Cape Town, South Africa. “The most beautiful city on the planet,” as boasted by many travel guides. Now that’s a tough reputation to live up to. However if you are lucky enough visit this southern gem, it will not disappoint.
Table Mountain towers over a mix of colonial buildings, skyscrapers and brightly painted facades. White sandy beaches stretch from its core as surfers ride the waves of the Pacific Ocean. Catching a ferry to Robben Island offers a panoramic view of the oldest city in South Africa. The scenery is stunning from your state of the art boat, but your emotions are conflicted as you make your way to this historical island linked to a dark past.
Home of the infamous prison where Nelson Mandela was detained for 19 of his 27 year incarceration, you can’t help but feel what it must have been like for the prisoners. Surrounded by frigid, shark infested waters, freedom and beauty were right in front of their eyes, and yet they could not escape.
The guides are former inmates who make the experience that much more compelling. They tell personal stories of their time on the island and how they schemed and planned all the while to put an end to Apartheid. These men are true Hero’s and it is an honor to have them share their experience.
On the tour you will see Nelson Mandela’s tiny cell in the maximum-security wing, the quarry where he chipped away with crude tools and where the secret meetings of the African National Congress took place. They built a government here and he and the ANC eventually ran the country.
After a thorough history lesson, you have earned a drive to Simon’s Town to see the penguin colony. Rent at car or motorcycle and drive along the most scenic highway in the world. Chapman’s Peak is featured in many a film and commercial and you will see why. The enormous cliffs fall into the water with a two-lane highway carved into its rock face. Breathtaking.
Continue south from Simons Town to the Cape of Good Hope where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet. Stand atop of some of the world’s highest sea cliffs and look out over the sea, the only thing between you and Antarctica.
You can make it back to Cape Town before dinner and have a seafood feast at one of the many restaurants at the V&A waterfront. This trendy area has boutique shops, wine bars, cafes and theatres. Street performers sing traditional African music to perfection and you may find gymnasts or musicians performing on the main stage.
Strolling along the waterfront is a splendid and safe experience and you can lose yourself in the nightlife drinking fine wine and eating delectable food at reasonable prices.
While in South Africa you cannot leave without a visit to the wine country. Once you are used to driving on the other side of the road, you will have the confidence to take your rental car to Franschhoek, the wine capital of Africa. Take a wine tour at Grande Provence Winery and make sure to stay for lunch or dinner. The award-winning chef has made this restaurant one of the top ten in South Africa.
Walk through the streets eating ice cream as you browse art galleries and book shops, or take a drive in the countryside for another dose of breathtaking views.
You will need weeks to truly explore everything that there is to do around Cape Town. Safaris, Bungee Jumps, Shark Diving, Sailing, a trek up Table Mountain and a trip to the Western Cape and Garden Route will keep you occupied for days on end.
Not only is it a beautiful place to explore, it is also very reasonable at eight South African Rands to a dollar. You can stretch your money a long way there and spend as long as you want in the City known as the Mother of Africa.
Source: Article Base
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