Western Cape Article - South African Vacations

IndexOVERVIEW..............................................................................................................................5CLIMATE ............................................................................................................................... 8HISTORY ............................................................................................................................... 9TOURISM ROUTES............................................................................................................. 11BRANDY ROUTE ............................................................................................................... 11CAPE ADVENTURE AND SPORT ROUTE ....................................................................... 11CAPE BIRDING ROUTE .................................................................................................... 12CAPE CARE ROUTE ......................................................................................................... 12CAPE CHILDREN'S ROUTE.............................................................................................. 12CAPE FLORAL KINGDOM (FYNBOS) ROUTE ................................................................. 12CAPE GHOST AND LEGENDS ROUTE............................................................................ 13CAPE MUSEUM ROUTE ................................................................................................... 13CAPE WHALE ROUTE ...................................................................................................... 14CAPE WINE ROUTES ....................................................................................................... 15Constantia Wine Route....................................................................................................... 15Durbanville Wine Route...................................................................................................... 16Franschhoek Wine Route................................................................................................... 16Helderberg Wine route ........................................................................................................ 16Klein Karoo Wine Route ..................................................................................................... 17Paarl Wine Route ............................................................................................................... 17Stellenbosch Wine Route ................................................................................................... 17Wellington Wine Route....................................................................................................... 18MISSION VILLAGE ROUTE............................................................................................... 18ROUTE 27.......................................................................................................................... 18ROUTE 62.......................................................................................................................... 19Route 62 Brandy Route...................................................................................................... 19WEST COAST BIRD ROUTE............................................................................................. 19WEST COAST FOSSIL ROUTE......................................................................................... 19REGIONS............................................................................................................................. 21CAPE BREEDE RIVER VALLEY......................................................................................... 21ASHTON ............................................................................................................................ 22BONNIEVALE .................................................................................................................... 22CERES (including Prince Alfred Hamlet)............................................................................ 23DE DOORNS (including Touwsriver).................................................................................. 25GOUDA .............................................................................................................................. 26McGREGOR....................................................................................................................... 26MONTAGU ......................................................................................................................... 27RAWSONVILLE.................................................................................................................. 28ROBERTSON..................................................................................................................... 28SARON............................................................................................................................... 29TULBAGH .......................................................................................................................... 29WOLSELEY........................................................................................................................ 31WORCESTER .................................................................................................................... 32CAPE TOWN REGION......................................................................................................... 34CAPE TOWN CENTRAL.................................................................................................... 36ATHLONE .......................................................................................................................... 54CAMPS BAY ...................................................................................................................... 54CLIFTON (including Bantry Bay) ........................................................................................ 55GREEN POINT (including Mouille Point)............................................................................ 56GUGULETU ....................................................................................................................... 571

