront is the “gateway” to the Robben Island Museum where anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela spent the bulk of his incarceration.Situated just a few kilometers offshore from Cape Town, thsi barren, windswpet island was “home” to Mandela for almost 20 years. Instead of silencing him, the island became the focal point for international resistance. Today, it has become a symbol of freedom, the transformative power of forgiveness and a place of political pilgrimage. The entire island is now A United Nations World Heritage Site.

How to Get Here - Once you arrive in Cape Town, you can always find the V&A Waterfront by heading away from Table Mountain towards the water. Getting to Cape Town has become easier in recent years since an increasing number of airlines now offer direct service to the city and others have convenient European connections. British Airways flies direct from London, Air France flies direct from Paris, KLM flies direct from Amsterdam, Lufthansa flies direct from Frankfurt and Emirates flies direct from Dubai to Cape Town. Each of these flights takes 9 to 11 hours.

When to Go - The weather in Cape Town is generally pleasant for enjoying the waterfront during South Africa's spring, summer, and fall seasons which take place from October until April. From May to September the nights can be cool, and rainstorms are more frequent but there is still plenty to see and do during that season.

Where to Stay - There are more than a dozen quality hotels at the V&A Waterfront including some of South Africa's leading luxury properties. These include the One and Only Cape Town, Cape Grace Hotel, and the Table Bay Hotel, among others.

This Article was written with the assistance of Clive De Bruyne of The Cape Town Tour Guide Co., a certified, independent tour guide and travel consultant.