Navigating Cape Town: Four hot spots to discover

Cape Town is packed with activities everyone will love - from 4x4 driving to restaurants, history and more.

Sometimes, even local Capetonians can feel like tourists in the Mother City, because with so much at your fingertips, it’s difficult to know what to do in your free time. You could visit penguins, climb boulders, treat your tastebuds to different cuisines, adventure through 4x4 trails, surf the famous Dungeons, or indulge in the artistic culture of Cape Town. 

We know it’s tough! That’s why we’ve put together this guide - so you don’t miss out on four hot spot destinations for your holiday in the Cape. We’ve also included insights into which Suzuki to use to get the most out of each adventure.

Four Hot Spots for weekends in Cape Town

1. Meet friends for dinner on Bree Street on a Friday night

Cape Town’s Bree Street comes alive on Friday nights. With a stretch of popular restaurants, art galleries, a Rook Ride with Rook Cycles, and night markets, Bree Street is the ideal place to experience different tastes, art styles, and explore the city. Featuring incredible attractions like La Parada, Max Bagels, and Tuft Crowd, you can get everything from custom burgers to buttered lobster, gourmet milkshakes and even hand-tuft your very own rug! 

As with all popular hang-outs, parking can become a bit of a nightmare, especially if you want to arrive when that late-night energy kicks in. That’s why driving a smaller hatchback, like the Swift, is a great solution for fitting into those little side-street spaces.  Or even better, make use of an Uber shuttle service, and, if you're lucky, you might even get picked up by an Uber driver in a Ciaz, Dzire or Ertiga.

2. Enjoy a family outing to Kalk Bay

Known not only for its beautiful beach-town atmosphere, Kalk Bay boasts a host of great restaurants and activities for families to enjoy on a lazy Saturday. 

Again, parking can be tricky depending on when you arrive, but a family-sized hatchback like the Baleno is sure to always find a spot along the main road. It’s best to arrive early, take a leisurely walk down the pier and say hello to the local seals, grab lunch at Olympia Bakery, and then perhaps spend time wandering the Kalk Bay Bookstore or lazing on the beach. Best of all, you can end your day with an ice-cream cone from Ice Cafe, choosing from any of their flavours of the month. 

3. Adventure in the Cederberg Mountain Trails

If city slicking gets too much, and the vast landscape surrounding the Mother City beckons those adventurous hearts, take a drive to the Cederberg. Only an hour and a half drive from the city, this impressive mountain range features numerous camping sites, hiking trails, 4x4 tracks, and unexplored waterfalls. 

Even if you don’t drive a sturdy SUV, like the Grand Vitara, the Cederberg are open to you. Most roads, especially those to popular camping sites and hiking trails, are tarred and accommodate almost any vehicle. If you like going off-road, this is the perfect hot spot for you to visit. The 4x4 trails take you into the mountains, exploring landscapes that few get to lay their eyes on, and putting your driving skills to the test. 

4. Road trip to Cape Point

You might find great food, novelty activities, beautiful beach towns, and mountain trails elsewhere… but what Cape Town offers that no other city can, is the stunning Cape Point. 

Cape Point is a pristine nature reserve located at the (you guessed it) most southern point of the Cape Town area (only beaten by Cape Agulhas, which is found to the east). It boasts undisturbed beaches, roaming wildlife, scenic drives through the coastal fynbos landscapes, and a stunning restaurant just below the iconic stone-built lighthouse. 

Getting there can be an adventure in itself. Beginning early in the day for the two- hour drive sees you setting out from the city centre, passing between the city’s two famous peaks (Table Mountain and Lion’s Head), and an urban SUV comfortably makes the trip through Camp’s Bay, along the cascading Chapman’s Peak Drive (perhaps stopping for a snack Noordhoek Farm or Jakes on The Common), and through the Cape beach towns until you arrive at the nature reserve for a light lunch. 

So, whether you find yourself driving an urban SUV, a family hatch, or any Swift, Cape Town has something for everyone. The beautiful Mother City encourages exploration, both in and out of the city, because there are incredible discoveries  around every corner. 

Adventuring through the Cape can be a blast, but only when you ensure that you’re safe at all times. Read our free driver protection and safety eBook here. 

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