The Mother City
The broad sweep of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans encompass the southernmost
province of South Africa. This is an area of extreme beauty and diversity
and one of the major tourist destinations in Africa. Cape Town ranks with
San Francisco and Rio de Janeiro as being one of the most beautiful cities
in the world. Overshadowed by the imposing bulk of Table Mountain, Cape Town
is South Africa's mother city, seat of Parliament and home to an extraordinary
variety of peoples and cultures.
Robben Island situated in Table Bay, is a museum dedicated to the struggle of
South Africa to be free of the misguided policy of Apartheid and was home for
many years to South Africa's most famous son, Nelson Mandela. The Victoria and
Alfred Waterfront in the harbour area is one of the major attractions of the
city and the restored Victorian buildings, restaurants, shops and a wide
variety of cultural activities and entertainment draws many visitors.
The Cape Peninsula stretching south of the city to the dramatic Cape of Good Hope
and Cape Point is a magnificent area of high mountains sweeping down into the
sea, dramatic coastlines, stupendous scenery and the richest and most diverse
floral kingdom in the world.
The Boland
Slightly inland from Cape Town the mountains of the Boland (Upper Land) are a
natural barrier between the sea and the dry plains and mountains of the Great
Karoo. This is an area of dramatic beauty with a substantial wine growing,
wheat and fruit industry. The beautiful towns and villages of the Boland with
their typical whitewashed Cape Dutch architecture are set in fertile valleys
and plains between the mountains, which are often blanketed in snow during the
winter months. South-east towards Cape Aghulas from Cape Town, dramatic mountain
ranges sweep down into the sea and the area is renowned for its seasonal visits
by the whales of the Southern Ocean.
The Swartland
Travel north from Cape Town through the wheat fields of the Swartland (Black Land)
and the impressive bulk of the Cedarberg is revealed. This area of high mountains
and narrow intensively cultivated valleys is one of the most beautiful in South
Africa. Further north the high mountains of the Cedarberg recede to be replaced
by the rolling hills and coastal valleys of Namaqualand. This area hosts the most
spectacular natural flower show on earth when the spring rains bring the barren
hills and valleys to life in a stunning and varied carpet of wild flowers from
horizon to horizon.
Across the Cedarberg stretches the Great Karoo north into
the vast plains of the Northern Cape. Bushman's Kloof set amidst this scenic
splendour is a perfect base from which to experience the beauty of the area.
The Garden Route
East of Cape Town the Garden Route (also known as the Golf Coast by the golfing
fraternity) runs along the southern Cape coast towards Port Elizabeth. The coastal
plain of wheatfields and the endemic fynbos of the Cape Floral Kingdom is sandwiched
between the rolling mountains and the rugged seashore. This is an area of great
beauty and diversity and one of the most popular areas to visit in South Africa.
Whale watching, riding an ostrich, walking through magnificent indigenous forests,
paddling around a quiet lake, guided botanical walks, hiking through the mountains
or along the spectacular coastline, eating out in quaint country restaurants,
scuba diving, golfing and a host of other activities and attractions are possible
in this area.
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