Cape Town, South Africa - A Work Trip Filled With Penguins and Amazing Views

A panoramic view from a green hill towards the rocky headland of the Cape of Good Hope and the vast ocean waters in Cape Town.

Some destinations are places you travel to with a holiday in mind. And then there are destinations you arrive at for work, only to realize that, after flying almost 10,000 kilometers to get there, it would be a shame to see nothing more than a conference room and a hotel.

That was our experience in Cape Town. We arrived here together with *le husband for a marketing event organized by the company we were working for, and between presentations, meetings and a pretty busy schedule, we managed to squeeze in a few hours to discover the city and its surroundings.

It wasn’t a typical vacation where you have enough time to explore everything the internet says you “must see”. We only got a glimpse of Cape Town, but maybe that is exactly why it stayed so vividly in my memory. In just one week, we went from township communities and volunteer projects to colorful streets in Bo-Kaap, made our way to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope, met the African penguins at Boulders Beach, enjoyed wine at a beautiful estate and reached the top of Table Mountain just before our flight home.

If I had to describe this experience in three words, they would probably be “business and pleasure”. And honestly, I think it turned into one of the most interesting trips I have ever taken.

Things We Did in Cape Town:

Volunteer Projects That Showed Us a Different Side of Cape Town

If someone asked me what surprised me the most about Cape Town, my answer would not be Table Mountain.

It was the contrast.

Just a few kilometers away from the tourist areas, there are townships where life looks completely different. We had the opportunity to see them thanks to the volunteer projects supported by the company we were working for, and I truly believe this was one of the most valuable parts of our entire trip.

Building a Preschool and Growing a Vegetable Garden

Our first interaction with the local community took place inside a township, where volunteers were building a new facility that would eventually become a preschool, and later expand into a school and a safe space where children could spend their time.

A child wearing colorful clothes seen from behind, walking through a concrete building under construction during a volunteer project in Cape Town.

Colorful mural painting on a concrete wall, depicting a hippopotamus, flamingos, pelicans, butterflies, and a rainbow, created as part of an educational project in Cape Town.

What I found interesting was that the project was about much more than just building a preschool. In the courtyard, there was also a vegetable garden where volunteers were teaching locals how to grow and maintain their own crops. It felt like the kind of support that continues to make an impact even after the volunteers return home.

Local agriculture and volunteer project in a Cape Town township, featuring a vegetable garden grown next to a modest wooden dwelling.

An outdoor community garden with a young sapling in the foreground, vegetable beds set up using recycled tires, and green protective netting in a Cape Town project.

Beyond the center itself, this was the first time I had the chance to see what the townships in Cape Town actually look like. And it was enough to understand just how big the contrast is compared to the image many people have of Cape Town from travel brochures.

View over an informal settlement in a Cape Town township, featuring modest wood and corrugated iron homes, electrical wire networks, and mountains in the background.

Informal township settlement in Cape Town, featuring modest houses built from corrugated iron and wood, electricity poles, and a towering mountain in the background, seen from a dirt path.

Animal Rescue Center

Our next stop was an animal rescue center, where we met some of the animals being cared for there and learned a little about their stories. We did not spend a lot of time there, but it was enough to understand how much effort, care and dedication goes into keeping a place like this running.

A raptor bird inside an enclosure covered with straw at an animal rescue and rehabilitation center in Cape Town, seen through a protective wire mesh.

A volunteer wearing a green t-shirt, bends down to feed several tortoises with green leaves in a specially prepared area of a rescue center in Cape Town.

A leopard gecko with spotted skin resting in a person's palm, captured during a visit to an animal rescue and rehabilitation center in Cape Town.

Several horses inside a wooden shelter with straw bedding, captured on the grounds of an animal rescue and care center in Cape Town.

A hand wearing a blue fleece jacket petting the head of a brown horse with a white blaze on its forehead, on the grounds of an animal rescue center in Cape Town.

