Countdown to Cape Town and The Cape Cape Town is the perfect city for first-time visitors to Africa: no visas are required, most locals speaks English and, as its clocks are only two hours ahead of Britain, jet lag is minimal. It is particularly appealing to lovers of the outdoors: around the peninsula are pretty beaches to visit (including a couple, at Betty's Bay and Boulders, with penguins), the impressive Table Mountain to climb and the Kirstenbosch Garden (this year celebrating its centenary) to explore. An hour away are the winelands and their Cape Dutch homesteads and fine restaurants. The city will be World Design Capital next year, showcasing the best of South African creativity, with art exhibitions, events and international talks (capetown2014.co.za). The city's food reflects its inhabitants" ethnicity - from French Huguenot to Malay and Zulu - as well as its position between the sea and rich farmland. Star chefs include Cape Town's first Relais&Chateaux Grand Chef, Peter Tempelhoff, who whips up modern cuisine in Cape Dutch surroundings at the Cellars-Hohenort in Constantia; Luke Dale-Roberts, who delivers inventive platters at the Pot Luck Club in the artsy-crafty Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock; and Michael Broughton, known for French-inspired dishes at Kleine Zalze in Stellenbosch. Babylonstoren, a restored 1690 farm in the Drakenstein Valley, grows fruit and vegetables in its glorious gardens. The city has an excellent range, from elegant five-stars to characterful guesthouses. The Mount Nelson is the grand old lady, known for high teas. Outside the city, Steenberg has pretty 17th-century buildings surrounded by gardens and vines. At the V&A Waterfront, the One& Only offers slick service and a restaurant headed by Rueben Riffel. Long Walk to Freedom, Nelson Mandela's autobiography, is a moving account of his early life, including 27 years in prison. Disgrace, the literary masterpiece that won JM Coetzee the Booker Prize a second time, explores the new South Africa struggling to come to terms with its guilt. Taking the cable-car up Table Mountain (tablemountain.net) on a sunny day and soaking in the views, then hiking through the national park, home to the richest variety of plants on earth. For more information on Cape Town consult the Telegraph's complete Cape Town city break guide. For another local take on the city, The Concierges' Guide to Cape Town features recommendations on the best restaurants, bars and attractions from three of the city's most established and informed concierges.