Cape Town is one of the world's most beautiful cities and a top international destination. Large numbers of tourists flock to Cape Town to enjoy this unique city with its fascinating history, interesting culture, natural beauty, award winning wines and laidback lifestyle. Whether you are a serious tourist or just want to lie on the beach and enjoy life, Cape Town will satisfy your needs.
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.
Set along the famously beautiful Garden Route, Dehoop Nature Reserve is known for its spectacular natural scenery, excellent hiking trails and abundant wildlife. This magnificent reserve stretches over 34000 hectares and is decorated by awe-inspiring, brightly-coloured indigenous fynbos. The area is home to a variety of mammals including bontebok, eland, Cape mountain zebra, and baboon, and also encompasses a marine section that extends for five kilometres into the ocean, allowing for wonderful snorkelling opportunities among pristine turquoise pools and shallows. The birdlife in this area is also prolific. Enjoy a fantastic selection of activities including the popular 5-day Whale Trail (known as one of the best hikes in South Africa), exploring the environment-sensitive Elim Wine Route, and taking adrenaline-pumping eco-quad bike tours.
Nestled between the imposing Outeniqua Mountains and the Indian Ocean and surrounded by world-renowned forests, Knysna offers a wealth of activities for visitors. The beautiful lagoon and more than eight beaches provide opportunities to swim, surf, canoe, yacht, jet-ski, boat, fish, walk on soft sand and take ferry rides. Various markets offer organic goods, delicious food, indigenous plants and a social atmosphere. Mountains, valleys, lakes, forests and streams are ready to be explored. The region isn’t known as the “Garden of Eden” for nothing! A birding route is available for avid bird watchers. World class golf courses are at your doorstep. And of course the area is famous for the Knysna Heads and delicious oysters.
The Portuguese explorers called it the Beautiful Bay, and it’s easy to see why – Plettenberg Bay is a picturesque, charming town with miles of pristine beaches, tranquil lagoons, clean rivers, indigenous forests and a dramatic rocky peninsula. Playground to the wealthy, beach mansions overlook the Indian Ocean, often dotted with luxury yachts, while leisure time is given over to polo and golf, among other things. However, all kinds of visitors will feel at peace here as simply swimming in the warm water on a safe beach is a great way to experience the beauty of Plettenberg Bay.
Much of the indigenous forest in this eastern part of the Garden Route falls within the Tsitsikamma National Park. The park is not only a breathtaking haven for indigenous flora and fauna but also for marine life. A marine conservation belt forms part of the park, stretching five and a half kilometres out into the ocean.
The Oceana Beach and Wildlife Reserve is situated on the warm and welcoming Sunshine Coast of the Eastern Cape, within easy driving distance of Port Elizabeth as well as several other excellent reserves. Known for its photogenic wild landscapes, stunning beaches, and a vast array of wildlife, the reserve is a perfect place to discover local nature. Game drives offer the chance to see rhinos, giraffes, eland, zebra, and many other animals in their natural habitats. Visitors can also look forward to guided bird watching tours, and warm waters perfect for swimming, scuba diving, whale watching, surfing, and diving, all of which are offered by local guides. For a more leisurely experience, enjoy luxurious spa treatments, and superb fine dining (with unparalleled views). The area is also known for its impressive number of sunshine hours - the longest in the country.
Sibuya Game Reserve is a unique, awe-inspiring destination located in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province, encompassing lush valleys, vast grasslands, picturesque coastal forests, and breathtaking beaches. The park is home to a huge diversity of wildlife, including the famous ‘Big Five’, as well as numerous others and several rare species such as Oribi. Along the river, look out for otters, crocodiles, Kingfishers, and fish eagles (around 400 bird species live in the reserve); along the coast, walk the soft sands of gorgeous beaches lapped by the warm Indian Ocean. Travellers can look forward to river cruises, canoeing, swimming in the sea, horse riding, and excellent game drives. The variety of landscapes, along with the animals, make for wonderful photographic opportunities.
Running along the abundant Sundays River, just outside the Eastern Cape’s Port Elizabeth, the idyllic Sundays River Valley is an extraordinary area boasting several unique towns and attractions. Among numerous game reserves and nature parks, the famous Addo Elephant Park provides a wonderland of magnificent scenery and an abundance of wildlife including all members of the Big Five. Visitors can enjoy a range of activities along the river, including fishing, canoeing, and boat trips, and in the neighbouring dunes, try their hands at sandboarding. The area produces delicious, sweet citrus fruit, and in October, the valley is filled with orange blossoms. The 'Wildfees' brings Sundays River Valley to life in June with a celebration that includes concerts, wildlife expos, and stalls. Make sure to visit the popular Nanaga Farm Stall for its famous pies and deli items.