Surfing Program in Muizenberg

One of the most interesting projects took us to Muizenberg Beach, considered one of the best spots in Cape Town for beginner surfers.

Here, the volunteers were instructors for children from the local community, teaching them how to surf and, more importantly, giving them the opportunity to spend time in the ocean, build confidence and discover a sport they might not otherwise have had access to.

Brightly colored red, yellow, and green beach huts located near Muizenberg beach, with a parking lot full of cars in the foreground and ocean waves in the background, in Cape Town.

I really loved the location, especially the colorful beach huts that have become such an iconic part of Muizenberg and are now closely associated with the surfing scene in the area.

Surfboards and wetsuits on the sand, prepared as part of a surf volunteer project on a beach in Cape Town, with the ocean in the background.

After spending a few days visiting these projects, I realized they all had one thing in common. They were not just about providing temporary help or donations, but about people sharing their time and knowledge to create more opportunities for the community in the long run. Whether it was education, agriculture, animal care or even surfing, all these projects were built around the same idea: leaving something meaningful behind.

Bo-Kaap and a Traditional Breakfast Experience

One morning, we were surprised to find out that we would be exploring one of Cape Town’s most famous neighborhoods and that, at the end of our walk, a local host would welcome us with a breakfast prepared especially for us. If you know me, you probably already know that the promise of trying traditional food makes me more excited than almost any tourist attraction. 😁

We arrived in Bo-Kaap, the neighborhood famous for its brightly colored houses. Pink, yellow, green, blue and purple facades line the streets, and almost every house seems to have its own personality. The colorful streets have a special charm that makes you want to stop every few steps for yet another photo.

An asphalt street in a neighborhood with houses colored in pastel shades of pink, yellow, and green, with parked cars and a green hill in the background, in the Bo-Kaap area of Cape Town.

An asphalt street lined with houses colored in shades of green and pink in the Bo-Kaap neighborhood of Cape Town, with a mosque tower visible in the distance on the hill.

Our walk ended at the home of a lovely host who was waiting for us with a bowl full of freshly prepared samoosas and dhaltjies. She shared stories about the recipes, the ingredients and how these traditional dishes are an important part of family meals.

A plate filled with traditional Cape Malay fried foods, consisting of crispy triangular samoosas and spicy dhaltjies chili bites.

After spending a few days exploring townships and seeing a side of Cape Town that most tourists don’t usually experience, Bo-Kaap felt like a completely different world. Colorful streets, the smell of delicious food and an atmosphere that makes you slow down, look around and truly enjoy the moment.

Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point

During the weekend before heading back home, we went to explore two of Cape Town’s most iconic landmarks: Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope. As we left the city center behind and started driving along the Atlantic coast, I finally understood why Cape Town is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

On one side, we had the endless ocean, while on the other, mountains and residential neighborhoods built into the slopes, with houses that seemed to have their own perfect view of the sea.

An asphalt parking lot located near the ocean coast, with cars parked along the roadside, a promenade protected by a railing, and rocky hills with buildings in the distance in Cape Town.

Modern residential buildings with a curved design, palm trees, and parked cars on a coastal street, with a mountain slope covered in houses in the background in Cape Town.

Our first stop was in the Camps Bay area, where we enjoyed the view of the beach and the ocean from above. It was one of those places that makes you want to pause for a little longer and simply take it all in.

A green bench placed on a grassy hill, facing a white sandy beach, rocks, and the blue ocean waters in Cape Town.

Dark and golden rocks on the ocean shore, with foamy waves breaking against the coast under a clear sky in Cape Town.

We continued our drive towards Hout Bay, a small fishing harbor where we stopped to admire the boats and had an unexpected encounter: a friendly seal was swimming next to one of them, looking completely comfortable with its unexpected moment in the spotlight. 😁

A marina filled with boats and yachts anchored in the harbor, with a concrete quay in the foreground and massive mountains in the background in Cape Town.

A fur seal swimming on its back in clear turquoise water next to a concrete quay protected by tires in Cape Town.

