Sun City & Cape Town 4 Star (7 Days) SUN4CA

The Valley of Waves water park is Sun City’s legendary hub for all kinds of water fun. Offering family-friendly water activities that appeal to adventurers of all ages, there is something for everyone at this iconic Sun City water park. Both day visitors and Sun City Resort guests are invited to enjoy a full day of exciting activities, with a designated children’s area and lifeguards on duty. The main attraction at Valley of Waves is the Roaring Lagoon – a 6 500 square metre wave pool with hydraulic mechanisms that generate waves of nearly 2 metres high every 90 seconds.

The popularity of the Sun City Resort led to the design and development of the Lost City Country Club. Gary Player was called upon again to extend his professional expertise by designing the golf course. Covered in the hardy Kikuyu grass, much like the Gary Player Country Club golf course at Sun City, the course offers undulating plains, expansive fairways, mountainous areas and small patches of desert. This superlative golf course also offers players a distinctive region covered with a series of lakes that separate the 9th from the final hole. The 13th hole offers a green in the shape of the African continent, complete with a pond that is home to numerous Nile Crocodiles; adding to the true African appeal of this course.

Mankwe Gametrackers is located in Sun City Resort in South Africa and offers a wide variety of memorable outdoor adventure experiences. Their scheduled game drives are available daily. Guests are transported in a 25-seater open game drive vehicles to explore the Pilanesberg National Park. In addition to cheetah, giraffe, antelope and hyena guests will be enthralled by Africa’s famous big five in their natural habitat.

Often referred to as the Main Hotel, Sun City Hotel and casino was the first hotel to be built on the resort. This 4-star Sun City accommodation is located right at the heart of Sun City, and is central to all the activities and things to do at the resort.

Top reasons to stay at Soho hotel and casino:
•The rooms and suites are near the Soho casino, keeping you close to the action.
•The 340 rooms are all pool and lake facing, and the hotel is on the edge of the world-famous Gary Player Golf Course.
•There are 6 luxury suites, 2 presidential suites, 14 ground floor luxury rooms, 20 superior luxury rooms, 36 ground floor superior luxury family rooms, 53 superior luxury family rooms, 85 luxury family rooms, 120 luxury twin rooms and 4 paraplegic suites.
•There is a free shuttle every 15 minutes taking you to the Valley of Waves, Sun Central entertainment centre and other activities within the resort.
•This Sun City accommodation is ideal for delegates attending conferences at the resort.

Perhaps even more famous than the Valley of Waves, the Temple of Courage promises an exhilarating adrenalin rush with a 17-metre drop down a 70-metre slide. The almost vertical slide takes riders hurtling under a bridge and splashing into a small pool. There are also two body slides – the Tarantula and the Scorpion, and two tube rides – the Viper and the Mamba.

This private adult pool located above The Brew Monkey at the Valley of Waves will inspire you to dive in and swim laps. Surrounded by lush jungle, The Royal Baths is also the perfect place to unwind after an active day at Sun City.

- Operating hours: 08h00 - 19h00 (Valley of Waves times – peak periods) thereafter it will be open as per normal Valley of Waves times
- Free entry to all hotel and Sun Vacation Club residents on presentation of their resident cards
- Day visitor entry fee: R50 (guest will receive an armband for identification)
- Complimentary fruit skewer
- Complimentary non-alcoholic cocktail
- Guest to present ID on request
- Max capacity: 200 people
- Gazebos are available for private massages
- Observatory Bar is exclusively for guests at The Royal Baths

The largest permanent maze in the Southern Hemisphere, The Maze of the Lost City is constructed from artificial stone and wood, creating the illusion of an ancient archaeological discovery. It’s just as much fun for families to explore, as it is for team building and corporate functions. The Maze of the Lost City was added to Sun City Resort in September 2012 and covers a half-acre. The Maze is accessed via a 100 metre-long suspension bridge from the Entertainment Centre and offers some of the most spectacular views of the resort, particularly of The Palace of the Lost City and the Gary Player Golf Course. When night falls, flaming torches light the paths along the chambers. At the end of The Maze of the Lost City is the Maze Bar that has a selection of ice-cold craft beers on tap. The craft beer menu is updated regularly so you can always expect something new at this unique Sun City maze bar. This Sun City maze can be hired out for private parties, conferences or as a dining area, hosting up to 200 people.

