Sitting near the tip of South Africa, nestled at the foot of the flat-topped Table mountain is Cape Town, a city known as the Jewel of Africa.
Sitting near the southern tip of Africa, nestled at the foot of the flat-topped Table Mountain is Cape Town, one of the world's most beautiful cities. Also known as the Jewel of Africa, Cape Town has it all: superb beaches, stunning mountain vistas, historic buildings and cultural attractions whose character results from the melting pot of Indonesian, French, Dutch, British & German settlers, the local Khoisan (Bushman & Hottentots) tribes and the Bantu tribes from the north.
Cape Town has been rated among the top most attractive cities in the world. The city owes its fame as one of the most beautiful cities in the world to its extraordinary natural environment and landscape. Dominated by an imposing mountain spine, it is characterised by spectacular valleys, panoramic views, lush vegetation, sandy beaches, two oceans, magnificent bays and a temperate climate.
Where to stay
You can choose to stay in a hotel, a bed-and-breakfast or even to rent a townhouse for the duration of your stay. For those looking for a holiday home, townhouses or cluster houses are very popular. They houses are affordable, and owners are able to lock up and go with the knowledge that the home-owners' association will take care of the property maintenance and security.
Health Services
Cape Town's provincial or private hospitals have a casualty facility, and offer emergency medical care to everyone, resident or non-resident. Private practitioners administer dental care.
What to do in Cape Town
The following are some of the places you should never leave Cape Town without visiting:
The V&A Waterfront
The V & A Waterfront is a wonderful complex in the old docks, offering a selection of over 190 shops and restaurants. The tenant mix ensures that you have a selection of jewellery, accessories, memorabilia, books, curios, unique food and wines. The waterfront also has a craft market, where you shop in a less formal atmosphere. Minimum trading hours are 09h00-21h00, seven days a week.
Table Mountain
Take a journey to Table Mountain with the cable car, which offers fantastic views of Cape Town and the Mountain. Launched in 1929, the cable car has carried well over 11 million passengers.
The Winelands
Love Wine? Set aside a few days to tour the towns of Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschoek, which have historic wine farms.
The Two Oceans Aquarium
It is the largest aquarium in Africa, and home to over 3000 animals.
Flora and Fauna
Visit the world famous Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, on the eastern side of Table Mountain, which display the great beauty and diversity of the Cape Flora.
Robben Island
Want to see the island former President Nelson Mandela and many other South African political figures were jailed? Then take a tour of Robben Island, which lies six and half miles north of Cape Town.
Although most people know of the island because the pre-democratic government of South Africa jailed their opposition there, Robben Island has an even older history. Former prisoners include slaves from Angola and West Africa, princes from the East, African chiefs who resisted British Colonial rule, lepers and the mentally disturbed.
