A Cape Town Affair - Belle Maroc (5 Days) CPT5NT

The name Blouberg (literally meaning blue mountain) is derived from Blaauwberg, a nearby mountain.

Blouberg is situated just south of Cape Town, along the coast. It is a popular location for a classic view of Table Mountain across the bay. Robben Island is located 6,9 km west of the coast of Bloubergstrand.

The wider Blouberg region is an area which includes suburbs such as Parklands North, Sunningdale, Waves Edge, Parklands, West Beach, Blouberg Rise, Bloubergstrand, Bloubergrant, Big Bay, Flamingo Vlei, Table View, Parklands East, Sagewood, Sandown, Sunridge, Table View, West Riding, and Blouberg Sands.

The area also has historical significance as site of the Battle of Bloubergstrand. In 1806 the British stormed the Cape’s west coast and defeated the Dutch on Blouberg Hill, a victory which led to the second British occupation of the colony.

The commute to Cape Town’s CBD is approximately one hour in peak traffic and a mere 25 minutes out of peak traffic. The advantage of living here is that the MyCiti bus service has most of this area covered, and you can choose to use this instead of driving to and from the city.

"Harry die Strandloper", or Hadah, was the leader of the Goringhaikonas, who were the first people documented to live in Blouberg. Because of Hadah’s entrusted duties to deliver letters to the British seafaring community, he became the first postmaster in South Africa.

In 1806, the first casualties of the Battle of Blaauwberg drowned when their boat was driven by the large surf into the rocky point at the end of Stadler road and it capsized. The invading British forces went on to defeat the defending Dutch forces and subsequently occupied the whole of the Cape Colony. This was an initial step in the major colonisation that took place throughout southern Africa.

• Dubbed Cape Town's Riviera, the magical Atlantic Seaboard runs from the famed V&A Waterfront on the north shore of Table Mountain all the way down to Hout Bay.

While South Africa is completely bounded on the west by the Atlantic Ocean from Namibia south to Cape Agulhas, only the small, albeit impressive 3 km stretch between the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town, along the coastline of Table Mountain, the Twelve Apostles and Lion’s Head to Hout Bay is considered the ‘Atlantic Seaboard’. It’s bizarre, but then South Africa’s ‘South Coast’ is south of Durban and physically located on the east coast of the country rather than the south of the country, and the East Coast lies south of the South Coast rather than north of it, so one shouldn’t be too surprised.  Historically, this area is directly tied to the Atlantic Ocean and the influx of European settlements. The small Atlantic Seaboard has some of the most expensive real estate in South Africa and is characterised by its beaches, cliffs, promenade, and hillside communities. One of these is Camps Bay, home to the highest concentration of multimillionaires in Cape Town. It has the highest number of mansions in South Africa exceeding R20 million.

As the Atlantic Seaboard, known as Cape Town’s Riviera, is close to both the ocean and Cape Town’s inner city it’s a destination enjoyed by both locals and visitors. One of the suburbs, Green Point is nearest to Cape Town’s city center. It’s home to a world class sports stadium built when South Africa hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup, a century-old golf course - the Royal Cape Golf Club which was established in 1885, and a huge public park. Built in 1823, the eye-catching lighthouse is the oldest operational lighthouse in South Africa. Casual walkers, joggers, skaters, cyclists and dog-walkers all take advantage of the wide walkway and sprawling lawns of the Sea Point promenade that starts at the lighthouse and runs along the coast leading to Sea Point.

The Atlantic Seaboard is renowned for its varied beauty. Sheltered beaches, steep cliff sides, famous surfing spots with white sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters, as well as restaurants offering exceptional sea food dishes and seaside charm. At the southernmost end of the Atlantic Seaboard is a sharp mountain peak jutting into the air like a rhino horn. This is The Sentinel and guards the historic fishing village of Hout Bay.  

Starting on the southern edge of Hout Bay and ending at Noordhoek, is Chapman’s Peak Drive, a startling engineering achievement as it was carved out of the face of the sheer cliffs. It is one of the most spectacular marine drives in the world. Locals call the road ‘Chappies’. Noordhoek, although small, has a large artistic population and a large horse population as well as riding on the long Kommetjie Beach is a favourite pastime.

