Western Cape - Home to Table Mountain, the Garden Route and Robben Island
With the warm Indian Ocean lapping its southern shores and the icy Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Western Cape Province of South Africa offers visitors a world of diversity. The coastline to the west with its small fishing villages and pounding surf has a rugged charm, while to the south lies the picturesque seaside towns of Hermanus and Gansbaai, as well as Cape Agulhas - where the two oceans collide tumultously - and De Hoop Nature Reserve, along what is known as the Cape Whale Coast. Heading along the southern coast toward the Eastern Cape is the Wilderness National Park, incorporating the breath-taking scenery of Mossel Bay, George, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay.
Cape Town, affectionately known as the “Mother City”, is the cultural, business and political hub of the province. Having served as a replenishment station for seafaring vessels for centuries, welcoming settlers from France, Holland, Britain, Germany and other diverse countries, Cape Town is rich in history and a melting pot of cultural diversity which is most appealing. With the iconic Table Mountain as its backdrop, Cape Town is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
The Cape Winelands, with its vast stretches of vineyards changing colors with the seasons, whitewashed Cape Dutch manor homes and majestic mountains, is a popular holiday destination. The many wine routes winding their way through this region make it possible for visitors to enjoy the local award-winning “fruit of the vine”, world class cuisine and warm hospitality, all in a setting of great beauty and tranquility. Stroll down the oak-lined avenues of Stellenbosch, home to the oldest university in South Africa and the heart of the wine industry, or incorporate the beautiful towns of Franschhoek, Wellington and Paarl into your travels.
More fascinating facets of the Western Cape are revealed in the orchards, grain fields, forests and sweeping vistas of the Overberg, the craggy wilderness of the Cederberg, the wide open spaces of the Groot Karoo, the amazing Cango Caves at Oudtshoorn in the Klein Karoo and much, much more. There are certainly a multitude of reasons why you should consider the Western Cape Province of South Africa as your next vacation destination.
User Comments & Reviews
2010-03-08 22:21:35
ABLE SEAMAN JUST NUISANCE, RN: WE SALUTE YOU! MAY YOU REST AND ROMP AND SAIL ON IN PEACE AND GLORY AND WITH FULL HONORS!
2010-03-01 21:55:02
MAZIWE MZANSI!! I love South Africa so much and im proud 2 be living here..S.A is the great place 2 be this year and beyond coz it is diverse n beautiful,if u ddnt know well now u know(smile).
2010-02-17 07:23:41
Hi Bobby, The official website for the Outiniqua Choo-Tjoe is - http://www.onlinesources.co.za/chootjoe/. We hope you enjoy your trip. Let us know what you thought of it.
2010-02-15 21:28:45
Hi guys! Could you help with more info? Like, does the Choo-tjoe have a website where I can book online? How much does it costs? Can you take the train just one way, say Mossel Bay to George? Anemail address would be helpful too. Many thanx. Bahama Bob
2010-02-03 01:27:50
Reaching out for relatives in South Africa...My family is from in and around Leicester England..some of our relatives left for South Africa in the 50s and 60s..MY dads name was John Hunt. my mom was Wynne Hunt.His mother and dad were Leo and Louise Hunt..I would love to hear from anyone from the family..lynne
2010-01-28 19:48:30
can you help us by telling us if you have any gay bars in george Regards Yanni
2010-01-04 13:22:09
Me and my family just rode the train about a week ago and what a wonderful experience it was. The only dissapointment on our day of train riding was that they had to use the diesel loco. Not because of fire hazard, but because of water restrictions. The Eden Area currently sufffers immense drought. (The steam loco uses about 20 000 Liters of water per trip) The train ride was very nice, although NOT so nice as it used to be when it done the Knysa route. The only other problem I experienced with my small children, when we arrived in Mosselbay... NO EATING PLACE nearby!!! There is a fish restaurant next to the museum, but my children are allergic to seafood. Next stop.. Wimpy in the small mall... again dissapointed!!! the place is full and it is obvious that we wouldn't get a table in time. (the train stops for 2 hrs in Mosselbay ... 12H00 pm - 14H00 pm) My advice is... encourage / allow food and drink stalls next to the train stop in Mosselbay with adequate seating and shade. Or inform passengers beforehand to pack a picnic bag. We had to stay hungry until we were back in George :-) Oh yes, and a final word of advice... you need to BOOK your seats at least 24hrs beforehand. Other than that ... enjoy the ride !!!
2009-12-24 17:04:07
Mossel Bay is the best place in the world!
2009-12-13 12:50:45
I am looking for a boutique that allows designers to rent a rail in their store. Please advise
2009-12-03 17:04:10
We found Franschoek a delightful small town. We parked in a small area near the church. To our amazement we noticed a family of spotted eagle owls resident in a tree just a few feet above the ground completely unfazed by human activity. We were sorry not to be able to spend more time there.
2009-11-26 09:48:25
The telephone contact numbers are: +27(0) 44 801-8288 +27(0) 44 801-8289 +27(0) 44 801-8202
2009-11-25 17:14:39
We are visiting in December 2009 and would like a contact tel no. for booking the Outeniqua Choo Tjoe please.
2009-11-24 07:30:44
i want to learn more of the Theron Family tree from pietersburg please
2009-11-17 00:37:42
I love SA. One of the most beautiful places on Earth!
2009-11-16 16:44:13
i visited Knysna in October and found a lovely gift shop on the opposite side of the main road from the Coffee House. It had lovely sculptures, ceramics and jewellery and I wonder if it has a website orif one can order things from it. I bought several gifts from there but would like to have purchased other things. Kind regards Caroline Romain
2009-11-12 11:08:36
A wonderfully succint overview, covering just about everything in a few short paragraphs! Nice>
2009-10-29 20:56:00
like to have information about golfcourses in your surrounding thanks for answering hans w droog
2009-10-28 08:17:29
south africa is very beautiful. desire to go and enjoy the beautiful places in south africa.
2009-10-10 08:03:05
sea point is always bustling with interesting people and the sea is beautiful as you wlk along the prominaad :D
2009-10-02 10:15:48
i want see all cape town.
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