The Gary Player Country Club Golf Course, designed by Gary Player, is an 18-hole par-72 walking course, with a 5km running trail along the course. Built in an extinct volcanic crater, this immaculate golfing paradise conforms to the stringent US PGA specifications and was recently named South Africa’s Best Golf Course in the World Golf Awards 2015. It is also home to the annual Nedbank Golf Challenge which plays host to some of the world’s golfing legends.

When construction of the Sun City Resort began in 1978, the decision was taken to build a golf course that would rival the best in the world. Today, in spite of stiff competition, the Gary Player Country Club is deservedly ranked as one of the most prestigious golf courses on the African continent.

“Our culture is the light of our nation. Whoever walks here amongst our cultures at Lesedit Cultural Village can also see the light.” South Africa is called the Rainbow Nation, which perfectly captures the country's cultural and ethnic diversity. There are 12 official languages and four major ethnic groups. The Nguni, which includes the Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele and Swazi. The other three ethnic groups are the Sotho – pronounced Sutu, the Shangaan-Tsonga and the Venda. The Lesedi Cultural Village in the heart of the African bushveld within the Cradle of Humankind which is a World Heritage Site, is the perfect introduction to discover and explore the fascinating cultures and traditions of five of these tribes; the Zulu, Xhosa, Pedi, Basotho and Ndebele. Visit traditional homesteads with members of the tribes as your hosts. The song, music and warmth experienced here add a truly unique touch to your visit.

The Zulu, or People of Heaven, are the largest tribe and their language is spoken by many as both a first and second language. Dancing is a stand-out features of Zulu life. The Umhlanga or Reed Dance, at which beadwork forms most of the attire and the Indlamu. Unconnected but similar in intent to the Maori Haka, the Indlamu is performed with drums and is derived from the war dances of the warriors. Full regimental attire, precise timing and uncompromised posture are required. Men of all ages take part. This ceremony may also include the art of stick fighting - a celebration of manhood for Zulu men.

The Xhosa people refer to themselves as the amaXhosa. The tribe of 8 million people speak the second-most-spoken home language, isiXhosa.

The Pedi are a Bantu(Sotho)-speaking people inhabiting the Limpopo province in South Africa. The basic Pedi social and living unit is the kgoro, which is a semi-circular residential cluster of dwellings sheltering an extended family established around related males but may also include others. 

The one tribe which can trace its rich culture and origins back to the pre-historic era, the Basotho, also speak Sotho. The royal family of Lesotho are from the Basotho clan, Bakuena. The Basotho dress is markedly different to most other tribes, especially the conical hat, the moseha whose shape represents Lesotho’s Qiloane Mountain. Basotho history is passed down through war songs, praise songs, poems, storytelling, and odes.

The Ndebele are, like the Xhosa, an Nguni tribe. Ndebele art has always been an important identifying characteristic of the Ndebele and their homes are painted in vibrant colours and geometric shapes.

Food is integral to any culture and a part of the experience of Lesedi. The vibrant decor of the large restaurant which supplies an exotic buffet is divided into three venues, East Africa, South Africa, North Africa – The Nile Room (where guests sit cross-legged on floor cushions at low tables). Here, you can delight in the variety of colours, sights, smells, tastes and sounds of the various African customs.

Sandton City, one of Africa’s leading and most prestigious shopping centres, offers an unparalleled shopping experience combining the world’s most desirable brands with everyday leisure and entertainment.

An energetic hub of Afro-cosmopolitan glamour - international shopping with South African flair, Sandton City is a one-of-a-kind premier fashion and leisure destination. Over 300 of the world’s global luxury brands like Jenni Button and Louis Vuitton, Carrol Boyes and Apple have stores here, many along the chandelier-draped Diamond Walk. A multiple award-winning shopping centre, Sandton City is one of the largest on the continent, it is also one of the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. It’s the reason the suburb of Sandton became such a sought-after location for businesses.

In vibrant and glittering surroundings, you can enjoy world-class cuisine, sip famous wines, or the world’s finest coffee or nibble a delectable French croissant or a slice of milk tart, a local speciality, all under one roof.