From beautiful to eccentric, raucous to silent, prickly to cuddly, the World of Birds Wildlife Sanctuary and Monkey Park set in 4 hectares of tropical gardens is home to over 3500 birds, small mammals including mischievous squirrel monkeys, porcupines and meerkats, and exotic reptiles like green iguanas and rock monitors.

Africa’s largest avian, reptilian and wildlife sanctuary, with the third-highest bird diversity of any zoo, the Park focuses on preservation, education, and research, as well as providing refuge for abandoned, small, wild creatures. World of Birds has an excellent rehabilitation program for injured wild birds and small mammals as well as a breeding centre for threatened species. It is one of only a few in the world where you can stroll through 100 enormous, interactive aviaries, and the monkey jungle, on beautifully landscaped walkways. You may even be lucky enough to meet Baker. A squirrel monkey, Baker was once an astronaut monkey who, as part of the NASA program, went to space.

World of Birds is one of Cape Town’s most exquisite tourist attractions, and as it’s open 365 days a year, it is a nature lovers and photographers’ paradise. Over 100 000 visitors come to the Park each year.

Originally a small fishing village, Hout Bay (Wood Bay) or the Republic of Hout Bay as it’s affectionately called by the locals, has a name which dates back to 1653. The town was properly established in 1867 and is nestled in a once-deeply wooded valley on the Atlantic Seaboard between Llandudno and Noordhoek. The ancient, once-huge forests are still in evidence, but only in small, highly protected pockets. At the northern end of Hout Bay Valley, the Orangekloof Forest is the most intact and oldest indigenous mountain forest on Table Mountain.

Hout Bay is a popular day-trip destination for tourists thanks to its old-world charm, colourful multicultural ambience, stunning views, its beach and busy fishing harbour where tuna, crayfish and snoek are the regular catch of the day all make for a delightful experience. The bustling port area has seafood restaurants, craft stores and boating activities as well as fresh fish for sale.

Humans aren’t the only ones interested in the catch of the day. As many as 6 thousand Cape Fur seals reside on Duiker Island, a 40-minute boat cruise from Hout Bay Harbour. This child-friendly cruise is the perfect opportunity to see these exuberant and delightful creatures up close and in their natural habitat. To get there you travel past some of the most rugged scenery on the Western Cape including the bay, the Sentinel and Chapman’s Peak.

Duiker Island is a ‘pick-up’ spot for the Cape Fur Seals. The males congregate here while they wait to ‘come of age’ and breed with the females. The water around the island is far too rough and dangerous for pups forcing the females go elsewhere to give birth. The seals are a popular snack for Great White sharks, and you may be lucky enough to see one or two, as well as whales and dolphins while on your cruise.

Chapman’s Peak Drive, or as it is known locally, Chappies, is a nail-biting 9 kilometres long, stretching from Noordhoek to Hout Bay. Vehicles swoop around 114 bends bounded on one side by huge vistas of the cold Atlantic Ocean, and on the other by the warm, russet-coloured granite and sandstone mountain, whose almost sheer cliff face soars 593m out of the sea. The views are spectacular and locals as well as tourists stop at the viewpoints to gaze over towards Hout Bay, the Sentinel Peak and the kilometres of pristine sand at Noordhoek Beach. Building Chapman’s Peak Drive was an extraordinary feat. It was carved out of the west-facing cliffs by convict labour between 1915 and 1922. Engineers said it couldn’t be done as the mountain was plagued by rockslides and bad weather. But the Cape Administrator, Sir Nicolas Frederick de Waal, believed otherwise. At first, it seemed the engineers were right. During its first 80 years, rockfalls and weather proved to be an enormous hazard. In 2009, the road was closed. The rockfall situation had to be solved. Engineers employed every new technology imaginable to tame the cliffs above. And they’ve succeeded. Their solutions as seemingly miraculous as the original construction. This spectacular drive forms the backdrop to two of the largest mass participation races in South Africa, the Cape Argus Cycle Race, and the Two Oceans’ Marathon. The 109 km long cycle race is the first event outside Europe to be included in the Union Cycliste Internationale's Golden Bike Series. it’s the world's largest individually timed cycle race with over 35 000 cyclists taking part. The Two Oceans is the world's most beautiful marathon. This56km ultramarathon and a 21km half-marathon is held annually on the Easter weekend.

