The Cape Peninsula, in the south east corner of Africa, is indeed regarded by many, and definitely by most South Africans, as one of the most beautiful sights in the world. Cape Town, South Africa's mother city, nestles at the foot of Table Mountain, a unique flat top mountain rising out of the sea. At the tip of the peninsula is Cape Point. Sir Francis Drake called it "the fairest cape in the whole circumference of the earth". Portuguese explorers called it Cabo Tormentoso - "Cape of Storms". Reaching it after months at sea, low on food and fresh water after a harrowing voyage down the barren African west coast, the Dutch called it "Cape of Good Hope". Even today, regular ship wrecks along this coastline testify to the accuracy of the name: "Cape of Storms", however when the weather is good, the name "Cape of Good Hope" is equally true. | 
Cape Point - "where two oceans meet."
- not really. The Atlantic and Indian Oceans actually meet a bit further east at Cape Agulhas but this sounded good. |
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Cape Town Cape Town was established in 1652 by Dutch seafarers as a replenishment station for ships of the Dutch East Indies Company. Today it is the second largest city in South Africa and is the legislative capital of the country. With a history of more than 340 years and for many years the gateway to Southern Africa it is a blend of many different cultures - Dutch, Asian, Malay, English, Xhosa, Khoisan - and is a mixture of old and new, east and west. Quick guide to Cape Town and Surrounds Best Time: Cape Town is in a winter rainfall area, making for cold and wet winters and warm dry summers. Many people regard autumn (late March and April) with its windless, temperate days and cool nights as the best time of the year to visit the Cape.
Cape Town Climate Main Attractions: - Table Mountain:
Table Mountain commands some of the finest views in the world. The flat top summit extends nearly 3 kilometers in length and provides unobstructed views in all directions.
To the north, at the mountain's foot, is the city of Cape Town while the Atlantic Ocean stretches to the horizon with Bloubergstrand (Blue Mountain Beach) and the West Coast alongside.
To the east, in the distance across the Cape flats are the Hottentots-Holland Mountains. To the west you will see the peaks of the Twelve Apostles while to the south the Peninsula snakes out into the southern seas.
As breathtaking as the view is, Table Mountain offers more:
With over 2200 different plant species growing on Table Mountain and the other mountains of the Cape Peninsula, they constitute one of the six floral kingdoms of the world |  | | Table Mountain with its table cloth and Cape Town nestled below | The summit can be reached either by cable car or the more adventurous can walk or climb it. There are more than 300 routes to the top of the mountain.
One of our readers brought it to my attention that I neglected to mention that most of Table Mountain and the adjoining mountain range form the Table Mountain Nature Reserve. | Cape Peninsula and Cape Point: In December 2001, when I visited Cape Town, I again realised what a beautiful part of our country it is. No visit to Cape Town can be complete without a drive around the Peninsula. Driving from Cape Town, through the old villages of Kalk Bay and St James, through the Navy town of Simons Town, on to Cape Point. There you should go in at the Cape Point Nature Reserve.
Driving from Cape Point you have an uninterrupted view to the "End of the Earth". Imagine, sailing south your next stop is the Antarctic. I could feel the icy cold of the Antarctic. My imagination, of course, although the water here is cold enough for it to be true.
Unfortunately the road over Chapman's Peak to Hout Bay was closed, but this alowed us to see other parts of the Peninsula. From Hout Bay you drive past Llundudno, next to the ocean, to Camps Bay, on to Clifton, Bantry Bay and Sea Point and back in Cape Town.
All through the Peninsula there are roads connecting different parts with each other. Taking you past Grootte Schuur Hospital, Cecil John Rhodes's erstwhile residence and the hospital where Chris Barnard perfomed the world's first heart transplant. Past Groot Constantia, the wine farm start by Simon van der Stel, after whom Stellenbosch was named. Past the beautiful ivy-covered building of the University of Cape Town.
Listen, when you're in Cape Town, get yourself a decent map and drive around. Explore the Peninsula. You will not be disappointed. But don't be in a hurry, there's much to see and traffic can be slow in places.
Another worthwhile trip, although not part of Cape Town and the Peninsula, is the drive on the other side of False Bay (which I only recently discovered is one of the world's three main breeding areas of the Great White Shark, and I don't mean Greg Norman!) from Gordon's Bay, past Rooi Els, Pringle Bay and Betty's Bay, on to Hermanus and Gansbaai. This area is world-famous for its land based whale watching so if you are here between September and December, don't miss this.
For the more adventurous: Although you will not find me knowingly share my swimmng area with sharks, shark diving is very popular around Cape Town, and False Bay is one of the top shark diving spots in the world. | The Beaches: | A visitor will find beaches all around the Peninsula. The water on the Indian Ocean side of the Peninsula is warm and ideal for swimming while the Atlantic Ocean's water is very cold. The beaches on both sides are ideal for sunbathing and are packed during the summer holidays in December and January. Indian Ocean Beaches: Muizenberg, Sunrise Beach, Fish Hoek, Simon's Town, Kalk Bay and Strandfontein. Muizenberg: One of the most popular beaches on the Peninsula. Bathing is safe along the entire beach. Here you have restaurants overlooking the sea, a recreation area with bathing and paddling pools, a playground and water slides, putt-putt and a lot more. Atlantic Ocean Beaches: Clifton, Camps Bay, Llundudno, Hout Bay and Noordhoek Clifton: Four white beaches, generally protected from the summer south easterly winds make Clifton ideal for sun bathing but the freezing waters allow only the brave to stay in the sea for long. | 
Hout Bay from Chapman's Peak Hout Bay("Wood Bay"): The bay was named in reference to the forests on the slopes of the surrounding mountains. Apart from the 1 km long beach Hout Bay offers various scenic mountain walks, sea cruises to Duiker Island and the World of Birds, the largest bird park in Africa, featuring more than 3000 birds representing 450 species. | The Sights and Sites: | 
View from Table Mountain to Lion's Head Other sites in Cape Town: - The Castle: The 17th century fortress built by Jan van Riebeeck. - Greenmarket Square: Cobblestone square in the middle of the city with its variety of stalls. - The Gardens: A city park with the Houses of Parliament and the South African National Gallery in the area. Nearby is Tuynhuys ("Garden House") the State President's city residence. - Museums: Various museums can be found around Cape Town, including the South African Museum, The Holocaust Centre at the Jewish Museum and the Robben Island Museum. - Robben Island: This prison island in Table Bay housed political prisoners including Nelson Mandela. It has been declared a World Heritage Site | 
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens was established in 1913 and is the headquarters of the National Botanical Insitute. The reserve has 9000 of South Africa's 18000 flowering indigenous plant species and a large variety of birds are found here. The Gardens cater for visitors with various scenic walks, a restaurant, kiosk and bookshop. For more information phone the Institute at 27 21 762-1166 National Botanical Institute | | South African Wines: 
Boschendal Estate on the Franschoek
Wine Route No tour of the Cape would be complete without at least one visit to the winelands. Each of the wine regions cater for visitors through structured wine routes which one may visit as part of a tour group or else by oneself. | 
Table Mountain with the Victoria and Albert Waterfront in foreground The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront blends the old world with the new. Situated on Cape Town Harbour the Waterfront houses shops, restaurants, theaters, museums, art and craft stalls, pubs and many more in old harbour buildings and sheds. A must for any visitor to the Mother City. For more information phone the Information Centre at 27 21 418-2369 | | | |
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