Places to see - Western Cape
Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa's oldest city and the capital of the Western Cape is one of the most multicultural cities of the world. The city is also home of the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, where visitors can discover about 7’000 indigenous plants. Visitors enjoy Cape Town at its best on foot – get in touch with the African rhythm by walking through the historical buildings and cultural hotspots like the Houses of Parliament, St. George’s Cathedral, Renaissance-style City Hall, the Gold of Africa Museum and many more.
Walk along the stunning beaches around Cape Town – most of them with mountainous backdrops. For swimmers and sunbathers Clifton and Camps Bay are the most recommended once, surfers will love the beaches at Llandudno and Muizenberg.
Cape Town, South Africa's oldest city and the capital of the Western Cape is one of the most multicultural cities of the world. The city is also home of the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, where visitors can discover about 7’000 indigenous plants. Visitors enjoy Cape Town at its best on foot – get in touch with the African rhythm by walking through the historical buildings and cultural hotspots like the Houses of Parliament, St. George’s Cathedral, Renaissance-style City Hall, the Gold of Africa Museum and many more.
Walk along the stunning beaches around Cape Town – most of them with mountainous backdrops. For swimmers and sunbathers Clifton and Camps Bay are the most recommended once, surfers will love the beaches at Llandudno and Muizenberg.
Table Mountain
The Table Mountain is part of the Table Mountain National Park, which is also part of the Cape Floral Region, one of South Africa’s eight World Heritage sites.
On top of the Table Mountain and in and around Cape Town visitors will find about 2’200 species of plants and many of these species are endemic to the mountain and the area and can be found nowhere else in the world.
To reach the top of the Table Mountain and visit the Table Mountain National Park, visitors can use a hiking trail or they can enjoy a ride with the Table Mountain Cableway. This ride is an attraction on its own, as the floors of the cars rotate through 360 degrees to give the visitors the best views.
The Table Mountain is part of the Table Mountain National Park, which is also part of the Cape Floral Region, one of South Africa’s eight World Heritage sites.
On top of the Table Mountain and in and around Cape Town visitors will find about 2’200 species of plants and many of these species are endemic to the mountain and the area and can be found nowhere else in the world.
To reach the top of the Table Mountain and visit the Table Mountain National Park, visitors can use a hiking trail or they can enjoy a ride with the Table Mountain Cableway. This ride is an attraction on its own, as the floors of the cars rotate through 360 degrees to give the visitors the best views.
Robben Island
Robben Island is definitely a place which stirs the soul. Famous as the prison to which anti-apartheid activists, like Nelson Mandela, were banished, this World Heritage Site shows the critical chapter of South Africa’s path towards democracy. The UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee calls Robben Island as an area of the ‘triumph of the human spirit’.
Today the island is also home of the Robben Island Museum and visitors can reach the island by a half hour ferry ride from Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront.
The tour on the island takes 2.5 hours in which visitors can feel the emotional atmosphere of Robben Island, especially as the tour guides are former prisoners of the island.
Robben Island is definitely a place which stirs the soul. Famous as the prison to which anti-apartheid activists, like Nelson Mandela, were banished, this World Heritage Site shows the critical chapter of South Africa’s path towards democracy. The UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee calls Robben Island as an area of the ‘triumph of the human spirit’.
Today the island is also home of the Robben Island Museum and visitors can reach the island by a half hour ferry ride from Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront.
The tour on the island takes 2.5 hours in which visitors can feel the emotional atmosphere of Robben Island, especially as the tour guides are former prisoners of the island.
Cape of the Good Hope
The Cape of the Good hope – the mystical southern tip of Africa (actually the Cape Agulhas is Africa’s southernmost point) – is more than 500 years famous for its ‘graveyard of ships’. Over 3’000 vessels from approx. 37 nations were found over the centuries at the 3’000km coastline, dating back to the 1500 century. One of the most famous shipwrecks – the mythical Flying Dutchman can be spotted sometimes on a foggy day at the Cape Point. Today, the South African law protects all shipwrecks and it’s forbidden to remove any part of them, or even objects associated with them.
The Cape of the Good hope – the mystical southern tip of Africa (actually the Cape Agulhas is Africa’s southernmost point) – is more than 500 years famous for its ‘graveyard of ships’. Over 3’000 vessels from approx. 37 nations were found over the centuries at the 3’000km coastline, dating back to the 1500 century. One of the most famous shipwrecks – the mythical Flying Dutchman can be spotted sometimes on a foggy day at the Cape Point. Today, the South African law protects all shipwrecks and it’s forbidden to remove any part of them, or even objects associated with them.
African Penguin
The African Penguin, one of the rare mainland colonies of this endangered species, can be found at the outskirts of Simon’s Town and at Betty’s Bay. At this two breeding beaches the penguins can be spotted from wooden viewing-platforms and sometimes it happens that they even come very close to your side to have a closer look. The African Penguin was also involved in the largest animal rescue event in history when in 2000 the iron ore tanker MV Treasure sank between Robben Island and Dassen Island. About 19’500 penguins were brought 800km east of Cape Town, near Port Elizabeth.
This gave the workers enough time to clean up the oiled water and shores before the penguins could complete their swim home to their breeding beaches (about 1-3 weeks swimming for 800km).
The African Penguin, one of the rare mainland colonies of this endangered species, can be found at the outskirts of Simon’s Town and at Betty’s Bay. At this two breeding beaches the penguins can be spotted from wooden viewing-platforms and sometimes it happens that they even come very close to your side to have a closer look. The African Penguin was also involved in the largest animal rescue event in history when in 2000 the iron ore tanker MV Treasure sank between Robben Island and Dassen Island. About 19’500 penguins were brought 800km east of Cape Town, near Port Elizabeth.
This gave the workers enough time to clean up the oiled water and shores before the penguins could complete their swim home to their breeding beaches (about 1-3 weeks swimming for 800km).
Whale Watching
Every year from late June to November visitors can enjoy this great experience along the coast of the Western Cape. One of the best places to spot the ‘right whale’ is Hermanus, about 1.5 hours driving time from Cape Town. It can be seen as a compliment to the region that every year this gorgeous animals come to the Western Cape to give birth. End of November the whales set off again on their long journey back to the Antarctica to bring up the next generation.
Every year from late June to November visitors can enjoy this great experience along the coast of the Western Cape. One of the best places to spot the ‘right whale’ is Hermanus, about 1.5 hours driving time from Cape Town. It can be seen as a compliment to the region that every year this gorgeous animals come to the Western Cape to give birth. End of November the whales set off again on their long journey back to the Antarctica to bring up the next generation.
Vineyards
South African Wine counts to the best wines of the world and most of the top labels come from wine estates around Stellenbosch, Franschoek and Paarl. The vineyards in the Western Cape are full of history and unbelievable nature. Visitors should take some time of their trip and enjoy the breath-taking surrounding, have sip of wine and taste the local food. Most of the famous wine estates offer their visitors different kinds of wine tasting experiences – wine tasting with chocolate, cheese or salt, to name just a few.
South African Wine counts to the best wines of the world and most of the top labels come from wine estates around Stellenbosch, Franschoek and Paarl. The vineyards in the Western Cape are full of history and unbelievable nature. Visitors should take some time of their trip and enjoy the breath-taking surrounding, have sip of wine and taste the local food. Most of the famous wine estates offer their visitors different kinds of wine tasting experiences – wine tasting with chocolate, cheese or salt, to name just a few.