BEACHES

Atlantic Seaboard

Cape Town's most fashionable location is the exclusive 'gold' sand coast, fondly known as Millionaire's row. This stretches from Clifton and Camps Bay through to Llandudno and Hout Bay. These locations enjoy more protection and longer hours of sunshine than the False Bay Coast.

Clifton is Cape Town's own Cote-de-Zur. The four distinctive "bays" which make up the beach offer sheltered swimming and sunbathing throughout the summer months. Neighbouring Clifton is Camps Bay with its backdrop of Table Mountain and the Twelve Apostles. The beach is spacious and ideal for families and has plenty of pavement cafes, restaurants and bars. A short and spectacular drive along the coast is Llandudno Beach a small, romantic beach, hidden away in an enclave of rocks. From Llandudno a path leads to Sandy Bay - well known as Cape Town's unofficial nudist beach. Backed by steep dunes and bushy mountain slopes Sandy Bay is secluded and private, but poorly protected from the southeasterly wind and lacks access roads, shops and facilities.

From Llandudno you pass over Suikebossie and into Hout Bay which is a popular venue for windsurfers, hobie cats, paddleskiers and surfers. Hout Bay is home to a quaint fishing port where visitors are able to watch fisherman hauling in their heavy nets. Buying fresh fish off the boats or at the harbour's fishmonger is a real Jamie Oliver experience! Boat charters and cruises to Seal Island are available from the harbour.

Following the coastline the breathtaking drive over Chapman's Peak will bring you to Noordhoek Beach with its 8km of pristine white sand. Noordhoek beach is one of the Cape Town's most desolate but beautiful beaches, extremely popular for surfing, horseback riding and long, peaceful walks that end at the site of a 19th century shipwreck - the Kakapo. However, it can be very windy! Horse Riding can be booked with 24 hours notice from Imhoff's farm on Tel: 021 - 783 1168 Cell: 082 - 774 - 1191.

False Bay Coast and Southern Peninsula

The False Bay coastline where the water temperature is 5-7 degrees warmer than on the Atlantic Coast ranges from Muizenberg through Kalk Bay and to Simonstown. There are several magnificent beaches in the area, such as St James with its brightly coloured bathing booths and tidal pool, Fish Hoek and Boulders Beach just beyond Simonstown. Boulders Beach is well worth a visit! It is a protected beach adjoining a sanctuary for the jackass penguin where bathers and penguins frolic together. The high boulders and still waters make this a perfect spot for children or a romantic picnic at lunchtime. A small entrance fee is charged to the beach.

THE WATERFRONT

The Victoria and Albert (V&A) Waterfront is situated in the heart of one of the few remaining Victorian working harbours. With the dramatic backdrop of the majestic Table Mountain, the V&A is widely acknowledged as Cape Town's premier local and tourist destination.

Shopping

The V&A provides the opportunity for serious shopping. From food to luxury items the 240 retail outlets provide a cosmopolitan shopping experience. There are also loads of restaurants in which to rest your weary feet! The craft market offers good quality and unique African handcrafted arts.

Robben Island, Boat Cruises and Helicopter Trips

Ferry tickets can be booked on the quayside to visit Robben Island, which lies 12 km off the coast. Now an UNESCO World Heritage Site, Robben Island became notorious during apartheid years as a prison for anti apartheid activists including Nelson Mandela. Amongst a host of other activities the Waterfront offers is boat charters, sailing and even helicopter trips!

Two Ocean Aquarium

The Aquarium has an amazing display of fish, invertebrates, mammals, birds and plants which are found in the in the waters around the Cape. The aquarium's massive tanks pump water continuously from the ocean ensuring the inhabitants their natural environment. The three largest exhibits are the I &J Predator Exhibit (2 million litres); Kelp Forest Exhibit (700,000 litres) and the Sappi 'Story of Water' exhibit.

Adventure Diving in the I&J Predator Exhibit

At the aquarium visiting divers can experience a close encounter with 5 ragged-tooth sharks, turtles and a giant short-tail ray. Thanks to the perfect all year round diving conditions shark sightings are guaranteed!

TABLE MOUNTAIN

Over the centuries Table Mountain has become one of South Africa's most famous landmarks. Rising up above Cape Town, Table Mountain can be seen 200 km out to sea. From the top visitors can enjoy spectacular views of the City, Table Bay, Robben Island, False Bay and Hout Bay. There is a rotating cable car, which will take you to the top or for the more adventurous a scenic foot route will show you the way. The steep cliffs and rocky outcrops of the mountain are home to a number of animals and 1,470 species of plants - more than the entire British Isles!

TOWNSHIP TOURS

During the turbulent aparthied years the townships were considered "no go" areas. However, today a tour of Khayelitsha gives you an insight into the colourful and vibrant lives within Cape Town's biggest settlements. A guide, often a resident, will take you to meet the locals. You'll be shown community projects, entrepreneurial businesses and crèches, where children will entertain you with singing and dancing.

EXPLORING THE WINELANDS

The Cape winelands are a scenically enchanting region of lofty mountain, fertile valleys and slopes planted with orchards and vines. Some of the world's best wines have come from these mountain slopes. The towns of Franschoek and Stellenbosch are at the centre of this wine growing area. Stellenbosch is special for its elegant, gabled architecture, while Franschoek enjoys an exquisite valley setting. Visitors to the area are encouraged to taste the wines and some estates offer cellar tours. The venues are well sign posted and offer an experience that no visitor to the Cape should miss.

Stellenbosch Wine Route

This is the oldest and largest of the wine routes with many beautiful white gabled homesteads, oak lined avenues and rolling vineyards. All venues are within a 12-km radius of the town. Some recommended estates are Spier, Morgenhof (with a good restaurant), Vergelegen, Meerlust (famous for its Rubicon, a Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc)

Franschhoek Wine Route

Many of the 16 venues on this route date back to 1693 when the French Huguenots settled in the Franschhoek valley and began producing wine. It's a beautiful, fertile valley, buttressed by mountain slopes. Some recommended estates are Boschendal (also offers gourmet picnic baskets to be enjoyed under the oak trees), L'ormarins, La Provence and Haute Provence Vineyards and La Couronne Cellar with its spectacular views.