LANGA ............................................................................................................................... 57NEWLANDS (including Claremont and Kenilworth)............................................................ 58NYANGA / CROSSROADS................................................................................................ 59OBSERVATORY ................................................................................................................ 59PINELANDS ....................................................................................................................... 60RONDEBOSCH (including Rosebank and Mowbray)......................................................... 61RYLANDS .......................................................................................................................... 61SEA POINT (including Three Anchor Bay) ......................................................................... 61WOODSTOCK.................................................................................................................... 62WYNBERG......................................................................................................................... 62BLAAUWBERG (Cape Town)............................................................................................. 64ATLANTIS .......................................................................................................................... 65BLOUBERGSTRAND......................................................................................................... 65MAMRE .............................................................................................................................. 66MELKBOSSTRAND ........................................................................................................... 66MILNERTON ...................................................................................................................... 67PELLA ................................................................................................................................ 68TABLE VIEW ...................................................................................................................... 68HELDERBERG (Cape Town).............................................................................................. 70GORDON’S BAY ................................................................................................................ 70LWANDLE .......................................................................................................................... 72MACASSAR ....................................................................................................................... 72SIR LOWRY’S PASS.......................................................................................................... 72SOMERSET WEST............................................................................................................ 73STRAND............................................................................................................................. 75OOSTENBERG (Cape Town).............................................................................................. 77KRAAIFONTEIN (including Brackenfell)............................................................................. 77KUILS RIVER ..................................................................................................................... 78SOUTH PENINSULA (Cape Town)..................................................................................... 79CONSTANTIA (including Bishopscourt) ............................................................................. 79FISH HOEK ........................................................................................................................ 80HOUT BAY ......................................................................................................................... 81KALK BAY .......................................................................................................................... 84KOMMETJIE ...................................................................................................................... 85LLANDUDNO ..................................................................................................................... 86MITCHELL’S PLAIN ........................................................................................................... 86MUIZENBERG (including Zeekoeivlei, Sandvlei and Rondevlei) ....................................... 87NOORDHOEK (including Chapman’s Peak) ...................................................................... 89SIMON’S TOWN................................................................................................................. 90ST JAMES.......................................................................................................................... 92TOKAI (including Bergvliet and Retreat)............................................................................. 92STRANDFONTEIN............................................................................................................. 93TYGERBERG (Cape Town region).................................................................................... 94BELLVILLE......................................................................................................................... 94DURBANVILLE................................................................................................................... 94GOODWOOD..................................................................................................................... 96KHAYELITSHA................................................................................................................... 96PAROW.............................................................................................................................. 97CENTRAL KAROO.............................................................................................................. 98BEAUFORT WEST............................................................................................................. 99KLAARSTROOM .............................................................................................................. 101LAINGSBURG.................................................................................................................. 101LEEU-GAMKA.................................................................................................................. 1012

MATJIESFONTEIN........................................................................................................... 102MERWEVILLE.................................................................................................................. 102MURRAYSBURG ............................................................................................................. 103PRINCE ALBERT (including Gamkaskloof)...................................................................... 103CAPE GARDEN ROUTE ................................................................................................... 106ALBERTINIA .................................................................................................................... 107GEORGE.......................................................................................................................... 108GREAT BRAK RIVER ...................................................................................................... 111HARTENBOS ................................................................................................................... 112HEIDELBERG .................................................................................................................. 112KNYSNA........................................................................................................................... 113NATURE’S VALLEY ......................................................................................................... 117PLETTENBERG BAY ....................................................................................................... 118RIVERSDALE................................................................................................................... 121SEDGEFIELD................................................................................................................... 122STILBAAI.......................................................................................................................... 123WILDERNESS.................................................................................................................. 124LITTLE KAROO................................................................................................................. 126AMALIENSTEIN / ZOAR .................................................................................................. 126CALITZDORP................................................................................................................... 126DE RUST.......................................................................................................................... 127DYSSELSDORP............................................................................................................... 128HAARLEM ........................................................................................................................ 128LADISMITH ...................................................................................................................... 129OUDTSHOORN................................................................................................................ 129UNIONDALE .................................................................................................................... 132VANWYKSDORP ............................................................................................................. 133CAPE OVERBERG............................................................................................................ 134SUIDPUNT ....................................................................................................................... 134ARNISTON (WAENHUISKRANS) .................................................................................... 135BARRYDALE.................................................................................................................... 136BOT RIVER ...................................................................................................................... 136BREDASDORP ................................................................................................................ 137CALEDON ........................................................................................................................ 138ELIM................................................................................................................................. 140GANSBAAI (including Pearly Beach and Buffelsjagbaai)................................................. 140GENADENDAL................................................................................................................. 141GRABOUW / ELGIN......................................................................................................... 141GREYTON........................................................................................................................ 142HERMANUS..................................................................................................................... 142KLEINMOND (including Hangklip, Betty’s Bay, Pringle Bay, and Rooiels)....................... 145L’AGULHAS ..................................................................................................................... 147MALGAS .......................................................................................................................... 148NAPIER ............................................................................................................................ 148RIVIERSONDEREND....................................................................................................... 149STANFORD...................................................................................................................... 149STRUISBAAI .................................................................................................................... 151SUURBRAAK ................................................................................................................... 151SWELLENDAM ................................................................................................................ 152VILLIERSDORP ............................................................................................................... 153CAPE WEST COAST ........................................................................................................ 155AURORA .......................................................................................................................... 156BITTERFONTEIN............................................................................................................. 1563

