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MOTHER CITY OF SOUTH AFRICA
Welcome to Cape Town, Mother City of Africa, and the
Western Cape, an area which is regarded as one of the most beautiful
regions in the world.
The City is a rare cultural gem, resulting from the amalgamation of Indonesian,
French, Dutch, British and German settlers, the local Bushman and Hottentot
tribes and the Bantu tribes from the north.
The impressive presence of Table Mountain, flanked by the legendary
Devil's Peak and historical Signal Hill, stands proudly above the city.
Beautiful white sandy beaches along a peaceful coastline frame the Cape
Peninsula, which is famed for its unique floral kingdom, bountiful rivers,
vleis and dams and magnificent countryside. The surrounding area extends
far into the winelands, green in summer and red-gold in autumn.
Cape Town boasts a multitude of entertainment, ranging from outdoor
activities and adventures in the sun to a roaring night life under
neon signs. The vast range of shopping opportunities includes haggling
with shopholders at Greenmarket Square Flea Market, as well as breezing
through sophisticated and stylish shopping malls. The huge variety
of restaurants reflects the multicultured history of the Cape and caters
for everyone's taste, from fast-food outlets and casual to the chic
to the very elegant.
Cape Town provides a setting for many scenic wonders, magnificent seascapes
and panoramic vistas. The beautiful coastal areas of Camps Bay, Clifton,
Llandudno, Bantry Bay, Hout Bay and Blouberg surround the breathtaking
tranquility of the winelands, Constantia, Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franshhoek.
Cape Town is a city of culture, built
on a history that reflects in the architecture, cuisine, music and
dance. Together with a warm summer
and temperate winter climate and a friendly community, the Western Cape
and the Mother City are an ideal African holiday destination throughout
the year.
ENTERTAINMENT
With the cultural diversity that gives Cape Town its uniqueness, there
are a variety of options when it comes to being entertained. From classic
culture to trendy hotspots, all tastes are catered for.
Art - There are numerous art galleries around the city that house some
famous collections of paintings and sculpture. An example of this is
the William Fehr collection in the Cape of Good Hope Castle.
Classical Music & Dance - The Artscape
and Baxter Theatres present ballets, operas and orchestral performances.
The Cape Town Philharmonic
Orchestra will delight you in scenic locations such as the Kirstenbosch
Botanical Gardens during one of their Twilight Concerts on Sunday evenings
during summer. The St. George's Cathedral Choir entertain free of charge
and the Oude Libertas Open-Air Theatre in Stellenbosch is alive with
the strains of classical music from various performances.
Nightlife - Cape Town buzzes after dark with a variety of nightspots
to tempt all tastes. You will find nightclubs, wine-bars, pubs, discotheques,
cinemas, cocktail lounges and, of course, restaurants. Many venues have
live bands or stand-up comedy to entertain you while you indulge in some
scrumptious local fare or just enjoy a few drinks. The North Sea Jazz
Festival is exceptionally popular and is held in the Good Hope Centre
in the city centre. Dockside at Century City is a massive nightclub on
four levels which houses various music styles in separate bars. As with
many establishments you can party the night away until the early hours
of the morning.
Theatre - There is a great deal of local talent in the dramatic arts,
which is evident in the musicals and plays performed throughout the year.
There are indoor as well as outdoor theatres, the most well known of
the latter being the Maynardville Open Air Theatre. This is a magical
setting in which many of Shakespeare's great works are performed - nothing
prepares you for the ambience created by a floodlit garden on a starry
night. Cinema lovers will be delighted by the Imax Theatre in the Waterfront.
This has an incredibly realistic screen, which is 5 storeys high and
offers a unique viewing experience.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
The Western Cape is the perfect area for those who enjoy the outdoors.
It offers a variety of water and land activities for the serious sport
enthusiasts as well as those who enjoy a gentle stroll. South Africans
are renowned for their passion about sport and can usually be found either
playing it, discussing it, watching it or betting on it!
