The Mother City, Cape Town
- Image by Aquila via Flickr
The so-called 'Mother City', Cape Town is the country's most liked city - and it is fairly simple to see why. Its temperate, Mediterranean-style conditions is pleasurable in the extreme and with old Georgian structures, smart eating places, leafy squares and plenty of cultural style, the entire city is a feat for the senses.
At the heart of Cape Town and an ever-present backdrop is Table Mountain, the flat-topped symbol of the city that is as wonderful in the rain as in the sunshine. Embark here with a six minute cable-car journey up the mountain and you'll rather quickly get your bearings.
The metropolis is flanked on two sides by shorelines with the warm waters of the Indian Ocean and the clear Atlantic lapping the long shores that have made Capetonians a urban centre of beach-lovers. To the south-west and a half day excursion away is the Cape of Good Hope; below is Robben Island, former prison home to Nelson Mandela and one other must-see place.
The South Africa Museum, St George's Cathedral and the Houses of Parliament are key sights in the old town, along with the well liked Green Market and landmark hotel the Mount Nelson. When the sun sets the action moves to the Victoria and Albert Waterfront, where restaurants, watering holes and retailers line a harbour jam-packed with yachts and fishing vessels.
Immediately after a couple of days in the metropolis, head north-east via the mountains to the wineries and Dutch-style homesteads of the South African wine-growing region. At is heart, just 18 miles from Cape Town, is Stellenbosch also renowned for its university and plentiful colonial-era buildings.
Plenty of estates here and in neighbouring Franschoek are open to travellers for excursions and tastings. An ever-increasing number have superb restaurants and hotel accommodation, too, and a couple of days checking out the Cape Winelands has become a must for visitors to Cape Town and the Western Cape.
Cape Town is the most popular destination in South Africa for foreign visitors. Any trip to South Africa must include the Western Cape.. Check here for free reprint license: The Mother City and the regional Cape Winelands.
