Cape Town is one of the most beautifully situated cities in the world. Cradled by Table Mountain, it has immense charm and historical interest. We never tire of soaking up the beauty & buzzy atmosphere of this relaxed city with its cosmopolitan dining options.
No Cape Town visit is complete without taking the cable car up Table Mountain. You can even abseil off the top for the ultimate adrenalin rush. In the city, you can visit the colourful Bokaap quarter, an ecletic array of museums from District Six to the Museum of Gold or browse through the vibey street markets such as Greenmarket Square. Alternatively meander through the wonderful Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, head out to Robben Island by boat or simply relax on the golden beaches of Camps Bay or Llandudno.
When you want to range further, the Cape Peninsula offers one of the finest coastal drives in Africa – Chapmans Peak Drive - to the Cape of Good Hope. Here you might see whales breeching just off the bay or quirky penguins on Boulders Beach.
Stellenbosch is the second oldest town in South Africa – and certainly one of the prettiest! This historic university town began in 1685 and still has a number of charming Cape Dutch streets lined with water furrows and shaded by oak trees. The architecture of Stellenbosch is simple in style and character with white limestone walls, thatched roofs and wide avenues. Amble up the picturesque Dorp Street, or head into the Stellenbosch Village Museum, a collection of four preserved houses that give insight into the lives of the early settlers.
Foodies can indulge in mouth-watering cuisine and fine wines at one of its chic restaurants or buzzing bistros. Stellenbosch is also the ideal base from which to explore the renowned local wine route, with a high proportion of the country’s leading wine estates in the vicinity.
The cosmopolitan fishing village and resort of Hermanus lies only 1½ hours drive from Cape Town. It offers year-round charm with stunning sandy beaches, coastal walking trails, some of the finest wine estates in South Africa, beautiful fynbos vegetation and spring flowers.
But it is primarily known as the whale watching capital of the world. Whale watching can be conducted on land from the scenic coastal path, by boat or even from the air.
Secluded sandy beaches are backed by velvety mountains covered with exceptional fynbos vegetation. The wild flowers are particularly enchanting and walking trails follow the coastline - ideal for whale-watching - or take you into the mountains of Fernkloof Reserve.
The more adventurous can enjoy whale-watching boat cruises and shark cage diving at nearby Gansbaai. More relaxing pursuits would be browsing through numerous arts and craft shops or enjoying the panoramic views of Walker Bay whilst dining alfresco at one of the many restaurants and cafes overlooking the bay.
Dotting South Africa’s beautiful southern coast, the resort town of Sedgefield overlooks the mouth of the Swartvlei lagoon on the famous Garden Route. It features long golden beaches and sand dunes that stretch off into the distance in both directions. The town serves as a great base from which to explore the scenic surrounds, which provides a habitat for a treasure trove of varied and beautiful bird species, many of which can be spotted from the numerous hiking trails and bird hides in the area. Other highlights include: sampling fresh oysters, visiting the Pledge Nature Reserve, and exploring the Red Elephant Forest Walk. Visitors can also enjoy a vast range of outdoor activities such as swimming, kayaking, kite surfing, paragliding, horse riding, mountain biking and magnificent scenic cycling routes. Don’t miss the wealth of fantastic farmer’s markets in the area.
Plettenberg Bay, known as 'Plett, is a chic resort town with long sandy beaches and a panoramic view of the sweeping bay, backed by the velvet-green Tsitsikamma Mountains.
'Plett' is known for its vast expanses of golden beach. It is immensely popular with South Africans as well as occasional sorties by the international polo jet-set crowd. But outside of the festive season it returns to being a charming seaside town.
From the beaches, you may be lucky to see the Southern Right Whales which comes right into the bay to calf from July to November. Daily water safaris are on offer for boat-based whale-watching. Other activities include cruising up the Keurbooms River, enjoying an alfresco lunch at Lookout Beach and coastal walking in the spectacular Robberg Nature Reserve.
It also makes a great base to explore The Crags. Here you can visit the Monkeyland primate sanctuary, Birds of Eden, the Elephant sanctuary, even wine-tasting at Bramon. To the east lies the Tsitsikamma, a dense indigenous forest, with rugged ravines, streams and waterfalls. Enjoy the short but scenic walk to the suspension bridge over the majestic Storms River mouth. The adventurous can opt for more hectic walking trails, bungi-jumping or ziplining through the forest on the Treetop Canopy Tour.
Just north of Ballito on the north coast of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Salt Rock offers a laid-back holiday atmosphere for beach lovers. Once the home of King Shaka Zulu, the riches of this destination now lie in its irresistible golden beaches, turquoise tidal pools, and warm Indian Ocean waves, and cosmopolitan restaurants. Besides swimming and sunbathing, visitors can also look forward to microlight flights, skydiving, fishing, diving, snorkelling, and excellent hikes along the coast, as well as leisurely walks along the wooden boardwalks next to the ocean for gorgeous views. The wonderful Litchi Orchard Market is a great place to sample delicious local fare and browse through superb arts and crafts.
The Cathedral Peak Nature Reserve is located in the Drakensberg Mountains in east-central South Africa, near its border with the northeastern region of Lesotho. This magnificent area is most easily accessed from the town of Winterton and boasts some of the country’s most scenic hiking and rock climbing opportunities. The nature reserve offers a range of trails of varying length and difficulty, including exploring the cave paintings of Ndedema Gorge and a route to the summit of Cathedral Peak itself. This challenging climb rewards hikers with views of some of the Drakensberg’s most prominent peaks, such as Giant’s Castle, the Bell and Cleft Peak. There is a four-star hotel located within the reserve, while day can soak up the incredible scenery along a network of magnificent trails.
