Western Cape

The Western Cape stretches from the Cedarburg Mountains to the

The Western Cape stretches from the Cedarberg Mountains to the wild Agulhas coast to the expansive Cape Winelands and the glorious Garden Route. The Western Cape is a province of extraordinary diversity in South Africa.

Between Lamberts Bay and Plettenberg Bay, sweeping stretches of sand are punctuated by rocky promontories, fishing villages and holiday resorts. Apart from the scenic beauty and the endless rhythm of the waves, the coast provides ideal conditions for anglers. Solitude is easy to find and fish are abundant in great variety.

In the Boland and further afield, golden wheat fields and fragrant orchards abound, and gracious, gabled Cape Dutch Mansions set among manicured vineyards, enhance a peerless setting.

Towering indigo mountains provide a fitting backdrop for the loveliness of the landscape. The lakes and forests of the Garden Route are also bordered by impressive mountain ranges, and the interior is reached via a number of magnificent passes. North of the mountains, the Klein Karoo is characterised by wide open spaces, undulating hills and enormous ostrich farms.

Every season has its own enchantment in the Western Cape: the flowers of spring, the ripening orchards of summer, the red and golden shades of autumn and the snow-capped mountain peaks of winter.

Cape Town - the hub of the Western Cape

Cape Town is an area considered one of the most beautiful in Africa, and whose character results from the cultural melting pot of Indonesian, French, Dutch, British & German settlers, the local Khoisan (Bushman & Hottentot) tribes and the Bantu tribes from the north.

The paternal presence of Table Mountain, the pristine coastline with its white sandy beaches, the magnificent countryside with its bountiful rivers, vleis and dams, and the unique flora kingdom, together with the warm summer climate and friendly community, makes the Western Cape perfect for any vacation. Cape Town was recently named as Africas leading destination at the fifth World Travel Awards in Antigua. Tourism to Cape Town is growing at a rate of 20% per annum and is playing host to 52% of South Africas tourists. According to a survey by Travel and Leisure, Cape Town is rated number 10 on the list of the worlds top destinations.

Other Regions of the Western Cape

From Lamberts Bay on the West Coast to Witsand, the coastline has something for everyone: sweeping sands for sunbathing, beaches where children splash in the shallows, great waves for surfers to ride, and some of the finest line fishing in the world. When the rock lobster season opens in November, thousands of people flock to small places such as Doring Bay, Strandfontein and Lamberts Bay to indulge their passion for this delicacy.

The mountain peaks of the interior hold challenges for climbers, hikers and hang-gliders, and the Olifants River is a favourite among canoeists and anglers. Extensive fruit farming is a feature of the area, and in spring the air is laden with the fragrance of orchards in bloom.

The Cape Winelands are among South Africas greatest draw cards, immensely popular throughout the year. They provide perfect opportunities for wine lovers to sample fine vintages, to explore gracious Cape Dutch manor houses, and to enjoy excellent cuisine in beautiful surroundings. Major estates within easy reach of Cape Town are situated in the Stellenbosch, Paarl, Franschhoek, Wellington and Somerset West districts. A number of pleasant drives further afield lead to the wine producing regions of the Breede River Valley, the Swartland and the Olifants River Valley.

Every wine route has its own distinctive logo which appears on road signs pointing to the various estates and co-ops. Brochures providing maps and detailed information on all the wine routes are obtainable from Cape Town Tourism, Cape Town, and publicity associations in the Winelands.

The Fairest Cape in All the World

With it’s mild Mediterranean climate and friendly people, it’s varying mountain and coastal scenery, it’s dark rivers and white sandy beaches, wine farms and unique flower kingdom, the Western Cape always has a special magnetism of it’s own, making it one of the most popular tourist destinations in Africa.

From the rugged Cederberg Mountains to the emerald green forests of the Garden Route, from the vast empty plains of the Karoo to the bustling metropolis of Cape Town, the Western Cape offers something for everyone – truly a place of dramatic beauty and excitement.

INTRODUCTION

When Sir Francis Drake described this area as “the fairest cape in all the world”, he did not realize what treasures lay beyond the spectacular mountain ranges of the Western Cape.

The Western Cape is a year round holiday destination, offering exciting opportunities for the adventurer, nature lover, relaxed tourist, discerning connoisseur and business traveler. The conducive climatic conditions and state of the art amenities cater for every need. It also plays host to major sporting events and conferences.

The scenery is a brilliant kaleidoscope of colour and the region is home to the most diverse of the world’s 6 floral kingdoms, totaling 8500 indigenous floral species – fynbos. Hundreds of bird species proliferate the region, some of which are extremely rare, while a host of fauna adds to the exciting landscape. During spring, the province is transformed into breathtaking carpets of flowers; a counterpoint to the vineyards, wheatfields, orchards, lush indigenous forests and semi-desert regions during the ensuing seasons.

The coastline is rocky, but also offers sheltered unpolluted white sandy beaches and water sports of every conceivable kind. Scores of Southern Right, Humpback and Brydes whales visit the protective waters of the quiet bays annually, to calf the mate – offering the best land-based whale watching in the world.

The Western Cape is a tapestry of cultural diversity, depicted in it’s places of worship, architecture, arts and crafts displayed on busy sidewalks if the Mother City and it’s quaint villages, museums and historical landmarks. A variety of exciting festivals, excellent cuisine, vibrant street markets and sporting events, some of which enjoy international status, contribute to the special “flavour” of the region – promising meaningful interaction with it’s friendly and hospitable people. The Western Cape is one of the top ten international tourist destinations – and truly one of the most compelling places on the earth.

This pristine province of South Africa at the southernmost tip of Africa is divided into ten tourist regions, each with it’s own particular character and charm.

Accommodation in and around Western Cape