Unforgettable South Africa 4 Star (9 Days) UNF001

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 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.

If you go to Cape Town, one place you must visit is the second oldest public space in Cape Town - Greenmarket Square. Dating back to 1696, this cobbled square is one of the city’s oldest markets. It began life as a trading spot for passing ships.

Despite being well over 300 years old, the only thing that has changed are the wares. It started life as a slave market, then became a vegetable market selling the produce of the Dutch East India’s Company Gardens, and a period as a dull parking lot but now is the vibrant arts and crafts market. The sound of the marimbas filling the air, the colourful and eccentric stall holders, artists and buskers make this historical monument a snapshot of the heart of the city. Stalls stuffed with crafts, clothing, jewellery, nick-nacks, African arts and crafts, surround the hand-operated water pump in its centre which used to supply clean drinking water to the city’s early inhabitants. The square itself is surrounded by restaurants, coffee shops and historical buildings, each of which are well worth a visit.

The history of the square and the part it played from slave market to hosting anti- apartheid protests make it a unique spot in South Africa.

Art, culture, food, music, people all make Greenmarket Square a bustling, lively, and almost timeless place to visit.

Our 4-star pet friendly hotel in the Cape Town's business district is just minutes from the Cape Town International Convention Center (CTICC) and the iconic Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. Balance business and lifestyle with your stay at the Park Inn by Radisson Cape Town Foreshore. Choose from 120 stylishly appointed pet friendly rooms & suites with all the bells and whistles, from free WiFi and interactive Smart TVs to Dove amenities and tea & coffee facilities. Wine and dine at the contemporary RBG Bar & Grill, offering local favorites and a variety of delectable options, or relax at our rooftop bar, Harald's Bar & Terrace. Here, with it's perfectly positioned plunge pool, take in the breathtaking views of Table Mountain and the Mother City. Our aim is to provide a fun-filled atmosphere where you are welcome to enjoy amazing cocktails, beers, wines, and quick (but not fast) food. Whether you have a business meeting, party, or have just come off the beach, all are welcome to enjoy the space and soak up the atmosphere created by our team of unique staff.

Make a date for dinner in one of our two restaurants and bars at the Park Inn By Radisson Cape Town Foreshore. The RBG Bar & Grill is a welcoming restaurant serving a great range of grilled dishes, soups, gourmet burgers, and more. Head for Harald’s Bar & Terrace for a lively atmosphere and unrivaled views of Table Mountain and Cape Town. It’s also the place to be for cocktails, beers and light meal options such as pizza and burgers. Dinner at our hotel is always a creative and colorful affair, so come and try it!

Boasting easy access to cultural attractions and businesses as well as stunning views of nearby Table Mountain, this hotel in Cape Town is an ideal choice for both leisure and business travellers. Watch a sports match at Cape Town Stadium, or play in the surf at Clifton Beach. Located just 10 minutes from the hotel, the African Dance Theater showcases a rich musical tradition spanning from ancient warrior dances to modern rhythms. Guests interested in local history can also visit Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was held captive.

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!

Whether getting ready to travel or waiting for passengers to disembark from the aeroplane, Mugg & Bean Cape Town International Airport is an excellent option to indulge in a freshly baked muffin and a caffeine fix. Patrons can enjoy all-day breakfasts, lunch and baked treats, as well as a wide selection of gourmet coffees.

The Company’s garden has been supplying food, on and off, to the residents of Cape Town since 1650. The first Europeans arrived in Cape Town to grow food and fresh produce to restock the Dutch East India Company’s ships on their way to the East and Australasia. Feeding the settlers themselves was also on the menu, so to speak. Today, the Garden itself has been greatly reduced and is now more of a pleasure garden than a vegetable and fruit farm. Still in the heart of the city, the tasty meals and tea-time treats are now supplied by a neat restaurant called The Company’s Garden. Perhaps, as mothers are traditionally the ones who cook meals and provide sustenance for their families, the Garden was where Cape Town’s nickname, The Mother City, originally came from.

Built for children, families, office workers, and visitors alike, this is both an iconic and historic space, inspired by nature and by tales rooted in the past. And speaking of rooted, it’s not hard to imagine people in 1650 costume wandering the lanes and meeting under some of the oldest trees in the country. The 400-year-old pear tree is still fruiting!

As part of the city’s revitalisation project, the Garden holds pride of place for many Capetonians. Here not only is there excellent food, indoor and outdoor seating, but there is also a large chess board, large structures reminiscent of weaver bird nests, art, and squirrels with an appetite for whatever’s on your plate! Cape Town is a buzzing metropolis, but here at its heart is a peaceful enclave surrounded by historic buildings.

An exceptional tour at the premier Shimansky jewellers in trendy De Waterhant in Cape Town is one of the most luxurious tours in which you can indulge. From the cutting and polishing operations, the design studio, the state-of-the-art workshop to the 1200m2 showroom, you will be inspired by the creativity and beauty surrounding you. Discover how diamonds, formed 3 billion years ago deep below the Earth’s surface are transformed into the sparkling jewels that glitter on your fingers, ears, neck or on your wrists. Choose from a wide selection of diamonds or tanzanite - the only precious stone exclusive to the African continent - and, with the Shimansky designers, create a completely unique piece of jewelley. Designs co-created on the diamond tour will be brought to life within 48 hours. All Shimansky diamonds are conflict-free and of South African origin, and their journey from mine to finger can be traced. This fascinating experience will be enriched with stories of South Africa’s incredible diamond heritage thanks to Shimansky’s knowledgeable specialists. You will be amazed at the extraordinary levels of skill and expertise required, the dedication and authenticity needed to ensure every stone, hand selected from the mines, is analysed and graded according to the highest standards of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA-certified). Witness first-hand the transformation of the rough diamonds of the Earth into the cut and polished signature pieces of Shimansky jewellery. Across the globe, the Shimansky brand is set apart by the pioneering diamond cuts and jewellery designs of the ultimate Master Diamond Craftsman, Yair Shimansky. It’s not just the diamonds that sparkle. The stylish bar lounge with its tranquil ambiance and attentive service provide the perfect setting to experience premium wines, craft gins and whiskey tastings.

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.

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.

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.

It was 2010, and for the first time in the history of the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA), the World Cup was staged in Africa. The Cape Town Stadium was one of 5 built for this event. Located in Green Point, between Signal Hill and the Atlantic Ocean, it’s close to both the city centre and the popular tourist and shopping venue, the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront.

The old Green Point Stadium was demolished to make way for the new Cape Town Stadium. When it was completed, the stadium had a temporary seating capacity of 64,100 for the 2010 World Cup. This was later reduced to 58,309 with the space being repurposed with events suites and clubrooms. It has corporate hospitality suites, medical, training, and conferencing and banqueting facilities.