A 6-metre bronze statue of Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first democratic President stands in Nelson Mandela Square, a dynamic European-styled piazza whose first-class restaurants buzz with life, music and fashion from breakfast till dinner, surrounded by international quality hotels, a massive library, intimate theatre and piazza stage all within the Sandton City complex.

The flagship station of the Gautrain rapid rail link, with direct connections to OR Tambo International Airport, are within easy walking distance from Sandton City.

Over 120 years ago, the world’s richest gold field was discovered in Sandton. Today, Sandton is one of Johannesburg’s most affluent areas and the most important business and financial district in South Africa. It is rightly known as the richest square mile in Africa. And right in the middle is Nelson Mandela Square, one of the largest open public spaces in the country. The Square is part of Sandton City, the largest retail complex on the continent.

Inspired by European style piazzas, with a cosmopolitan society filling its sidewalk cafes and celebrating international style with warm African hospitality, the Square has some of the finest restaurants in South Africa, over 88 exclusive stores, a triple-storey library, and a 200-seat art-nouveau theatre. The 1,000sqm Square, incredibly popular with locals and international guests, hosts prestigious local and international events.

Flavour, fusion, cultural vibrancy, elegance, and creativity merge in this afro-cosmopolitan space. Under the brilliant African sky, and around clusters of tables, the cosmopolitan atmosphere entices guests with delicious breakfasts, business lunches, and romantic dinners with thick South African steaks, generous Greek platters, real Mediterranean cooking, fine wine and leisurely cappuccinos.

And it all happens around the famous and iconic 6m statue of Nelson Mandela, the first democratic president, and champion of reconciliation, of South Africa which stands in the Square. It was sculpted by Kobus Hattingh and Jacob Maponyane. It was the first-ever public statue of Mandela and was unveiled by his eldest granddaughter, Ndileka Mandela, who said, "…we honour Nelson Mandela in this statue…He's not just a grandfather to us, but to the whole nation". It’s a very happy statue, paying tribute to the spirit of joy Nelson Mandela had which is also inherent in the people of South Africa with the ‘Madiba jive’ for which Nelson Mandela was well-known. Having one’s photo taken in front of the statue is popular with tourists and locals alike.

Needing a refuelling station for its trading fleets between Europe, Asia and Australia, Jan van Riebeeck built the first jetty on the shores of Table Bay for the Dutch East India Company. Although not a natural harbour, it remained in use until June 1858. Serious winter storms wrecked over 30 vessels and Lloyds of London refused to cover ships wintering in Table Bay any longer. So, the British Imperial Government approved the building of Cape Town’s first real harbour. Construction began and increased in breadth when gold and diamonds were discovered in South Africa.

As the oldest working harbour in the Southern Hemisphere, the V&A Waterfront, named after Queen Victoria and her son, Alfred, is, with its dramatic location, also the heart of Cape Town’s tourist industry. While surrounded by the Cape Town City Bowl, behind it towers one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, Table Mountain. In front, lies the Atlantic Ocean and, not far offshore, is the infamous prison, Robben Island.

Take a guided tour and explore the V&A Waterfront’s more than 22 historical landmarks, like the Rat Catcher’s Cottage, ancient defensive fortifications, including the Chavonnes Battery Museum which, dating back to 1725, is the harbour’s oldest heritage site. The Iziko Maritime Centre is fascinating, as is the notorious Breakwater Prison, for 10 years one of the most feared prisons in the world, and Robinson Dry dock – the oldest operating dry dock in the world!

All this time travel builds up an appetite and, thankfully, the V&A is also a foodie heaven! Apart from the numerous world-class restaurants, the V&A Food Market is packed with delicious regional delicacies, artisanal breads and cheeses, craft beers, vegan treats, biltong – a South African speciality, and delectable ice cream.

At the V&A, fascinating history and scrumptious food mixes well with imaginative office locations, world-class hotels and luxury apartments, and 450 retail outlets in 5 shopping districts. There’s something for everyone, from local designers to big international brands, sophisticated audio equipment and crafts, art and jewellery.

With the exciting shopping experiences, the diversity and history, hedonistic spa treatments and exceptional food, and creative, dynamic events held here - from stand-up comedians to ‘Sharktober’ at the Two Oceans Aquarium - it’s no wonder the V&A Waterfront attracts more than 23 million visitors a year!

