Africa Travel Newsletter > Cape Town - Africa's Most Beautiful City > Page 2

1.1 Cape Town - Africa's Most Beautiful City

The Garden Route is the southern coastal area starting west of Cape Town at Swellendam and ending at Humansdorp just before Port Elizabeth. The Garden Route is probably the most scenic journey you will ever make. You encounter soaring cliffs, wide beaches, semi desert, rocky coves, rain forests, tranquil lakes and rugged mountains. The area is good for watersports and the weather allows this year round. A visit to the wine producing regions can also be staged from Cape Town. If you are short of time head for picturesque Stellenbosch just a 45-minute drive away.

The Garden Route tour usually starts from Cape Town with a stop at Mossel Bay. This otherwise uninspiring town is famous for its Post Office Tree, where sailors left letters hanging in a boot to be picked up by those
headed towards the country where the letters were addressed. Then to
Oudtshoorn and George, a transport hub for the area.

Afterwards, Wilderness National Park a good place for birding and
canoeing on your way to the artist colony of Knysna and Plettenberg
Bay. Plettenberg Bay, the “millionaires' playground" is South Africa’s
trendiest resort. Then to Tsitsikamma National Park known for its
nature trails, giant trees and caves. A little ahead of Humansdorp is
Jeffrey's Bay, reputed to have one of the world's best surfing beaches.

Watersports are big in South Africa. Whale watching and shark-cage
diving (with great white sharks) is possible in the Cape area. The best
time to spot these sea giants is from June to September. In the last
week of September the annual Whale Festival is held at Walker Bay.
Diving facilities are good in the area and wreck diving in particular is
widespread around the Cape. For fishing enthusiasts, the Cape of
Good Hope has one the world’s richest fishing grounds.

At the confluence of the Atlantic and Indian Ocean currents is to be found large shoals of tuna and swordfish. For those brave souls seeking
hair-raising adventure, there is an excellent opportunity for bungee
jumping at the bridge over Blaukrans River. This has one of the world’s
highest drops.

There are also many beautiful golf courses in the Cape Town and Garden
Route area. The best time to play is the cooler months of May to
September. The President's Cup is being held this year (18 –23 November)
at the Fancourt Hotel and Country Club at George right on the Garden
Route. This event is a match play competition with the world's best
international players.

The best period to visit the Cape region is over the summer months
November-February. The rest of the year is usually cool, rainy and windy.
Most people then find it quite challenging to engage in swimming and
water sports. There is a wide rage of accommodation in Cape Town and
the Garden Route area. Top range 5 star hotels and other rated hotels
are found throughout the region.

Other accommodation options include motels, guesthouses, bed and
breakfasts, farm holidays, beach cottages, holiday flats and bungalows.
The Cape region is now a much sought after destination and advance
booking is necessary during the summer season (October-April). With
prior planning it is possible to get good value and affordable holiday
stay.

Africa Travel Newsletter > Cape Town - Africa's Most Beautiful City > Page 2

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