Nearby Hout Bay is a delightful fishing village bursting with great restaurants, shopping centres and fun holiday activities, such as sail yachting. For the first-time, visitor, a trip to Cape Town is not complete without a stop at the Robben Island (where Nelson Mandela spent 27 years of his life in jail). Visit the V&A Waterfront with its countless shops, restaurants and cafés. Visit Table Mountain to admire the incredible views. Visit the Cape Peninsula National Park. The Cape Peninsula's dramatic topography and Mediterranean-type climate has produced an enormous array of habitats, which in turn means the park offers an incredibly rich variety of plants and animals. The Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve offers truly awesome scenery, some fantastic walks and deserted beaches, plus the chance to spot rare wildlife. The Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens are amongst the most beautiful in the world and form the centre of one of the 7 floral kingdoms of the world. They are at their best mid August to mid October. More active and adventurous guests might want to try something more unique. Try sharing a ride in a fighter jet over the Cape, or – for those who aren’t too timid – Great White Shark Cage Diving. Abseiling (rappelling) off Table Mountain and Chapman's Peak is very popular. Kloofing is Afrikaans for spelunking and involves climbing, walking, swimming and jumping around in “kloofs” (cliffs or gorges). Mountain hiking is booming as trails are being developed in many local parks and reserves. Local currents create a wide variety of diving conditions, which are best between June and November. The Cape Peninsula also offers fantastic surfing spots for all skill levels. Other sporting options include canoeing, white-water rafting, kayaking, sand-boarding and windsurfing. Simply following the peninsula's many trails is both a great workout and memorable experience.Golfers are spoiled for choice with many fantastic golf courses in the area. If you are interested in SA’s heritage and history, visit South Africa’s oldest building, the Castle of Good Hope, or the District 6 Museum. Finally, a harbour cruise in Table Bay should not be missed.