Western Cape in South Africa – The Best Bits

The Western Cape is South Africa’s most desirable holiday location with good reason. The principle city of Cape Town or the ‘Mother City’ is seen by 70% of visitors who travel to South Africa from the United Kingdom.

The renowned city of Cape Town is found in the shadow of Table Mountain at the spot where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans collide. The Mother City is many things to many people providing culture, wine, landscapes, the beach or quite a few leisure activities.

Table Mountain rises to about 1,000m above the city and it is certainly one of the most recognised places on the planet. More active people can take on the numerous walking trails to the summit or alternatively, there is a cable car that will take merely three minutes to reach to top.

The Cape Winelands are popular throughout the earth and the wineries of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl go back generations. The various wine routes are complimented by many restaurants, coffee houses and guest houses with superb menus and substantial wine lists.

The jail at Robben Island was where Nelson Mandela as well as other members in the ANC were held for a number of years. Found eight miles off shore from Green Point, Robben Island is today a museum honouring the heroic people who were imprisoned here. It was specified a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.

Around one hour towards the east of Cape Town is the town of Hermanus and it is acknowledged as among the leading areas across the world to view whales from the coast. Between June and November every year, the Southern Right Whales head past Hermanus as part of their migration path.

Back in Cape Town, the V&A Waterfront is the centrepiece of the city with world class shops, dining establishments, cafes, night clubs and nightspots. The harbour presents a few of the leading hotels in Cape Town together with the 2 Oceans Aquarium.

For people checking out the Western Cape, the Garden Route is definitely a location that simply just has to be visited. This spectacular piece of shoreline between the Mother City and Port Elizabeth is among the most successful places in South Africa. Matted forests, cliffs, striking cliffs and sandy seashores are all part of the scenery. You will find numerous small towns following the Garden Route delivering many different accommodations and cusine experiences.