CITRUSDAL ..................................................................................................................... 157CLANWILLIAM ................................................................................................................. 158DARLING ......................................................................................................................... 161EBENAEZER (including Papendorp)................................................................................ 162ELANDS BAY................................................................................................................... 162GRAAFWATER (including Leipoldtville)........................................................................... 163HOPEFIELD ..................................................................................................................... 163JACOBS BAY................................................................................................................... 163KLAWER .......................................................................................................................... 164KORINGBERG ................................................................................................................. 164LAMBERT’S BAY ............................................................................................................. 165LANGEBAAN ................................................................................................................... 166LUTZVILLE (including Koekenaap) .................................................................................. 167MALMESBURY ................................................................................................................ 167MOORREESBURG (including Koringberg) ...................................................................... 168PATERNOSTER............................................................................................................... 169PIKETBERG..................................................................................................................... 170PORTERVILLE................................................................................................................. 171REDELINGHUYS ............................................................................................................. 172RIEBEEK KASTEEL......................................................................................................... 172RIEBEEK WES................................................................................................................. 173RIETPOORT .................................................................................................................... 173SALDANHA BAY .............................................................................................................. 173ST HELENA BAY ............................................................................................................. 174VANRHYNSDORP ........................................................................................................... 175VELDDRIF (including Laaiplek, Noordhoek, Port Owen & Dwarskersbos)....................... 177VREDENBURG ................................................................................................................ 177VREDENDAL ................................................................................................................... 178WUPPERTHAL................................................................................................................. 178YZERFONTEIN ................................................................................................................ 178CAPE WINELANDS .......................................................................................................... 179FRANSCHHOEK .............................................................................................................. 180PAARL.............................................................................................................................. 182PNIEL ............................................................................................................................... 185STELLENBOSCH............................................................................................................. 185WELLINGTON.................................................................................................................. 189SOURCES............................................................................................................................1924

OVERVIEWWestern Cape Tourism Board (Info)Physical address: c/o Burg & Castle St, Pinnacle Building, Cape Town, 8000.Postal address: Private Bag X 9108, Cape Town 8000.Tel: +27 (0) 21 426 5639 / 5647Fax: +27 (0) 21 426 5640E-mail: info@capetourism.orgWebsite: http://www.capetourism.orgThe Western Cape - the province that haseverything plus that little bit more. Justwhen you think you have seen it all,another surprise awaits you around thecorner. In this province, white sandybeaches, indigenous forests of ancienttrees, meandering coastal paths,mountain walks and nature reservesprovide the scenic backdrop to craftmarkets, art festivals and historicbuildings. Of course, one should not forgetto visit the wine farms, watch whales anddolphins frolic, swim with the penguins,ride the ostriches and take the cablewayto the top of Table Mountain.The Western Cape has inspired manynames and descriptions. Sir Francis Drakecalled it the Fairest Cape, the Portugueseseamen called it the “Cape of Storms” andit has also been known to different peopleas the “Cape of Good Hope” and the“Tavern of the Seas”.The heart of the province is home to oneof the six floral kingdoms of the world, theFynbos Floral Region. The Western Capefloral kingdom has more than 8 600indigenous species of plants - morespecies than are found in the whole of Europe - some 5 800 of which are found nowhere elsein the world. The diversity of the beautiful scenery of the Western Cape has always attractednature lovers, mountain climbers and hiking trail enthusiasts, who have a wide range ofnature and forest reserves, hiking trails and botanical gardens from which to choose.The Cape is one of the best places in the world for shore-based whale-watching. The SouthAfrican coast plays host to 29 species of toothed whale, including the killer whale and eightspecies of baleen whale. The most commonly spotted whales are the southern right whales,pods of which seek out sheltered bays along the Cape coastline for breeding. The monthsfrom June to November are best for spotting them all the way around the Cape Peninsula.Humpback whales visit the Cape’s shores from May to December. Bryde’s whales arefound off shore all year round. The cliffs of Hermanus offer the best shore-based viewing ofwhales and the best place for boat-viewing of whales is False Bay.5

