Table Mountain
Table Mountain is Cape Town’s most famous landmark. A cable car trip to the top of the mountain is the perfect way to for visitors to orientate themselves on their first trip to the city.
Cape Point
At Cape Point, see where Portuguese mariner Bartolomeu Dias first sailed around the Cape, discover the legend of the Flying Dutchman ghost ship, and take the funicular railway up a steep slope to the lighthouse at the top.
Cape Winelands
Constantia, Durbanville, Darling, Walker Bay, Stellenbosch, Paarl, Wellington, Franschhoek, Ceres, Worcester and more ... wine estate tours and wine tasting are a must.
Robben Island
Take a boat trip to Robben Island, where humanitarian, freedom fighter and former South African president Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in prison. Tours take in this World Heritage Site, a museum and the stone quarry where prisoners worked.
Shark cage diving
For something thrilling and different, shark cage diving is a safe and popular attraction, with specially equipped tour boats and cages affording face-to-face meetings with great white sharks in Gansbaai and Mossel Bay.
Garden Route
Take a trip along the picturesque Garden Route, which stretches along the N2 highway from Mossel Bay eastward, taking in the towns of George, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay.
Introduction
The Western Cape is home to Table Mountain, the vast Cape Winelands and two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Robben Island and the Cape Floral Region.
Top attractions
Overview of the Western Cape
The Western Cape's motto is 'spes bona', which means 'good hope'.
One of the wine gems of South Africa, the Swartland Wine Route
The mountainous Western Cape province extends from the Cape of Good Hope on the south-western tip of Africa 400km north and 500km east. It is South Africa’s fourth-largest province. It is bounded by the Northern Cape and Eastern Cape.
It is best known for Cape Town, South Africa’s ‘Mother City’, a popular travel destination that is home to Table Mountain and beautiful beaches, among many other attractions.
North of Cape Town, the West Coast incorporates the West Coast National Park, well known for birds and spring flowers (in late August and September), and the West Coast Fossil Park in Langebaan. Also in the province is the Cederberg, an area of contrast where 71 000ha of rugged mountains are offset in spring by carpets of yellow, orange, blue and purple flowers.
Along the province's eastern coastline lies the picturesque Garden Route, which stretches several
hundred kilometers from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth. This is one of the country's most popular routes: your clients can either drive it themselves or take a package tour along it.
The Western Cape’s beaches are beautiful, some with mountains rushing down to meet a turquoise ocean. The most popular bathing beaches in Cape Town include Clifton, Camps Bay, Muizenberg and Fish Hoek, while others, such as Llandudno and Noordhoek, are popular among surfers.
A view of the Sentinel from Chapman's Peak Drive, Cape Town
The wine-growing areas of Stellenbosch, Paarl, Wellington, Franschhoek, Ceres, Worcester, Bonnievale and Robertson are popular attractions, where a Mediterranean climate favors the production of superb wines.
The province is also renowned for its fresh seafood, from line fish to lobster, prawns, snoek and sole. Most restaurants have fish on the menu and fresh fish is sold from the boats in Fish Hoek and Kalk Bay.
Infrastructure in the Western Cape is excellent, with a well-maintained road system linking the main centers and outlying regions – the Karoo, West Coast, Winelands, Overberg and Garden Route. Cape Town International Airport is the second busiest in the country, after OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.
From the waterfront hotels of Cape Town to campsites in national parks, guest houses, B&Bs and luxury apartments, there’s a variety of accommodation options to suit all tastes.
Cape Town
The V&A Waterfront is a world-class shopping destination
Undoubtedly the jewel of the Western Cape is Cape Town. The Mother City, as it is also known, is an extremely popular destination for local and international visitors, and is home to scenic and natural attractions, beautiful beaches, a vibrant nightlife, and a rich history.
It is the perfect launch pad for many of the Western Cape’s attractions, including the famed Cape Winelands, the Garden Route, and the attractions of the West Coast and interior.
The most well-known of Cape Town’s attractions is Table Mountain, which offers amazing views, a selection of hiking trails, and abundant flora and fauna.
From the top of Table Mountain (as well as from Cape Town itself), visitors can see the infamous Robben Island, where political prisoners were jailed during apartheid. Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in prison on Robben Island.
