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 The
Western Cape of South Africa has become one of the most popular
international travel destinations because of its spectacular
natural beauty, diverse range of vacation activities and good
value for money. A strong drive to increase tourism to the
country has helped improve infrastructure and services and
raised the quality of accommodation and cuisine to match any
top location worldwide.
Sheer variety is what makes the Western Cape so attractive
to visitors! Towering mountain peaks, pristine beaches and
bays, magnificent world-class wine estates, indigenous forest
and unspoilt wilderness are all within a few hours drive
of
each other.
Cape Town, Jewel of
Africa, and South Africa's oldest city
is the hub of the Western Cape travel experience. Nestled
in a natural amphitheatre surrounded by mountain peaks, this
cosmopolitan city blends French, Dutch, English and
San history with a unique combination of modern hotels, five-star restaurants,
shopping, music venues, theatre and nightlife that will make
your visit an unforgettable experience.
And around every corner you will see the spectacular views
of oceans, mountains and beaches that make this city a photographer's
paradise and nature lover's dream.
Among Cape Town's many attractions is the famous Table
Mountain,
a 1000m high sandstone buttress flanked by Lion's
Head and
Devil's Peak. Access to the mountain is only a few minutes
from the city centre and the top can be reached by cable
car
or hiking trail.
A short boat trip into Table Bay will take you to Robben
Island, where Nelson Mandela spent many years
in prison during
the Apartheid era. The island with its small harbour is also
a haven for penguins, marine mammals and wildlife.
The Victoria and
Alfred Waterfront is a bustling entertainment
centre and one of the best developments of its kind anywhere
in the world. Shop for high fashion, gold and diamonds,
adventure gear or local arts and crafts. Dine at one of the many seafood
restaurants, bistros or steakhouses or enjoy a glass of fine
Cape Chardonnay at the water's edge. Included in the Waterfront
complex are cinemas, luxury hotels, yacht mooring facilities,
and tour companies offering helicopter flips and sunset
cruises.
Take a day trip around the peninsula and you could visit
Kalk Bay with its quaint harbour and antique shops, Simonstown's
museums and Naval Base, Cape Point - where the Indian and
Atlantic Oceans are said to meet. Noordhoek Beach
is a place
of solitude where romantics often wander along the kilometers
of white sand while the ice blue waves of the Atlantic crash
onto the shore.
If you've worked up an appetite, Mariner's Wharf at Hout
Bay will serve you a delicious seafood lunch while you watch
the sailboats tack against the towering backdrop of Chapman's
Peak. Just around the corner is 'Dungeons' - location of the
annual Red Bull Big Wave Challenge where surfers come from
all corners of the globe to test their skill on the gigantic
waves.
For travellers seeking outdoor adventure, Cape Town's many
tour operators will take you to the best locations for mountain
biking, sea kayaking, paragliding, rock climbing, shark diving,
whale watching and 4x4 trips. The diverse geography of the
region make adventure day trips easy to fit into your itinerary.
The interior of the province is dominated by several large
mountain ranges including the Cederberg, Helderberg,
Langeberg and Swartberg mountains. The fertile valleys are covered with
vineyards, forests, lakes and rivers. Small towns and villages
offer a wealth of accommodation options from luxury boutique
hotels to mountain chalets. Here you will also experience
the rich architectural history of the region typified by quaint
thatched cottages and grand homesteads in the Cape Dutch style.
The Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschoek areas
are home to South Africa's premier wine estates including
Nederburg and
Boschendal. Hundreds of smaller farms and cellars also offer
an excellent range of wines at very reasonable prices. An
excellent way to explore the Winelands is to drive a few
of the many well signposted wine routes sampling the best
of
the Cape's Chardonnay, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon
and Sauvignon Blanc.
If its solitude you're seeking, the Cederberg
Mountains offers a unique taste of Western Cape wilderness. Here you
will experience
the sheer power and silence of a wild and rugged land that
was for centuries home to nomadic tribes of San Bushmen
and
where elephants roamed the rocky valleys. Today, leopard
and baboon can still be spotted in the lush gorges or silhouetted
on a jagged mountain outcrop. Spend your days hiking, rock
climbing, swimming in the clear mountain pools or exploring
the many San rock art sites dating back centuries.
| Western Cape
- selected destinations |
|
More Info - www.tourismcapetown.co.za |
Freestate 