Designed as a soccer and rugby union stadium it has been the home ground of Premier Soccer League club Cape Town Spurs since 2010. Ajax Cape Town have used the stadium as their home ground from the 2010-11 Premier Soccer League (PSL) season onwards, and since 2016, Premier Soccer League club Cape Town City also plays here. It has hosted the South Africa Sevens rugby tournament since 2015.

From 2021 onwards, the franchise rugby team, Stormers and the Western Province Currie Cup side will call Cape Town Stadium home, and international rugby tests played in Cape Town will be featured here.

But it’s not just soccer and rugby. On 7 February 2020 an international tennis match was held. The singles were between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Federer’s mother was born in South Africa and the country is the focus of his charitable foundation. The doubles match was played between Roger Federer with Bill Gates versus Rafael Nadal and Trevor Noah, local stand-up comedian and host of USA TV show, ‘The Daily Show’. Federer and Gates won the match 6-4.

The stadium is also used in many local advertising and print media campaigns and has hosted many music concerts featuring stars such as Lady Gaga, U2, Justin Bieber, Mariah Carey, and Michael Bublé, to name a few.  It was also in the 2012 film, ‘Safe House’ featuring Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds.

Cape Town is famous for its wind. Wind that can be said to have a mind of its own. But Bantry Bay is not only a secluded paradise, but a protected one as well. As a result, it can be said to be wind-free. With approximately 290 windless days a year, the sunny, mild climate and the fact that it is within walking distance of some of the most beautiful blue-flag beaches in Cape Town makes Bantry Bay definitely worth a visit.

The first settlement here was established in 1783. This beautiful bay with its almost perfect climate was then known as Botany Bay, because of the botanical garden planted there to cultivate medicinal herbs. The bay is overlooked by Lion’s Head and sits on an eroded outline of sandstone on its rocky coast. And it was this sandstone which so impressed Charles Darwin.

In April 1836, Charles Darwin, at the time a self-funded research assistant, on his epic 5-year voyage on the HMS Beagle arrived in Cape Town. During his stay he made pivotal geological observations related to the origin and nature of granite. There is, in fact, a blue plaque on the seashore commemorating his stay.

After the First World War, the name was changed to Bantry Bay. This now affluent Capetonian suburb in South Africa’s Western Cape, is an exclusive suburb, also known as the Platinum Mile, is 10 minutes from the Cape Town CBD, and 40 minutes from Cape Town International Airport.

Bantry Bay has extraordinary views, which can be enjoyed on long, lazy walks to the beach. Close to Table Mountain you can either climb Lion’s Head, or Table Mountain, the only flat-topped mountain in a city, and one of the Seven Natural Wonders in the World, to have even more spectacular views break open before you. Bantry Bay has a long and fertile history and provides visitors with abundant natural beauty, spectacular sunsets, pounding waves, and shelter from the wind. It’s also only 5 minutes away from the V&A Waterfront.

This über-chic area with a trendy reputation and which is a haven for international jetsetters has a long and unique history.

The first visitors to Clifton were the Khoi tribe, the Goringhaicona, who lived along the shores of the Cape. Katoa, the daughter of one of their chiefs served as an interpreter between Jan van Riebeeck and the Khoi people. A monument in Krotoa’s honour now stands at the Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town.

The first European settlement in the Clifton and Bantry Bay area occurred in 1783 when a botanical garden was established on the lower slopes of Lions Head. Then, Clifton was known as Schoenmakers Gat after a Dutch shoemaker who lived in a cave near the beach. When passing farmers were on their way to the market, they would leave their shoes to be mended by the old Dutch cobbler. It is said he was a deserter from the Dutch East India Company. Unfortunately for him, he was caught and taken to the castle in Cape Town. In 1890, the settlement was renamed after Bessie Clifton, the proprietor of the only hotel in the area.

At the end of the First World War, there was a large housing shortage for the soldiers returning from the front. The British Admiralty owned the land in Clifton, and they allowed the soldiers to erect bungalows along the coast. Many of these bungalows were built out of packing cases used to transport cars.

There was one quite odd rule introduced by the council. To discourage permanent residence, anyone leasing land in Clifton was forced to vacate their bungalows between June and August. In 1984, it was declared a National Monument and the stunning views were saved from being blocked by an infestation of high-rise buildings.

Together with its immaculate white sands and glistening water, Clifton’s 4th beach exudes sufficient glamour and eco-savvy to deserve both its ‘see and be seen’ status as well as its blue flag status as well.

Home to the most expensive real estate in South Africa. An exclusive residential area with dwellings nestled on cliffs that have sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean, the upmarket suburb of Clifton nestles against the backdrop of Table Mountain. It lies between Sea Point and Camps Bay just beyond Bantry Bay.

Clifton was rated as one of the Top Ten Beaches by Discovery Travel Channel in 2003 and 2004 and has received Blue Flag status. In 2005 and 2006 it was rated by Forbes at number 8 in the Top 10 Topless beaches in the World.

The beaches at Clifton are divided into four distinct coves by stretches of granite boulders and, despite not having very imaginative names, the beauty of 1st, 2nd 3rd and 4th Beaches rather makes names superfluous. All 4 beaches are well protected from the notorious south-easterly wind with the occasional wave lapping the shoreline. As the throngs of tourists tend to head to Camps Bay’s restaurants, clubs and bars in the evening, the quiet beauty of Clifton is unmatched.

Speaking of the quiet beauty of the evenings, each of the beaches is reached by a flight of stairs down from the road and it is well worth it if you would like to enjoy a colonial Southern African tradition - sundowners while watching the legendary sunsets Africa has to offer.

Camps Bay Beach attracts a hip, trendy crowd on summer days. One of the Atlantic Seaboard beaches, the water is chilly but the soft sand and buzzing atmosphere makes up for it. The Camps Bay strip, before the beach, is lined by palm trees and glitzy restaurants and bars. This beach and beauty mecca beckons the rich and famous and provides visitors with interesting people-watching opportunities.

The Sea Point Promenade is one of the best running routes in Cape Town. At 11kms long, you are bound to have a great work-out. The Prom, as it’s known by locals, begins at Mouille Point near the Waterfront, winds its way along the Atlantic Seaboard’s watery edge and ends at Bantry Bay. For those who only want a stroll, the 3km stretch from Granger Bay, passing the Green Point Lighthouse, also known as the Mouille Point Lighthouse, and ending at Bantry Bay is a very popular part of the promenade. The promenade is a broad, paved sea-side contour path which follows the coastline’s curves. A green lawn separates this beachside path and the pavement of Beach Road.