From here, one of the most spectacular parts of the day began: Chapman’s Peak Drive. The road winds along the cliffs, with a new incredible viewpoint waiting around every corner.

A wide panoramic view of a blue water bay, surrounded by green mountains and a rocky coastline in the distance in Cape Town.

A rocky mountain massif rising from the blue ocean waters in a quiet bay in Cape Town, captured from a high coastal vantage point.

We stopped many times along the way and, honestly, it felt like every new viewpoint was even more beautiful than the one before.

A person walking on a paved path bordered by a metal railing on a high cliff, with a vast view of the blue ocean in Cape Town.

A steep and rocky mountain slope dropping dramatically toward the blue ocean waters on the coast in Cape Town.

On our way to Cape Point, we stopped at a local bakery, Free Range Bakery, to stock up on some energy for the rest of the day. 😋 I was immediately excited by everything on the shelves and the beautifully arranged tables inside. Honestly, I could have easily walked out with one of everything.

The exterior of the Free Range Bakery building, featuring an oval sign on a beige wall, hanging flags, and parked cars in Cape Town.

A rustic wooden table inside the bakery displaying various packaged and unpackaged baked goods, such as cupcakes and meringues in Cape Town.

Our guide probably knew exactly what he was doing when he added that bakery stop to the route, because right after that came a pretty demanding climb with plenty of stairs leading up to Cape Point. Turns out, the energy boost was not optional. 😁

But once we reached the top and saw the views around the old lighthouse, every single step was worth it.

A stone staircase with rustic side walls leading upward toward a white lighthouse with a red roof on a hill in Cape Town.

A steep and prominent cliff extending into the blue ocean, viewed from a vegetation-covered height in Cape Town.

Of course, we couldn’t leave without taking a few photos with the famous signpost pointing towards some of the world’s most iconic cities.

A brown signpost with arrows showing the direction and distance to cities like Berlin and Paris, set against a blue sky and ocean background in Cape Town.

A section of the signpost with arrows, featuring the pointer to Sydney indicating a distance of 11,642 km, under a clear sky with sun rays in Cape Town.

After enjoying the views and taking what felt like 100 photos, we made our way down to the famous Cape of Good Hope. We didn’t stay very long because it was quite crowded, but we took a few classic photos and then headed towards Boulders Beach.

A person with blonde hair, seen from behind, standing next to the famous wooden signpost marking the Cape of Good Hope, with the ocean in the background.

Boulders Beach and the African Penguins

I was genuinely excited when I found out we were going to see penguins. I had never seen them in their natural habitat before, and I couldn’t wait to finally meet them.

We walked along the beautifully designed boardwalks surrounded by vegetation and tried to peek between the bushes, hoping to “disturb” the penguins from their afternoon naps. 😆 They clearly weren’t planning to change their schedule for a bunch of tourists.

Several people walking along a wooden boardwalk with railings, flanked by green bushes and trees on a nature trail.

A wooden boardwalk with railings, bordered by lush vegetation and palm trees, leading down to the viewing area at Boulders Beach under a clear sky.

Two African penguins hidden in the shade and sheltered by dense green vegetation and bushes near the boardwalk at Boulders Beach.

We spotted a few penguins very close to the boardwalk, while in the distance we could see many more of them resting on the rocks and enjoying the sun.

We didn’t have enough energy left to continue all the way to the main beach, where most of the colony is located. To be honest, the strong smell also played a part in our decision to stop there. 😆 We were happy enough to admire them from a distance and call it a win: our first encounter with African penguins in their natural habitat.

A wide perspective of the clear waters and massive granite boulders at Boulders Beach, with small penguins visible on the distant rocks, foreground vegetation, and mountains under a clear sky.

Wine Tasting at Steenberg Estate

After saying goodbye to the penguins, we made one more stop before heading back to the hotel: a wine tasting at Steenberg. It was exactly the kind of activity we needed after a full day of exploring.