Cape Town is also home to the V&A Waterfront, South Africa’s most-visited tourist attraction. The V&A boasts shops, restaurants, nightlife, museums and the Two Oceans Aquarium.
And no description of Cape Town would be complete without mention of its wide, sandy beaches. From the trendy Clifton and Camps Bay, to beaches on the warmer waters of False Bay (Muizenburg and Fishhoek), to the more adventure-oriented Noordhoek and Blouberg, there’s swimming, sunbathing, surfing and kitesurfing for all.
The most widely spoken language in the Western Cape province is Afrikaans, but don't worry – English is also almost universally spoken here.
Flora and fauna
With one of the world’s recognised floral kingdoms, botanical gardens, the Garden Route, national parks and prolific sea life, the Western Cape is blessed with a wealth of flora and fauna.
Cape Town’s New7Wonder of Nature, Table Mountain, rises from Table Mountain National Park, which includes part of the Cape Floral Region, one of South Africa’s eight World Heritage Sites and the world’s smallest, most diverse floral kingdom.
There are 9 000 fynbos species found in the Cape and 2 000 types on Table Mountain alone – more
plant species than in the entire United Kingdom.
Set against the backdrop of Table Mountain and Devil’s Peak is Kirstenbosch, a 528ha national botanical garden featuring 22 000 indigenous plants with paved walkways affording access to view them.
Travelers can also take in Cape Point, a rugged tail of land that marks the south-westerly tip of Africa and which supports pelagic bird species, zebra, eland, reptiles and baboons in the Cape Point Nature Reserve; Boulders Beach, which is home to a breeding colony of African penguins; and Seal Island in False Bay, which supports a seal colony that attracts great white sharks.
The Western Cape also offers some of the best land-based whale watching in the world.
Further inland, about a 480km drive east of Cape Town in the Little Karoo, the town of Oudtshoorn boasts the world's largest ostrich population.
Dassie
Cape dassies can be seen on Table Mountain.
Fynbos
Fynbos typically found on Cape Agulhas dunes.
African penguins
African penguins have made Boulders Beach in Cape Town their home.
Pink and orange flowers
Wildflowers in the Overberg region.
Ostriches
Oudtshoorn is world famous for its ostriches.
Karoo fynbos
Flowers, plants, trees and fynbos at Worcester.
The Breede, Berg and Olifants are the province's major rivers.
Cape Winelands and the Garden Route
The Cape Winelands are a major tourist attraction in their own right
A visit to the popular Cape Winelands – which feature wine estates that date back hundreds of years, wine tasting, wine making, good food and spectacular scenery – is a must.
Very popular are the Stellenbosch Wine Route and Route 62, which takes the traveler to a number of well-known wine destinations, including Stellenbosch, Paarl, Wellington, Franschhoek, Ceres, Worcester, Bonnievale and Robertson.
Wine estates are an important part of the Western Cape’s heritage, and one of its most popular tourist attractions.
The Western Cape is also home to the picturesque Garden Route, a mix of deep river gorges, white beaches, rocky headlands and dense forests that stretches along the N2 from Cape Town in the south, taking in the towns of George, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, to the lovely city of Port Elizabeth.
It is one of the most recommended routes in South Africa, and offers the traveler many options. Apart from the spectacular scenery, the route offers adventure (the 216m Bloukraans bungee jump, and canopy tours); holidaying (Plettenberg Bay and Knysna); and golf (Simola, Pezula, Fancourt, among others).
Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa
Stellenbosch
Situated about 50km north-east of Cape Town, Stellenbosch is the country's second-oldest town. Famed for its wines and wine route, it is also home to some of the country’s top restaurants. Here you’ll find panoramic views, oak trees and Cape Dutch architecture.
Paarl, Western Cape, South Africa
Paarl
In the heart of the Cape Winelands, Paarl is dotted with ancient oak trees and examples of Cape Dutch, Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco architecture.
Wellington, Western Cape, South Africa
Wellington
Situated in the Cape Winelands, this town is about a 45-minute drive from Cape Town.
Franschhoek, Western Cape, South Africa
Franschhoek
Some of the country’s top restaurants call this town, about 80km from Cape Town, home. Franschhoek also has a rich wine heritage (which makes a great combination with the excellent food) and the Huguenot Memorial.
