Cape Town Metro Guide


SOUTH AFRICA

GUIDES

AFRICA

A range of jagged mountains thrusting into the splendid desolation of the Atlantic, the Cape Peninsula is one of the world's most beautiful places.

Pristine beaches, sheltered bays and secluded coves encircle the majestic might of Table Mountain, home to some 8 500 species of flower. Between the mountain's looming crags and Table Bay's deep blue sweep lies South Africa's Mother City, the cosmopolitan hub of the Western Cape.

The best way to revel in the Peninsula's unrivalled beauty is to travel to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve along one of two coastal drives, each dramatically different. To the west, the famous Chapman's Peak route via Hout Bay and the endless, white expanse of Noordhoek's Long Beach. The False Bay road hugs the mountainside, snaking past Fish Hoek, a popular family beach, Kalk Bay, a fishing village imbued with character and colour, and Muizenberg, renowned for its safe swimming, excellent surfing and colourful bathing boxes.

Life in the City Bowl centres around the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, a pulsating waterfront mecca, historical site and working harbour offering everything from upmarket shopping malls, arts and crafts markets, theatres and live music to entertainment showpieces.

Museums and art galleries abound and South Africa's oldest building, the Castle of Good Hope, is in the city centre. Historical Robben island, a World Heritage Site, is just a delightful boat trip across the bay. The cobbled streets of Bo-Kaap with their delightful old buildings and the first mosque in South Africa stand in cultural contrast to the buildings of the oldest homestead and wine farm in the Cape, Groot Constantia. On the Constantia wine route, Groot Constantia is tied by history and the vine to estates in the Helderberg, Durbanville and Oostenberg.

For the energetic and those wanting to explore the abundance of the Cape Floral Kingdom's fauna and flora, there are many walks and climbs - up Table Mountain or Lion's Head, through the Silvermine or Tygerberg Nature Reserves, Newlands Forest, the Cape of Good Hope or Helderberg Nature Reserves, or one of several other inner-city wildlife areas.
Click to view map

ATLANTIC SEABOARD

HELDERBERG

The sections below are being upgraded and will be available shortly

BLAAUWBERG
Bloubergrant
Bloubergstrand
Table View

CITY BOWL
Cape Town Central
De Waterkant
Higgovale
Oranjezicht
Vredehoek

FALSE BAY
Fish Hoek
Simon's Town

SOUTHERN SUBURBS
Bishopscourt
Constantia
Kenilworth
Kirstenhof
Newlands
Pinelands

TYGERBURG
Durbanville
Parow
Copyright ©  CSD / Africa Explored