We sat back on the terrace with a glass of wine in front of us and talked about all the places we had seen that day. It was one of those simple moments that perfectly completed a work trip that felt a little bit like a vacation. 😁

Modern entrance to the Steenberg Wine Tasting and Sales building, flanked by wooden panels and lush green vegetation.

A sculpted horse head statue mounted on a pedestal, near the outdoor seating area at Steenberg.

Before leaving, of course, we had to take home a bottle of wine as a little reminder of this beautiful day. Because apparently, photos are not always enough. 😁

The Final Stop in Cape Town – Table Mountain

The final highlight of our Cape Town trip had arrived: Table Mountain. We went there early in the morning because we had a flight to catch after lunch, but there was no way we were leaving without seeing one of the city’s most iconic landmarks.

A green informational sign welcoming visitors to Table Mountain, featuring a diagram of key landmarks, elevations, and trails, set in nature among bushes.

We had no idea when we would get the chance to return, so we planned our time carefully and made sure to leave a few hours for this experience. Going early turned out to be a great decision, as we avoided the crowds and enjoyed a much quieter atmosphere at the top of the mountain.

We took the cable car up because, at that point, it was the best option for us. And honestly, even if we had had a few more days available, I don’t think I would have convinced *le husband to hike all the way up. 😁

A view from the top of Table Mountain, featuring massive rocks in the foreground and a dense layer of clouds covering the city and coast in the distance.

An overhead perspective from Table Mountain capturing the urban area and coastline partially covered by a dense blanket of clouds.

The views from the cable car and from the top of the mountain were absolutely worth it, and I’m really glad I insisted that we make it here too.

A couple portrait on top of Table Mountain, featuring an expansive urban landscape and a dense layer of clouds in the background under a clear sky.

An image of the mountain plateau atop Table Mountain, capturing massive sandstone rocks, specific fynbos vegetation, and the distant horizon under a clear sky.

With Table Mountain finally ticked off our list, we said goodbye to Cape Town with many beautiful memories collected in just a few action-packed days. 🌍

Final Thoughts on Cape Town

After a few days spent in Cape Town, I was left with many different impressions and experiences. It was a destination that surprised me in many ways and gave me a much more complex perspective than a simple vacation ever could.

What we (well, I) loved:

Seeing Cape Town from a different perspective – Being there in a work context and not just as tourists made the whole experience feel much more authentic. We had the chance to see more than just the famous landmarks and to better understand a little bit of what everyday life looks like for the people who live there.
The moments spent with locals – One of my favorite parts was having the opportunity to share meals with the families hosting some of the volunteers and experience the same kind of hospitality that volunteers get to enjoy. They were simple evenings, but incredibly meaningful, where we felt like we were discovering a less touristy side of the place.
How this trip made me appreciate the comfort of home more – Sometimes we need to step outside our usual environment to realize how many things we take for granted and how easy our access is to certain basic comforts and living conditions.
The natural beauty of Cape Town – From the spectacular drive towards Cape Point to the incredible views from Table Mountain, Cape Town stayed with me because of its breathtaking landscapes.

What we (okay, I) didn’t like:

The lack of a sense of safety – This was one of the biggest contrasts compared to other destinations I have visited. We were strongly advised not to walk around on our own, even for very short distances, and even crossing the street from a restaurant back to the hotel was something we were told not to do. We had to call the hotel and ask them to send a car for us.
The very visible social inequalities – What impacted me the most was the contrast between the communities living in townships and the wealthy neighborhoods of the city. It is striking to see how, sometimes just 1-2 kilometers apart, two completely different realities exist: people living in difficult conditions and luxurious areas with a completely different standard of living. Cape Town is a spectacular destination, but it is also a place that shows you the less visible side of a society with deep inequalities.

Since our Cape Town experience was part of a work trip, our schedule looked a little different from a regular vacation and we didn’t book the activities ourselves. But if you are planning a visit to Cape Town, many of the places and experiences mentioned in this article are available through GetYourGuide:

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