A Tour of Cape Town and scenic surrounding areas

Cape Town

A Tour of Cape Town and scenic surrounding areas

Way down in the southern most tip of Africa, lies one of the most beautiful cities on the planet. When the sun is shining, it is stunning. A picturesque city framed by the famous Table Mountain, white sandy beaches and the Pacific Ocean. Over 1000 meters high, Table Mountain towers over beautiful colonial buildings. The waterfront is decorated with brightly painted facades and the gorgeous coastline is framed by high cliffs making it one of the most magnificent in the world.

Stroll along the V&A waterfront and you can catch street performers singing traditional African music while you sip coffee at one of the many cafés. This upscale area is filled with boutiques, cafes, restaurants, theatres and wine bars. Walking around the shops is a pleasant afternoon and while there, catch the ferry to Robben Island. Home of the infamous prison where Nelson Mandela was detained for the majority of his 29 years behind bars.

The half hour boat ride will make you think of what little hope prisoners must have had as they were taken to isolation. Surroun- ded by frigid shark infested waters, freedom was within their sights, but escape was impossible. The guides are former inmates who make the experience that much more gripping as they tell personal stories of their time there. These men are true heroes. It is amazing to hear what they managed to accomplish from behind bars. They planned and schemed and somehow managed to get messages to their followers which eventually brought an end to Apartheid.

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 took place. How anyone could survive this way for years on end is a testimony to the strength and determination of these brave men.

After spending some time in Cape Town, it is a good idea to rent a car and drive along the coast. Winding along one of the most scenic drives on the planet, Chapman's Peak is a treat. Featured in many a film and commercial, its enormous cliffs tower over-head as the road carves its way through blasted rock. Be prepared however, in South Africa, they drive on the left side of the road.

Head to Simon's Town to see the penguin colony that reside on its beaches. Simon's Town is a beautiful coastal village where a seafood lunch is a must. The famous penguins bask in the sun and splash in the water posing perfectly on smooth large rocks as dozens of tourist snap their camera's.

After a morning exploring the town and penguins drive farther south to the Cape of Good Hope. The Indian and Atlantic oceans meet here and crash into one another beneath the highest sea cliffs on earth. The view is breathtaking and you can take a ride up the trolley to the top avoiding a long hike. The boardwalk twists through the grounds and you can explore the old light house and keepers house, and you can look out over the ocean with nothing between you and the Antarctic but the sea. It is amazing to be at this legendary destination truly at the end of a vast continent.

If you only have a short time to visit South Africa, Cape Town and its surrounding area has everything that you could possibly need. Safaris, diving, world class vineyards, beaches, shopping and spectacular scenery. What more does a person need.


	Home All Explore Travel Cape Town A Tour of Cape Town and scenic surrounding areas Way down in the southern most tip of Africa, lies one of the most beautiful cities on the planet. When the sun is shining, it is stunning. A picturesque city framed by the famous Table Mountain, white sandy beaches and the Pacific Ocean. Over 1000 meters high, Table Mountain towers over beautiful colonial buildings. The waterfront is decorated with brightly painted facades and the gorgeous coastline is framed by high cliffs making it one of the most magnificent in the world. Stroll along the V&A waterfront and you can catch street performers singing traditional African music while you sip coffee at one of the many cafés. This upscale area is filled with boutiques, cafes, restaurants, theatres and wine bars. Walking around the shops is a pleasant afternoon and while there, catch the ferry to Robben Island. Home of the infamous prison where Nelson Mandela was detained for the majority of his 29 years behind bars. The half hour boat ride will make you think of what little hope prisoners must have had as they were taken to isolation. Surroun- ded by frigid shark infested waters, freedom was within their sights, but escape was impossible. The guides are former inmates who make the experience that much more gripping as they tell personal stories of their time there. These men are true heroes. It is amazing to hear what they managed to accomplish from behind bars. They planned and schemed and somehow managed to get messages to their followers which eventually brought an end to Apartheid. 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 took place. How anyone could survive this way for years on end is a testimony to the strength and determination of these brave men. After spending some time in Cape Town, it is a good idea to rent a car and drive along the coast. Winding along one of the most scenic drives on the planet, Chapman's Peak is a treat. Featured in many a film and commercial, its enormous cliffs tower over-head as the road carves its way through blasted rock. Be prepared however, in South Africa, they drive on the left side of the road. Head to Simon's Town to see the penguin colony that reside on its beaches. Simon's Town is a beautiful coastal village where a seafood lunch is a must. The famous penguins bask in the sun and splash in the water posing perfectly on smooth large rocks as dozens of tourist snap their camera's. After a morning exploring the town and penguins drive farther south to the Cape of Good Hope. The Indian and Atlantic oceans meet here and crash into one another beneath the highest sea cliffs on earth. The view is breathtaking and you can take a ride up the trolley to the top avoiding a long hike. The boardwalk twists through the grounds and you can explore the old light house and keepers house, and you can look out over the ocean with nothing between you and the Antarctic but the sea. It is amazing to be at this legendary destination truly at the end of a vast continent. If you only have a short time to visit South Africa, Cape Town and its surrounding area has everything that you could possibly need. Safaris, diving, world class vineyards, beaches, shopping and spectacular scenery. What more does a person need.