Winemaking is a long reveredtradition and way of life in theWestern Cape. The wine routesoffer visitors the chance to samplethe best wines in superlativenatural surroundings, while alsoallowing them to visit thehomesteads and other places ofinterest that are intimatelyconnected with the wine industry.The fishing villages of the WestCoast bask quietly in the sun whilethe waters of the many seasideresorts along the coast play host tothe southern right whale.The popular Garden Route is rich with indigenous forests, colourful bird and plant life,enchanting freshwater lakes, pristine beaches and towering mountains. In complete contrastare the semi-desert vistas of the Little Karoo Kannaland and the vast plains of the prehistoricCentral Karoo.The Western Cape’s fertile soil, Mediterranean climate and sunshine combine to produceexceptional fruit that is superior in quality and taste. This fruit, which includes deciduousand citrus fruit, finds its way to many destinations worldwide. By following any of thenumerous fruit routes you will be transported to a wonderful world of awe-inspiringmountain passes and lush valleys.Perhaps it is the lovely surroundings that inspire people to create their wonderful art and craftworks, which can be bought at a wide range of upmarket shops, craft markets and even atpavement stalls. These may be traditional wood or soapstone carvings of animals, reedbaskets and beads or may be more contemporary adaptations of tin cans, plastic bags, wireand string transformed into modern works of art. Craft markets are also good sources of“home-made” clothing, jewellery, furniture and other household items.Architecturally, the Cape isunique because of its Cape Dutcharchitecture. Throughout the winelandsone finds a great number ofbuildings in the Cape Dutch style.Although originally based onEuropean building styles andmeant for a much colder climate,they were later adapted to suit ourclimate. The walls of the buildingswere made thicker to protect theinhabitants against the summerheat but the design of the roofs inEurope, steeply pitched so as toshed snow, was never changed. Inearlier times people travelled long6

distances and the countryside houses were thus equipped with large kitchens and receptionrooms to entertain visitors. As the owners became more prosperous, the plain centre gableswere replaced by round, more decorative gables which reflected their new status.Some of the oldest churches in the country, beautiful kramats (Muslim shrines) andsandstone chapels are found in the Western Cape. Victorian bungalows decoratedwith "broekielace" ironwork, the large houses of the ostrich feather barons and thefishermen’s cottages of the West Coast are also typical of the Western Cape.The tombs of holy Muslim men, some of whom were deported from Dutch colonies in the Eastbecause of their opposition to Dutch rule, are dotted around the Cape Peninsula. Muslimsbelieve that these kramats act as a protective spiritual barrier against natural disasters. Localbelievers visit each of the tombs before making the obligatory pilgrimage to Mecca.Museums and cultural sites abound in the Western Cape. Many of these are the restoredhomes of people who played a prominent role in South Africa’s past and now allow a glimpseinto the lifestyles of the past. Others display the natural history of the Cape and works of art.The oldest displays are those of the San people, who depicted their now almost extincthunter-gatherer way of life on the walls of caves.The meshing of culture, religion and tradition in the Western Cape has given rise to akaleidoscope of lifestyles and rich cultural heritage. The cultural diversity of the Western Capeis one of its most dynamic features. True to its historical name “the Tavern of the Seas”,Western Cape cuisine ranges from Malay curries to fish or crayfish cooked over an open fire,leg of lamb and ostrich steak, as East, West and African tastes meet. Seafood dishes, suchas crayfish, prawns, calamari and smoked snoek, are plentiful and are best enjoyed right onthe beach. In the Karoo, Afrikaans farm fare consists of tender Karoo lamb. The numerouswine estates offer a wide selection of fine table wines, port, sherry, muscadel and brandy.7

