Cape Town Area Description

The picturesque and historic valley of Cape Town, the birthplace of the South African wine industry still produces some of the best wines in the country. Today this is reflected in the five wine estates, Groot Constantia, Klein Constantia, Buitenverwachting, Constantia Uitsig and Steenberg vineyards. Constantia is a strikingly beautiful area of vineyards, forests and is one of the more exclusive areas of Cape Town so you will find it packed with lots of appeal, including challenging golf courses, one is set in working vineyards and the other borders the valley, under Silvermine Mountain. The celebrated Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens comprises 528 hectares of cultivated and indigenous plants and has become one of the major tourist attractions of Cape Town also; you can climb from here to the top of Table Mountain. Enjoy lunch and during the summer have a picnic and enjoy the evening open-air concerts. Beautiful mountain walks in either Cecelia or Tokai forests provide magnificent views over the valley and the False Bay coast. Finally, visit the wine estates, taste award-winning wines and have lunch or dinner under the oaks. Constantia has state of the art shopping malls with a wide selection of shops, restaurants and coffee bars, craft markets and farm stalls, all within five to ten minutes of the holiday houses. Both the Atlantic and Indian Seaboards are within a 20- 30 minutes drive as is the City centre and Waterfront. Constantia and Bishopscourt are centrally positioned to enjoy the entire Cape Peninsula.

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» CAMPS BAY, CLIFTON AND LLANDUDNO

These areas make up Cape towns “Riviera”. They’re a lively, trendy part of the City, only minutes from the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront and the City Centre set between the sea and the Twelve Apostles (the buttresses of Table Mountain) making the scenery dramatic and the views spectacular. The four beaches of Clifton, which are separated by massive granite boulders, are where the ‘in crowd’ come to be seen. Don’t be fooled by the Mediterranean feel, the water is cold but the beaches are protected from the south-easter. Camps Bay is popular with young families with its beachfront restaurants and cafes. There is a long sandy beach, palm trees and a tidal pool. Llandudno is situated between huge granite boulder formations, it’s a popular surf spot with a picturesque beach. A 2km walk leads you to Sandy Bay, South Africa’s only nudist beach. Street vendors selling a wide variety of crafts can be found along the scenic coastal drive between Camps Bay and Llandudno. Constantia and Bishopscourt are a 25-minute drive away.

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» FRANSCHHOEK

Franschhoek is a small rural village situated about 45 minutes from Cape Town in the heart of the Cape Winelands, with spectacular vineyards planted 300 years ago by the French Huguenots who discovered the valley. The village is among the top five tourist destinations in South Africa, and is situated in a beautiful valley of award winning vineyards between towering mountains. This is the food and wine centre of the Cape where splendid wines are grown at 20 wine estates and there is a choice of 26 local restaurants. Visit the wine estates and sample cheese and wine beneath the oak trees. Franchhoek architectural styles date back to the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and include many Cape Dutch, Cape Cottage and Victorian style homes. Within the village are wonderful craft, art and antique shops and galleries. There is a wide selection of accommodation for visitors, ranging from internationally renowned hotels to guesthouses and self-catering cottages on wine farms.

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» KOMMETJIE AND NOORDHOEK

Kommetjie and Noordhoek are quiet rustic seaside villages situated between the Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean, they are just 25 minutes drive from the city centre via Chapman’s Peak, a spectacular scenic mountain drive, winding along the Atlantic coast between Hout Bay and Noordhoek; this tortuous route is one of Cape Town’s major tourist attractions. Kommetjie is well known for it’s crayfish and surfing, Noordhoek offers a tranquil lifestyle. Long Beach stretches for eight kilometres between the two villages provides the popular surfing area and is also a favourite for horse riding and long walks. A twenty-minute drive takes you to the Cape Point Nature Reserve, the tip of Cape Town’s peninsular. The reserve has a number of beaches, picnics spots, surf and diving spots and biking trails. The Silvermine Reserve, a ten-minute drive away provides further hiking and mountain-bike trails. Try Imhoff Farm with its cheese factory, unusual gift shops, snake and Reptile Park, camel and horse-rides. Roadside craft and art markets are trademarks of the area. Cape Town and the Waterfront are a 35 minute drive away.

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» CENTRAL

Table Mountain dominates the city, along with Lion's Head, Signal Hill and Devil's Peak. Cape Town's heart is known as the City Bowl and which has some of South Africa's oldest and most modern real estate. Here you will find wonderful restaurants, nightclubs, bars, backpacker lodges, churches and mosques. Visit the local jazz venues and traditional craft and culture centres; the city is a great place to stroll around. The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront shopping centre and working harbour is South Africa's most popular destination. You can dine at one of the 40 restaurants, shop in arcade after arcade, visit the Two Oceans Aquarium, take boat and harbour cruises and helicopter trips around the peninsular. The V&A Waterfront provides an extensive programme of events and activities. Don't forget the cableway up Table Mountain and for a spectacular view, see the city from Signal Hill at night. You don't have to search for any more entertainment than this.
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» PLETTENBERG BAY

Plettenberg Bay is situated in the heart of South Africa’s famous Garden Route; it’s the jewel of the Route with its pristine coastline, the Outeniqua mountain range and the Tsitsikamma forest. Originally named "Bahia Formosa" (beautiful bay) by early Portuguese explorers it has a well-developed tourism infrastructure.

As its name implies the Garden Route is a region that has an unparalleled wealth of fauna and flora, its spectacular in many ways, with golden beaches, indigenous forests, lakes, lagoons, estuaries and rivers. The striking coastline is distinguished by a succession of secluded bays, beaches and rugged cliffs linking one locality to another. Bordered in the north by a series of impressive mountain ranges, the interior is reached via a number of scenic passes. Plettenberg Bay or “Plett” as its known locally is an up market coastal town that attracts tourists and locals even in the winter months with its balmy weather.

This is a picturesque coastal area characterized by sweeping, unspoilt beaches and a dramatic rocky peninsula. The Bay has many world-class attractions apart from its golden beaches and over 300 days of sunshine a year. These include nature trails and reserves; rivers, lagoons and estuaries; whale and dolphin spotting by land or sea (The Beacon Island Hotel sits on the former whaling station); rock, surf or ocean fishing; scuba diving; sailing; water skiing; the highest bungi jump in the world; horse riding; a primate sanctuary and animal parks; five excellent world-class golf courses; mountain biking; scenic flights; 4X4 trailing; abseiling; annual polo tournaments and a theatre with a difference.
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