Ceres, Western Cape, South Africa
Ceres
Ceres is about 150km from Cape Town. It is a major producer of deciduous fruit and is known for its fruit juices.
Worcester, Western Cape, South Africa
Worcester
Surrounded by wine and table grape farms. On the famed Route 62 tourist route
Robertson, Western Cape, South Africa
Robertson
An attractive Cape Winelands town, it has Victorian-era buildings and jacaranda-lined streets.
Constantia, Western Cape
Constantia
About 15km from Cape Town, Constantia has its own wine route – the Constantia Wine Route. It is the Cape’s oldest wine-producing region.
Bonnievale, Western Cape
Bonnievale
This town, about 180km from Cape Town, boasts beautiful fruit and wine farms. Image courtesy of Karen Kleingeld
South Africa's wine industry dates back to the 1600s, when the second Dutch governor of the Cape, Simon van der Stel, brought vines with him from Europe.
History
Dutch Reformed Church in Piketberg
Apart from the history of the Dutch and British in the Cape, other influences included that of the French – many of whom came as Huguenots fleeing religious repression in the 17th century – and the Malays, who came mostly as slaves during the Dutch rule.
The French influence is still especially apparent in the small Western Cape town of Franschhoek, a drive of about an hour or so from Cape Town, while the Malay influence is still strong in some Cape cuisine and in the colorfully painted Bo-Kaap area in Cape Town, for instance.
Like South Africa’s other large cities, Cape Town witnessed large-scale forced removals when apartheid laws in the second half of the 20th century decreed it illegal for different races to live with one another. Today, Cape Town’s District Six Museum houses memorabilia from the community of District Six, donated by former residents who were forcibly removed to the barren Cape Flats during apartheid.
Cape Town also became notorious for Robben Island, the island-prison a few kilometers offshore, where apartheid’s most feared political prisoners were kept. Among its inmates was Nelson Mandela.
The Muratie Wine Estate – one of many wine farms in the Western Cape
Outside of Cape Town, you can visit many little historic towns rich with heritage. During the 1800s, for example, mission stations were established by European missionaries along what is now the West Coast Mission Route.
Dutch architecture is evident in many of the older parts of the province, but Stellenbosch, 'the town of oaks', remains the most well preserved, with many historical buildings still intact.
The numerous galleries and museums in the Western Cape house historical collections as diverse as art, gold, fossils, furniture, rock art, dinosaurs and Stone Age tools.
But your travelers won’t need to step into a museum to feel the history and multicultural traditions of the Western Cape, South Africa’s oldest province. They just need to walk down a street in central Cape Town, or visit the homestead on one of the province’s vineyards, some of them now hundreds of years old…
Main centers
Cape Town
South Africa’s second-largest city (after Johannesburg) and very popular with international travelers, Cape Town is home to the world-famous Table Mountain and Robben Island. With an international airport and busy port, the city is a bustling metropolis.
Plettenberg Bay
Along the Garden Route, Plettenberg Bay is a popular holiday destination with its long, white beaches. Adventurers are attracted to the nearby Bloukrans bungee jump and tree canopy tours.
Paarl
In the heart of the Cape Winelands, Paarl is dotted with ancient oak trees and examples of Cape Dutch, Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco architecture.
Oudtshoorn
Situated inland in the Little Karoo, about a 480km drive east from Cape Town, Oudtshoorn is the world’s ostrich capital and is also home to the spectacular Cango Caves and Swartberg mountain range.
Franschhoek
Some of the country’s top restaurants call this town, about 80km from Cape Town, home. Franschhoek (in Afrikaans, 'French Corner') also has a rich wine heritage (which makes a great combination with the excellent food) and the Huguenot Memorial.
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Stellenbosch
Situated about 50km north-east of Cape Town, Stellenbosch is the country's second-oldest town. Famed for its wines and wine route, it is also home to some of the country’s top restaurants and the University of Stellenbosch. Here you’ll find panoramic views, oak trees and Cape Dutch architecture.
Hermanus
About 120km south-east along the coast from Cape Town, Hermanus is known as the whale-watching capital of South Africa. These massive creatures (most commonly southern right whales) can be seen from about June to December, from the shore, by boat, or by air.
