RamZone's roving reporter recently visited the host nation of this year's World Cup, in the second of her three part series she advises what you should see (besides football) while in South Africa.

One of the world’s most wonderful cities plays host to England’s second game on 18th June. Capetown is more ‘Africa Lite’ in that it has a Mediterranean climate (which means it will be cool & wet in June!) and a café culture.

The new Green Point stadium is located in the most superb position right on the water’s edge and close to the famed Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. This is very much tourist Africa with its plethora of shops, restaurants, malls, craft markets and visible ‘tourist police’.

It is also the point, through the Nelson Mandela Gateway by the red clocktower, for possibly the number one ‘must do’ in Capetown – Robben Island where Mandela & co spent around 18 years of their 27 years incarceration.

It is not possible really to turn up on the day as only ‘no show’ & cancellation tickets will be available but tickets can be booked either online at http://www.robben-island.org.za/  or by telephone and collected at the desk.

Crossings are subject to weather conditions in Table Bay but take three and a half hours in total, half an hour each way to cross and with a two and a half hour tour of the island and a visit to the former maximum security prison with a talk by a former political prisoner.

Simply seeing Mandela’s cell and imagining 18 years spent in there reduces most visitors to tears – it is a truly emotional experience especially for anyone who was involved in the freedom struggle either in South Africa or abroad.

We were lucky enough to see a whale out of season on the return journey.

If Robben Island is the top attraction then it must be closely rivalled by the trip to the top of Table Mountain by revolving cablecar.

This again is subject to weather conditions which can change very rapidly on the Cape Peninsula especially when the famous ‘tablecloth’ of thick mist drops down. The views are absolutely stunning and the journey to the top is not stressful even for those with vertigo.

There is plenty to see and do in the Capetown area, from the penguins at Boulders Beach, to the treacherous Cape of Good Hope, the magnificent beach at Camps Bay and the tropical gardens at Kirstenbosch.

There’s the Cathedral where Archbishop Tutu preached and the City Hall where Mandela first addressed the frenzied thousands after his release.

Time really should be taken to visit the Winelands as not only is the scenery magnificent but there are now many co-operative vineyards where black and white work together for the good of the community.

The Cape wine scene has come into its own in the last fifteen years. Nelson Mandela’s release from prison in 1990 impacted positively on the South African Wine Industry and on the acceptability of South African wines internationally.

The lovely towns of Stellenbosch, Franschoek & Paarl are well worth visiting for their own worth and the ‘picnic’ under the plane trees at Boschendal has to be the best ever!

Another attraction in the area for the more adventurous is ‘shark cage diving’ -  

http://www.white-shark-diving.com/

but unfortunately whale watching will be totally out of season during the World Cup.

Capetown and its surrounding areas are relatively safe for tourists. Of course you would take the same precautions as in any city and keep off side streets at night and certainly do not wander into the shanty towns, flash camera, wallet, money or jewellery.

This is still a country with a huge divide between rich and poor but in the Western Cape they welcome tourists and are excitedly awaiting the World Cup.

Check back next Thursday for the 3rd and final part of Elaine's South African adventure.

If you missed 'Part 1' - you can read it here.

Photo: Action Images

Derby County Polls