CLIMATEFor those interested in fynbos vegetation, vineyards and whale-watching, spring (Septemberand October) and autumn (April and May) are the best times to visit the Western Cape. Theseperiods usually have balmy in-between weather.Typically Mediterranean in climate, with warm, dry summers and cool wet winters, thesummer temperatures at the coast range from 15 to 27 degrees Celsius in summer and from7 to 18 degrees Celsius in winter. Winter often produces comfortable days or even weeks at astretch and, when it is not raining; temperatures are sometimes as high as 26 degreesCelsius. During the period May to September, Cape Town has an average of seven hours ofsunshine per day. Inland temperatures are generally about three degrees higher than those atthe coast. Exceptions to this are the arid semi-desert Karoo, which has dry winters anda low summer rainfall; the West Coast, which is relatively dry and windy, and the GardenRoute along the Southern Cape coast, which is renowned for its mild climate with year-roundrainfall.Spring is heralded in August by the blooming of wild flowers. The hottest months are usuallyDecember and January. In summer, the sun rises before six o’clock and only sets just beforeeight o’clock at night, making for long, lazy, summer days. The windiest period is fromOctober to December and, when the south-easterly winds blow, a tablecloth of clouds isdraped over Table Mountain. Locals affectionately refer to this wind as the “Cape Doctor” as itbreathes fresh life into the Cape. Midwinter occurs in the months of June and July. Even then,however, the sun is never far away.Capetonians themselves consider the months of March, April and May as the best times ofthe year to be in Cape Town.8

HISTORYThroughout the ages, people have been quick to recognise the benefits of settling in such arichly blessed area as the Western Cape. By the beginning of the Christian era, Khoisancommunities had been living in the Cape area for thousands of years, hunting, fishing andcollecting edible plants. Indigenous cattle herders had been living in the southern tip ofAfrica for a thousand years before the arrival of European seafarers on their quest for analternative trade route to the East.From the time of the first European discovery of the Cape by the Portuguese navigator,Bartholomeu Dias in 1488, seafarers have looked forward to the sight of Table Mountain,which can be seen by approaching ships from over 150 km away. This was the part of SouthAfrica in which Europeans first settled and Cape Town is the oldest city in South Africa, thusdeserving the affectionate title of “Mother City”.In 1652 Jan van Riebeeck was sent by the Dutch to establish a halfway station on the shoresof Table Bay. The Dutch created gardens at the Cape to supply the Dutch East IndiaCompany’s ships sailing around Africa to the Far East with fresh food. The first fort that VanRiebeeck built, later replaced by the existing Castle of Good Hope, was Cape Town’s firstbuilding.At this time, the Khoikhoi were still living in the mountains and harvesting food from tidal poolsbut, after clashes with the settlers, many moved away, died from unknown diseases or wereintegrated into the new culture at the lowest levels of the social order. The first Asians arrivedin the Cape in 1654 and the first slaves were imported from Madagascar and Java in 1657. Atfirst, Malay slaves were imported but the settlers later enslaved the indigenous Khoikhoipeople and a new distinct race group emerged: the “coloureds”, who are of mixed racialdescent.9

The large coloured community lives mainly in the Western Cape and their lively culture addssignificantly to the uniqueness of the area.In 1688, the French Huguenots arrived in the Cape and were quickly integrated into the Dutchsettlement. Both the Dutch and French farmers gradually expanded into the surroundingareas, leading to the founding of the towns of Stellenbosch (1680) and Swellendam (1745),the second and third oldest towns in South Africa. Simon van der Stel, who arrived as theDutch Governor in 1679, exerted a marked influence on the Colony. The British arrived at theend of the eighteenth century and ended a period of relative isolation. Although the Colonywas eventually formally ceded to Britain in 1814 after several battles and changes ofownership, Dutch vessels were still entitled to call at the Cape of Good Hope for refreshmentand repairs. These early settlers left many structures and artefacts of architectural andcultural significance for us. Many Dutch farmers found the new style of British government tobe too interfering and restrictive, choosing rather to retain their independence and to ventureinto the largely unexplored interior on a “Great Trek”.10

