Our Top Five / Most Visited / Western Cape >>

Here is our list of the top places international visitors go to in the Western Cape. In no particular order….

Cape Town

Surely one of the cities of the world. Certainly up there with Rio De Janeiro and Sydney in terms of natural beauty. You can’t hope to get inside a city with so much to offer in a short period of time, but you can have a helluva lot of fun trying. Where ever you go in Cape Town the constantly changing view of Table Mountain dominates and it’s a view you never tire of. Chose your location carefully because Cape Town suburbs feel like many very different towns linked only by proximity. So the best place for one person may not be the best for the next. Must-do’s include the white beaches of Camps Bay and Clifton (some of the best city beaches in the world), taking a cable car to the top of the mountain – you can climb it but it is a strenuous and ocassionally dangerous hike - a shorter but still challenging hike with great views is up Lions Head. The short ferry ride to Robben Island, followed by a tour by one of the former inmates brings the horrific reality of Apartheid and the miracle of South Africa's reconciliation into stark clarity. Take an afternoon over a classic French lunch with an African twist in the oldest wine growing region around Constantia. Drive along the stunning Chapman’s Peak Drive down to the Cape Point Peninsula. Our second favourite ever-beer was had watching the sun drop into the Atlantic in Camps Bay, our favourite was the next one. Follow it up with a lively night on Long Street. Under the summer sun the sea may look very inviting, but everyone is astounded just how cold it is. Survive more than 5 minutes and you’re braver than us.

The Winelands and Franschhoek

Just an hour from Cape Town, you’ll climb into a forbidding-looking mountain range and find yourself driving through tidy rows of ancient vineyards. Welcome to the fabulous Cape winelands. Long, tree-lined driveways leading to beautiful Cape Dutch wineries flash by, all offering a range of wines (both in terms of type and quality!) to taste – including the South African specialities Chenin Blanc and Pinotage. Seventeenth Century France’s loss was young South Africa’s gain – the Huguenot immigrants fleeing religious persecution brought with them their wine-making and culinary traditions which have since fused with Cape Malay, Cape Coloured, Afrikaans and British culture. This fascinating history has combined to create something that makes the winelands worthy of at least a couple of very relaxing days to explore. There are a number of pretty villages and towns to take in, but Franschhoek is the pick of the bunch. Situated in a stunning valley and one of the gastro-capitals of South Africa, Franschhoek is home to some excellent boutique accommodation. It has become quite touristy in recent years, especially in the peak season from December to March, but it still delivers on the promise of a breath-takingly beautiful winelands village. However Stellenbosch is the place to go for nightlife with a student vibe, historic architecture and some superb contemporary restaurants. There are more remote and less-discovered and cheaper alternatives in Tulbagh and along Route 62.

Hermanus (Garden Route)

Hermanus is a beautiful 100KM drive from Cape Town (be sure to take the coastal road via Betty's Bay) and offers visitors very good beaches to the east of town, a pretty harbour with some good eating options, decent hiking and one of the best places from which to view Southern Right Whales from (June to November). However to avoid disappointment be careful to ensure you book accommodation that is near the beach unless you want to be in a fairly unremarkable seaside town that appears to be popular simply for being popular. Nearby Arabella is one of the best golf courses in South Africa. Grotto Beach is the pick of the beaches.

George & Knysna (Garden Route)

George is the golfing capital of South Africa and well-situated on the Garden Route, whether you’re driving along the coast or Route 62. There are four courses in the Fancourt complex alone, the most famous being The Links which hosts a number of international competitions. However Montagu Golf Course is an excellent alternative. Although George is not right on the coast, nearby Victoria Bay offers a decent small beach from which to contemplate your next round. But unless you’re a golfer, we don’t recommend it. The same can be said of Knysna – lots of tourists go there, but we’ve not worked out why. It’s a big town with bigger traffic problems and little to redeem it other than a pretty harbour, some good restaurants and the nearby Knysna Heads – two dramatic headlands with some nice views. However the Knysna Oyster Festival is meant to be well worth a visit. One of those towns that’s great to drive past. Nearby Belvidere, Brenton-on-Sea (across the other side of Knysna Lagoon) and Leisure Island are significant improvements upon Kynsna Town itself.

Arniston & Cape Agulhus (Garden Route)

Arniston is refreshingly different from the majority of other Garden Route coastal towns. Strict building regulations have ensured that it has retained its identity as a small fishing village – quaint white-washed buildings surround a pretty beach. The pick of the accommodation is The Arniston Hotel, however there are also more affordable guesthouses and self-catering alternatives. Nearby, at Cape Agulhus, you can walk to the most southerly point in Africa and watch the daily battle between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The good news… if you’re heading north, you know that the sea will be a lot warmer from here on!