ArticlesReader.com Menu

Newest Articles
Most Viewed Articles
ArticlesReader.com RSS
Submit Article
Login
Signup

Search the articles

Articles Main Categories

Advice
Animals
Automobiles
Business
Career
Communications
Computer Programming
Computers
Entertainment
Environment
Family
Fashion
Finance
Food
Health & Medical
Home & Garden
Humor
Internet Business
Internet Marketing
Legal
Leisure & Recreation
Marketing
Other
Politics
Reference & Education
Religion
Self Improvement
Sports
Technology & Science
Travel
Writing

Subscribe

Receive alert message from us when new articles submitted to our site for free.

Syndicate

Related Products

Home::Travel

Cape Town - A Look at Africa's Most Beautiful City

Author : Andrew Muigai

As winter approaches in the northern hemisphere, summer beckons in the south. This is the time to take a few days off and follow the sun! The best place to catch the sun in the end of year holiday season is without doubt Cape Town. Cape Town's claim to being the most beautiful city in South Africa is undisputed. And seasoned travel writers readily accept the merit of Cape Town's claim that is indeed one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

The city is blessed with unrivalled gifts of nature. The mighty kilometer high flat top Table Mountain dwarfs even the most ambitious skyscrapers in the business district. The city is surrounded by glorious landscapes, stunning beaches and a bounty of unique vegetation. Where else do you have a choice of the cool Atlantic Ocean and the warmer Indian Ocean?

But Cape Town offers much more. It is reputed to be the most open-minded and relaxed city in South Africa and is one of the safest cities in Africa for visitors. Action hero Jean-Claude Van Damme visited the city in 2003 to shoot an action thriller and declared: "I love waking up in this city with the sea around me and the fresh air. The people are young with fresh and warm personalities and are friendly and it's a country full of hope."

The movie was shot in the city and around the harbour and some local funs got to see Van Damme at the waterfront. This is the same country that has produced some of the most inspiring people of our times. Desmond Tutu - the Nobel Peace Prize winner and past leader of the Anglican flock in Cape Town, for example. And of course Nelson Mandela.

Take a boat trip to Robben Island, one of the hottest destinations for overseas visitors. This is where Nelson Mandela nearly lost his sight quarrying lime during his long imprisonment. Make sure to get to the summit of Table Mountain by cable where you will enjoy some unforgettable views.

Northwards of the city center is the Victoria and Albert waterfront- a trendy shopping and entertainment complex. It is packed with art galleries, art and craft shops, restaurants, taverns, cinemas, theatres and an aquarium. It is easy to see why many beautiful people converge here. It is when in Cape Town that you will understand why Desmond Tutu named the country as the "Rainbow Nation". The peoples here have roots in the four corners of the planet and together give the city its vivid colours.

Cape Town is well connected to one of the most popular travel destinations in South Africa: the Garden Route. The Garden Route is the southern coastal area starting west of Cape Town at Swellendam and ending at Humansdorp just before Port Elizabeth. The Garden Route is probably the most scenic journey you will ever make. You encounter soaring cliffs, wide beaches, semi desert, rocky coves, rain forests, tranquil lakes and rugged mountains.

The area is good for watersports and the weather allows this year round. A visit to the wine producing regions can also be staged from Cape Town. If you are short of time, head for picturesque Stellenbosch just a 45-minute drive away.

http://www.africapoint.com/tours1/southatour.htm">The Garden Route tour usually starts from Cape Town with a stop at Mossel Bay. This otherwise uninspiring town is famous for its Post Office Tree, where sailors would leave letters hanging in a boot to be picked up by those headed towards the country where the letters were addressed. Then to Oudtshoorn and George, a transport hub for the area.

Afterwards, Wilderness National Park a good place for birding and canoeing on your way to the artist colony of Knysna and Plettenberg Bay. Plettenberg Bay, the "millionaires' playground" is South Africa's trendiest resort. Then to Tsitsikamma National Park known for its nature trails, giant trees and caves. A little ahead of Humansdorp is Jeffrey's Bay, reputed to have one of the world's best surfing beaches.