There’s no snow, no ice, no polar bears… but there are penguins at Boulders Beach. Boulders Beach near Simon’s Town lies with the Table Mountain National Park. It consists of 1 penguin viewing area and 3 boardwalks lining the cove of 3 pristine, soft, white beaches which are sheltered by immense boulders from currents, wind and large waves. It’s the perfect place for the penguins to call home. The wheelchair-firendly boardwalks were built to allow visitors access across the dense vegetation to view these wonderful birds, while keeping the birds safe from poking fingers and the humans safe from razor sharp beaks. If the birds feel threatened they are likely to bite fingers or noses.

The penguins are known as the African Penguin, Cape Penguin, South African Penguin, Black-footed Penguin, or the Jackass Penguin because of their loud, donkey-like bray. They are the only penguin that breeds in Africa, the only one found on the south-west coast of Africa and live in only 24 colonies.

These delightful creatures are highly endangered and great care and respect must be shown towards them and their habitat at all times. In 1910, they numbered approximately one and a half million. By 1982, there were only 2 breeding pairs left. Huge conservation efforts were undertaken, and the Boulders Beach population rose to 3 900 birds in 2005. Since then there has been a decrease. The 2011 figures sit at around 2100 birds at Boulders Penguin Colony. To try and ensure their safety, the Table Mountain National Park services have banned alcohol and smoking in the area, as well as all vessels including canoes and kayaks. Under no circumstances may marine life or vegetation be removed.

The Cape of Good Hope was once called the Cape of Storms because of the often-terrifying weather and violent oceans which have wrecked ships on its coast since sailors first began to explore beyond the horizon. The most enduring legend is the phantom ship known as The Flying Dutchman. According to the tale, a sea captain found himself struggling to round the Cape of Good Hope during a ferocious storm. He swore that, even if he had to sail until Judgment Day, he would succeed. The Devil heard and the Flying Dutchman was condemned to stay at sea forever. Apparent sightings claim it glows with a ghostly light, spelling doom for anyone that sees the Dutchman. Rounding the Cape meant the possibility of finding a sea route to India and the East, so John II of Portugal renamed it the more optimistic Cape of Good Hope. The Cape has seen a lot of history. The Khoikhoi had lived in this area for about fifteen hundred years before the first European, Bartolomeu Dias, arrived in 1488. The Portuguese government erected two navigational beacons to commemorate the achievement. When lined up, the crosses point to Whittle Rock, a large, permanently submerged shipping hazard in False Bay. The Cape became such a proficient supply station for ships, especially those of the Dutch East India Company on their voyages east, that Cape Town became known as the Tavern of the Seas. In 1687, a community of Huguenots, fleeing religious persecution in France arrived and over the next 150 years the Cape colony gradually grew stretching hundreds of kilometres to the north and north-east. In 1795, it was occupied by Napoleon’s troops and then the British. Today, Cape Town, South Africa’s Mother City, is also the country’s most cosmopolitan, thanks to its varied roots and layers of cultural influences. It’s also home to the the first world-class, custom-built, film studios in Africa rivalling both British and American film studios thanks to its stunning location, and weather.

The Cape of Good Hope is an integral part of the Cape Floristic Kingdom, the smallest but richest of the world's six floral kingdoms. This comprises a treasure trove of 1100 species of indigenous plants, a number are endemic, including the fynbos and the iconic proteas. The wildlife of the Cape of Good Hope is as much a treasure trove as the flora.

