Cape Town and the Nearby Winelands

The so-called ‘Mother City’, The Mother City is South Africa’s best loved metropolis – and it is quick to see why. Its temperate, Mediterranean-style local climate is pleasant in the extreme and with old Georgian properties, sophisticated eating places, leafy squares and stacks of cultural flair, the entire urban centre is a feat for the senses.

At the heart of The Mother City and permanent backdrop is Table Mountain, the flat-topped symbol of the city that’s as amazing in the rain as in the sunshine. Embark here with a six minute cable-car ride up the mountain and you can straight away get your bearings.

The metropolis is flanked on both sides by shorelines with the balmy waters of the Indian Ocean and the clear Atlantic lapping the long shores that have made Capetonians a metropolis of beach-lovers. To the south-west and a part day trip away is the Cape of Good Hope; below is Robben Island, former prison home to Nelson Mandela and another must-see location.

The South Africa Museum, St George’s Cathedral and the Houses of Parliament are significant points of interest in the old town, not to mention the popular Green Market and landmark hotel the Mount Nelson. By night the action moves to the Victoria and Albert Waterfront, where eating places, bars and retailers line a marina packed with yachts and fishing vessels.

Soon after a couple of days in the urban centre, head north-east over the mountain tops to the vineyards and Dutch-style homesteads of the South African wine-growing region. At is heart, just 18 miles out of Cape Town, is Stellenbosch additionally recognised for its university and plentiful colonial-era architecture.

A large number of wineries here and in nearby Franschoek are happy to receive travellers for tours and tastings. A growing number have terrific restaurants and hotel accommodation, too, and a number of days exploring the Cape Winelands has become a must for travellers to Cape Town and the Western Cape.