Water sports are big in South Africa. Whale watching and shark-cage diving (with great white sharks) is possible in the Cape area. The best time to spot these sea giants is from June to September. In the last week of September the annual Whale Festival is held at Walker Bay. Diving facilities are good in the area and wreck diving in particular is widespread around the Cape. For fishing enthusiasts, the Cape of Good Hope has one the world's richest fishing grounds.

At the confluence of the Atlantic and Indian Ocean currents is to be found large shoals of tuna and swordfish. For those brave souls seeking hair-raising adventure, there is an excellent opportunity for bungee jumping at the bridge over Blaukrans River. This has one of the world's highest drops.

There are also many beautiful golf courses in the Cape Town and Garden Route area. The best time to play is the cooler months of May to September. The President's Cup of 2003 was held at the Fancourt Hotel and Country Club at George right on the Garden Route. This event is a match play competition with the world's best international players.

The best period to visit the Cape region is over the summer months November-February. The rest of the year is usually cool, rainy and windy. Most people then find it quite challenging to engage in swimming and water sports. There is a wide range of hotels in http://www.africapoint.com/hotels/cape_town.htm">Cape Town and the Garden Route area. Top range 5 star hotels and other rated hotels are found throughout the region. Top range 5 star hotels and other rated hotels are found throughout the region.

Other accommodation options include motels, guesthouses, bed and breakfasts, farm holidays, beach cottages, holiday flats and bungalows. The Cape region is now a much sought after destination and advance booking is necessary during the summer season (October-April). With prior planning it is possible to get good value and affordable holiday stay.

Copyright � http://www.africapoint.com">Africa Point

About the Author

Andrew Muigai is the editor of AfricaPoint Insider online newsletter. It is part of AfricaPoint.com- the Africa travel website that has helped thousands of travelers discover Africa. You can view more info on http://www.africapoint.com/tours1/southatour.htm">South Africa safari and tours at the website.

Spam emails More free articles

More related feeds

Cape Town – A Look at Africa's Most Beautiful City
The city is surrounded by glorious landscapes, stunning beaches and a bounty of unique vegetation. Where else do you have a choice of the cool Atlantic Ocean and the warmer Indian Ocean?

Change of plans! - Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa So early doors Wednesday morning I wake up my sleeping beauty as gently as I can to tell her the sun is out in all its glory and it's a blue sky outside so we simply must risk getting stuck in ...

International Relocation Services make relocating an easy task
Within close distance to the city, Cape Town s beaches are among the most beautiful in the world. Stunningly located between mountain and sea, all the way from False Bay to the Atlantic coast, sun worshippers and water sports fans will ...

The Mother City
Cape Town is a revelation, or as much as it can be after three days in my sick bed with a chest infection, caught no doubt on a plane. Not to mention the ferocious storms that battered the city for most of our short stay – the worst in ...

Cape Town, South Africa
Wow, I can't believe it's already time for the Cape Town blog! We had heard from numerous people that Cape Town is the most beautiful city in the world and were really looking forward to seeing Table Mountain and the harbor area. ...

Beautiful south prettiest eyes. The beautiful south-prettiest eyes ...
The beautiful south miaow (album) prettiest eyes one last love song carry on up the charts (album). Some scenic photo s of cape town, south africa - the most beautiful city in the world!..

Orange River to Cape Town, South Africa 17-23 August 2008
Cape Town was the last point for most of those on the truck and 18 people leave us here and four new folk join. We’ll be rattling round in the truck for the next 12 days but it will be quite nice to be a smaller group. ...

Mykita UK
For this first edition of the *FLASH* line MYKITA brings you a trio of its most popular signature aviator frames: Rolf, Hector and Elliot. These aviators, true MYKITA classics, gain a new life through this vivid splash of paint. ...

The way to select the ideal prepaid cards
After spending digit life and digit nights in Paarl, it is time to head back to Cape Town for the last leg of the tour. As you will have spent digit life exploring the surrounds of the famous city, how most way towards the Peninsula to ...

South African reflections
After the conference ended, the PwC team flew to Cape Town, where we had a fascinating weekend sightseeing in this beautiful city (Table Mountain! The Cape of Good Hope! African penguins!) followed by two days meeting colleagues, ...

Cape Town - A Look at Africa's Most Beautiful City

Related articles