The Western Cape can be a daunting destination as there is more than enough to keep you busy for a very long time. It is almost impossible to tour the Western Cape and see everything there is to see! Cape Town alone is a world class tourist destination, so what about the rest of the fairest Cape? Consider this a beginner’s guide to day tours of the Western Cape…
First things first: the wine
Forget all you know about wine. The Cape Wine Route is an epic collection of magnificent wineries, unbelievable scenery and never ending good times. There are dozens of routes to choose from, but without a doubt the most famous of these is the Stellenbosch Wine Route. This world famous wine route was established in 1971 for tourists to enjoy the product of the vine whilst being educated on the finer details of wine making and tasting. But it’s not the only respected wine route in the country. The Cape Winelands stretch from as far as the Little Karoo to the pristine coastline. In total 560 wineries are dotted all over the Cape – it’s quite hard to miss any of them!
And what about the mountain?
Ah, Table Mountain. Probably the most famous landmark in South Africa, this massive chunk of earth rises up above the Cape Town city bowl to look over the Atlantic Ocean and Cape Town Harbour. For those of us who are not blessed with natural climbing ability there is a cableway system that runs to the top of The Table. Since 1929 more than 16 million people have been able to reach the top thanks to the cableway. For the picture perfect view of Table Mountain head down to Bloubergstrand – from here you can see the mountain looming over Cape Town like a guardian landmark.
Now I’m hungry – where do I eat?
That’s easy: Franschoek. It’s the culinary capital of South Africa with world class restaurants around every corner. A few years ago Franschoek was nothing more than a scenic village with dirt roads – today Franschoek is a celebration of kitchen skills. But don’t despair; Franschoek is not the only place to grab a great meal. Almost all the wineries have on-site kitchens, and don’t forget about Cape Town! From fish ‘n chips straight from the ocean to a medium-rare steak with a glass of cabernet sauvignon – Cape Town has it all.
Relax on the beach…
Beaches, to be precise. The beaches of the Western Cape have recently over taken the beaches of Kwazulu-Natal as South Africa’s premium blue flag beaches. Blue Flag beaches are an international standard for beaches that are clean, safe and in good ecological shape. In the Western Cape the water might be a tad too cold for a relaxing swim, but the scenery is worth every minute. Currently the Western Cape has the most blue flag beaches in South Africa (14), compared to the Eastern Cape’s 9 and Kwazulu-Natal’s 5 blue flags.
Come and enjoy all that the Western Cape has to offer with one of our Cape Town Tours, from our wines and food to the historical natural and man-made landmarks.
Read more: The Western Cape – A Starter Guide http://www.daytours.co.za/travel-articles/104-western-cape-starter-guide.html#ixzz16lkdpGb5
