May 2020
All dressed up and nowhere to go? The Mother City has you covered this winter as you explore the city from the comfort of your own couch. Some old, some new, and some just for you!
The truth is, COVID-19 and Lockdown-2020 have knocked us all for a six, but thanks to the development in online technologies over the past few decades, you can still enjoy our beautiful city while ‘stuck’ at home.
The current state of world health has made some significant changes to the world of travel and tourism, and Cape Town is no different. However, with our online technologies, personal adaptabilities, and persevering can-do-ness, it wasn’t long before the city came together as a whole to keep you engaged during these restricting times.
The Covid Couch
If a picture is worth a 1 000 words, then a virtual tour is worth a lot more. Then add another 1 000 words on top of that for a virtual tour in full 360-capability!
If you find yourself missing the city sights as much as we do, then hop aboard a virtual route with us as we travel around the city, giving you the reigns behind a full 360° view. City Sightseeing’s free 360° Virtual Tour is an experience for the whole family, and you can view it from your desktop or mobile device. Feel like you’re on the Big Red Bus again, and remind yourself why we’re the best way to reexplore the city when the time comes.
360° Virtual Tour of Cape town
If you live in Cape Town, are just visiting, or else planning to, there is no need to tell you about our majestic mascot that is Table Mountain (Stop 7). Even classified as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, the easiest way to take in its awe-inspiring views is via the Mountain Aerial Cableway, and with its already 360° functionality, you can now even take a full 360° virtual tour right from your very own home.
As our fleet anxiously awaits the opportunity to stretch their tyres along the open road, you can still view some of our favourite attractions through other virtual tour companies such as 360° South Africa’s who offers dozens of virtual Cape Town tours, let alone hundreds across South Africa. Take a gander at the Cape Point Lighthouse or visit our favourite penguins at Boulder’s Beach (Cape Point and Penguins Tour), explore the V&A Waterfront, walk through the Bo Kaap, or go inside the Cape Town Stadium.
Missing the sunshine, green grass and valleys of vineyards? Groot Constantia - which can be found at stop 25 on our Wine Tour - is one of the country’s grandest and most popular wine estates, and now you can explore the sprawling estate, its two restaurants, museum and a wine tasting facility (sadly with no tasting) through their very own nifty, 360° virtual tour.
Following in the footsteps of perhaps South Africa’s most famous and cherished citizen, Robben Island (Stop 1 or 2) is a well-known stepping stone on the journey that saw Nelson Mandela rise to power. Even if you have visited before, or plan to visit in the near future, you can still take a self-guided gander around the island and explore its rich and wretched history through a unique Google Map view.
You very well may have explored Cape Town’s famous Two Oceans Aquarium (Stop 1) before, but even while you may be confined to your home, the well-trained and dedicated aquarium staff are toiling away to ensure the livelihood of all our favourite ocean residents.
To keep us informed on their progress, the aquarium has launched its own docu-series where you get to meet the team, see how they work, and find out all about the intricate diets, needs and demands of the hundreds of animals in their care.
Two Oceans Aquarium
If its the vibrant sights and sounds of the city streets that you’re after, Juma’s Tours is the first to introduce Woodstock street art walking tour to Cape Town. Recently creating this new online experience, artist Juma Mkwela will take you on a virtual, street-art storytelling experience of the arty suburb, shared live via Google Meet.
Speaking of art…
Whether contemporary, modern, classic or fine, there are a number of art galleries across the city that have opened their virtual doors to the public in order to share their coveted wares and allow you a unique opportunity to do it all remotely.
The Stevenson Gallery in Woodstock is featuring artists stories via their Instagram, website, and other digital channels. The famed Zeitz MOCAA (Stop 2) has opened up a variety of digital avenues with free 3D tours, increasing the content on their YouTube channel, as well as a variety of audio tours available through their SoundCloud channel for talks, interviews and more.
Zeitz MOCAA
The Norval Foundation has also launched a variety of digital channels such as their 360° virtual tour, granting the public access to the museum spaces, paintings, sculptures, installations and even to local and international collaborators. They have also started a #60SecondArt campaign where they share digital stories via YouTube, Instagram and Facebook that focus on one artwork or artist per day from their current displays.
There are many companies who have before or since began offering people across the world the opportunity of the novel virtual safari. From private reserves like Shamwari, to 5-star hotel collections like &BEYOND, and dedicated safari buffs like WildEarth’s safariLIVE, Tintswalo Safari Lodge has also launched free virtual safaris that are available on its social media channels to all its followers.
The game-rich Manyeleti Game Reserve is not only known for its coveted Big 5 sightings, but also for its birdlife and many smaller species and other interesting creatures. Tintswalo’s virtual safaris are uploaded daily on their social media channels and include video footage of actual sightings, as well as some of the exhilarating encounters experienced by its game rangers on patrol.
With so many great digital and virtual options to keep you connected to the Mother City is this phase of isolation, you can keep yourself and the family entertained for hours.
Still craving the real taste of freedom? Here are some great ideas of things to do first once lockdown is over and you can once more explore this beautiful city with us at City Sightseeing.