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, lying on the slopes of the Table Mountain National Park, is one of the great botanic gardens of the world. They are part of the Cape Floristic Region Protected Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Covering 528 hectares, of which 36 are cultivated and the rest supporting natural forest and fynbos along with their wildlife inhabitants, the Kirstenbosch estate is unparallelled in terms of the grandeur of its setting. Walks and trails wind their way through this natural beauty, allowing you to explore to your heart’s content.

In the 17th and 18th centuries thousands of trees were felled for timber. Since the gardens were established in 1913, the natural forests have been protected, alien species eradicated, and the original forest left to recover naturally. Fynbos, including proteas, ericas and restios, is unique to the Table Mountain area and Kirstenbosch supports these 3 different varieties.

There is an abundance not only of plant life but also birds, insects and butterflies, including the resident Spotted Eagle Owl and the spectacular butterfly, the Table Mountain Beauty.

Most of the animals that live and breed in the Gardens are mostly active at dusk so are seldom seen.

The magnificent landscape of Kirstenbosch is perfect for both outdoor and indoor art exhibitions, sculptures, and dinosaurs! Five life-sized, anatomically correct dinosaurs and a pterosaur, sculptured in tin, hover among the cycads in the Cycad Amphitheatre. The picnic-style summer concerts are a delightful way to spend an evening surrounded by the impressive Cape Fold Mountain range, enjoying good food, wine and excellent music.

The oldest colonial building in South Africa, the bastion fort known as the Castle of Good Hope, is a pentagonal fortress built by Dutch colonialists in the 17th century. The majority of the work was carried out by soldiers and sailors. The well-known landmark is central to the history of Cape Town, having served as the seat of government and military operations for two centuries. A tour of the Castle’s two museums and expansive grounds offer fascinating insight into Cape Town’s military and cultural past. It is considered the best-preserved example of a 17th century architectural structure in the entire world. The pentagonal stone fortress replaced an older fort constructed from clay and timber and built by Jan van Riebeeck, the first Commander of the Cape. It served as the official residence of the Governor of the Cape for the first half of the 19th century. Designed in the Cape Dutch style, the Kat housed the residences of the governor and the second-in-command, a lodge for visitors traveling to the East Indies, and a large council hall that also served as a church.

A bell tower was built in 1684. The original bell, the oldest in South Africa, was cast in Amsterdam in 1697 and weighs over 300 kilograms. It could be heard 10 kilometres away.

The fortress housed a bakery, various workshops, living quarters, shops, and prison cells. It was painted yellow as yellow paint lessened the effect of heat and the sun. The Kat Balcony is the entrance to the governor’s residence and is known for its fluted pillars, wrought-iron railings, and curved staircases designed by the renowned sculptor Anton Anreith. It was from this balcony that announcements and judicial sentences were read to the inhabitants of the Castle. Today the Kat houses the Iziko William Fehr Collection of historical paintings, antique furniture, and ceramics that have special relevance to the early Cape.

Its military function never changed. During the Second Boer War between 1899 and 1902, part of the castle was used as a prison. The Castle acted as local headquarters for the South African Army in the Western Cape, and today houses the Castle Military Museum, and ceremonial facilities for the traditional Cape Regiments. The Castle is also the home of the Cape Town Highlanders Regiment, a mechanised infantry unit. The Castle Military Museum houses an impressive array of military artifacts and exhibits from the 17th to the 19th centuries. Other attractions include the Dolphin Pool, bakery, officers’ living quarters, and the Donker Gat – the Dark Hole - where prisoners awaiting trial were held. The De Goewerneur Restaurant serves delicious Malay, Dutch and French cuisine on-site.

The changing of the guard takes place at noon and the Key Ceremony, replicating the ceremonial unlocking of the Castle, at 10am and noon every weekday, both of which are worth seeing.