Knysna
Situated on an estuary along the Garden Route, Knysna's lush natural beauty makes it particularly picturesque. The town is famous for oysters (and an annual oyster festival), forests, outdoor activities and nearby beaches.
Timeline
260-million years ago
Table Mountain is formed approximately 260-million years ago, making it one of the oldest mountains on Earth and far older than ranges like the Andes and Himalayas.
1488
In 1488, Portuguese navigator Bartolomeu Dias discovers and names the Cape of Good Hope. He is the first to round the treacherous Cape Point.
1652
The first Dutch governor, Jan van Riebeeck, arrives at the Cape in 1652 and a colony is established where present-day Cape Town now stands.
1990
Nelson Mandela is released from prison in 1990 and makes a historic speech from the Cape Town City Hall. The first president of a democratic South Africa, he spent a total of 27 years in prison.
2011
Table Mountain is named one of the New7Wonders of Nature after a global voting campaign.
There are more plant species in the Table Mountain National Park than in the entire United Kingdom.
Cape Town has become one of the top tourist destinations in the world, and with the wealth of sporting activities, magnificent scenery, international standard accommodation, renowned winelands, colorful history, shopping facilities and tourist attractions in seven different regions - you are guaranteed a memorable encounter with the most southern tip of Africa.
ATLANTIC COAST AND SEABOARD
The Cape Peninsula stretches from Cape Town to Cape Point with the cold Atlantic Ocean on the west coast and the warmer False Bay waters on the east coast. One of the most spectacular scenic vistas and drives in the world - the Chapman's Peak Drive - winds along the coastline. The Cape Peninsula National Park embraces Table Mountain and the entire Peninsula mountain range, which stretches from Signal Hill to the Cape of Good Hope.
The Atlantic Seaboard is regarded as Cape Town's "Riviera" or Golden Mile, has awe-inspiring scenic beauty, some of the most expensive real estate in South Africa and hence attracts the beautiful people. It is lively, cosmopolitan with a host of international restaurants and amazingly white and sandy beaches. The M6 highway offers a magnificent scenic drive along the Atlantic Coast from Green Point to Llandudno
GREEN POINT
On the slopes of Signal Hill, Green Point offers tours of the Green Point Lighthouse, a huge flea market, sports fields, a children's recreational park, and lots more.
SEA POINT
For a casual stroll along the Atlantic seaboard there's the Three Anchor Bay - Sea Point Beachfront Promenade with its Olympic-sized swimming pool and beaches.
CLIFTON
The four beaches of elite Clifton, separated by big boulders, are reached by means of steep steps and are popular with sunbathers since they are protected from the south-easterly winds.
CAMPS BAY
Known for its long, sandy white beach, palm trees, tidal pool and braai (barbecue) area, lots of popular beachfront restaurants and good waves for surfers.
LLUNDADNO
Popular surfing and scuba diving spot with a beautiful beach, hidden amongst giant granite boulders. Sandy Bay, South Africa's only nudist beach, is nearby.
HOUT BAY
The harbor with its Yacht Club Marina and Mariner's Wharf is the major attraction in this picturesque town. It sports a fish market with live lobster tanks, shell shops, a maritime shop with nautical souvenirs, seafood bistro and according to popular opinion, one of the best seafood restaurants in the world. The panoramic harbor view, nautical atmosphere and authentic fishing décor alone make it worth a visit.
NOORDHOEK
Considered the last unspoiled rural village on the Peninsula and is situated at the end of Chapman's Peak Drive. Its 8 km Long Beach is popular for horse riding and walks. The town is also well-known for its art galleries, craft shops, nurseries and organic fresh produce.
KOMMETJIE
Surfing, angling, sunbathing and good crayfish form an integral part of this quiet, rustic seaside village.
CAPE POINT
The Cape of Good Hope is the most south-westerly point of Africa and offers visitors spectacular views, a restaurant, curio shop, picnic sites, diving spots and walking trails.
CAPE TOWN CENTRAL
The enthusiasm and energy of a proud nation comes to life on the city streets of Cape Town in the Western Cape, South Africa. A rich diversity of shopping opportunities, art, music, cuisine, theatre, entertainment and nightlife awaits the visitor. And for the sporty and adventurous, there is something to suit everybody's adrenaline rush - from all kinds of conventional sports to water sports to helicopter flips.
