Why I’d Choose Cape Town: A Local’s Love Letter to the Mother City

When people ask me why I choose to stay in Cape Town, my answer is always the same: why would I ever want to leave? I am as local as they come, born and raised in this city, shaped by its ocean air, its mountain trails, and its vibrant rhythm of life.

For me, Cape Town is more than a postcard-perfect destination. It’s a place where culture, nature, history, and heart collide. A place where every street corner, every view, every scent carries a memory. And that’s what I want others to experience, not just the beauty, but the depth of this place.

Robyn exploring Cape Town in style. Cape Sidecar Tours

A Landscape That Lives in You

As a local, Table Mountain is not just a landmark; it’s part of my internal compass. Whether I’m hiking up Platteklip Gorge on a misty morning or watching the clouds roll over the Twelve Apostles at dusk, these mountains ground me. They remind me of how lucky we are to live in a place where nature and city are constantly in conversation.

Cape Town is a chameleon. One moment, you’re sipping cocktails in Camps Bay. Next, you’re standing in complete silence on Chapman’s Peak, looking out over cliffs and crashing waves. A short drive takes you to wine farms in Constantia, and before you know it, you’re tasting award-winning vintages in Stellenbosch or sitting by a fire in the Cederberg under a canopy of stars. We don’t have to go far to feel like we’ve stepped into a dream.

Culture in Every Corner

Cape Town is layered with stories, and our culture is a reflection of that. We are Cape Malay, Xhosa, Afrikaans, English, and everything in between. Our diversity isn’t just in our people, it’s in our food, our music, our languages, our daily rituals.

I grew up with the smell of braai smoke filling the Sunday air, the call to prayer echoing through the Bo-Kaap, and the pulse of township music spilling out into the night. We carry our cultures proudly. They’re stitched into the fabric of our daily lives, and we love to share them with open hands and open hearts.

Food That Feeds More Than Your Appetite

Some of the best food in Cape Town isn’t found on fine-dining menus (although we have some of the best in the world); it’s found in corner shops, family kitchens, and bustling weekend markets. From the legendary Gatsby shared on the beach with friends, to sticky-sweet Koeksisters passed around with tea, to the warm, spiced aroma of bobotie straight from the oven-food here tells stories. Visiting the Oranjezicht or Neighbourgoods Market isn’t just a foodie’s dream; it’s a way to experience the heart of our city through flavours, faces, and local craft.

A City of Realness, Resilience, and Connection

Cape Town is full of contrasts. It’s both soulful and raw, resilient and refined. We don’t shy away from realities - we live them. But it’s in that tension that the magic of this place truly reveals itself. There’s a sense of community here that you don’t find just anywhere. We look out for each other. We celebrate each other. We uplift.

And as someone who works in travel, I see this spirit every time I welcome someone new. Whether you’re hiking with a guide who’s grown up in the area, buying handmade crafts in Khayelitsha, or simply chatting with a local on the beach, you’ll feel that generosity of spirit. You’ll feel like you’re not just visiting - you belong.

"We look out for each other. We celebrate each other. We uplift." - Robyn

Lions Head - Cape Town's iconic landmark

Why I Want You to Come

I want you to come not just to see Cape Town, but to feel it. To let its beauty slow you down. To walk its beaches, breathe its mountain air, hear its languages, and taste its food. And more than that, I want you to take a part of it home with you. Whether it’s a hand-carved sculpture, a bottle of wine, or a story you tell around your dinner table, let this place live on in your life.

Because once you’ve stood on a Cape cliff and watched the ocean meet the sky, once you’ve danced with strangers to a beat you didn’t know you needed, once you’ve shared laughter with people whose names you just learned, you’ll understand something: Africa has a way of finding its way into your heart and never letting go.

You’ll come once, and find yourself dreaming about it again. And again. And again.

From my home to yours, welcome to Cape Town. Welcome to Africa. Welcome to a feeling you’ll carry forever.

With love,

Robyn Chloe Cockrell

Ultimate Peak Travel’s Journey Specialist 😉