An hour's drive from Cape Town is the Cape Point Nature Reserve, one of the most scenically beautiful parks in South Africa. Mountains, oceans, history, wildlife on land and in the water, legends and views that are as vast as the horizon. Framing this wild and dangerous coast are the two peaks - Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope. Cape Point is the south-western most point of the continent and Cape Agulhas is the southernmost tip and it’s Cape Agulhas where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet. Wild and unpredictable oceans through which sailors struggled for centuries before finally being able to navigate their way around the tip of Africa. Even on a good day, the icy wind blowing in from the Antarctic, is a good indication of why it was such a perilous journey. The Flying Dutchman funicular will carry you up to the old lighthouse standing among the thick fynbos, the panoramic views, and, in the springtime – August, September and October, possibly even the sight whales in the ocean below. The impressive old lighthouse was built in 1859, but instead of guiding ships to safety, it was often the cause of mishaps. Ironically, it sits too high above the ocean, so ships approaching from the east saw the light too clearly and approached too closely ending up on the rocks. The Cape Point Shipwreck Trail is the short – 3kms - easily accessible Oliantsbos trail leading down to the beach where you can see the remains of the SS Thomas T. Tucker. Once a WWII transport vessel it’s now a popular photography subject and home to the local birdlife.

Nearby are the crosses erected by the Portuguese King John II to Vasco da Gama and Bartolomeu Dias in recognition of their expeditions to and around the then named Cape of Storms. 

There are a number of secluded beaches in the reserve. Buffels Bay and Bordjiesdrif are relatively sheltered beaches. Their tidal pools are great for a post-hike dip. Diaz Beach is without a doubt one of Cape Town’s most beautiful but is a steep climb down and you can’t swim when you get there. Edged by wild, natural fynbos, with at least three shipwrecks, Olifantsbos Beach is also a marine protected area and has a nearby shallow lagoon, a favourite haunt of coastal birdlife.

Being a nature reserve Cape Point is home to a large variety of animals and bird life. Over 270 species of birds live here as well as antelope, Cape foxes, genets, polecats, mole rats, porcupines, mongooses, tortoises, and snakes.

The Cape Point is notorious for its strong icy winds even if the sun is shining. For the best experience you may want to consider a professional guide.

The Cape Town Diamond Museum pays tribute to the world’s most precious gem, the diamond. A gift from Shimansky to the City of Cape Town, it is a non-profit organisation dedicated to educating, and creating an appreciation for the world’s oldest and most beautiful gem.

During a tour of the Cape Town Diamond Museum, you’ll witness a 3 billion year old story unfold as you’re taken through a diamond’s journey: from its creation at the core of the Earth, to the mine, and eventually, to the completed polished stone set in your precious jewellery creation.

The showrom for this Shimansky Rockwell Diamond Experience is ideally located in the trendy De Waterkant Village in Green Point, Cape Town, home to a variety of niche restaurants, cafes and retailers.

Visitors are offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to polish diamonds under the guidance of a Shimansky master craftsman. The first of its kind, this incomparable experience offers guests a better understanding of the skill required to perfect each and every Shimansky diamond jewellery creation.

During the Shimansky Rockwell Diamond Experience, guests will have the opportunity to explore over 3000 signature diamond and tanzanite jewellery creations in a very secure and private environment. Guests will receive complimentary South African wine upon arrival and a unique Gin & Wine Tasting Experience is also included. This 45-minute experience is offered in a variety of languages.

What better way to discover a new city, especially one with as much history, and as many delights as Cape town, than with a Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour. Cape Town is considered one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Purchase either a 1or 2-day ticket and learn Cape Town’s history as the bus wends its way through the 368-year-old city.

As with any bus, if you see something you want to investigate further, simply jump off, explore to your heart’s content, then catch the next Hop On Hop Off bus that comes along, and pick up your tour right where you left off. Each tour narration is available in Spanish, Turkish, Zulu, Chinese, Dutch, English, Afrikaans, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Arabic, Portuguese, and Russian. It’s the most cost-effective, and most informative, way to explore Cape Town.

The Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour has 4 different tours for you to choose from: the Red, Yellow, Blue or Purple Routes. The 2-day ticket also includes 2 walking tours, a harbour cruise, and a sunset bus tour during the summer season.

