Cape Town City and Table Mountain - "The Mother City"

Explore Cape Town, one of the world's most beautiful and cosmopolitan cities, cradled in the amphitheatre formed by Table Mountain, Lion's Head and Devil's Peak.


Things to do in Cape Town:

Rising 1087 meters above the "Mother City", the grandeur of Table Mountain can be seen 200 kilometres away from sea, and for centuries provided a welcome site to the exhausted sailors who visited the "Taverns of the Seas" after spending an average of 6 months at sea. The sight of Table Mountain with its flat top must surely be the most well known landmark in the Southern hemisphere. Weather permitting, we undertake a cable car ride to reach the summit from where one has the perfect 360º view of the "fairest Cape in the world".

The Castle of Good Hope, oldest European structure in South Africa, was built to protect the early Dutch Settlers against possible attacks by other European powers. Walking through its formidable entrance one is transported back in time to the late 1600's on experiencing the cobblestone floors, sundials on the original walls and the beautiful balcony that was the stage from where the Governor made his important announcements. Aside from the Changing of the Guards ceremony that is still performed, the Castle today protects valuable collections of Chinese Porcelain, old Cape furniture, Artwork and Cape Silverware.

The Malay Quarter, also referred to as the Bo-Kaap (when translated meaning Upper-Cape) is an extremely colourful area situated on higher ground than Cape Town itself and reminds one of the Mother City's days gone by. It boasts a distinctive Muslim flavor with beautiful small mosques, as many of the people who live in the Bo-Kaap are direct descendants of the former slaves from far away places like Malaysia, Java, Indonesia and the various Portuguese Spice Islands.

The oldest garden in South Africa, the Dutch East India Company Gardens started as a fruit and vegetable garden to provide for the many sailors on their long journey from Europe to the Spice Islands in the East. The purpose was to reduce the number of people who suffered from scurvy. As the Cape developed and more farms was established, the Garden gradually changed into the botanical pleasure garden it is today, still frequented by many a Capetonian on their lunch breaks.

Cape Town's link with the sea, the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, is a result of reclaiming the historic waterfront of Cape Town, and reuniting the Capetonians with their heritage - the sparkle of the sea. The V&A Waterfront offers a wide variety of entertainment, present-day shops and restaurants to enjoy in Victorian style.

Suggested Lunch options are restaurants around the vibrant Green Market Square in the centre of Cape Town with its flea market and interesting mix of "characters" or the V&A Waterfront with its endless choice of restaurants.



Interested in taking a tour of Cape Town? Check out cape town tours

So What’s so Amazing About the Garden Route?

According to Webster's International Dictionary, the definition of amazing is ‘bewilderment arising from fear, surprise or wonder' and once you have visited the Garden Route, you too will be bewildered with wonder at its breath-taking natural beauty and shy, elusive inhabitants.

Magical, mystical land

It is a magical, mystical land where shadowy, near-extinct elephants browse undisturbed in an indigenous forest that, to this day, is still largely impenetrable and where some of the most distinctively coloured birds and butterflies ply their pollen.

It is a region where some of its occupants include the tiny Blue Duiker, a Bambi-like creature that measures only 35 centimetres at its highest point and weighs a miniscule 4 kg's, and the endangered Knysna Sea Horse that grows to 13 cm and is found exclusively in the lagoons of the area.

Diverse natural environments

It is a region that encompasses some of the most fertile arable land in the country yet at the same time is home to the Western Cape's semi-desert, the Little Karoo, where hardy succulents carve out an existence and Ostriches roam free.

It is also a burgeoning international tourist Mecca where luxurious five star hotels and lodges are commonplace and every activity under the sun has been harnessed for the intrepid traveller. Kloofing, blackwater tubing, kayaking and the tree-top canopy tour are but a handful of superior activities to enjoy whilst visiting the Garden Route.

It is an area that is effectively squeezed into a strip of land between the warm yet turbulent waters of the Indian Ocean and the lofty peaks of the Outeniqua Mountain range, so both beaches and mountain passes are within easy range.

Some of these mountain passes have been declared national monuments and the tales of their birth is hewn into the history books of the area. A quick sojourn from Oudtshoorn, the Ostrich capital of the world, over the awe-inspiring Swartberg Pass is a must for all visitors to the area. While near Oudtshoorn, pop into the Cango Caves where stalactites and stalagmites have been well-preserved for an eternity.

Robust economy

The Garden Route boasts a particularly robust economy and is the preferred holiday destination and full-time residence of the wealthy of South Africa. Well designed and managed golf estates abound, making this the avid golfers' Mecca while Plettenberg Bay is home to South Africa's polo players and ponies.

The area is also carefully managed and conservation is paramount. With the vast number of national parks, the Garden Route should retain its mystery and extraordinary beauty for many generations to come.

Source: www.articlesbase.com
Garden Route Tours & Safaris