Cape Town
I’m sure South Africa was a popular topic of conversation last month but probably based more on sport, rather than tourism!
As well as having a regrettably good Rugby Union team, South Africa is also a country blessed with beautiful countryside, rugged mountain ranges, lush rolling hills, stunning beaches and an
abundance of wildlife. I’ll talk more about South Africa in future articles, but for now I’ll start with Cape Town – there’s so much to see.
Cape Town has a stunning, waterfront location with the backdrop of Table Mountain, its most famous landmark. The V&A Waterfront is bustling with life, with a variety of fabulous restaurants and shops selling high quality, artisan goods. The exchange rate against the Rand still makes this a ‘good value for money’ destination for the British. During our winter, is an ideal time to visit Cape Town, with average summer temperatures in the high 20s (Celsius) but even in their winter, the temperatures would rarely be less than 15 degrees. Flying time is 11 hours 35 minutes on a non-stop fl ight with British Airways and as the time difference is only two hours, there is no problem with jet-lag.
The city is quite compact, so it’s very easy to get around either by foot or by local taxis. There is also a very informative ‘hop on, hop off’ bus service, which operates two loops, an inner city, circuit and an outer circuit, which includes the Table Mountain Cable Car station, Camps Bay (an upmarket beach suburb) and the world famous Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.
There are a variety of city tours which you can pre-book, but the following are my recommendations. A half-day city tour is an ideal way to get your bearings, but also to briefl y see places which you may want to spend more time visiting. Two of the most popular ‘must see’ destinations are Table Mountain and Robben Island. Table Mountain is very weather dependent
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so be prepared, if the skies are clear, do it! The cable car is often closed due to cloudy/misty conditions or high winds.
Robben Island is a former prison and leper colony, best known for its most famous inmate, Nelson Mandela. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage site and museum. Some of the guides are former prisoners, who share their fi rst-hand experience of what life was like.
With the stunningly, beautiful Cape Winelands on the doorstep it would be remiss not to sample some of the world-renowned wines! A full day tour will include wine tasting and a visit to the picturesque towns of Stellenbosch, with its prestigious University and boutique craft shops, and the more tranquil Franschhoek, with its celebrated fi ne dining restaurants and French ambience.
Another recommended full day tour is the Cape Point & Peninsula Tour. This will take you to the Cape of Good Hope via the dramatic coastal drive along Chapman’s Peak, where the road hugs the rugged coastline. Stops along the way include Simon’s Town and Boulders Beach, home of the very cute Cape Penguins.
If Cape Town is on your wish list, or South Africa in general, please give me a call. I’d love to discuss ideas with you: Garden Route, The Winelands, Safari’s? There are so many options!
Pauline Newman Travel Counsellor • 01202 377039
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