Based on the report brought to them by shipwreck survivors, the Dutch East India Company realized they had found the perfect refueling spot for their ships sailing to the East and Australia. After months at sea, ships could stop here and stock up on fresh produce grown in what would become Cape Town. Jan van Riebeeck arrived in Table Bay on the 6th April 1652. One of the first things he planted was a saffron pear tree. It still exists today, propped up on huge steel crutches. In 1662, the Company’s Garden was just over 18 hectares in size. Apart from vegetables ad fruit, there were herbs and medicinal plants, various ornamental plants including roses, pine trees and Cape Town’s now famous oaks. In 1679, there was also an elaborate system of canals and water furrows.

Over time, the Garden was reduced to the 3.2-heactares which remains today. By 1913, the Company's Garden had evolved into a public pleasure park. The Garden was proclaimed a National Monument in 1962, it is also a Provincial Heritage Site.

Other star floral attractions include the ginkgo tree with no living relatives, the towering rubber tree, the 80-year-old bamboo plantation. The fountains, fishponds, and tree lined walkways shielding the area from the bustle of the city, make the Company’s Garden Cape Town’s green lung. Its function as a place of peace and leisure has increased as the surrounding city has grown. Buskers strum guitars while office workers enjoy the lunchtime sun and squirrels, among a variety of other fauna, frolic and tease people for food. 

Within walking distance are monuments and buildings worth seeing for their history or art. For example, the WWI Dellville Wood Memorial Garden, The Slave Lodge, the South African Parliament and Tuynhuys. Across the street is St George’s Cathedral, known as the ‘people’s church’ as all races have always been welcome, even during the apartheid era. The South African Museum is nearby, as is the Cape Town Holocaust Centre along with South Africa’s oldest synagogue. The South African National Gallery houses an impressive permanent collection of South African, African, British, French, Dutch and Flemish art including contemporary photography, African beadwork and colonial paintings. Contemporary works like Judith Butler’s The Butcher Boys make this gallery worth visiting.

The Company’s Garden Restaurant is a big hit with locals. With a huge outdoor seating area, interspersed with human-sized weaverbird nests to clamber in, or simply sitting in the dappled shade, you can enjoy simple but delicious food. Among the reeds and beneath the large trees, you’d be forgiven for thinking you were in the country.

South Africa has 3 capital cities: executive Pretoria where the government’s administration is based, Bloemfontein which is the judicial capital, and Cape Town as the oldest city is South Africa is the legislative capital. 

The Houses of Parliament are located in the heart of Cape Town across from the Company’s Garden. Charles Freeman designed the original building with its Corinthian portico and huge dome.  Well-known architect Sir Herbert Baker designed the House of Assembly.

There are guided tours which you can join to explore the buildings which are not only historically valuable in terms of their architecture but also for political history which they have seen. Here’s a brief timetable of some of those events:

1885 – the Houses of parliament were built.
1890 – Cecil John Rhodes was elected prime minister of the Cape Colony.
1895 – He was forced to resign for his backing of the ill-fated Jameson Raid’s attempt to overthrow Paul Kruger.
Between 1895 and 1960 fierce debates took place regarding the Anglo-Boer War, South Africa’s involvement in both World Wars, and the rise of the National Party under Jan Smuts.
1960 – British prime minister, Sir Harold MacMillan made his famous ‘Winds of Change’ speech which predicted Britain’s intent to grant freedom to her African colonies and usher in a new era.
1966 – Hendrik Verwoerd the then prime minister of South Africa, and one of the grand masters of apartheid was assassinated by Dimitri Tsafendas.
1994 – Nelson Mandela rose to take his place as South Africa’s first democratically elected president. After this, members of the National Assembly and Senate, met as a body called the Constitutional Assembly to write a new Constitution.
1996 - the new Constitution was finally adopted. Lauded as one of the most-progressive constitutions in the world, it laid the foundation for an open society based on democratic values, social justice, and fundamental human rights. It is the supreme law of our country and ensures government by the people under the Constitution. It is the highest law in the land. Everyone, including Parliament itself, must act according to its provisions and principles. As a constitutional state, all laws made by Parliament must pass the test of constitutionality to ensure that the laws it makes are always in keeping with no only the letter of the law but the spirit of the Constitution as well.
2022 – The January Arson attack badly damaged the National Assembly Chamber as well as other areas. Thankfully, the 4000-odd pieces of artwork which are on display with the Parliament buildings, as well as historical documents, were saved. Among the artworks is the famous, and enormous 120m long Keiskamma Tapestry. Created in the tradition of the Bayeaux Tapestry this is a woven depiction of the intricate history of the Eastern Cape frontier. It was created by 100 women of the Eastern Cape village of Hamburg.

