Capturing Cape Town

To the South African City of Captivating Sights

Jul 1, 2009

Cape Town is a city with abundance of nature's beauty, be it the majestic mountains, the sparkling Ocean and its beaches, wild nature reserves and botanical gardens.

Cape Town is the most beautiful city of South Africa. The city overpowers with its mountain range, deep blue ocean and silver beaches, sloping hills with cute cottages, winding roads offering breathtaking views, green open spaces coming alive with colorful flowers and plants, ostriches and Chacma baboons.

Cape Town can rightly be referred to as the city of mountains. Driving down its streets, one cannot miss the Table Mountain forming a backdrop to its city scene. The Signal hill and the Lion’s Head around the Table Mountain also catch one’s attention. The Twelve Apostles or the prominent twelve hills joined together add to the beauty of Clifton beach and Camp’s Bay. The magic of the Misty cliffs can only be understood when visited.

Victoria & Alfred Waterfront

The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront at Cape Town is the place to absorb the essence of the city. Located within the working harbor with 400 contemporary stores, choice restaurants, art & craft markets, the Two Ocean’s aquarium, boat and helicopter charters, the Waterfront is one place where many things can be done. Just going around the place observing the stone sculptures or sailing ships or the musicians voicing melting tunes is an enriching experience.

Those desiring to visit the Robben island, the World Heritage site and museum where Nelson Mandela along with other heroes of apartheid struggle were imprisoned, can take a ferry from the Waterfront Gateway. The tour comprises of the pleasant ferry ride, a bus ride around the island and a walking tour of the prison by ex political prisoners.

The Table Mountain is the most significant landmark of Cape Town. 3 km wide at a height of 1085 m, it can be reached by a rotating cable car that offers breathtaking panoramic view of the Table Bay. Atop, it is a thrilling experience viewing the surrounding hills from viewpoints at the edge of the hills and walking around admiring a variety of cacti and wild flowers even as the strong winds might sometimes blow you off.

Cape of Good Hope

The ride to the Cape Point through the Chapman’s Peak drive is a scenic journey. At the Cape of Good Hope one can feel the excitement of reaching the south-western most tip of Africa. Tourists throng the place to pose for photographs at this significant tip of the continent surrounded by the magic of the ocean. On the way out, the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve offers the unique opportunity of observing the curious Chacma baboons roaming around in abandon and groups of ostriches apart from a variety of pelagic birds, antelopes and zebras.

Cape Town is indeed an animal land especially dominated by the sea animals. From Hout Bay take a ferry to Duiker Island to view hordes of seals basking in the sun. From Simon’s town reach Boulder’s Beach to observe the penguins walking on tiptoes. Take a scenic coastal drive to meet the whales basking in the warm waters off the Hermanus coastline. Or visit the Two Oceans Aquarium to get a glimpse of 3000 marine species in this unique under water world.

Cape Point at a height of 238 m can be reached by a Flying Dutchman funicular. To view the tip of the southerly point and the meeting of the two oceans climb up to the light house. For such spectacular views from dizzy heights or others from the tip of the continent, Cape Town is the town to visit. To get the best out of the city, visit it between April- May or September-October.

The copyright of the article Capturing Cape Town in South Africa Travel is owned by Kalpana Rangan. Permission to republish Capturing Cape Town in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.