TOURISM ROUTESSince the Western Cape has so many facilities to offer, tourism authorities have mapped outcertain routes to cater for the tastes of all visitors and to ensure that they do not miss any ofthe attractions that they are particularly interested in. Many of these routes are currentlyrestricted to the Cape Metropolitan Area, but can you imagine how much the rest of theprovince has to offer?For more detailed information on these routes, please visit the Cape Metropolitan Website athttp://www.gocapetown.co.zaBRANDY ROUTEThis route was inaugurated in1997 and was the first brandyroute in the country. The routebegins in Stellenbosch andincorporates brandy cellarssuch as Van Ryn Brandy Cellar,Oude Molen Brandy Museumand Backsberg Estate. SouthAfrica’s unique brandy route isa definite must for any brandyenthusiast. And, even if you arenot a brandy enthusiast, whatbetter way is there to see thelovely countryside and to visitan inseparable part of theWestern Cape’s past and itsfuture?CAPE ADVENTURE AND SPORT ROUTEDiscover that adventure and excitement aresynonymous with Cape Town. Mountains,beaches, the sea, forests and rivers – choose afew or explore them all. Abseiling can be donefrom Table Mountain, Chapman’s Peak andKamikaze Canyon in the Helderberg Mountains.The protected harbours on the Atlantic Coast offermany angling and deep-sea fishing opportunitiesand sea-fishing can be done from boats, beachesor rocks. Boats may also be chartered for deep-seafishing.For those who enjoy burrowing into the deeper recesses of the earth, there are more than 80caves to explore in the Cape Metropolitan Area. Hiking and biking trails criss-cross the entireCape Peninsula. Paragliding and sky-diving-enthusiasts enjoy the fast trip down Lion’s Headand the view of the beaches and the surf.11

To really experience the changing moods of the sea, one needs to undertake a trip in a seakayak, a sailboat or a sailboard, while scuba-diving is the ideal way to explore the wonderworld of the sea. Many round-the-world yacht races stop off in Cape Town. For the lessenergetic, there is kite-flying, horse rides on the wide, open spaces of Noordhoek Beach andfly-fishing.CAPE BIRDING ROUTEThe diversity of the bird population of the Cape Town region is directly equivalent to thevariety of vegetation types and landscapes. This region is home to over 70 per cent ofSouthern Africa’s endemic birds and over 610 species have been recorded here.The nine mapped-out birding routes within the regions of the Cape Peninsula, West Coast,Overberg, Karoo and Garden Route make the areas and the popular birding spots moreaccessible to visiting bird-watchers.For more information visit the Cape Birding Route website: http://www.capebirdingroute.orgCAPE CARE ROUTEThe Cape Care Route strives to showcase individual projects developed to bring prosperity topeople. The tour starts with a visit to the townships where visitors can experience howimpoverished people live and make do. This route aims to show visitors how the residentsgrow their food and build houses. Visitors can also support local entrepreneurs by purchasingsome of the handmade crafts. The route illustrates how the partnership between business,government and communities helps to protect the rich culture and biodiversity of thetownships.Environmental projects have also been implemented and various stops on the routedemonstrate how these principles have provided people with cleaner and healthier livingconditions.CAPE CHILDREN'S ROUTEThe Cape is for everyone and children are guaranteed not to be bored, not even for amoment. Many museums have exciting discovery rooms for children, including the SouthAfrican Museum, the South African Maritime Museum, the South African Sea FisheriesMuseum and the toy museums at Simon's Town and Muizenberg.Theme parks, such as Ratanga Junction, offer a make-belief world of thrill-rides and fantasyexpeditions and the animals in the reserves of the Western Cape provide endlessentertainment.CAPE FLORAL KINGDOM (FYNBOS) ROUTESouth Africa is the only country in the world that can lay claim to having its own exclusivefloral kingdom. The Cape Floral Kingdom is the smallest of the six floral kingdoms of theworld, yet it has the greatest number of species. Fynbos is the name by which most of the12