No matter which portion you stroll along you will encounter stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and some of the best sunsets in the world. The beaches are not suitable for swimming but they are great for discovering interesting little rock pools and for feeling the sand beneath your feet. Table Mountain, Signal Hill and Lions Head can be seen from a variety of angles as you explore this popular Cape Town attraction.

The important geological rock formation of Lion’s Head was first described in 1818 by the British naturalist, Clark Abel, and visited by Charles Darwin in 1856 while he was on his trip around the world in the ‘Beagle’. It was declared a national monument in 1953.

Capetonian families, skateboarders, joggers, and walkers love the Prom. It’s a great place to meet, walk the dog, and admire art installations such as the very moving ‘Rhinosaur’ sculpture by André Carl Van der Merwe. As you stroll, you can enjoy the eclectic mix of architecture that lines the promenade on the landward side. From Edwardian buildings to modern architecture, there’s something for all tastes. The Art Deco Bathing Pavilion is rated as one of the top 10 pools in the world, and deservedly so. The attractive entrance with its curved stairs to the raised deck above Beach Road leads to the Olympic-sized pool, a diving pool, and 2 splash pools for children.

Depending on the time of year, you may find popular Miltons Beach and Tidal Pool either empty or crowded. Along the route, there is an outdoor gym, kids’ playgrounds, and a putt-putt course. After exploring the Promenade, you can people-watch and admire the ocean view from one of the many restaurants, coffee shops and ice cream parlours.

In winter, the Cape winter storms and tidal displays, while dramatic are best enjoyed from the safety of one the restaurants!

At the top of one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, on one of the oldest mountains in the world - approximately 600-million years, and the only one situated in an urban area, is the Table Mountain Café. Both the mountain and the café provide stunning 360° aerial views of Cape Town and the Cape Peninsula. Nearly 800 000 visitors a year come to share the views with the world's highest concentration of Peregrine Falcons living in the Table Mountain National Park. 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 famous for the tablecloth of cloud often covering the 3km wide flat plateau. While the mountain lays a tablecloth for guests, so does the Table Mountain Café. Being an integral part one of the Natural Wonders of the World, the Café is committed to having as little a carbon footprint as possible. Compostable plates, cups and containers for food and beverage, help the Café reduce their dependence on water.

You’ll find dishes inspired by South African cuisine, like the famous Milk Tart, perfect with South Africa’s legendary and fragrant Rooibos Tea, or with one of the speciality coffees. There’s also a selection of delicious self-service meals and snacks, fresh salads, sandwiches and pizza slices, including kiddy options. The Table Mountain Café’s tasty menu items, including specials and combos, are regularly updated to keep things as amazing as the views. There is also Wi-Fi!

Breakfast: Served daily from the cafe's opening time until 11:30
Lunch and light meals: Served daily from 11:30
Gourmet deli: A selection of sandwiches, throughout the day
Drinks include fine wines, beer, speciality coffees and teas, fruit juices and sodas. 

The kitchen closes at 16:00 before the last car down and the Café closes half an hour before the last car down.

In case visitors are too hungry to wait for the 360o rotating aerial cable car to whisk them to the top of Table Mountain, snacks such as hot pies, fresh sandwiches, and hot and cold beverages are available at the Table Mountain Kiosk, next to the ticket office at the Lower Cable Station. There, the Ice Cream Kiosk also offers refreshment for those sweltering days in which Cape Town can often indulge, including lollies and soft-serve ice creams.

• 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.

Meandering along the coastal route through Muizenberg and Fish Hoek or the Old Cape Road through the stunning mountain pass, Simon’s Town is less than an hour from Cape Town. The residents of Simon’s Town are justly proud of their small town. Picturesque, laden with history, South Africa’s principal naval base, museums, art galleries, and a gateway to the Marine Big 5 of False Bay, Simon’s Town is a maritime heritage, a treasure of a small coastal town.

The cobbled alleyways of this charming village are home to restaurants, coffee shops, antique shops, clothing, curios, and lifestyle shops. Discover the character and warm atmosphere of this lovely town. Revel in its stunning views of False Bay, the Table Mountain range, Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope. Whales, seals and penguins are often seen romping in its waters. In fact, the African Jackass penguins are very special guests. They arrived in 1985 and never left. They live on Boulders Beach, a protected sanctuary.

Simon’s Town began life as a Dutch naval anchorage, and a refuge for merchant ships of the Dutch East India Company, and for whalers in 1741. It’s named after Dutch governor Simon van der Stel. In 1814 the British South Atlantic Naval Squadron had Simon’s Town as its headquarters. It became a South African naval base in 1957. Nearby, a surveillance and communications centre tracks much of the South Atlantic and South Indian oceans. Expanded in 1970, it is now South Africa’s principal naval base. Despite this, it is still a quaint, small village with many beautifully preserved buildings, many dating back to the middle of the 1700s, an astonishing number of historical landmarks and many museums. It is also home to the first English church built in South Africa, the St Francis of Assisi Church.

To prevent Napoleon Bonaparte from having a base this far south in the Atlantic Ocean, Britain built a Martell Tower in Simon’s Town. In front of the tower, they constructed a battery armed with cannons.

Among the museums are the one housed by the Martello Tower, the South African Naval Museum, the Simon’s Town community museum. But there are more that make exploring the village a day of time travelling wonder. Among the many heritage sites that are well-worth visiting are churches, caves, the railway station, and the Post Huys (Post House), the old police station and the old courthouse. Many of the private homes in Simon’s Town are also heritage sites.

Part of the history of the village, a rather eccentric part, is Able Seaman Just Nuisance, whose statue stands in Jubilee Square. He was the only dog ever enlisted in the British Royal Navy. On his enlistment papers, his surname was given as ‘Nuisance’, first name ‘Just’. his trade was ‘Bonecrusher’ and his religion ‘Scrounger’. He signed his papers with a paw mark. Promotion to Able Seaman entitled him to free rations. His duties included fund raising, parades, and raising morale.

While Muizenberg is Dutch for ‘mice mountain’ it was more likely named after Wynand Willem Muijs who commanded a small outpost in the area in 1743.

Muizenberg was the Queen of Cozy Murders, Agatha Christie, favourite place to surf when she was in South Africa with her first husband. She wasn’t alone in liking Muizenberg. For many years Muizenberg was Cape Town’s favourite resort. Today it is regarded as a wonderful swimming beach with plenty for the whole family to do. Super slides, mini golf, miles and miles of sandy beach, and the perfect conditions for learning to surf are just some of the attractions of this lovely town. The surfing community meets mostly at 'Surfer's Corner'.