The Bo-Kaap Kombuis, or The Kombuis as it is more colloquially known is the restaurant to visit if you are a foodie looking for somewhere that embodies not only the delicious food of the Cape Malay but also the authentic culture, beauty and uniqueness of the Bo-Kaap area of Cape Town. The owners, Yusuf and Nazli were born and raised in the area. An area filled with history. The colourful old homes and the often steep, narrow cobbled streets are unlike anything else in Cape Town, and in fact, in South Africa.

The Bo-Kaap is the area of Cape Town that was set aside for Muslims during the early years of Cape Town’s development. The number of Muslim slaves, political exiles and prisoners rose significantly, as did the influence of the imams. As Muslims in Cape Town had come from many different countries, including Malaysia, the term ‘Malay’ came to define all Muslims in the colony. Nearly a century later, the apartheid government, led by the Nationalist Party, encouraged the idea of a separate Malay area in Cape Town.  It became known as the Bo-kaap.

It is here that the Bo-Kaap Kombuis is situated. ‘Kombuis’ is an Afrikaans word which means ‘kitchen’. Because of the many influences that contribute to the Cape Malay culture, the food is a delicious and unique blend of all of them.

The restaurant has played host to politicians, ambassadors, VIPs, tourists and South Africans. All come for one reason – the authentic Cape Malay cuisine. Even other great chefs such as South African Michelin Star award winner Jan Hendrik van der Westhusen, Finnish double Michelin Star award winner, Hans Valimaki and BBC Travel Show host Andrew Zimmern have asked Nazli to show them the art of Cape Malay cuisine!

Yusuf and Nazli are not only dedicated to creating great food, but also to uplifting the staff. They believe that is the heart of the restaurant’s success. No matter what position they held at their previous employment, here at Bo-Kaap Kombuis they are all budding chefs being trained to be able to open up their own restaurants in the future.

Sea-going vessels can see one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the legendary Table Mountain over 150km away from Cape Town. It is this instantly recognizable section of the Cape Fold Mountains that makes Cape Town famous. Once called Hoerikwaggo - 'the Mountain in the Sea' by the indigenous Khoisan people of the Cape, Table Mountain, rising 1086m out of the ocean, is thought to be one of the oldest mountains in the world - approximately 600-million years. It was once 3 times higher than it is now. It’s the only terrestrial feature which gives its name to a constellation. Very late at night, around midnight, in mid-July, Mensa, meaning The Table, can be seen in the Southern Hemisphere, below Orion.

Table Mountain is the only natural wonder of the world situated in an urban area. Flanked by Devil's Peak to the east, and by Lion's Head to the west, this broad sweep of mountainous heights, together with Signal Hill, forms the natural amphitheatre in which much of the Mother City nestles. 

The plateau’s vegetation forms part of the Cape Floral Region protected areas which are a World Heritage Site. An estimated 2,285 species of plants are confined to, and are endemic to, Table Mountain. The mountain is also home to a varied range of animals, birds including extremely rare raptors, and amphibians, some of which are found nowhere else in the world. The world's highest concentration of Peregrine Falcons live in the Table Mountain National Park.

Since the first recorded ascent of the mountain in 1503, there are now 350 trails one can take to climb the rugged cliffs to the 3 km-wide plateau. Exploring the mountain is an experience not to be missed. The 3 walks on the plateau are fairly easy as they are on level ground and are easy to navigate. With stunning 180o views and spectacular 360° aerial views of Cape Town and the Cape Peninsula, the Dassie Walk and the Agama Walk respectively will take your breath away. The Klipspringer Walk takes hikers along the edge of the plateau to the top of Platteklip Gorge. Short, guided walks are also available.

The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway carries the nearly 800 000 visitors a year to the top. Wheelchair ramps, elevators and routes as well as paved pathways at the summit make this experience completely accessible for visitors in wheelchairs. Table Mountain is so intertwined with the identity of Cape Town that a visit to the Mother city isn’t complete without having stood on the rugged, wind-blown edge of this unique landform.

• 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.

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.