Information on Cape Town - Western Cape - South Africa

Cape Town

Cape Town has traditionally been the gateway between Europe and

Southern Africa and this is still evident in its atmosphere, its playful

character, its people and even its architecture.

The Mother City as its known locally has no shortage of attractions. Its a

magnetic, multi-cultural city with an array of diverse offerings within a

small, accessible area, surrounded by spectacular topography.

Spectacular beaches, mountains (incredibly unique bio-diversity), hiking,

water-sport, shopping centers, markets, theatres, museums, historical &

cultural attractions, a first-rate waterfront, galleries, night-clubs, restaurants

and an abundance of activities to suite all, are prolific in this world-class

destination.

Although tastes vary, some of the more popular sights include the

following:

Table Mountain

This 1086 m sandstone landmark dominates the city and has to be

ascended! This is a fantastic way to gain a perspective on the city, with

some breathtaking views of the peninsula, as well as an opportunity to

experience the most concentrated, yet diverse, ecosystems in the world.

The mountain is home to more than 1450 species of plants, many of which

are not found anywhere else in the world, such as the Silver Tree and the

wild orchid Disa Uniflora. Table Mountain is classified as the smallest of the

six floral kingdoms of the world. The flat top of the mountain is

approximately nearly 3 km in length and sees almost a million tourist &

hikers per year.

Visitors to the top can choose the six-minute trip to the summit via the

modern cable car, one of the safest in the world, or alternatively make

use of one of the 350 recognized paths all over the mountain. The easiest

and quickest of these is the popular Platteklip Gorge route, a path up a

ravine clearly visible on the front face of Table Mountain. The summit

boasts a modern restaurant, souvenir shop and postal service.

Cape Point

At the tip of the Cape Peninsula 60 km south-west of Cape Town the

rugged rocks and sheer cliffs cut deep into the ocean to split False Bay

from the colder waters of the western seaboard. This outcrop of the Table

Mountain National Park is called Cape Point. The circumnavigation of the

Cape of Good Hope led to the establishment of a sea route to the East

and subsequent trade.

Cape Point is the most southwesterly point of Africa and is one of the

highest cliffs in the world 249 above sea level. You can do numerous

scenic walks and trails and breathe the freshest air in the world straight

from the Antarctic.