While it was the location for the small but significant Battle of Muizenberg in 1795, Muizenberg started as a resort for the rich to build their holiday homes after the discovery of gold in the Witwatersrand in 1886. The famous architect, Sir Herbert Baker, designed his house ‘Sand Hills’ on Atlantic Road, as well as ‘Vergenoegd’ on the same road, and ‘Coel an Mar’ on the town’s Main Road.

Many of the buildings in Muizenberg date from the Victorian and Edwardian heydays and are built in the art deco style. There were so many holidaymakers at one time that the beach in front of the pavilion was called ‘The Snake Pit’.

Speaking of the beach, the one at Muizenberg stretches all the way from False Bay to the Strand, a distance of over 20km. Humans aren’t the only ones to enjoy the sea here. Great White sharks do so as well. A shark watch operates out of Muizenberg.  

A line of steep cliffs above the town is popular with rock-climbers. It’s also popular with nesting birds, and when they are here, parts of the cliff are off limits to humans. Fish also like to spawn in Muizenberg – in the Zandvlei estuary to be precise. It’s one of the most important spawning sites on the coastline. The Zandvlei enters the ocean in Muizenberg and is also home to the Imperial Yacht Club and Peninsula Canoe Club.

But it’s not all just sand, surf and spawning, the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), a pan-African centre for education and research in mathematical sciences is based in Muizenberg.

Art galleries, coffee shops, restaurants, and museums like the Rhodes Cottage Museum, the SAPS (South African Police), the Masque Theatre and the Venetian inspired Casa Labia, a national monument, and sumptuous restaurant all make Muizenberg a great place to visit.

The heart of the Bo-Kaap can be found in the intoxicating aromas of the spices, rice and rare products from around the world in the family-owned, Atlas Spices. Not only is this delightful shop in the heart of the most photographed, bright and colourful district of Cape Town, but the spices it sells are also the heart of the history of the people of the Bo-Kaap.

At the founding of Cape Town, when it was nothing more than a revictualling and trading stop on the Dutch East India Company routes around the Cape, slaves and political prisoners from Indonesia, Malaysia, East Africa, Madagascar and India were transported here. The majority were Muslims and Malay the most common language. The result was that the term ‘Malay’ came to represent all Muslims in the Cape, irrespective of their original homelands. It defined their language, customs, beliefs and food. The place where they were settled became the Bo-Kaap. It is instantly recognisable by its multi-coloured houses, cobbled streets, spice shops and local mosques.

It is this colourful community that your local specialist guide will lead you through, along narrow, cobblestone streets, past small, vibrantly painted homes, quaint shops like Atlas Spice Outlet, local crafters and artists, as well as the mosques which dot the neighbourhood. This includes the Auwal Masjid, also known as the First Mosque.

The Auwal Masjid is the first and oldest mosque in South Africa. The first imam was Imam Abdullah Kadi Abdus Salaam. During the first British occupation of the Cape of Good Hope in 1794, the Auwal Masjid was built on land belonging to the freed slave Coridon van Ceylon. Its construction was made possible through General Craig who, for the first time, permitted Muslims to pray in public in the Cape Colony. Since then, the mosque has been a symbol of the struggle for religious freedom of Cape Muslims.

The Bo-Kaap is the area of Cape Town that was set aside for Muslims during the early years of Cape Town’s development. When France under Napoleon Bonaparte had invaded The Netherlands, they became known as the Batavian Republic. As the Dutch ruled the Cape Colony in 1904, this new Batavian government granted the colony religious freedom. 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.

To document the history of this small suburb, the Iziko Bo-Kaap Museum (IBKM) is housed, fittingly, within one of the earliest homes of the neighbourhood. It is the only home built by Jan de Waal in 1768 and the only Bo-Kaap home that retains its original form thanks to the restoration which took place in 1970. Now, even the architecture of the museum helps to tell the story of the local community within a larger national socio-political and cultural context. 

The house is characteristic of early Cape Dutch architecture thanks to its curvilinear Baroque parapet. The small courtyard at the back, connected to the street by a narrow lane and paved with Kaapse klippe or stone sets of cobbles, often had a tree or a vine under which to sit.

Declared a National Monument in 1965, the museum then depicted the lifestyle of a nineteenth-century Cape Muslim family. In 1978, the museum was established as a permanent satellite of the much larger South African Cultural History Museum and is managed by Iziko Museums – 5 national museums and their satellites.

In the heart of the vibrant and colourful Cape Town suburb, the Bo-Kaap, stands the Auwal Masjid, also known as the First Mosque. As the first and oldest mosque in South Africa it carries a lot of history and depth of meaning to all Muslims in South Africa, but especially the Cape Malay Muslims.

At first, in the late 1700s, Cape Malay Muslims had to hold prayers in a warehouse or a disused quarry in Chiappini Street in Cape Town. They were led by Imam Abdullah Kadi Abdus Salaam, also known as Tuan Guru or Mister Teacher. Born in 1712, he was a Prince from Tidore in the Indonesian Ternate Islands. He was brought to the Cape in 1780 as a prisoner for conspiring with the English in the East against the Dutch. He served thirteen years on Robben Island.

When he was released, he founded a madrasah in the warehouse attached to the home of Coridon of Ceylon in Dorp Street where he lived. In 1795, the British gained control of the Cape for the first time, and the British Governor, General Craig, was more favourably disposed towards the Muslims, granting permission to build a mosque. The warehouse was converted over time into the Auwal Masjid. It became a symbol for the fight for recognition and religious freedom for Muslims in the Cape. Still in practice today, the mosque hosts weekly Thikr, Islamic series and Women's Monday evening classes.

The Black Marlin is nestled unobtrusively on one of the most scenic coastlines in the Cape, en-route to Cape Point. During "whale season" patrons often enjoy their meal whilst watching whales in False Bay. It is the perfect setting for an idyllic luncheon or evening experience.

The Black Marlin offers an extensive menu with the main emphasis on seafood, complimented by other choices of fine contemporary cuisine. House specialities include Cape Rock lobster, Seafood platters, oysters and mussels. Through the many years of providing top quality fresh seafood and impeccable service to the locals and foreign tourists, this restaurant has become world-famous.

While highways are often touted as the shortest route between two locations, that is not true of Route 62. This scenic route, meanders through country towns, farming areas, lush orchards and vineyards. Along the way there is beauty, history, and wildlife. Magnificent landscapes boasting arid semi-desert areas, crystal clear streams, nearly impenetrable forests, indigenous flora, stark mountains, and towering cliffs are all part of the tapestry through which Route 62 weaves its way.

But it’s not just visual delights which await the adventurous traveler. From Cape Town to Port Elizabeth, you can enjoy visits to wineries and game reserves, tribal art, cultural tours, and museums. If you need something more energetic and for the more adventurous you can scramble over hiking trails and mountains, bound over 4×4 routes, paddle along some of the rivers for canoeing in the country. Then there’s horse riding, ostrich farms, fishing and even spelunking (caving).