plants of this kingdom are known and refers to the vegetation in the shrublands of the winterrainfall area of the Western Cape. It is a hardy type of vegetation that has adapted in its ownspecial way to the dry summer season and strong coastal winds.The main types of fynbos plants are proteas, ericas and reeds. Generally, mountain fynbos isfound in sandstone habitats and on the mountains. Coastal fynbos is found in more sandyareas, on the flats. Renosterveld grows on mountain slopes and the remnants of indigenousforests are found in mountain valleys. Milkwood thickets also occur on the western side of thePeninsula. Fynbos has something to offer all year round, but winter and spring are the timeswhen its true beauty comes to the fore. The plants bloom with an amazing wealth of beautifulflowers, from the huge, striking king protea (South Africa's national flower) to tiny, delicateorchids.CAPE GHOST AND LEGENDS ROUTEIf you are interested in the ghosts and spirits that will tell you of the country’s past, what betterplace to visit than the oldest city in South Africa?Visit places where regular sightings reputedly take place and possibly encounter a mysteriousship that sails round Cape Point and into eternity, or meet a beautiful lady who smiles andmoves objects in an old manor house. Pursue a horse and rider that clatter down the steps tomeet their death or follow close behind strange men in naval uniforms of yesteryear - and if,after all that, you can still say that you do not believe in ghosts, you clearly have noimagination.CAPE MUSEUM ROUTETo truly understand a place and its people, it is important to understand its past. The Cape’spast is preserved in its many museums. The museums not only conserve the past; they try to13

ing it to life for people. Some of the best-known museums include the South AfricanMuseum in Cape Town with its fusion of nature and culture, the South African MaritimeMuseum with its real-life, floating ship exhibits, and the Robben Island Exhibition andInformation Centre, an important reminder of our history, and which is now a World HeritageSite.CAPE WHALE ROUTEHumpback whales migrate along the Western Cape coast en route to their feeding andbreeding grounds off Mozambique and Angola. Bryde's whales are found in False Bay allyear round, and the orca (killer whale) is also occasionally seen. The presence of thesegentle giants draws many visitors to the Cape shores every year from June to November,evidence of the fascination they have always held for people.The whales share these waters with many other marine species, such as dolphins and sealswhose activities are also a pleasure to watch. Heaviside and dusky dolphins are found in thecolder waters on the western side of the Peninsula, and bottlenose, common and humpbackdolphins often visit the eastern (False Bay) side. Large numbers of Cape fur seals can alsobe seen throughout the year.The Cape Whale Route stretches for 900 km around the southern tip of Africa. In 1998 thisroute won the British Airways “Tourism for Tomorrow” Award. Boat-based whalewatchingis legal in South Africa, but only a few operators have been granted boat-basedwhale-watching permits. Make sure that you procure the services of one of these companies.The MTN Whale Route Hotline at +27 (0) 83 910-1028 has day-to-day updated information inseason of where whales can be seen.14

