Situated close to the southern tip of Africa, where the mighty Indian and Atlantic oceans meet, Cape Town has, for more than 300 years, served as a launch pad to the continent of Africa.
Its Mediterranean climate and natural splendour, from the top of Table Mountain to the rich fynbos floral kingdom, have made the city a haven for passing ships on their voyages of discovery.
The interaction of European culture and the influence of the East, blended with the indigenous cultures of Africa, have all contributed to the present day city of Cape Town. This rich mix has influenced architecture, food, lifestyle, customs, agriculture, and, indeed, the entire fabric of society, turning Cape Town into a jet-setting playground and a mecca for international tourism.
The Western Cape lifestyle is much copied, but never quite captured. Visitors can enjoy country cooking in a Karoo kitchen, Xhosa cuisine in a township and elegant silver service meals at five-star restaurants, accompanied by superb local wines and brandies. The region’s numerous wine routes and gastronomic festivals — from mushroom to witblitz — ensure that fine food and wine are celebrated in style.
The bustling V&A Waterfront boasts a dazzling array of restaurants to suit a range of palates, while offering a huge selection of world-class shops.
Discovering the Western Cape is like diving into the ocean: venture beneath the surface and you’ll find much more than at first meets the eye.
The region, with Cape Town as its stepping stone, is not only home to eight of the country’s top 10 tourist attractions, it also has a wealth of lesser-known treasures waiting to be unearthed.
Rich in diversity, both cultural and natural, it’s an area where you will find whales, wild flowers, fine wine, bushman paintings, ostriches, white water rafting and a host of other attractions — all within a few hours’ drive of Cape Town.
A melting pot of African, Asian and European influences, the Western Cape has a unique flavour and comprises several regions, each boasting its own distinct character and charm.
The Overberg, with its scattering of tiny coastal resorts, has some of the best land-based whale-watching sites. Every year hundreds of southern rights come to calve in these waters. Nature lovers can also view great white sharks in a “shark alley” at the Geyser and Dyer Island nature reserves.
Also in the region is South Africa’s only shipwreck museum, offering a fascinating look at artefacts salvaged from ships that have sunk off the Cape Agulhas coastline, known as the graveyard of ships.
When you’re ready to leave Africa’s southernmost tip follow Route 62, the world’s longest wine route, linking cellars and wine estates between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth.
If you travel inland instead, you’ll find it worth visiting the Breede River Valley, the largest of the Western Cape’s three fruit and wine producing valleys. Cradled in a mountainous bowl, its orchards, vineyards and wheatlands provide a sumptuous visual feast.
If you opt to head along the Garden Route, there’ll be lush forests, tranquil lakes, bays and beaches to delight you along the way.
Birdwatchers will find Knysna a paradise, with more than 280 different species, including the elusive Knysna loerie, concentrated there. The town, home to many artists, and the surrounding areas offer a multitude of attractions. Or you might prefer just to sit back and feast on plump oysters while cruising around the lagoon.
Seven scenic mountain passes provide access to Oudtshoorn and the Karoo. Oudtshoorn is known as the ostrich capital of the world and almost everything, from its history to its present economy, is closely linked to the industry.
The Little Karoo, the ostrich’s natural habitat, is also the site of the Cango Caves, limestone caverns with stalagmites and stalactites formed over thousands of years.
The Karoo, the largest plateau outside Asia, features the world’s biggest variety of succulents and some important archaeological sites.
If your interest lies in natural history, a visit to the fossil park on the West Coast is a must. There you will see human footprints that are 117 000 years old and fossils dating back 10-million years.
The West Coast region has its own magic and is renowned for the warm hospitality of its towns and fishing villages. Its waters offer an abundance of mussels, squid and crayfish, and support a rich bird life including flamingos and penguins.
To the north of Cape Town lies the Cederberg wilderness, where leopard, antelope and many other species make their home. This region has awe-inspiring rock formations and the wonderfully preserved San rock art.
Clanwilliam is the only place on Earth where rooibos tea can be grown. The town has also established a reputation for handmade veldskoene.
Closer to the Mother City lie the famed winelands, characterised by mountain ranges, vine-clad valleys and historic towns like Stellenbosch, with oak-lined streets and gracious old buildings.
Cape Town combines a cosmopolitan city lifestyle with spectacular scenery. Its attractions range from the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and Robben Island to South Africa’s oldest building — the Castle of Good Hope — and the tip of the Peninsula, Cape Point.
There are hundreds of wonderful destinations throughout the Western Cape, offering the pick of activities to suit your lifestyle. It will take only one unforgettable visit to find out why this is regarded as the jewel of South African tourism.
For more information contact the Western Cape Tourism Board on (021) 426 5647, or visit the website: www.capetourism.org
The Cape goes hi-tech
Guesthouse owners, tour operators, restaurateurs and others involved in the tourism industry will soon be able to gain extensive marketing benefits from a sophisticated tourism information and booking system being implemented in the Western Cape — and all for free with membership of any tourism bureau.
Visitors will be able to navigate the full spectrum of the Western Cape’s attractions, destinations, products and events via related websites. Information will be displayed by province, region, town and also in various targeted market-related themes. Tourism bureaus and promotion agencies will use the same information, held in a single database, to deliver efficient and effective service by telephone, fax, e-mail or in person.