Bungee jumping - This is for adrenalin junkies. Some of the best bungee
sites are in the Western Cape from incredibly high bridges. One of the
most famous and highest jumps is at Bloukrans along the Garden Route.
Canoeing/Rafting - White water enthusiasts will love the rivers. Organised
trips are offered on many rivers with varying levels of experience necessary.
Some well-known trips are along the Breede, Berg, Dorings and Orange
Rivers.
Deep Sea Diving/Fishing - As Cape Town is flanked by both the Indian
and the Atlantic oceans, there is a thriving interest in marine sports.
Some of the world's finest big game fishing in the world is available
here, in particular long fin and yellow fin tuna, as well as broad billed
swordfish. False Bay is a famous breeding ground for Great White sharks
and you can arrange to go cage diving amongst these awesome creatures.
Normal scuba diving is also very popular all around the coastlines.
Golf - There are many golf courses and driving ranges in and around
Cape Town and you will find that the courses are both pristine and diverse.
They are also highly affordable by international standards.
Hiking - With so many mountain ranges
surrounding the Cape, hiking is a popular pastime. There are numerous
trails that
take several days as
well as day walks up Table Mountain. Before embarking on a trip up Table
Mountain it is essential that you contact the Mountain Club of South
Africa - (021) 465-3412. Without an experienced guide many people have
lost their way, sometimes with fatal consequences. Another well-known
activity is "kloofing". This is a combination of hiking and
swimming along a river in a ravine and is great fun.
Horse Racing/Riding - Prominent racing
events such as the J&B Met
and the Durban July are highlights in the social calendar. In Cape Town
there are two main tracks - Kenilworth and Durbanville - where racing
takes place every Wednesday and Saturday afternoon. For social riding
along the beach or elsewhere you can contact The Riding Centre in Hout
Bay - (021) 790-5286.
Motorcycling - Some of the best biking happens around the Cape. There
are many winding mountain passes that provide an exhilarating ride with
spectacular views. The Gordon's Bay coastal road is also a favourite
for a Sunday morning blitz. There are numerous outlets where you can
hire motorcycles and find out the best routes to take. Warm weather and
excellent visibility make biking a pleasure most of the year.
Mountain Biking - Feel the exhilaration of exploring the slopes of Table
Mountain on two wheels or ride through the winelands. Choose from any
number of rides, from the easiest stroll to a strenuous challenge. Adventure
without Limits offers a number of exhilarating options from day tours
to expeditions around the Western Cape. http://www.withoutlimits.co.za
Sailing - The Royal Cape Yacht Club is situated at the docks in Table
Bay. This is where the famous Cape-to-Rio race starts. Other harbours
are found in Simon's Town, Fish Hoek, Hout Bay and Gordon's Bay. Competitive
as well as social sailing happens on oceans, dams, rivers and lagoons.
Surfing - Big Bay in Blouberg is home
to the Gunston 500 Surfing Competition and you will find surfers at
almost every beach
along the coast. A local
radio station even broadcasts a daily "surf report" advising
people where to find the best waves each day. In addition to this popular
sport, you will see many windsurfers and kite-surfers. It is an awesome
sight to see them launched into the air as they jump the waves. Blouberg
is especially popular for power kites, whether on the sand or on the
sea.
CAPE
CUISINE
The magnificence of Cape Town lies in its scenic pleasures, its fascinating
history and its fine food and wine. Cape Town and its surrounds offer
an overwhelming amount of consistently excellent restaurants ranging
from fine dining, French and oriental, to fusion, seafood and African
gastronomic delights to titillate even the most discerning palates. Covering
a wide variety of options from the opulently elegant to the conveniently
casual, the multitude of culinary traditions make for a memorable meal
to suit the business fraternity, tourists and locals alike.
The traditional Cape cuisine is greatly influenced by the Malay kitchen.
