Western Cape Province, South Africa

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Western Cape

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Western Cape

The Western Cape is the province with some of the most varied landscapes in South Africa.

Rocky mountains, fertile valleys, sandy beaches, subtropical forests to deserts all form part of this magnificent province. Apart from its spectacular landscapes the Western Cape is also famous for it's great Fynbos - the collective name of thousands of species of shrubs and flowers endemic to the area making the cape floral kingdom one of the most varied in the world.

Colonised by the Dutch in 1652 the Western Cape also boasts with the oldest buildings in South Africa and with some fine examples of the typical Cape Dutch architecture.

Best known places in the Western Cape are:

Cape Town:

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Cape Town

Cape town combines sandy beaches and natural beauty with city life, history and culture. Some of the best known historical buildings include: Houses of Parliament, St. Georges Cathedral, Groote Kerk, City Hall and Grand Parade and the Castle of Good Hope. Another must is a stroll along the beach of Bloubergstrand to take that 'postcard' photo of Table Mountain across the bay.

At Table Mountain a revolving cable car offers stunning views of the city and its surroundings on its way up to the 1086m summit. Once on top, viewing decks over the edge of the mountain offer wonderful photographic opportunities. Other activities on the mountain include leisurely walks, curio shopping, the use of telescopes and enjoying a lovely meal at the restaurant with the world at your feet.

Along the slopes of the 669m high Lions Head the road takes you up to Signal Hill where there are lovely picnic facilities and spectacular views over the city, harbour and Atlantic Ocean.

The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront is a working harbour and shopping / entertainment development which has become Cape Town's best visited tourist attraction. It offers excellent restaurants ranging from informal to fine dining. For a shopping experience, there are over 250 outlets from simple barrows to world class boutiques. Other places to visit include the Telcom Exploratorium, the SA Maritime Museum, the Imax theatre and the Two Oceans Aquarium. The Waterfront is a place to relax, where the visitor can stroll around, enjoy the various sights as the seals in the harbour as well as the luxury yachts, exhibitions, displays, street theatre and performances.

Daily ferry trips take the visitor on a four hour tour across the chilly, shark infested waters of Table bay to Robben Island where the prison is situated in which Nelson Mandela was kept. The island is a world heritage site and home to a rich variety of marine and bird life.

Cape Town Surroundings:

The Cape Peninsula Circuit:

A trip round the Peninsula is a must. It includes both magnificent mountains with impressive vertical cliffs and breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean. This route offers an unique experience of scenic splendour and could include visits to the following venues en route:

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens which slopes of the Table Mountain range is world famous because of the over 6000 species of indigenous plants nurtured on 528ha of land. Most of South Africa's more than300 species of protea can be seen while strolling through the park. The plants range from tall Yellow wood trees to cycads to dainty spring flowers. The lower section of the park features several footpaths that meander between lawns and beautiful beds of proteas, ericas, restios and succulents. The Dell is an enchanting corner of the gardens with its bubbling stream of crystal clear water and verdant tree ferns. Other interesting features include the Cycad Amphitheatre, where a valuable collection of these 'living fossils' can be seen. The summer sunset concerts on Sundays, featuring music groups such as the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra, offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy the superb scenery and music with a picnic on the lawns.

Historic Groot Constantia is a stately historic homestead on the oldest wine estate in Africa. It was built by Simon van der Stel, the Cape governor who lived there until his death in 1712. He also planted the first vineyards for which Constantia became renowned, the sweet, rich red wines eventually finding their way to the aristocratic tables of Europe. Groot Constantia is still a functioning wine farm where wine can be tasted and bought.

Simon's Town with its illustrious naval tradition can be reached via the scenic Boyes Drive. Spend some time in this town with its lovely old buildings lining the Historic Mile and the naval museum before travelling on to the picturesque Kalk Bay Harbour. A visit to The Boulders and its jackass penguin colony is not to be missed.

