WESTERN CAPE – GATEWAY TO AFRICA
Cape Town - where Inspiration turns ideas into action
Historically the place where trade routes meet and considered a gateway to Africa for business and leisure, Cape Town has long held a fascination for visitors from across the globe. Firmly rooted in its African heritage and culture, Cape Town, and the Western Cape Province (the Cape) is South Africa’s most progressive and innovative region, where local government, the private sector and academia work together to create one of Africa’s leading cities for business, learning and leisure.
Outperforming the rest of the country in terms of economic growth, the province also benefits from local government initiatives to help drive international investment, trade, and tourism in the Province. With Table Mountain as a backdrop the Mother City, as it is affectionately known by South Africans, is set within the unique Cape Floral Region and surrounded by the internationally acclaimed Winelands that stretch from coast to coast, Cape Town welcomes the world to vibrant cultural experience that is as hospitable as it is unique.
Culture and People
Centuries of trade and immigration have created a population with genetic and linguistic links to different parts of Europe,
Southeast Asia, India and Africa. The diverse cultural backgrounds give the province a cosmopolitan flavour with an interesting history dating back to the KhoiSan people - the first inhabitants of the country.
With its broad range of influences from numerous cultures – historical and contemporary – Cape Town has a dynamic rich artistic tapestry today. Cape Town has a bustling art and music culture with world-class galleries and exhibitions taking place all the time. Talented painters, sculptors, photographers, and musicians are continuously experimenting and offering new innovative work to which the hundreds of venues in and around Cape Town attest.
Food and Wine
The essence of Western Cape food can be found in the complex, multi-cultural history of the province. A mixture of Asian, African and European food genres, every dish reflects waves of historical settlement and layers of culinary interaction. The Cape Winelands boasts some of the best award-winning wine farms in the world. Every year thousands of tourists from around the world flock to the fantastic wine route situated in the Western Cape to indulge in the latest offerings in both food and drink.
DAY TOURS
The Western Cape is unusually rich in diversity and offers a host of activities for visitors. Apart from sightseeing, shopping markets and high-end brands and visiting iconic World Heritage sites and beaches, the Western Cape also offers a wealth of cultural heritage, like food and wine, and is a favourite destination for adventurous activities such as rock-climbing and cycling. The largest timed cycle tour in the world takes place here every year and there is a cycle tour between Cape Town and Knysna, on the Garden Route, for the truly adventurous.
Cape Point
Cape Point is the southernmost tip of the Cape Peninsula. The drive takes you via Chapmans Peak past steep mountains, secluded coves, beaches, villages and fishing communities. At Cape Point visit the Cape of Good Hope nature reserve – home of fynbos species found nowhere else in the world and a variety of wildlife including baboons, rhebok, Cape Mountain zebra, bontebok and the elusive eland. Return via the historical Simonstown naval base.
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Table Mountain
A cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain, a World Heritage Site, is a highlight of any Cape Town visit. The cableway takes you to the summit in under ten minutes whilst rotating gondolas ensure a 360-degree view of Cape Town and Table Bay. At the top, stroll along 2km of pathways and enjoy magnificent views from over 12 viewing sites and decks. Facilities on the mountain include a self-service restaurant, a bistro, and a shop selling gifts and curios. For the fit and adventurous - hiking up Table Mountai, takes about four to six hours.
Winelands Tour
A visit to the Cape Winelands is an absolute must as the region is one of the breath taking vistas and majestic mountain backdrops while being steeped in rich culture and history. Rolling vineyards and quaint Cape Dutch homesteads await you, as well as award-wining wine farms offering some of the country’s best wines. Within an hour’s drive from the city centre, most popular and well-known regions are Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Wellington, Paarl, The Constantia Valley, that is just a 10-minute drive from the city centre.
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Panoramic Cape Town City Tour
Visit the Castle, the oldest building in South Africa, then move on to another historic area of the city, the Cape Malay quarter situated on the slopes of Signal Hill. Imbibe its rich spiritual, musical and culinary heritage before diving into the city centre. Drive along Adderley Street, the lively centre of town, past the historic Groote Kerk and St. George’s Cathedral, the Anglican Diocese of Nobel peace laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
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Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens
The beautiful Kirstenbosch gardens cover an area of 528 hectares with 36 hectares of cultivated garden. The gardens are a celebration of South African flora – showcasing only indigenous South African plants. Fynbos, proteas, cycads and rolling lawns are intermingled with streams and ponds and well-laid out pathways for easy walking.
Safety and Security
The safety and security of citizens and visitors are of utmost importance for City and provincial authorities. While Cape Town is safe and welcoming to visitors, it grapples with many of the same problems that other global tourism cities experience, of which petty crime is one. To this end, the province has partnered with the city of Cape Town the create the Tourism Safety Law Enforcement Unit. The City has also been operating a 24/7 Tourism Safety and Support Programme as an active and visible way to ensure the safety of residents and visitors. Visible security and policing include foot, bicycle and vehicle patrols that monitor the city’s streets and tourism sites around the clock.