If that sounds too energetic there are unique small-town shops, restaurants, art galleries, tribal art, hot-springs, and museums which add depth and flavour to this creative, history-rich route.

It may seem as if the towns and small villages on Route 62 have been in hibernation for more than 40 years, like South African ‘Brigadoons’, they are wonderfully preserved. Situated in rich farming country, you will pass through towns such as Montagu with its thermal baths and fruit trees, popular hiking tows such as the historic Barrydale and Ladysmith, or former mission stations such as Zoar and Amalienstein and Calitzdorp, the centre of the South African Port wine production, and Oudtshoorn, South Africa’s Ostrich breeding capital. If you have to get lost between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth where better than the valley of wine and roses – Robertson.

Physically, Route 62 is shorter than the N2 highway, but it’s so beautiful and interesting that when you reach your destination, you may decide to turn around and do it all again.

The small Karoo town of Barrydale, in the Western Cape of South Africa, began life at the start of the 18th century. Then it was known as Kannaland. Farmers were looking for somewhere that had both arable land and water and this spot had both. The village grew up around the Dutch Reformed Church which was built in 1878. The small population rises considerably during the tourist season as well as during the annual Barrydale Spring Festival in October and the Joseph Barry Tradouw Pass Half Marathon a 21 km course through the pass that attracts a large number of runners. The name of the Pass comes from a Khoisan word meaning ‘Women’s Path’.

The nearby Warmwaterberg Hot Springs is also a great reason to visit Barrydale.

It seems odd that such a small place would have international renown, but Barrydale does – thanks to the stunning vineyards which grow on the surrounding land. The Barrydale Koöperatiewe Wynkelder and distillery was established in 1940. This birthed the area’s wine industry. The locally produced Joseph Barry Brandy, was voted the world’s best brandy in 2003.

The rugged landscape is home to the delicious fruit orchards, the almost cosmopolitan population, quaint architecture, neat, little shops and the hotel which has an open-air cinema.

Mez Karoo Kitchen is placed in Barrydale. The restaurant offers Mediterranean, Mexican, African and South African dishes. The blackboard menu changes frequently. There is always a vegan option and also a lamb dish made with locally sourced lamb. Mez is well known for its Melanzane alla Parmigiana, Klein Karoo Kleftiko and Rose ice cream with Moroccan crunch. This is an intimate restaurant with inside and outside seating. The "Mez Terranea" gardens feature rose bushes, vegetable planters and flowering borders.

Sandwiched between the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma Mountains and the glistening Indian Ocean, this lush 200-kilometre stretch of coastal plain between Mossel Bay and Storms River Mouth provides one of the world’s most spectacular drives.

National Geographic calls this ‘The Ultimate Road Trip’. Thanks to the almost miraculous collection of world-class beaches, shimmering lagoons and indigenous forests interspersed with both unusual, sometimes eccentric but always welcoming towns, and a scenic, ocean-hugging highway, the Garden Route is a must when it comes to planning a holiday that also has a number of creative and historic excursions. Not to mention the ultimate in water-based or four-wheeled adventures.

For those who like to explore, the many diversions that are almost overwhelming in their beauty, the revelations of culture and history, not to mention warm-hearted hospitality, could turn a four-day trip into a four-week one with ease.

If you start your journey in Cape Town then Mossel Bay, the western gateway to the fabled Garden Route, is a great place to stretch your legs. And by stretch, we mean stretch! A rugged 14km walk (one-way) along the coast from Cape St Blaize Lighthouse to Dana Bay.

Only 30mins from Mossell Bay is a section that alone would be worth the trip! The historic town of George. George is the sixth oldest town in South Africa and history is everywhere. From the Slave Tree, an ancient English Oak planted by Landdrost van Kervel, to the King Edward VII Library, and the oldest Roman Catholic Church in the country. The Outeniqua Transport Museum which houses replicas of old stations, displays of locomotives and coaches will entrance every child, not to mention the train enthusiasts! Then there’s the Botanical Garden recognized by UNESCO for its immense biodiversity. It contains 20% of the entire African continent’s plant species. George is the perfect launching pad for exploring nearby thick forests of Wilderness, or the Seven Passes, the Forest Buzzard trail, the surrounding Outeniqua Mountains, with its canyons and high bridges.

If you’re a foodie then Knysna is the spot for you, especially its 10-day Oyster Festival in late June!

Into kayaking and exotic birds in their natural wetlands? Welcome to Wilderness. You’ll love it here.

Surfing under steep cliffs more your thing? Then Plettenberg Bay, or Plett as South African’s fondly refer to it, is calling! So are the breath-taking beaches, sandy coves, migrating whales and dolphins, as well as the seal colonies and perfect picnic spots of the Robberg Nature Reserve.

The Storms River destination is one of stunning beauty and drama! Whether you walk the spray misted wooden pathways, the swing bridge or take the boat into the crashing heart of the river itself, Storms River will live in your memory forever.

Not only is the Garden Route a wonderful, and sometimes adventurous stretch of the South African coastline, but it’s also home to the Kynsna Heads.

The origin of the name, Knysna, isn't clear: various writers have suggested that it might have come from the Khoekhoe language term 'xthys xna' - which the writers believe could mean 'place of timber', 'place of ferns', or even 'straight down' (referring to the cliffs at The Heads).

In layperson’s terms, the Knysna Heads can be described as the rocky headlands at the western and eastern ends of the two peninsulas that embrace and define the Knysna basin. They also frame the Knysna Estuary’s only entrance to the sea. The Heads were formed when the Knysna River cut a channel through the ridge of hard Peninsula Formation quartzite.

Famous, or perhaps more infamous, for the often treacherous and always unpredictable waters that lie between them, the Heads are responsible for the number of wrecks that lie there. The Knysna River mouth is about 230 metres wide with a navigable channel of about only 100 metres on the western side of the mouth. The eastern portion is blocked by submerged rocks. A submerged sandbar across the mouth further limits navigability.

South Africa is blessed with an abundance of blue-flag beaches and Brenton Beach in Knysna is one of them – a long stretch of stunning white sand with the warm Indian Ocean on one side and the iconic and aromatic fynbos-covered dunes on the other.

The Brentonians are unshakable in their faith that Brenton Beach is one of, if not the most wonderful beaches in the world. It covers a magnificent 5km stretch from Brenton on Sea to Buffels Bay on the other side of the spectacular Knysna Western Heads in South Africa’s Western province.