Cape Point at the tip of the Cape Peninsula: One of the world's most spectacular scenic drives is the tortuous road between sea and mountains where layers of yellow, red and brown Table Mountain sandstone can be seen as the road winds 600m up to the highest point. Cape Point is situated in The Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve which consists of 800ha of land covered with indigenous fynbos which burst into bloom in a surge of colours during spring - a nature lover's paradise with more than 1200 plant species; 160 bird species; a sanctuary of various antelope; the Cape Mountain Zebra and several troops of baboon. At Cape Point take a funicular to the most breathtaking view sites and experience the grandeur of one of the highest sea cliffs in the world. Enjoying a meal at the restaurant with stunning ocean and mountain views and shopping at the curio shops add to an experience not to be missed.

Chapman's Peak Drive: The route via Scarborough, Ou Kaapse Weg, Tokai forests and the Chapman's Peak Drive is regarded as one of the most scenic coastal drives in the world. There are many picnic spots on the way, from which the shimmering beauty of Chapman's Bay, Hout Bay and the imposing mountain known as the Sentinel can be seen - a photographer's paradise. Visit the World of Birds in Hout Bay or take a boat trip to watch the seals. From Hout Bay the coastal road takes you through lovely seaside villages such as Camps Bay and Clifton with its wonderful beaches and restaurants where the visitor can complete a perfect day with sundowners and dinner.

The Cape Winelands:

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Cape Winelands

The beautiful Cape Winelands with several wine routes is an area rich in historical and cultural heritage like the towns of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, that leaves the visitor with lasting memories of warm hospitality and unsurpassed beauty.

Cape Agulhas:

The ocean along the south -western coast leads to Africa's most southerly point at Cape Agulhas where the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet. This ocean line is one of the world's most important breeding grounds for the Southern Right Whale. During the mid-winter months these graceful mammals can be seen all along the southern coast's beautiful bays where they come to calve. All this can be experienced along countless walks and trails, scenic drives and impressive mountain passes, giving the visitor the opportunity to appreciate the singular beauty of the Western and South- Western Cape.

Little Karoo:

The little Karoo is a small semi-desert surrounded by rugged mountains making up what is geologically known as the Cape Fold Belt.

The Swartberg Mountains form a 200km long barrier between the Little Karoo and the Great Karoo and is merely a 2hr drive from the Garden Route. The Swartberg Pass with its orange sandstone cliffs, weathered into fascinating shapes by the forces of nature affords the visitor the most spectacular views imaginable. At the foothills lie Oudtshoorn, the ostrich capital of the world, the nearby fairyland of the world famous Cango caves as well as the quaint hamlet of Prince Albert. Places to visit include Meiringspoort, a spectacular gorge carved through the heart of the Swartberg by the Groot River; Prince Albert, a delightful little town with its old-world charm in the foothills of the Swartberg; Gamkaskloof, known as Die Hel, a 17 km long secluded valley, carved by the Gamka River in the folds of the Swartberg; Seweweekspoort, a scenic road through dome-shaped mountains characterized by asymmetrical folded layers of sandstone and then the world famous Cango Caves

The Cango Caves lie in the southern foothills of the Swartberg Mountains and are surely most exquisite masterpieces of nature. It is a wondrous world of caverns, narrow passages, fluted columns, glittering crystals, and a bewildering variety of stalagmites, stalactites and helictites with breathtaking formations. There are several guided tours through the caves as well as curio shops and a restaurant with lovely mountain views to make the visitor's outing to the caves an unforgettable experience.

Garden Route:

One of South Africa's most scenic areas can be found in the Southern Cape from Mossel Bay in the west to the Storms River and Tsitsikamma in the east.

Along the coast miles and miles of golden beaches which are interspersed with rugged cliffs plunging almost vertically down to the shoreline can be found with lovely bays and wide estuaries. The enchanting shoreline with a hinterland of mountains, spectacular passes, rivers, waterfalls, wooded ravines and tranquil lakes and lagoons around Knysna and Wilderness makes this area without doubt one of the most beautiful scenic areas in the world. Fringing the coastal patchwork on the landward side are indigenous forests of Yellow wood, Stinkwood, Assegai and Candlewood trees, which form a refuge for the last free roaming elephants in the country.

Separating the coastal area from the arid Karoo, is a natural barrier of peaks, cliffs and deep valleys. The Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma mountain slopes are perfect for the indigenous fynbos, Protea and Ericas. The Baviaanskloof to the east is a rugged mountain wilderness while the Amatola range is renowned for its magnificent indigenous forests and breathtakingly beautiful waterfalls.

