Cape Town is one of the world's most beautiful cities; it is a top international destination and is blessed with six of the top seven tourist attractions in South Africa. It is fondly known as the Mother City and is the legislative capital of South Africa. It is nestled in one of the world's most dramatic scenic settings with the overwhelming backdrop of Table Mountain, Devil's Peak and Lion's Head. The city was colonised on 6 April 1652 when Jan van Riebeeck dropped anchor in Table Bay to hoist the Dutch flag. Today the city is one of the world's most primary ports for the export of goods, and is the major base for deep-sea fishing. You can walk for hours on unspoilt beaches, hike through forests or one of the world's great plant kingdoms, explore mountain trails or semi-desert areas, and tour historic wine estates where old slave bells are startlingly juxtaposed against their backdrop of Cape Dutch elegance. Nature lovers can enjoy the best whale, shark, ostrich and penguin watching in the world.
The Whale Coast is a rugged stretch of South African coastline, snaking along the Atlantic Ocean and encompassing the towns of Kleinmond, Hermanus, Stanford, and Gansbaai. The route is backed by fynbos-covered mountains and includes farms, rivers, caves, and valleys. Between June and October, and especially over August, September, and October, the humpback or southern right whales that come here to mate and give birth can be seen frolicking offshore. The Whale Festival, held annually in September in Hermanus, is a special event featuring live music, markets, and much more. Throughout the year, explore the historic villages, and enjoy bird watching, wine tasting, paragliding, fat bike rides, river rafting, game viewing, mountain biking, and golfing. Don’t miss a visit to the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary in Gansbaai.
Set just over an hour from Cape Town, within the inspiring landscapes of the Cape Winelands, Franschhoek is a heritage town and a world-renowned food and wine destination. Travellers could choose to focus their visit on any one aspect alone - nature, cuisine or culture - and find plenty to keep them busy. The estates here attract wine experts from around the globe with their Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cap Classique sparkling wine (among others). Five-star restaurants alongside the cellars are surrounded by the same jaw-dropping valley scenes that have brought artists and writers to the area for centuries. A superb literary festival takes place around May every year, and, combined with the town’s Cape Dutch manor houses, fascinating museums, and charming boutiques, makes Franschhoek a wonderful place to visit in winter. Summer provides endless hiking, cycling and other outdoor opportunities among the lush farmlands and mountains.
The Sabi Sands is South Africa's premier private game viewing destination. It was here that the southern African safari began and today this famous reserve offers exceptional game viewing and equally exceptional accommodations. Two perennial rivers, the Sabi and the Sand flow through this game park, sustaining the diverse fauna and flora of the area. The success of leopard viewing within the Sabi Sands is legendary. Elephants, lion, rhino, buffalo, cheetah, giraffe, zebra and a vast variety of antelope and other species can be closely observed in their natural environment.
As previously described
