• Trips on Table Mountain Aerial Cableway start at 8am and end as late as 9.30pm, but these times vary seasonally and are weather-dependent. Check on the day by calling the information line on +27 (0)21 424 8181.

• Whale watching: For the best land-based whale watching in the world, try the Cape Overberg coast from Stony Point near Betty’s Bay, along the Kleinmond cliffs, and at Onrus and Hermanus between June and November.

• The best way to see Cape Town is by taking a guided, open-top bus trip that includes the V&A Waterfront, Table Mountain and Camps Bay, among many other landmarks.

• Langebaan on the West Coast has a tidal lagoon that attracts thousands of migratory birds and is also covered in flowers in spring (late August and September).

• If you decide to hike up Table Mountain, go in a group and always let someone know which route you intend taking.

• If you take the cableway to the top of Table Mountain, take a warm jacket because the weather is prone to change unexpectedly, with sudden drops in temperature common.

• Beautiful as they are, Western Cape beaches sometimes have strong undertows, so always swim in designated areas, never swim alone, and listen to lifeguards’ instructions.

• Through interaction with humans, some baboons in the Cape have become opportunistic thieves and scavengers. Keep all food hidden and never feed these animals as they can be treacherous.

The capital of the Western Cape is Cape Town.