The attractions in the area are many: good hotels, guest houses, eating places, world famous golf courses, pleasant villages, resorts and marinas.

Places to visit along the Garden Route include:

Mossel Bay:

A lovely historic town, its origin dating back to 1488, when it became a regular port of call for the Portuguese after the arrival of Bartholomew Diaz. It is now, apart from being the country's fifth busiest harbour, a very popular tourist destination. Mossel Bay enjoys a wonderful mild all year climate, unspoilt north-facing beaches and a wide variety of cultural, adventure and eco attractions. Places of interest to visit include the Maritime museum, the well known Post - Office Tree, the Khoi-San village, War Memorial and the historic Cape St Blaize Lighthouse. The Cape St. Blaize Cave at the Point forms the starting point of the 13.5km long hiking trail along the cliff - edged rugged coast with breathtaking views over the ocean. There are various look-out points to watch whales, dolphins and seals at play. The town also boasts a beautiful golf course where you can see the sea from every tee as well as good hotels, guest houses, lovely restaurants and beautiful old-world homesteads to delight and entertain the most discerning traveller. The more adventurous may want to try the great white shark experience, a 4X4 game viewing drive, horse riding on the beach scuba diving or bungee jumping. The visitor also has the opportunity to go on board a licensed whale watching boat for an unforgettable whale watching trip during the months June to November or to sail off to Seal Island in the bay - the home to a large breeding colony of seals and their cubs.

Botelierskop Game Farm:

Situated only 20 minutes away from Mossel Bay on the way to George on the Garden Route, this lovely game farm offers a great diversity of wild life. The visitor has the opportunity to experience a 3 hour guided game drive either early in the morning or afternoon, to see rhinoceros, lion, buffalo, giraffe, rare black impala, sable, kudu, nyala, bushbuck, bontebok, waterbuck, bluewildebeest, eland, mountain zebra, etc. Botlierskop offers a beautiful setting for its restaurant, which makes enjoying a meal very special.

George:

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George

Situated at the foot of the Outeniqua Mountains, in beautiful surroundings, the fast growing and vibrant town of George is a very popular tourist destination on the Garden Route. Streams spring to life in the mountains above the town, becoming winding rivers coursing through the forests before reaching tranquil lakes, lagoons and the ocean. The town boasts all modern amenities, fine restaurants, good hotels, guest houses as well as sophisticated air, road and rail links to all major cities in South Africa. It is the principal centre on the garden route with good shopping facilities as well as excellent sporting facilities including the world famous Fancourt Country Club - a must for the golf enthusiast.

Victoria Bay:

Named by many a tourist, "The Gem of the Garden Route", Victoria Bay is a small, tranquil bay, ideal for whale and dolphin watching as well as a variety of activities such as bathing, fishing, snorkeling and surfing. It boasts excellent accommodation facilities.

Wilderness:

Wilderness is an enchanting seaside resort renowned for its vast stretches of beach washed by the Indian Ocean and an attractive base from which to explore the area.

Wilderness overlooks the sea, at the edge of the Lake District. The town lies in the 2500ha Wilderness National Park which includes five lakes, five rivers, two estuaries and 18km of protected coastline. The area is home to a wealth of bird life which includes water birds as well as the abundance of species found in the indigenous forests surrounding the town. The area has excellent viewpoints, such as the Map of Africa, with breathtaking scenery of forests, lakes, mountains and coastline. DolphinPoint is a favourite spot for whale and dolphin watching as well as photographing the Outeniqua Choo Tjoe train as it comes out of the tunnel and crosses the Kaaimans River.

Recreation in this area includes angling, boating, hiking, mountain biking, dolphin and whale watching, hang gliding, paragliding and horse riding. The majestic Outeniqua Mountains, tranquil paradise of lakes, rivers, estuaries and indigenous forests with beautiful picnic spots lend itself to many scenic drives and day tours.

By way of accommodation, the visitor is spoilt for choice as there is something for everyone - excellent guesthouses, hotels, caravan and camping facilities and self catering apartments. Wilderness cut off by its boundaries of sea and forests, has a charm which will remain a highlight of any tour.

