subject: A Few Days Of Luxury In Cape Town [print this page] Cape Town; A cosmopolitan relaxing yet also a vibrantly entertaining town, perfect for a few days at the start or end of a luxury African safari holiday.
Cape Town's grand waterfront hotels are dramatically framed with the backdrop of Table mountain which forms part of the protected Table Mountain national park that accounts for more than three quarters of the land mass of the peninsula. Table Mountain is very much a focal point and an attraction to visitors to Cape Town and it remains Cape Town's heart. This immense and impressive backdrop is the city's adventure playground, as well as a source of many legends.
Table Mountain's rugged beauty is perfectly complimented by the bright eye-catching city market streets and the painted facades of lime green, sky blue and pink of the Bo-Kaap region. Next to Bo-Kaap there is the trendy De Waterkant which is becoming one of the most sought-after addresses in Cape Town. The area has a similar feel to that of Greenwich Village or London's Covent Garden. Or head to the coast and see the Victorian bathing chalets of Muizenberg that line the beach, to the fashionable Afro-chic decor of smart guesthouses and bars. Cape Town has many chic Art galleries displaying up-to-the-minute artworks and superb shops selling local craftwork. Cape Town's diverse creativity has developed naturally from it's multiethnic population a diverse melting pot of colour, style and culture proof of South Africa's status as the rainbow nation.
Although Cape Town does not have game parks on the Kruger's scale, there are still excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. You might like to see the colonies of penguins at Boulders beach or the antelopes, buffaloes and black rhino at the Solole Game Reserve. If you chose to visit from November onwards you can even spot the whales as they migrate to South Africa's shores for their calving season. Cape Town's restaurants and bars compare well to those that might be found in other popular cities in the world and there is clearly a lively cultural scene which emanates from every corner of the city.
Whether you want to explore the city independently or with a guide Cape Town's attractions are easily accessible and entertain all ages.
After enjoying cosmopolitan Cape Town by day with its scenic walks through the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, enthralling museums, Table mountain and excursions to Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was captive you can relax in a one of many fantastic restaurants for evening dining on exquisite cuisine in what is often regarded as one of the most romantic locations in the world. Cape Town's harbour district offers a selection of restaurants for evenings dinning out with views over the harbour.
South Africa has a fabulous diverse selection of places to visit and Cape Town, the Garden route and the winelands combine wonderfully with a private reserve a little way inland by car or a short from one of the Cape's nearby local airports. The Kruger National Park or the Madikwe Reserve are often the location of choice for many South African safaris.