With designated safe-swim-spots (to avoid the rip tides) in the ocean along the way, photographic opportunities galore, rocks to clamber on, and small pools in which to cool off, an easy stroll at low tide - with the promise of a delicious lunch or equally scrumptious ice-creams at the end - is unbeatable. Of course, you could have lunch AND ice-creams if you want! If you need a longer pause along the way, Castle Rock is a popular place to fish for cob.

You could of course not walk anywhere, and simply spread your towel on one of the loveliest beaches around, lie back, bask in the sun, and read a good book. And who could blame you?

Knysna was twice voted South Africa's Favourite Town. Surrounded by indigenous forests and sitting between the towering Outeniqua Mountains and the Indian Ocean, the town encircles an enormous estuary with pristine beaches. It’s a natural playground for sports enthusiasts. Mountain biking, hiking, surfing, fishing, sailing, swimming and canoeing are popular activities. Take an adventure through the lush Featherbed Nature Reserve with its coastal forest, unique fynbos and ancient caves. Or take a ferry trip to the famed Knysna Heads framing the lagoon.

‘Knysna’, is possibly a Khoi word thought to refer to the Knysna Heads, two sandstone monoliths guarding the entrance to the Knysna Lagoon from the surging waters and crashing waves of the Indian Ocean. The Khoisan, the original inhabitants of the area, were displaced by Dutch settlers in the 17th century. The town became a port for naval and commercial ships in 1817.  In 1885, a short-lived gold was found in Millwood, 25 kms beyond the town, deep in the indigenous forest.

Knysna has grown enormously since those early frontier days. Its population is over 60,000. It boasts many excellent restaurants from coffee shops and bakeries to fine-dining experiences. The Knysna Waterfront and Thesen Harbour Town provide many specialist shops and restaurants. Dine alfresco while you watch the activities in the small harbour and on the lagoon. There may even be whales as this is a famous whale-watching location.

Knysna's famous oyster industry, which is celebrated every July, draws thousands of visitors to the10-day ‘Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival’. The 'Gastronomica Festival' is also 10 days and is packed with competitions, demonstrations, discussions, and workshops. Cookery enthusiasts, farmers and artisans who produce and process foodie delights, international and national chefs, locals, restaurateurs, and tourists; everyone will be celebrating fresh, fine food.

If history is your thing, then the Old Fort, the Old Gaol, the churches, museums and the Millwood goldmine are must-visits.

At animal sanctuaries, such as the Knysna Elephant Park, Monkeyland and Birds of Eden you can meet rare and endangered species including the Knysna Seahorse, the multi-coloured Knysna Turaco a.k.a. the Knysna Loerie, the rare Knysna Dwarf Chameleon, and the Brenton Blue Butterfly. There are stories that the Knysna Elephant, which once roamed freely in large numbers here, have survived. But you must go deep into the forest before you catch sight of them. And they’re very good at hiding.

Western Cape, South Africa. Hundreds of feet under the Swartberg foothills near the town of Oudtshoorn lie the magnificent limestone Cango Caves. Although explorer, and the Caves first guide, Johnny van Wassenaer claimed to have made his way 25kms before reaching the end, no one is really sure how long the cave system really is. At the moment, there are over 4 kms that we know of, and only a quarter of this is open to the public.

Huge caverns, tight tunnels, underground rivers and magnificent stalactites and stalagmites make this an other-worldly place to explore. Cave paintings and skeletons show that the caves have been used by humans and animals since the stone age. The caves were rediscovered in 1780 by Jacobus Van Zy, a local farmer. They are now protected and administered by the local municipality of Oudtshoorn and visitors can only explore them in guided groups. There are 2 different tours: the Heritage Tour and the Adventure Tour. If you’re an adventurer at heart then you need to be fit, slim and definitely not claustrophobic to do the Adventure Tour.

The names of some of the caverns and underground paths, such as Organ pipes, Cleopatra’s Needle, the Frozen Waterfall, Curtains, Rainbow Chamber, Bridal Chamber, Fairyland, and the Drum Room, are both evocative and enticing.

The caves are a steady 20oC and the Heritage Tour is a comfortable walk. The rare and beautiful splendour of these caves make for an underground journey you will never forget.

The largest and heaviest bird in the world is the ostrich. Fossils of this massive, flightless bird date back to 25 million years ago. They haven’t changed much. Females can grow up to 2m tall and weigh more than 90kgs, with males reaching 2.7m nine feet tall and roughly 127kgs.

While they are flightless, they are the fastest birds on land. They can reach speeds of 70kms an hour. Running at only 48kms, an ostrich would finish a marathon (41kms) in around 40 minutes… or less if he was annoyed. You can’t outrun an ostrich. Nearly 10 people can enjoy a plate of scrambled eggs from just one ostrich egg. Ostrich meat is exceptionally nutritious and lean and is sold in most South African supermarkets.

A great place to meet an ostrich, whose long legs, neck, large eyes with long eyelashes resemble an avian cat-walk model, is Highgate Ostrich Show Farm in Oudtshoorn, in the Klein Karoo area of South Africa’s Western Cape.

Surrounded by the picturesque Swartberg Mountains, Highgate has a number of different tours all of which visit the main yard and the farmlands. The main yard is home to the incubators, a collection of gizzard stones and the showroom. In the main yard you can feed the ostriches, meet the tiny spotted chicks, discover the different varieties of feathers an ostrich has, browse the products which are for sale that are made from the feathers, the eggs and ostrich skin. Most of the products are made by Highgate staff, and you can watch their unique craftsmanship as they create these special products.

The region’s magnificent climate is great for growing, hops for hand-crafted beer, grapes for the local wine industry, and olives, all of which are also available in the showroom.

After visiting the farmlands, where you can visit the breeding pairs’ nests and learn more about the bird’s anatomy, you can enjoy a delicious meal at Highgate’s al-fresco restaurant, The Pepper Tree.

The Voortrekker Monument, just south of Pretoria is predominantly a commemoration of the Voortrekkers who, between 1835 and 1854, travelled north to find arable, well-watered land and separate themselves, if possible, from the British who then ruled the Cape Colony. There had been a small trickle of people moving north for over 150 years, but 1835 saw the start of a much larger ‘trek’ (a migration of a group of settlers by ox wagon). Anti-slavery laws, the equal rights granted the Khoikhoi and other free African people in the Cape were not laws the white Afrikaners of the time could stomach. Their informal, local courts had been abolished and the British government appointed resident magistrates instead. English was now the only legal language that could be used in court.

Apparently deeply religious, the Voortrekkers had discussed building a monument to honour God for looking after them as they travelled north as far back as 1888.  Seventeen years before Apartheid became a legal system of government in South Africa, the building of the monument began. Paid for by the South African government, it was the apartheid prime minister D.F. Malan who inaugurated the building.