The beautiful Mother City has so much to offer, but since it is not dESTINATION eVENTS intention to present a comprehensive tourism brochure - we'll stick to wetting your appetite with a few highly recommended attractions and things to do when we do put together a package for you:
CASTLE OF GOOD HOPE
Built between 1666 and 1679, this pentagonal fort is the oldest colonial and best preserved structure of its kind in South Africa. Guided tours daily - experience cultural exhibitions, military history and colorful ceremonies, the dungeons, blacksmith, fine wines and Cape Malay cuisine.
THE GARDENS
Established in 1962 by Jan van Riebeeck, the first colonial governor in South Africa, to provide fresh fruit and vegetables to passing ships, the Company Gardens is a green, peaceful oasis in the middle of a bustling modern city, worthy of a stroll and house the SA Museum and Planetarium, the SA Cultural History Museum, the SA Jewish Museum, the SA National Gallery with contemporary works of art.
CRAFT MARKETS
Get a taste of Africa at Green Market Square and the pedestrian walk at St George's Mall where vendors sell anything from African crafts to clothes, jewelry and books to bric-a-brac. Visit also the craft markets of Greenpoint, Noordhoek and others.
CABLE CAR UP TABLE MOUNTAIN
The summit of Table Mountain is more than 1 000 meters high, provide spectacular views and sports a restaurant, shop, telescopes and walkways.
CAPE MALAY QUARTER
Also called the Bo-Kaap, guided walking tours will give you insight into the influence of the colorful Malay culture on the SA cuisine and architecture in Cape Town.
LONG STREET
Famous for all kinds of fascinating shops selling antiques, collectibles, clothing and books, a vibrant nightlife and good restaurants.
OPEN-TOP BUS
Explore the city on the open-top bus and get to know more about the history and culture of the Mother City.
V&A WATERFRONT
The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town is a working harbor that has been turned into South Africa's most visited tourist attraction. It has over 270 contemporary stores, street entertainers, live music shows at the open air amphitheater, 11 cinemas, an Imax theatre, 8 hotels, the Two Oceans Aquarium where you can swim with the sharks, boat trips, harbor cruises, helicopter charters, art and craft markets, designer clothes, African souvenirs and jewelry shops, a variety of top restaurants, historic sites, a working brewery - to mention a few.
ROBBEN ISLAND
The departure point for ferries and a tour of the maximum-security prison on Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated for 27 years, is at the Clock Tower.
CAPE TOWN NORTH
Cape Town North includes the upmarket residential suburbs of Bellville and Durbanville. Considered the retail heart of the Cape, it is a vibrant commercial area with numerous shopping malls, restaurants, theatres, art galleries, music and entertainment venues like the Velodrome and all kinds of sport facilities. It is home of the Grand West Casino Complex with its two hotels, an Olympic-sized ice rink and 60 different restaurants. But it is also part of the Cape Floral Kingdom and as such sports five nature reserves.
Three different parks for animal lovers and children can be visited - the Tygerberg Zoo, Drakenstein Lion Park and Animal zone. The Wijnland Auto Museum houses the biggest collection of classic and vintage cars in the country.
BELLVILLE
Famous for its Tyger Valley Shopping Centre where international shoppers feel at home, top medical facilities and its close proximity to the Cape Town International Airport.
DURBANVILLE
The Durbanville Wine Route has wine estates open for tastings and produces some of the best wines in the country.
KUILS RIVER
The Kuils River Golf Club offers an 18-hole course and welcomes visitors.
Cape Town South
The Southern Suburbs of Cape Town include the residential areas of Rosebank, Rondebosch, Claremont, Newlands, Wynberg and Grassy Park. Of note in this inland region on the Cape Peninsula - from the city center along the Eastern Boulevard and the M3 - are the following:
ROSEBANK
Mostert's Mill is one of only two Dutch windmills in the Cape, the other being Josephine Mill which offers guided tours and has a museum. At Rodes Memorial antelope roam on the urban edge. The site was chosen by Sir Herbert Baker and Rudyard Kipling, both friends of Rhodes.
