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.
The picturesque village of Franschhoek is brimming with ‘joie de vivre’ and rural charm. It’s full of gourmet restaurants, eclectic shops and boutique hotels. All in a pretty valley setting surrounded by mountains.
The origins of Franschhoek date back to 1688 when some of the French Huguenots fleeing religious persecution settled in the valley, then known as Elephants Corner. With their arrival, it became known as French Corner, or 'Franschhoek' in Afrikaans. The French influence is still very evident today with wine estates such as Mont Rochelle, Haute Cabriere, La Motte or L'Omarins, and in the number of award-winning restaurants.
Located in the scenic Olifants River Valley, the town of Clanwilliam is the ‘Rooibos Capital of the World’. The town features an array of tea houses and historical buildings. It is conveniently situated next to a large dam perfect for water skiing, swimming, and fishing. Visitors can enjoy a tour at the Elandsberg Rooibos Estate to view the unique tea-making process, learn about the town’s history at the Old Gaol Museum, explore the ‘Rooibos Route’ and enjoy a cup of tea at one of its many stopovers namely, The Rooibos Teahouse. Don’t miss the opportunity to explore the spectacularly scenic surrounds including: the Cederberg Mountains, the West Coast and the annual wildflower splendour of Namaqualand.
Nestled amongst rugged mountains, Springbok is Namaqualand's commercial and cultural centre. This prosperous town has various sites of interest, including historical monuments, museums, a scenic 4x4 route, several excellent mountain biking trails, and some fascinating geology - making for a wonderful photographic trip. Springbok is also close to the beautiful Namaqualand wildflower reserves, the secluded Richtersveld National Park, and the thundering Augrabies Falls. Another great spot to cool off while enjoying nature here is the pretty Port Nolloth Beach, nearby. The town makes for a wonderful stop on the way to Namibia.
Few sights are as spectacular, or a sound as deafening, as water thundering down the 56m Augrabies waterfall when the Orange River is in full flood. 'Augrabies' comes from a local korana name 'Oukurubi' meaning 'place of great noise'. The Orange River thunders through the 18 km gorge and is then unleashed to plunge down into a seemingless endless rockpool below. (According to legend a fortune in diamonds lies at the bottom of the pool washed down by the river but the sheer weight of water cascading down prevents confirmation!)
The best time to visit the falls is in the autumn/early winter (March to July) after the summer rains in Lesotho which provide water for the falls. The small National Park is fascinating with its spectacular moonscape scenery and views over the Orange River gorge. Picturesque names such as Moon Rock, Ararat and Echo Corner are descriptive of this unique rocky region.
Klipspringer and kokerboom (quiver trees) stand in stark silhouette against the African sky. Temperature fluctuations in the region have resulted in unique adaptations in animals. The animals in Augrabies can survive in extreme high and low temperatures. They include springbok, gemsbok and giraffe. Predators in Augrabies come in the form of leopard, black backed jackals, caracal, the bat eared fox, and the African wild cat. The most characteristic plant in the park is the giant aloe called quiver tree (kokerboom), which gets its name from the fact that the Bushmen (San) used the soft branches to make quivers for their arrows.
Combining the former Kalahari Gemsbok National Park of South Africa and the Gemsbok National Park in Botswana, the enthralling Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is a wonderland of bright orange dunes, spectacular wildlife and fascinating flora. This hauntingly beautiful desert land is part of Africa’s first transfrontier park, ensuring that conservation is the top priority for this vast ecosystem and its inhabitants - it also supports and protects the indigenous people here, the ‡Khomani San and Mier communities. Visitors can look forward to spotting lions, leopards, hyenas, cheetahs, blue wildebeest, springbok, eland, and more than 200 bird species, including migrating flamingos and pelicans, and numerous raptors. Some of the activities on offer include game drives, 4x4 excursions, hiking, swimming, eco trails, star-spotting and nature photography.
As previously described
As previously described
As previously described
