Experience Maxing: Making the Most of Your Time in the Mother City

The following blog was written by a student intern on a 2026 CIEE high school summer abroad program. Read on for a first-hand account of what it's like on program in Cape Town. 

We see it all the time. Students arrive in Cape Town with grand plans of bringing home T-shirts, sweatshirts, postcards, magnets, and every souvenir they can fit into their suitcase. While each of those items may hold sentimental value, they simply can't compare to the greatest souvenir this city has to offer: experience.

Looking back at my own time in Cape Town two years ago, I don't remember everything I bought or even who I bought it for. Instead, I remember the way this city made me feel.

I remember watching Table Mountain grow larger as the cable car carried us toward the summit, revealing a view more breathtaking than I could have imagined. I remember standing waist-deep in the waters of Boulders Beach, watching penguins dart beneath the net that separates the protected colony from the public beach. One by one, they swam through the opening and waddled right onto our side, coming so close it felt like I had stepped into their world rather than the other way around.

I remember sitting in a safari vehicle as our guide gave us one simple instruction: don't make eye contact with the lions. To them, direct eye contact can be interpreted as a challenge. Every instinct told me to look, to lock eyes with one of the most magnificent animals I'd ever seen, but instead I watched with equal parts awe and respect, realizing just how powerful they truly are.

Most of all, I remember the inspiration. The kind that kept me writing late into the night because I was afraid to forget even the smallest moments. The kind that stayed with me long after my suitcase was unpacked.

That's the beauty of Cape Town. Long after the souvenirs are tucked away on a shelf, it's the experiences that remain.

Experience the Ocean

Go surfing at Muizenberg Beach, also known as Surfer’s Corner. Whether it’s your first time or your fiftieth time, there are options for everyone, including lessons, surfboard rentals, wetsuit rentals, and more.

If water sports aren’t your thing, our students also loved rock pooling at Muizenberg Beach. Let your mind wander as you explore the variety of sea life tucked into the tide pools such as starfish, barnacles, and maybe even a crab side-stepping its way through life.

And if you’re not a beach person at all, head over to the Two Oceans Aquarium, where experts bring the marine life of the Cape to life. You might even get the chance to see penguins up close.

Experience Adventure

Take the Table Mountain Cable Car and soak in the vastness and beauty of one of South Africa’s most iconic natural landmarks. It quickly becomes clear why Table Mountain is recognized as one of the New7Wonders of Nature.

If you’re up for more movement, Cape Town offers a variety of hiking trails for every skill level. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced hiker, there’s a path for you. Hout Bay, for example, offers something truly special. You can find yourself in the clouds while looking out at the ocean and watching the seals across from you. There’s nothing quite like it.

Experience Culture

Visit a local township and gain a deeper understanding of the communities that shape Cape Town’s identity.

Take part in an African drumming experience and feel the rhythm presented through this vibrant culture.

End with a cooking class, where students don’t just observe culture. They actively participate in it.

At the end of the day, Cape Town isn’t a place you simply visit. It’s a place you experience. Long after the beaches, mountains, and townships fade into photos and memories, it’s the feeling of being here that stays with you.

That’s what it means to experience max in the Mother City.

Ready to spend a summer abroad with CIEE? Apply today!