Much of the building is rooted in Masonic symbolism, especially the central area known as the Cenotaph. Every year, on 16 December, at 12 mid-day, the sun shines through a hole in the ceiling onto the Centre of the Cenotaph, a slab resembling a tomb, and highlights the words 'Ons vir Jou, Suid-Afrika' (Afrikaans for 'Us for You, South Africa'). This light is said to symbolise God's Blessing on the Voortrekkers. Historically, 16 December 1838, was the date of the Battle of Blood River, where they believe God rescued the Voortrekkers from annihilation by the Zulus. It became known as the Day of the Vow. This public holiday was changed to the Day of Reconciliation after South Africa’s independence in 1994.

Today, it is seen by white Afrikaners as a heritage conservation site and a cultural home for the white Afrikaans people.

Since its construction, an indigenous garden, a Wall and Garden of Remembrance, a nearby fort and amphitheatre, and a nature reserve have been added.

There have been 3 churches in Church Square, the historic centre of the city of Pretoria. But before that it was known as Market Square. For many years, it was exactly that; a bustling produce market where not only vegetables and fruit were sold, often off the back of the wagons which had brought the produce to town, but also oxen and horses were sold here. It was also a sports field and a mustering place for soldiers. The last church was demolished after the funeral of Paul Kruger, the 5th President of South Africa was conducted from it. The reason for its demolition is obscure. The square has a now controversial statue of Paul Kruger and 4 Boer soldiers within it. Once the market was no longer the square’s primary purpose it was designed with both London’s Trafalgar Square and Paris’ Place de la Concorde in mind.

It is now surrounded by equally historic and architecturally important buildings such as the Tudor Chambers, the Old Council Chamber, the Old Capitol Theatre – built during the era of Atmospheric theatre design which resulted in far more elaborate theatres than is common today.

The Palace of Justice is now the North and South Gauteng’s High Court, but during the Anglo-Boer War of 1899, it was used as a military hospital for British troops. Today, it is more famously known for where, during the Rivonia Trials, Nelson Mandela made one of his most famous speeches. Not only was it 3 hours long but it included this profound and rousing statement: “During my lifetime I have dedicated my life to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination; I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons will live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal for which I hope to live for and to see realised. But, My Lord, if it needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”

The buildings, each with their own history, that surround Church Square, make this a fascinating place to visit.

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 Union Building located in Pretoria were designed by well-known architect Sir Herbert Baker in 1908. Construction was completed in 1913. At the time, it was the largest building in South Africa, and possibly the largest building work in the Southern Hemisphere. It was meant to house the entire Public Service which accounts for its size. Built on the highest point of Pretoria it is official seat of South Africa’s government and houses The Presidency.

While largely determined by the nature of the site, the concept that drove the design was that of an Acropolis, a public building that is a national ornament, establishing the nation and easily persuading people to love their country. This was also why the terraces and retaining walls in the grounds are built predominantly of mountain stone quarried on the site itself. The sentiment didn’t go as far as the actual design. Not only was the basic concept of an Acropolis, but there are also influences of the Italian and British Renaissances, and Cape Dutch elements. The Union Building is surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens which host a number of statues and memorials.

The complex stretches almost 300 meters in a semicircular shape with ornate towers on either side. It was meant to depict the dual aspect of the country at the time, the 2 main languages. Today there are 11 official languages in South Africa. In 1956 the historic Women’s March where an estimated 20,000 women of all races descended on Pretoria to protest the apartheid government’s Pass Laws for black women, ended at the Union Buildings.

Perhaps its greatest moment was in 1994. The building was the site of much jubilation as South Africa’s first democratically elected president, Nelson Mandela was inaugurated there, ushering in a new era.

Over 1300 million years ago, the Pilanesberg area in South Africa’s North West Province, was alive with volcanic eruptions and overflowing magma. The result is an alkaline volcanic crater, one of three on Earth, that is one of the largest circular volcanic complexes of its type in the world. The rare geological features, rock types and formations attract geologists and photographers from all over the world. And we haven’t even mentioned the wildlife yet!

Man has lived here beneath Thabayadiotso, ‘the Proud Mountain’, since the Stone Age and has left his mark in a number of sites. During the apartheid era, the area was part of the then independent ‘bantustan’, Bophuthatswana. As the Park’s terrain lies in the transition zone between the Kalahari and the Lowveld with overlaps in mammals, birds, and vegetation, the Bophuthatswana President, Lucas Mangope, decided to convert the Pilanesberg into a game reserve in 1977 and re-introduce long-vanished wildlife and remove all non-native plant life from the region. Operation Genesis began. This mammoth achievement was the largest game resettlement in the world.

Today, the Pilanesberg Game Reserve is home to over 10 000 animals and has the world’s largest number of hyenas. Because of its ecologically rich and malaria-free location, this vast area dramatically increases your chances of encountering, among others, the Big 5, wild dog, Roan, Tsessebe, Sable antelope, cheetah, giraffe, hippo, zebra, and crocodile. There are more than 360 species of bird. You can immerse yourself in the natural world on exciting game drives or in the well-built, concealed photographic hides which provide a comfortable place to wait for that perfect shot. The Mankwe Dam is ideal for spotting animals pausing for a drink.

As it’s only 3 hours’ drive from Johannesburg, and is also close to Pretoria and Rustenburg, Pilanesberg National Park, the 4th largest Park in South Africa, is the most accessible and popular game reserve in the country.

It’s great for day trips and is also near the Lost City. In the Park, an array of activities is on offer, including guided walks, game drives, and hot-air balloon rides, traditional tribal dance performances, music workshops, and luxury spa experiences.

Affectionately known locally as Harties, the beautiful Hartbeespoort Dam, in the heart of the Magaliesberg Mountains, is not only a great location to live, but also to visit. Hartbeespoort means ‘gorge of the hartebeest’. The hartebeest is a species of antelope also known as the kongoni.

The 120km long Magaliesberg Mountains are 100 times older than Everest and half the age of the Earth itself. This mainly quartzite range, whose highest point is approximately 1,852 metres above sea level, is a natural treasure and one the 631 uniquely special locations on the World Network of Biosphere Reserves. The mountains, popular with hikers and climbers, are filled with sheer cliffs, deep gullies, and steep-sided, wooded ravines. One of the best hikes is the 1.2 km Dassie Loop. Adventurous hikers also enjoy downhill mountain biking on the slopes, and paragliding off them.

The Magaliesberg have been home to mankind for millennia. The Sterkfontein Caves at the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site have revealed evidence of some of the earliest homini species on record.