Starting at the V&A Waterfront, the Two Oceans Aquarium, or any of the clearly branded bus stops along the tour routes, you can, depending on the tour you take, discover landmarks such as Table Mountain, Camps Bay, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, the Clock Tower, Green Point Lighthouse, St George’s Cathedral, the South African Museum and Planetarium, the Mount Nelson Hotel, the South African Jewish Museum and Holocaust Centre, the District 6 Museum, the Castle of Good Hope, the Company Gardens, and Constantia Valley.

A trip up Table Mountain is quite rightly one of the first things a tourist wants to do when arriving in Cape Town.

Table Mountain is the most iconic landmark of South Africa, the only flat-topped mountain in the world and one of the NEW7WONDERS of Nature. Starting with spectacular 360-degree views from the rotating cable car, you then marvel at the abundant views 1000m above the city below, and the awesome display of unique “fynbos” vegetation with a variety of over 2,200 species. The most common mammal found on the mountain, the “dassie” (pronounced “dussy”) or rock hyrax, is about 50 cm long, like a marmot but surprisingly more closely related to the elephant and manatee.

We can guarantee that you’ve never had a foodie experience like the one you’ll enjoy at GOLD Restaurant in Cape Town. It’s more than just a restaurant. It’s an immersive experience with a 14-dish taste-safari bringing you flavours and ingredients from across the African continent. Combine that with learning where the meals originate, how they’re cooked and what they’re spiced with and you have a taste experience like no other.

The entertainment at GOLD is as original and memorable as the food. The ancient and somewhat mystical art form of Mali puppetry, as well as storytelling through praise singing, dancing to the utterly authentic marimbas and the pre-dinner, interactive djembe drumming, not to mention the delicate and sophisticated Xhosa face-painting, Zulu warriors and calabash serenades brings diners face-to-face with the wild, colourful and beating heart of Africa.

The GOLD team come from all over Africa. Their traditions and creative ideas are part of their traditional costumes. They even hand-stitch their ideas and personalities into the table linens intricate patterns.

From Uganda to Burundi, Tanganyika and Zanzibar, the history of spices and how they impacted not just food but world politics, are an integral part of the Spice Experience at GOLD. Spices were once used as currency and now you can taste, smell and delight in an aromatic new world thanks to the African spice pastes and well-known African spice mixes to which the team at GOLD will introduce you. This private, one-on-one curated experience will take you on a unique story-telling and aromatic adventure.

Whether you come for dinner or the Spice Experience, GOLD Restaurant will transport you right into the beating heart of the vibrant African continent through their one-of-a-kind world.

This Stellenbosch wine farm, Neethlingshof Wine Estate, has a distinguished history that dates back to 1705, when the first grapes were harvested from Neethlingshof vines. Over the years, eight discernible goût de terroirs have been identified on the estate and each of these has been planted with the grape varietal most suited to it, ensuring optimal growing conditions and ultimately, magnificent wines.

Apart from traditional wine tastings, visitors can spend idyllic and sensory filled hours in the modern, stylish and high functioning space created for the “Flash Food, Slow Wine" pairings - tastes of finely crafted wines paired with delectable bite sized portions of food.  The Lord Neethling restaurant is housed in the estate’s 200-year-old Cape Dutch homestead and serves classic Continental cuisine.

Founded 1693, the Fairview Wine Estate working farm focuses mainly on creating sustainable and artisanal fine wine and cheese produce, making The Fairview Tasting Room one of the most popular Cape wine lands attractions. The tasting room consists of 4 unique, barrel-shaped ‘pods’ that facilitate a welcoming and more social wine tasting experience. The custom-designed pods offer a tasting selection of 6 diverse exclusive wines paired with a range of Fairview cow and goat’s milk cheese.

One of the most popular stops along the Paarl wine route, Fairview Wine Estate is more than just a winery – it’s also famous for its range of cow’s and goat’s milk cheeses, which have won numerous awards and are distributed countrywide. A range of local produce can be purchased direct from the farm – cheese and olive oil from the deli, fresh bread from the bakery and vino from the cellar. Or if you prefer dining indoors you can follow up a wine tasting with a Mediterranean meal from the farm's Goatshed Restaurant.