This stems from the first colonists providing fresh produce for the Dutch
East India Company ships plying their spice trade. From there European
and British traditional dishes were transformed into a unique 'Cape Malay'
style. Such dishes include bobotie, curries, breedies and the sweet,
sticky koeksisters.
There are various districts within
the Cape offering superb gastronomic gems, but the most popular and
well-visited region is likely Cape Town's
Kloof Street. Here you will be served some of the city's finest cuisines
and experience the vibrant nightlife that the many bars and restaurants
have to offer. There are many such delightful districts in the Cape and
with the abundance of eateries from fine dining to fast foods, it's a
comforting thought that there will always be new menus and venues to
experience!
ATTRACTIONS IN CAPE
TOWN
Table Mountain
Often described as magical and mystical, Table Mountain is Cape Town's
most prominent feature and a world famous landmark. This majestic mountain
is visible from almost everywhere in Cape Town and is often used as
a beacon by which to find direction.
The mountain is sculpted from sandstone
and rises 1086 metres at its highest point, Maclear's Beacon, above
the bay. Its flat summit measures
nearly 3km and provides breathtaking views over the city and its beaches.
The panorama stretches from Table Bay to False Bay and around the mountain
to the Hout Bay Valley and Kommetjie. On a clear day one has a magnificent
view across the Cape Flats to the Hottentots Holland Mountains.
Table Mountain is home to a rich fauna and flora, many species of which
are endemic and survive only in the unique ecosystem which is contained
on the mountain. There are approximately 1470 species of plants, including
over 250 different species of daisies! Examples of endemic plants are
the rare Silver Tree and the wild orchid Disa Uniflora. Animals such
as baboons and porcupines live here freely, as well as furry rodents
called Rock Dassies. These little creatures look like plump rabbits without
ears - incredibly, their closest living relative is the elephant! The
Table Mountain Ghost Frog is an example of an animal found in no other
place on the world.
The exhilerating ascent of Table Mountain in the cable car is a definite
must for any visitor. Even the locals are awed time and again by the
360º view of Cape Town from the cable car. The cable car was first
opened in 1929 and today conveys some 600,000 people to the summit
annually. On the summit there is a restaurant and a souvenir shop,
from which letters bearing the Table Mountain postmark can be sent.
Short walks from the cable station take visitors through the splendour
of the flora of Table Mountain, punctuated by occasional sightings
of dassies and framed by the surrounding azure of the Atlantic Ocean.
For those athletic and energetic types, there are some 350 recognised
paths to the summit, some undemanding and suitable for children, and
some extremely difficult. It is not advisable that visitors climb the
mountain without an experienced guide. The mountain can be deceptive
and it is strongly recommended that visitors contact the Mountain Club
of South Africa on 021-4653412 before embarking on a hike or climb.
Kirstenbosch
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden is a floral treasure, famous
for its beauty and the diversity of the Cape flora it displays. The setting
is magnificent, against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, and only
13 km outside of Cape Town.
The estate covers 528 hectares, and only indigenous South African plants
are grown here. A diverse range of fynbos flora and forest grows naturally
on the mountainside, and a number of trails lead through the natural
Garden. The cultivated garden (36 hectares) displays collections of South
African plants, particularly those from the winter rainfall region of
the country.
Robben Island
Robben Island is situated about
12km into the sea in the middle of Table Bay. Separated from
the Cape mainland by
a narrow channel
of seawater, the island is a remote place, considered inaccessible
for centuries. The island has been used primarily as a prison ever
since the Dutch settled at the Cape in the mid-16th century.
For 400 years, Robben Island served as a place of exile, beginning
as a leper colony. From 1846-1931, the island harboured a hospital
for leprosy patients, and the mentally and chronically ill. During
this time, political and common-law prisoners were still kept on
the island, and the island was as much a prison to them as to the
patients, for whose ailing there was no cure and little effective
treatment available.
During World War II (1939-1945) the
Island was a training and defense station, and in 1961 it was converted
to a maximum-security prison.