NEWLANDS
Home of the Newlands Stadium and cricket fields. The Newlands Forest is an amazing, surprising tapestry of trees in a suburban setting.
CLAREMONT
One of the trendiest shopping venues in Cape Town, the award-winning Cavendish Square Shopping Centre.
KIRSTENBOSCH
The National Botanical Garden boasts over 5 000 species of indigenous flora and is world renowned for its beautiful displays and magnificent setting against the slopes of Table Mountain.
CONSTANTIA VALLEY
Where the wine industry in South Africa has its origin.
FALSE BAY COAST
Quaint little towns, each with their own distinct character, are situated along the False Bay coastline. The bay, with its warm water, is a haven for all sorts of water sports - swimming, surfing, diving, sailing, sea kayaking, hobie-catting, deep-sea fishing, rock fishing, beach sport, and more.
FISH HOEK
Has one of the safest swimming beaches in the Cape Metropole. Hobie-cat sailing, snorkeling and paddle-skiing are favorite water sports. You can watch the fisherman catch fish with nets in their wooden rowing boats, visit Sunny Cove where the dolphins play and whales are seen during spring and take a walk to Peers Cave, famous for its 12 000-year-old Fish Hoek Man.
SIMON'S TOWN
The base of the South African Navy, is steeped in history and has a number of excellent museums as well as the Warrior Toy Museum, a must for children. Boulders Beach is famous for its breeding colony of Jackass penguins.
KALK BAY
A trendy little seaside village with antique shops, bric-a-brac and curio shops. At the popular working harbor fresh fish can be bought from the fishing boats. The town and harbor also boast a variety of restaurants, from local to Cuban.
MUIZENBERG
Once a fashionable holiday resort, is steeped in history, has a number of museums and offers one of the most beautiful beaches on the Peninsula, with 36 km of white sand, safe swimming and a pavilion on the beachfront with a swimming pool and waterslide.
STRAND
The Strand lies on the other side of False Bay, at the foot of the Hottentots Holland Mountains, and can be reached by means of a beautiful scenic coastal road from Muizenberg. It has a long, sandy beach ideal for safe swimming and all kinds of water sport. The town also boasts an Olympic-sized swimming pool and a promenade lined with restaurants and shops and on Sundays, a busy flea market.
GORDON'S BAY
Gordon's Bay has been described as the Monaco of the Cape, with a distinct Mediterranean flavor. With its old-world charm, narrow streets, two safe swimming beaches, many restaurants and accommodation places, the town is the perfect holiday destination. The old harbor is a popular spot for romantic sunset walks and sunset cruises can be taken from the new Harbor Island marina development.
WEST COAT AND BLOUBERG
Blaauwberg or Blouberg, the largest region of the Cape Town Metropole, has 48 km of white, sandy beaches from where the familiar panorama photographs of Table Mountain, with the beach and ocean in the foreground, are taken.
The region offers top angling spots as well as surfing, wind and kite surfing. It boasts two fine golf courses and is a nature-lover's paradise with natural wetlands, wilderness areas, nature reserves and West Coast flowers. But it is also a thriving commercial hub with new developments, business and industry throughout the region.
MILNERTON
Milnerton boasts the biggest shopping center on the African Continent (Canal Walk), the Rietvlei Nature Reserve with its coastal wetlands and the Milnerton Golf Club.
TABLE VIEW
Table view sports vibrant shopping centers and is popular with young and energetic people. It is also the home of Sanccob, the famous rescue center for polluted marine birds and penguins.
BLOUBERGSTRAND
Offers whale watching (July to September) and year-round dolphin watching. From here the best photographs of Table Mountain across Table Bay are taken.
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MELKBOSSTRAND
The gateway to the West Coast with its famous flowers and seafood restaurants on the beach. It is also situated near the Koeberg Power Station and Nature Reserve.
CAPE WINELANDS
The Cape Winelands is the largest wine producing region in the Western Cape, South Africa. The wine routes of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Wellington and Paarl are situated in the most beautiful part of our country. With a selection of over 200 cellars to choose from, you are guaranteed to taste some of the finest wines in the world.