Idyllically situated in the Cape Winelands, this peaceful country retreat is one of the oldest towns in South Africa. The once sleepy little village was named Franschhoek, meaning 'French Corner' as it was founded by French Huguenots in 1688 alongside the original inhabitants, the Khoisan, who still live here. To the French Huguenots, fleeing violent religious persecution, the fertile valley must have seemed like heaven. The Huguenots named their farms after places in their old homelands, many of which continue to this day.

The original Cape Dutch architecture in much of the village is remarkably well preserved. Renovation and building restrictions are in place to preserve the spirit of the original settlers.

Completely closed off from the rest of the world on its eastern flank by the Franschhoek Mountains, the town can only be accessed from two routes. One of which Franschhoek Pass, is, in terms of valleys, gorges, and mountain peaks covered in snow in winter hard to beat for natural beauty.

World-class wine estates, quaint, upmarket boutiques, museums such as the Huguenot Memorial Museum where the signature of every 1685 Huguenot settler is on display, the Franschhoek Motor Museum with its unique and exciting collection of vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles and memorabilia from over 100 years of motoring history (by appointment only), and South Africa’s first Perfume Museum with an extensive and comprehensive permanent collection including antique masterpieces as well as workshops are just some of the unique delights of Franschhoek. Exploring the charming town’s centuries-old tree-lined streets, art galleries, world-class restaurants, Illustrious wine estates and secluded countryside retreats, delicious delis and spectacular scenery, all adds up to an unforgettable experience.

The name Blouberg (literally meaning blue mountain) is derived from Blaauwberg, a nearby mountain.

Blouberg is situated just south of Cape Town, along the coast. It is a popular location for a classic view of Table Mountain across the bay. Robben Island is located 6,9 km west of the coast of Bloubergstrand.

The wider Blouberg region is an area which includes suburbs such as Parklands North, Sunningdale, Waves Edge, Parklands, West Beach, Blouberg Rise, Bloubergstrand, Bloubergrant, Big Bay, Flamingo Vlei, Table View, Parklands East, Sagewood, Sandown, Sunridge, Table View, West Riding, and Blouberg Sands.

The area also has historical significance as site of the Battle of Bloubergstrand. In 1806 the British stormed the Cape’s west coast and defeated the Dutch on Blouberg Hill, a victory which led to the second British occupation of the colony.

The commute to Cape Town’s CBD is approximately one hour in peak traffic and a mere 25 minutes out of peak traffic. The advantage of living here is that the MyCiti bus service has most of this area covered, and you can choose to use this instead of driving to and from the city.

"Harry die Strandloper", or Hadah, was the leader of the Goringhaikonas, who were the first people documented to live in Blouberg. Because of Hadah’s entrusted duties to deliver letters to the British seafaring community, he became the first postmaster in South Africa.

In 1806, the first casualties of the Battle of Blaauwberg drowned when their boat was driven by the large surf into the rocky point at the end of Stadler road and it capsized. The invading British forces went on to defeat the defending Dutch forces and subsequently occupied the whole of the Cape Colony. This was an initial step in the major colonisation that took place throughout southern Africa.

The new Belle Maroc Boutique Hotel in Blouberg is the quintessential experience for lovers of small luxury hotels. Simply meaning 'Beautiful Morocco', and standing against the magnificent backdrop of Blouberg, the Belle Maroc’s seductive harmony of design and indulgent elegance, transport you to a place of sophistication and exclusivity. During your stay, the subtle, yet enticing colours, textures, and Moroccan ambiance, with the added benefit of free WiFi, makes Belle Maroc a memorable base from which to explore Cape Town.

The property is located approximately 7 miles from V&A Waterfront, Canal Walk and Robben Island Ferry, 8 miles from Cape Town International Convention Centre, and 11 miles from Table Mountain. The nearest airport is Cape Town International Airport, 14 miles from Belle Maroc. Mediclinic Milnerton is 5 miles from the hotel. Staff are available 24-hours at the front desk.