African and Muslim leaders, Dutch and British soldiers and civilians,
and even women were all imprisoned on the island. South Africa's
first democratic President, Nelson Mandela and the founding leader
of the Pan African Congress, Robert Sobukwe, are among the more well
known political figures who served their prison sentence on Robben
Island during the Apartheid era. The last political prisoner was released in 1991 and today the prison
houses around 700 medium-security inmates.
Much has been done to restore the island's ecological haven to what
it used to be before the intervention of man. In 1991 Robben Island
was included in the SA natural heritage program and the northern
part of the island was declared a bird sanctuary. Springbuck, ostrich,
rabbits, Jackass penguins and Cape Fur seals are among the wildlife
found on the island. In 1997 the Robben Island National Museum was
established. The Museum is a dynamic institution and runs educational
programs for schools, youths and adults. It facilitates tourism development,
conducts ongoing research related to the island and is responsible
for the safekeeping of various archives. On December 1st, 1999, Robben
Island was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Today the island has a thriving population that lives in a quaint
village with a bank, post office, museum and grocery store. On the
road to the village visitors pass a square-towered church, old Sailboat
cannons and old cars that sputter along the narrow tar roads. Most
of the buildings date back to World War II, a historical background
supported by the evidence of bunkers and 9.2-inch guns. These armaments
were erected during the war to protect Cape Town from her enemies.
Ferries sail daily from the
V&A Waterfront jetty, taking visitors
to the island. The entire trip lasts about 3½ hours, including
the guided tours. Former political prisoners lead these tours around
the cells and it is an emotional experience for many involved. For
many South Africans, Robben Island is a place synonymous with leaders,
and the struggle for freedom in this beautiful country.
The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront
This
energetic working harbour is one of South Africa's most popular
tourist attractions. Today
the V&A Waterfront
attracts more than 20 million visitors each year - locals and international
tourists
alike. The V&A has over 400 stores and 45 different restaurants and
bars to offer, an arts and crafts centre, the IMAX cinema, an
internationally
renowned aquarium, a children's science exploratium and a museum.
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Shopping: With
over 400 stores, the V&A Waterfront caters to all shopping
needs in a huge range that will suit any budget or taste.
The unique blend of Victorian architecture, maritime tradition
and African culture creates an environment that is lively
and cosmopolitan. All stores at the V&A Waterfront are
open until 9pm, seven days a week for your convenience, and
there are over 6000 open-air and underground parking bays,
patrolled and monitored 24 hours a day for greater peace
of mind.
Seal
Landing: The
most special feature of the Waterfront is probably
the familiar sight of a colony of Cape fur seals resting
on the seal landing in the Clock Tower precinct, or
on old tyres lining the quaysides. The seals are an
integral part of harbour life, and can often be seen
posing on postcards.
The
Two Oceans Aquarium: The Two Oceans Aquarium
is a window on the oceans, offering glimpses of the
diverse life found off the South African coastline.
Over 3000 living animals, including fishes, invertebrates,
mammals, reptiles and birds can be seen in this spectacular
underwater nature reserve. The Aquarium offers unique
opportunities such as diving with the sharks and copper
hat diving, sleepovers for children, facilities for
conferences and functions and the daily feeding of
the fishes at 15h30 in the I&J Predator Exhibit. |
Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve
The Cape of Good
Hope Nature Reserve forms part of the Cape Peninsula Park and is
managed by the South African National Parks. The Nature
Reserve is recognized globally for its extraordinary land formation,
rich and diverse fauna and unique flora. Nowhere else in the world
does an area of such spectacular beauty and such rich biodiversity
exist almost within a metropolitan area - the thriving and cosmopolitan
City of Cape Town.
The legendary Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope
form part of the Nature Reserve. These promontories were key beacons
for the early
explorers and are the source of many myths and legends. In 1488,
Bartholomew Dias named the Peninsula Cabo Tormentoso, or the Cape
of Storms. King John II of Portugal later gave it the name Cabo
da Boa Esperanca - the Cape of Good Hope. In 1580, Sir Frances Drake
proclaimed it to be " … the most stately thing and the
fairest Cape we saw in the whole circumference of the earth."