SOMERSET WEST
A beautiful garden town at the foot of the Helderberg mountain, is home of the historic Vergelegen Estate (now producing award-winning wines), the Erinvale Golf Course which hosted the 1996 Golf World Cup, the Helderberg Nature Reserve and Somerset Mall, a big shopping complex. It is said that the town has the most beautiful Christmas lights in the country.
STELLENBOSCH
The Stellenbosch Wine Route is probably the country’s most famous and Stellenbosch is considered the heart of South Africa’s wine industry. Spend a day tasting wine, buying and talking wine and you’ll taste the South African way of life.
OVERBERG
The Overberg is situated in the Western Cape and has its spectacular first entrance views a mere hour's drive from Cape Town past Somerset West over the Hottentots Holland mountains. The Overberg region (meaning “over the mountain”) is known for its rural villages and picturesque seaside towns, and with its magnificent mountain ranges, rivers, pristine nature reserves, indigenous fynbos and awe-inspiring coastline with beautiful beaches, it is a true nature lover's paradise.
SOME SUGGESTED dESTINATION eVENTS TOURIST ACTIVITIES TO DO IN CAPE TOWN
South Africa, covers a legion of sight-seeing tourist attractions as well as indoor and outdoor sporting and other activities which will ensure no dull moment for travelers and holiday-makers alike.
Cape Town has become one of the top tourist destinations in the world, and with the wealth of sporting activities, magnificent scenery, international standard accommodation, world famous winelands, interesting history, shopping facilities and tourist attractions in seven different regions, you are ensured a memorable encounter with the most southern tip of Africa.
Atlantic Coast & Seaboard
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Do one of the most spectacular scenic drives in the world - the Chapman's Peak Drive
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Visit the Green Point craft market on Sundays
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Stroll along Sea Point Beachfront Promenade
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Swim in the Olympic-sized swimming pool at Sea Point
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Visit the four elite beaches amongst the boulders of Clifton
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Enjoy the view from a restaurant at Camps Bay
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Visit Llandudno for surfing and scuba diving
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Tan at Sandy Bay, South Africa's only nudist beach
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Visit the Hout Bay harbor with its Yacht Club Marina and Mariner's Wharf
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Sunset cruises from Hout Bay harbor
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Scuba diving, surfing, kite surfing, sea kayaking, deep sea fishing
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Abseil from Chapman's Peak
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Cruise from Hout Bay to see the seals
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Horse riding at 8 km Long Beach near Noordhoek
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For excellent surfing, angling, crayfish boat trips visit Kommetjie
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Visit Cape Point, the Cape of Good Hope nature reserve
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Take a walk at Cape Point to see the Fynbos (indigenous flora)
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Visit the ostrich farm - camel rides
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Walk in Silvermine Nature Reserve
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Surf at "The Hoek" or walk along the beach at Noorhoek
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Sunset beach rides - with champagne at Noordhoek
Cape Town Central
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Visit the V&A Waterfront for excellent restaurants and shopping
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Visit the Two Oceans Aquarium and Imax Theatre at the V&A Waterfront
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Take a trip to Robben Island from the V&A Waterfront
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Take a harbor sunset cruise from the V&A Waterfront
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Visit the oldest building in the country, the Castle of Good Hope
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Spend some time in the historic Company Gardens
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Visits the craft stalls at Green Market Square for a taste of Africa
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Explore the Bo-Kaap with its Cape Malay flavor
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Take the cable car up Table Mountain
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Take a helicopter trip over the Peninsula
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Visit Long Street with its antique and book shops
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Explore the city on the open-top bus
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Drive the scenic coastal road from Green Point to Chapman's Peak
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Hike up Table Mountain
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Take a charter cruise from the harbor
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Cape Town North
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Visit the Grand West Casino Complex with 2 hotels, Olympic sized ice rink, 60 restaurants
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Entertainment and sport at the Velodrome
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Shop at the Tyger Valley Shopping Centre in Bellville
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The Durbanville Wine Route has six wine estates open for tastings
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Durbanville Golf Club
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The region has its own wine estates with wine tasting and hamper picnics
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Visit the Tygerberg Zoo, Drakenstein Lion Park and Animal zone.
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Visit the Wijnland Auto Museum - biggest collection of classic and vintage cars in the country.
