Cape Town, one of the most beautiful cities in the world - an urban treasure, combines wonderful interactions with nature in the heart of a thriving metropolis against the backdrop grandeur of Table Mountain.
Historical attractions in and around the city include the Cape Malay Quarter, with its cobbled streets and brightly coloured houses; van Riebeeck’s Company Gardens, museums and galleries and Kirstenbosch Botanical gardens. The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town’s working harbour, offers a vibrant atmosphere and an abundance of experiences, including Robben Island, the isle of banishment that held Nelson Mandela captive for twenty-seven years.
Stretching from Signal Hill to Cape Point along the coastline is the incredibly scenic mountain chain of Table Mountain National Park, surrounded by the waters of the Atlantic in the west and the Indian Ocean in the east. An incredible diversity of marine life is bountiful in both these oceans from the breaching Great Whites found in False Bay, to the penguins at Boulders beach, South African fur seals and Southern Right Whales along the treacherous cliffs of Chapman’s Peak Drive. Inside the reserve is a small, yet rich display of fynbos, supporting a variety of animals including antelope, baboons and Cape Mountain Zebra as well as over 250 bird species.
On the outskirts of the city, the Cape Winelands effortlessly combine the beauty of sun-drenched vineyards, restored Cape Dutch farmsteads with their distinctive gables and thatched roofs and spectacular mountains. This is the culinary capital of South Africa, offering endless choices of appetising cuisines complemented by award winning wines. Art galleries and amphitheatres, hot springs and wellness centres, nature and game reserves, walking and hiking routes, there is so much more to the winelands than tasting exquisite wine.
An exciting destination in its own right, Cape Town, voted by trip advisor in 2011 as the best destination in the world, is the gateway to many an African adventure.
