Western Cape

South_Africa

The Western Cape is the most south-western province in South Africa, covering many of South Africa's tourist destinations and attractions.

The Western Cape can be divided in the following regions: The Cape Peninsula.

View on Table Mountain.

  • Cape Town. - one of the world's top destinations
  • Stellenbosch. - a university town in the winelands
  • Paarl. - famous for having one of the world's largest rock outcrops and the Afrikaans Language Monument.
  • George. - gateway to the Garden Route
  • Knysna. - a beautiful city in the Garden Route
  • Mossel Bay. - stunning beaches
  • Oudtshoorn. - the ostrich capital of the country, near the Cango Caves

Cape Town. - one of the world's top destinations

Stellenbosch. - a university town in the winelands

Paarl. - famous for having one of the world's largest rock outcrops and the Afrikaans Language Monument.

George. - gateway to the [[Garden Route]]

Knysna. - a beautiful city in the [[Garden Route]]

Mossel Bay. - stunning beaches

Oudtshoorn. - the ostrich capital of the country, near the Cango Caves

  • Cape Agulhas. - the southernmost point of Africa
  • Gansbaai. - on the majestic Walker Bay and with an unspoilt and untouched hinterland, ruled by floral abundance
  • Hermanus. - famous for the whale-watching
  • Montagu. - a small town in the little (Klein) Karoo with many fine examples of Dutch-Cape architecture
  • Swellendam. - one of the oldest European settlements in South Africa houses some fine examples of Dutch-Cape architecture
  • Yzerfontein. - spring flowers, whales, a sixteen mile beach and west coast hospitality
  • Wupperthal. - a tiny beautiful village near the Cederberg Wilderness area
  • Paternoster. - a tiny fishing village on the West Coast, an area with stunning flowers
  • Storms River.- Near the Tsitsikamma National Park

A Bontebok.

Agulhas National Park.

Bontebok National Park. - a small but beautiful park near [[Swellendam]]

Garden Route National Park.

  • Knysna Lake Area
  • Tsitsikamma National Park.
  • Wilderness National Park.

Garden Route National Park.

  • Knysna Lake Area
  • Tsitsikamma National Park.
  • Wilderness National Park.

Garden Route National Park.

  • Knysna Lake Area
  • Tsitsikamma National Park.
  • Wilderness National Park.

Karoo National Park.

Table Mountain National Park.

Tankwa Karoo National Park.

West Coast National Park. - 120 km north of [[Cape Town]], between [[Yzerfontein]] & [[Langebaan]]

  • Cederberg Wilderness Area, +27 27 482-2812. Rugged and isolated area with some fine hiking options. Permission is required and the number of hikers is limited.
  • De Hoop Nature Reserve. - perfect for whale watching
  • Great Winterhoek Wilderness Area.
  • Knysna Elephant Park.

Cederberg Wilderness Area, +27 27 482-2812. Rugged and isolated area with some fine hiking options. Permission is required and the number of hikers is limited.

De Hoop Nature Reserve. - perfect for [[whale watching]]

Great Winterhoek Wilderness Area.

Knysna Elephant Park.

Dassen Island. - 10 km west of [[Yzerfontein]]

Robben Island. - in Table Bay

Cape Agulhas. - the southernmost point of Africa

Gansbaai. - on the majestic Walker Bay and with an unspoilt and untouched hinterland, ruled by floral abundance

Hermanus. - famous for the whale-watching

Montagu. - a small town in the little (Klein) Karoo with many fine examples of Dutch-Cape architecture

Swellendam. - one of the oldest European settlements in South Africa houses some fine examples of Dutch-Cape architecture

Yzerfontein. - spring flowers, whales, a sixteen mile beach and west coast hospitality

Wupperthal. - a tiny beautiful village near the Cederberg Wilderness area

Paternoster. - a tiny fishing village on the West Coast, an area with stunning flowers

Storms River.- Near the [[Tsitsikamma National Park]]

The Western Cape is one of the most popular tourist destinations in South Africa and offers a broad range of attractions. From the tourism hot-spot of Cape Town to the lovely scenery of the Garden Route the region offers something for everyone. So this is the right place for starting your South Africa experience.

[[Table Mountain National Park|Table Mountain]] in [[Cape Town]] and the [[Cape Peninsula]]

[[Cape Winelands]] around [[Paarl]], [[Stellenbosch]] and [[Franschhoek]]

[[Garden Route]] along the South Coast

The Western Cape offers nearly everything a traveler could want. From buzzling night-life in Cape Town and Stellenbosch to wonderful beaches and many outdoor options. So the basic itinerary should include some days in Cape Town, a visit to the Cape of Good Hope (and don`t miss the penguins at Boulders Beach), wine tasting in Paarl or Franschhoek or Robertson, Swartland and Overberg, and a trip along the Garden Route. There are also a number of smaller National Parks with hiking trails for a day out. One of the newer 'primary unusual destinations' is Soekershof Walkabout located in Klaas Voogds along Route 62. This place consists among others of the largest permanent hedge maze in the world; a philosophers garden and unique succulent gardens with the oldest cactus -anno 1910- of South Africa. Visitors can earn a memento by fulfilling a quest. In the Robertson Valley are diverse hiking trails such as Arrangies Kop and Die Vrolijkheid

  • Rock Climbing
  • Scuba diving
    • Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay
    • Diving Hermanus
    • Diving Agulhas and Struisbaai
    • Diving Mossel Bay
    • Diving Plettenberg Bay

Cape Town offers everything you want. Along the coast look-out for some fish and oysters, while in the Cape Winelands head for some of the countries finest dining experiences.

The Western Cape winelands produce very good wine. This is the region to taste South Africa's best wine. Tour the cellars around Paarl, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek but check for a driver before.

The wine producing areas in the Overberg, Swartland and Robertson are gaining international recognition. The wine tasting in these areas is free. While the wine of the traditional wine producing areas of South Africa are moved to the lower shelves of the European supermarkets the ones from the upcoming areas can be found in top restaurants and special liquor stores and wine boutiques in Europe and North America as premium brands.