Old Passes Road:

Many travellers speed along the coastal highway to Knysna unaware of the equally scenic route further inland. The Seven Passes Road winds itself through densely wooded primeval forests, down gorges caused by rivers which have gouged deep ravines in the landscape, over narrow bridges and through a series of small settlement and forestry stations.

The Lakes Area:

This is a unique series of both fresh - and saltwater lakes which lie between the Indian Ocean to the south and the Outeniqua Mountains to the north. It is a paradise of tranquil lakes, estuaries, rivers and indigenous forests. The scenic drive snakes through the Wilderness National Park along the Waterside road on the edge of the Touw River estuary; then skirts the northern banks of the Serpentine (a natural water channel which meanders for about 5,5km through a marshy area and then linking three lakes with the Touw River). The picturesque route takes the traveler along the edge of the lakes and through pine forests with abundant bird life to Swartvlei, the largest and deepest of the five lakes in the area. The town of Sedgefield is to the eastern shores of the Swartvlei estuary. Groenvlei which lies to the east and is 3m above sea level is the least brackish of the five lakes, because it has no outlet to the sea and is not fed by a river, but relies on rain water which seeps through the dunes as well as freshwater springs.

Goukamma Nature Reserve:

This 2230 ha reserve lies adjacent to Grootvlei with the Goukamma River and estuary to the east and is a nature lover's paradise. Mammals such as bushbuck, grysbok, blue duiker, bush pig, the Cape clawless otter and vervet monkey are common to this area. More than 150 bird species are recorded in the reserve among which are the secretary bird, the African fish eagle with its evocative call, the martial eagle and Knysna Loerie. Groenvlei provides a habitat for a wide diversity of water birds. There are delightful picnic facilities along the Goukamma River for the day visitor. Recreational activities include hiking, horse riding, swimming, boardsailing, angling and canoeing.

Knysna Lagoon:

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Knysna

This area is considered one of the jewels of the Garden Route. The lagoon is washed twice daily by nutrient-rich waters of the Indian Ocean and fed with fresh water from the Outeniqua Mountains - a remarkable ecosystem and a sought after tourist attraction. More than 230 bird species recorded in the Knysna area are attracted to the waters of the lagoon as well as more than 200 fish species.

The very popular town of Knysna on the edge of the lagoon is a place of beauty and charm with many arts and craft shops, galleries, flea markets, workshops, and buskers to delight and entertain the weariest visitor. The lagoon, amphitheatre of mountains surrounding the town, gentle weather, quiet beauty of its evergreen forests and the soaring beauty of the Heads (two sandstone sentinels that mark the mouth of the lagoon) make Knysna a paradise for visitors.

Knysna offers the widest range of accommodation as well as excellent eating facilities. Strolling through the town and visiting the waterfront and harbour area with all its restaurants and curio shops seem very popular with tourists as well as going on one of many pleasure cruises which are offered daily.

Knysna Forest:

The Knysna forest is part of South Africa's largest natural forest, a green belt from Mossel Bay to Harkerville with the beautiful Outeniqua Mountains forming the inland boundary. It forms a wonderland of forest giants, bright mosses, fungi, diverse bird life and home to the few remaining Knysna elephants. The town of Knysna is an ideal base from which to explore the fairy-tale forests of the Southern Cape. The forest is well known for its gigantic Outeniqua Yellow Wood trees, the largest, which is over 600 years old, has a height of 39m, a crown spread of 24m and a circumference of 6m. There are several scenic drives, walks and trails as well as cycling trails with numerous little picnic spots making a visit to this magical world of ferns, trees and creeks an unforgettable experience not to be missed.

Tsitsikamma National Park:

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Plettenberg Bay

The Tsitsikamma National Park has long been a very popular park in South Africa, because of its natural beauty consisting of rugged coastline, indigenous forests, patches of beautiful fynbos and stunning river passes. Plettenberg Bay is a holiday mecca with 12km of sandy beaches and the ideal base to explore the beauties of this unique area. Places of interest in and out the park include: Robberg Nature Reserve, the scenic Passes Drive, the Storms River Bridge, Nature's Valley, Keurbooms River Nature Reserve and The Big Tree. Apart from scenic drives there are also several walks and trails where the visitor is rewarded with breathtaking views coastline, forests, rivers and waterfalls. Other activities include snorkelling, diving, angling, canoeing and bungee jumping.