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Kuils River Golf Club offers an 18-hole course and welcomes visitors.
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Cape Town South
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Visit Mostert's Mill, one of only two Dutch windmills in the Cape, in Rosebank
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Visit Rodes Memorial on the slopes of Table Mountain where antelope roam freely
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Newlands Stadium and cricket fields
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Have a picnic in the Newlands Forest with its an amazing tapestry of trees
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Shop at award-winning Cavendish Square Shopping Centre in Claremont
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Visit Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden - over 5 000 species of indigenous flora
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Visit Constantia Valley and the wine estates
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Take a township tour to Khayelitsha on the Cape Flats
False Bay Coast
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Take a train ride from Simonstown to Muizenberg
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Swim with the penguins at Boulders Beach in Simon's Town
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Visit the Toy Museum and Maritime Museum in Simon's Town
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Visit Gemstone Factory in Simon's Town
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Visit Just Nuisance's Grave in Simon's Town
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Swim at Fish Hoek beach
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Snorkel off Sunnycove beach in Fish Hoek
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Golf at Clovelly
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Go caving in the mountains near Kalk Bay
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Browse amongst antique shops in Kalk Bay
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Visit the old fashioned fishing harbor in Kalk Bay
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Scuba diving, surfing, kite surfing, sea kayaking, deep sea fishing
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Visit the Helderberg Wine Route, starting at Somerset West.
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Visit the Stellenbosch winelands
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Swim at long, white, safe swimming beaches of Strand and Gordon's Bay
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Visit the Helderberg Nature Reserve in Somerset West
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Visit the Fynbos Biosphere near Betty's Bay
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Magnificent coastal scenic Clarence Drive to Rooi Els
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Watch whales from August to November from Gordon's Bay
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Scuba diving, surfing, kite surfing, sea kayaking, deep sea fishing in area
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Shop at Somerset Mall, one of the biggest shopping malls in the Western Cape
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Take a drive along the beautiful coastal False Bay road to Muizenberg
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Visit historic Vergelegen Wine Estate
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Visit Monkey Town with 24 species or monkeys
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Golf at Erinvale, Somerset West and Strand Golf Clubs
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Go for shark diving in Gansbaai further along the coast
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See the cheetahs at Spier Wine Estate close by
West Coast & Blouberg
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Enjoy the view of Table Mountain from 48 km of white, sandy beaches
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Top angling spots as well as surfing, wind and kite surfing
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Scuba diving, sea kayaking, deep sea fishing, power boating
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Shop at Canal Walk, the biggest shopping center on the continent
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Sail on the Rietvlei Dam in the Nature Reserve
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Milnerton Golf Club
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Visit Sanccob, famous rescue center for polluted marine birds and penguins.
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Watch whales (July to September) and year-round dolphin watching at Bloubergstrand
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Visit Melkbosstrand, the gateway to the West Coast with its famous
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Koeberg Power Station and Nature Reserve
Tips for our dESTINATION eVENTS travelers
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Trips on Table Mountain Aerial Cableway start at 8am and end as late as 9.30pm, but these times vary seasonally and are weather-dependent. dESTINATION eVENTS would check on the days’ weather before we set out.
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Whale watching: For the best land-based whale watching in the world, try the Cape Overberg coast from Stony Point near Betty’s Bay, along the Kleinmond cliffs, and at Onrus and Hermanus between June and November.
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The best way to see Cape Town is by taking a guided, open-top bus trip that includes the V&A Waterfront, Table Mountain and Camps Bay, among many other landmarks.
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Langebaan on the West Coast has a tidal lagoon that attracts thousands of migratory birds and is also covered in flowers in spring (late August and September).
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If you decide to hike up Table Mountain, go in a group and always let someone know which route you intend taking.
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If you take the cableway to the top of Table Mountain, take a warm jacket because the weather is prone to change unexpectedly, with sudden drops in temperature common.
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Beautiful as they are, Western Cape beaches sometimes have strong undertows, so always swim in designated areas, never swim alone, and listen to lifeguards’ instructions.
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Through interaction with humans, some baboons in the Cape have become opportunistic thieves and scavengers. Keep all food hidden and never feed these animals as they can be treacherous.
The capital of the Western Cape is Cape Town.
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