In 1860, the first lighthouse was erected at
Cape Point. However, due to its high location 238m above sea level,
it was often obscured
by clouds and mist. When the Portuguese liner, the "Lusitania",
was wrecked in 1911, the lighthouse was relocated to its current
position above Dias Point, only 87m above sea level.
In the 17th century a Dutch Captain, Hendrick
van der Decken, attempted to round the Cape in strong headwinds.
Mysteriously his ship and
crew disappeared, and legend now tells of the ghost ship "The
Flying Dutchman," which has allegedly been sighted around
Cape Point.
Camps Bay
Camps Bay has long been one of Cape Town's
most popular holiday destinations. Lined with palm trees on the
beachfront,
with
white
sandy beaches, brilliant blue sea and majestic mountains in the
background, Camps Bay offers you the African holiday of a lifetime.
The cosmopolitan
beachfront with its restaurants and cafés is busy throughout
the year. The village is close to many other attractions, yet Camps
Bay displays a certain uniqueness which is enjoyed by all its guests
- come and experience it for yourself!
Clifton
The four small, secluded beaches of Clifton
are separated by giant granite boulders. The trendy 4th beach is the
most popular and hence
the busiest, where the high society of Clifton likes to convene to
play volleyball, throw Frisbees, take relaxing strolls or just soak
up the sun. The beaches are wonderfully sheltered from the southeaster
wind which blows in summer, however not many people brave the icy
water. Yachts, speedboats and jet skis are abundant in the bay, and
Clifton has the atmosphere, if not the warm water, of a very exclusive
Mediterranean resort.
Fish Hoek
Nestled between two mountains and two oceans along the False Bay
coast, the village of Fish Hoek was established in 1918. Jaeger
Walk, more commonly known as the "Cat Walk" was named
after the first mayor of Fish Hoek and offers a lovely walk along
the False Bay Ocean. Many lovely guesthouses are situated along
this section of the coast, some with magnificent sea views and
all within walking distance of the beach. Fish Hoek is well known
for its beautiful white sandy swimming beach, and has much to offer
its visitors.
The beautiful beach and the beach centre is where everything happens
in Fish Hoek. Visitors can join in the many aquatic activities such
as swimming, surfing, sailing and snorkelling. The beach centre offers
a few restaurants, change rooms, showers and a children's playground.
The Fish Hoek Surf Life Savers Club offers canoeing and surfing,
and both club and international life saving events are frequently
held here. The Fish Hoek Beach Sailing Club offers wonderful facilities
for Hobie Cat sailing and boasts with five Hobie World Champions.
Blouberg
Blouberg lies on the west coast of Table Bay and a relaxed 20-minute
drive from Cape Town city centre. Bloubergstrand beach gives a wonderful
view of the city, and it is from here that the perfect postcard pictures
of Cape Town with Table Mountain in the background is often taken.
The coast of Blouberg offers long, sandy beaches frequented by dog
walkers and kite flyers. The large crashing waves, supported by the
regular strong southeaster winds of the Western Cape, makes Blouberg
one of the fastest and hottest places worldwide for windsurfing.
Wave jumpers and colourful hobie cats can be seen dotted against
the azure of the sea. Fishing, sailing and boating trips are other
popular activities. Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned,
can be seen quite clearly from the beach at Blouberg.
Within a stone's throw of the beach, a whole host of restaurants
offers excellent dining. Blouberg provides a great variety of modern
shopping centres with all that your heart could desire, as well as
all other amenities, including cinemas, which can be expected from
one of the fastest growing areas in Cape Town.
Blouberg is a popular African holiday
destination, and the beaches are frequented by tourists and locals
alike. The
suburb is known for its natural
beauty, youthful atmosphere, lovely and affordable accommodation
and friendly people.
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