The Aerial Cableway will carry you from the small town of Harties to the top of the Magaliesburg Mountains. From here you can see the whole town, the dam which first overflowed in March 1925, and the surrounding mountainous area stretching out below you. But it’s not simply a cableway. In addition to the panoramic views there are also other attractions. A number of restaurants provide a variety of options from the family-style to cocktails and tapas. There are curios or other delights available in the small shops at the both the cableways base station or the top station. Kids are also catered for at the KidZone.

The Apartheid Museum is vitally important – it’s the heart the apartheid story. It is the pre-eminent museum in the world which chronicles the rise and fall of the apart-ness forced upon 11 million people under the Population Registration Act of 1950. The museum relies on donations, contributions, and sponsorship to operate. While a superb example of design, space and landscape, offering the international community a unique South African experience, a visit to the museum is vital for anyone wanting to learn about the past, and how South Africa has become the warm-hearted, multi-racial country it is today.

The exhibits, assembled and organised by a multi-disciplinary team of curators, film-makers, historians, and designers, include provocative film footage, photographs, text panels and artefacts illustrating the events and human stories of Apartheid.

There are three main types of exhibits at the Apartheid Museum:

• The Permanent Exhibition

South Africa’s struggle for liberation was long and difficult. After centuries of colonialism, and more than 40 years of apartheid, freedom for all South Africans was finally achieved in 1994. The permanent exhibition is a trip through time from those dark days to a place of healing founded on the principles of a democracy.

Apartheid was founded on racial classification. To ensure everyone knew ‘where they belonged’, people were classified as, ‘native’, ‘coloured’, ‘Asian’ or ‘white’. Many identity documents, the main tool used to enforce this, are on display in the museum.

To make everyday reality under apartheid a more visceral experience, visitors are arbitrarily classified as either white or non-white on arrival. Once classified, visitors can only enter the museum through the appropriate gate.

• The Mandela Exhibit

Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first black president, was central to South Africa’s struggle against apartheid. He spent 27 years in prison, many of them on Robben Island, as a result. He was pivotal to the 1990 negotiations, and built a new nation, one very few believed was possible. In prison, Mandela discovered the power of forgiveness, and in 1995, one year after South Africa’s independence, he appointed Archbishop Desmond Tutu to chair the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to promote re-conciliation and forgiveness among perpetrators and victims of apartheid.

• The other exhibits are constantly changing and always well-worth experiencing.

One of the most famous addresses in Johannesburg, South Africa is 8115 Vilakazi Street, Orlando West, Soweto. The Street is named after the first black man to teach at the University of Witwatersrand, Dr BW Vilakazi, an intellectual, poet and novelist. Unfortunately, while the ‘rules’ of apartheid kept him at the level of a language assistant, he went on to obtain his PhD in Literature and helped develop the isiZulu dictionary and the written form of isiZulu and siSwati - two of the eleven official South African languages. The street also honours 12-year old Hector Pietersen who was killed by police in the 1976 student uprising against the Apartheid government. Vilakazi Street is most famously home to two Nobel Peace Prize Laureates – Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela.

Built in 1945, Mandela House was the home of Nelson Mandela from 1946 to 1962. And while he didn’t spend all of his life here the museum strives to tell the story of President Nelson Mandela’s family home and his life as a whole in an environment of democracy, dignity, human rights, mutual respect, reconciliation and tolerance as a world-class visitor attraction. Mandela, then a lawyer and political activist, lived here with his family, his first wife, Evelyn and, after their divorce, with his second wife, Winnie – before going on the run from the law. His family continued to live here while he was in jail.

It was such an important place to Nelson Mandela that he said, “That night I returned with Winnie to No 8115 in Orlando West. It was only then that I knew in my heart I had left prison. For me, No 8115 was the centre point of my world, the place marked with an X in my mental geography.”

In 2008, Nelson Mandela turned 90, and on July 18 a major restoration and restructuring of the home was begun. Construction of a new Visitor Centre, sourcing original fabrics, designing, and installing exhibitions took place and the museum reopened a year later. The Mandela House is managed by the Apartheid Museum on behalf of the Soweto Heritage Trust. While maintaining an effective, efficient, and meaningful experience for all visitors, the museum is also a leading centre for the preservation, presentation, and research of the historical heritage and Mandela Family legacy. The Mandela House was declared a Public heritage site in 1999.

In Johannesburg, a city larger than New York or London, is another city, the largest black township of its kind in South Africa. This is Soweto, the South Western Townships, which started as housing for gold mine workers. It’s made up of 32 different townships and running through it for less than half a kilometre is one of the 5 most famous streets in South Africa, Vilakazi Street.  

The street is named after Dr BW Vilakazi, a poet, novelist and intellectual. Employed as a 'language assistant' because Apartheid law didn’t allow black lecturers, he was the first black man to teach at the University of the Witwatersrand. With a PhD in literature, he helped develop the written form of both isiZulu and siSwati and helped put together the isiZulu dictionary.

While Diagonal Street, Donkin Street, Long Street and Victoria Embankment are famous for skyscrapers, hotels, churches and trendy shops and restaurants, Vilakazi Street is famous for the fact that 2 Nobel Peace Prize winners lived here, at the same time. Nelson Mandela went on to become the world’s most famous political prisoner and the first democratic President of South Africa. Desmond Tutu became the first black Bishop of Johannesburg and Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town.

Between 1946 and 1962, Nelson Mandela lived at 8115 Vilakazi St, Orlando West and where he spent the first few nights with his former wife, Winnie Mandela, after his release from 27 years of imprisonment. This home is now the Mandela House Museum.

Across the road, is the home of The Arch, as Desmond Tutu is fondly called. When he’s in town can occasionally be seen strolling along Vilakazi Street.

On the corner of Vilakazi and Moema Streets is the Hector Peterson Museum and memorial. The young student, Hector Peterson was killed by police during the June 16, 1976 uprising. Today, June 16 is the South African public holiday, Youth Day. Nearby is Uncle Tom’s Hall. One of the few government buildings left alone during the riots because of the integral part it played as a community centre for the people living in Soweto.

A couple of well-known restaurants, Nambitha and Sakhumzi, with local cuisine as their speciality, the only community television station in the city, Soweto Tv which is broadcast from a classroom in the local primary school, art, and dance troupes are now all found on Vilakazi Street. A guided tour is definitely the best way to visit and experience this small but vibrant stretch of history.

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.

Signature Lux Hotel Sandton is located at the centre of the vibrant city, within proximity to many museums, entertainment attractions, and upmarket restaurants.

Accommodation consists of 218 colourful and comfortable rooms with contemporary en-suite bathrooms. Amenities include free Wi-Fi access, room/laundry service, air conditioning, a work desk, and a flat-screen TV with DSTV channels. Guests can also enjoy hearty, authentic Portuguese cuisines, classic café style dishes, and relaxing cocktails at the in-house Aura restaurant.