CAPE WINE ROUTESThe exceptionally fine wines of the Western Cape are enjoyed by casual drinkers andconnoisseurs from all over the world. The tradition of winemaking is intricately interwoven withthe history of the Cape and to a large extent has shaped the culture of the region. Today,visits to wine farms are among the most popular tourism activities of the Western Cape. Apartfrom affording an opportunity to taste and buy fine wines and learn more about winemaking,they are also a novel way of touring the lovely countryside and of viewing historical places,appreciating Cape Dutch architecture and sampling the excellent cuisine. Wine routes havebeen mapped out to allow visitors access to most of the vineyards in the province. Many ofthese vineyards have restaurants and also make cheese to complement the taste of theirexcellent wines.The valleys and hillsides of the winelands, known locally as the Boland, are awash withvineyards. Some of the best known wine routes are the Stellenbosch route, the oldest wineroute in the country, as well as the Constantia, Franschhoek, Wellington, Paarl andHelderberg wine routes.Constantia Wine RouteConstantia’s status as the birthplace of South African winemaking is undisputed. This route isrelatively small by comparison with the other wine routes, but the natural beauty of the area,its history, architectural elegance and the high quality of its wines make it well worth the trip.A visit to Constantia brings immediate intuitive understanding of why the Governor of theCape in 1685, Simon van der Stel, could not resist making this his private property, which he15

named Groot Constantia (Great Constantia). Constantia wines are sought after world-wideand have won many accolades for their superb quality.The Constantia Wine Route can be reached within 20 minutes from Cape Town’s citycentre. For more information on the route, visit the website athttp://www.constantiawineroute.co.zaDurbanville Wine RouteThe Durbanville Valley lies just 20 minutes away from Cape Town and is home to someof the most respected and award-winning winemakers in the country. The area is primarily awine-producing district and there are six active winemaking cellars. Durbanville Wine Valleyis best known for its Blanc and is especially noted for its Shiraz.For more information on the Durbanville Wine Route, visit the website athttp://www.winetoday.co.zaFranschhoek Wine RouteFranschhoek, which means “Frenchcorner”, was established over threecenturies ago when French Huguenotssettled in the area. Their contribution tothe country’s history and culture ishonoured by the Huguenot Memorialand Museum.The Franschhoek area consists ofsome 21 estates and offers wine salesand tasting. Two of the most popularestates are Bellingham andBoschendal.Helderberg Wine RouteThe majestic Helderberg MountainRange guards this wine route and gaveit its name. Only 15 minutes from CapeTown International Airport, the drive takes one into the heart of the Helderberg region. Theregion lies near Somerset West and other well-known wine-producing districts, namely Paarland Stellenbosch.The Helderberg Wine Route comprises some 19 farms and also includes the largest, privateport producer in the world. For more information about the Helderberg Wine Route, visit itswebsite at http://www.helderbergwineroute.co.za16

Klein Karoo Wine RouteThe Klein Karoo Wine Route is situated on the easternmost point of the winelands, somedistance from the other, perhaps better-known routes, along Route 62. The route includessome five wine cellars and also includes Cogman’s Kloof and De Rust. The Klein Karoo winecellars offer wine enthusiasts a range of exquisite world-class ports, dry wines and brandies.For more information on the wine cellars of the Klein Karoo, visit the wine routes website athttp://www.kleinkaroowines.co.zaPaarl Wine RouteThe main road of the town of Paarl is lined with exquisite Cape Dutch buildings. Taking thisroute allows visitors to view many historic estates and to savour the wines produced in thislovely region.Paarl, meaning “pearl”, is a 56-km drive from Cape Town. Among its most popularestates are Nederburg, Backsberg and South Africa’s first black-owned winery,Nelson’s Creek Estate and New Beginnings.Stellenbosch Wine RouteStellenbosch has already celebrated the thirtieth anniversary of the founding of the wineroute, which was established in 1971. Stellenbosch, founded in 1679, is the second oldest17

town in the Western Cape and its wine route is the oldest in the country. All the estates onthis route lie within a 12-km radius of the town.The wine route consists of some 44 cellars and the wines of these cellars are rated amongthe best in the world. Most of the estates can lay claim to a fascinating and long history andthis legacy is also open to scrutiny by interested visitors. Savouring the tastes andexperiences offered by the wine route is an experience definitely not to be forgotten!For more information on the individual wine cellars in the Stellenbosch Wine Route visit itswebsite at http://www.stellenbosch.co.za.Wellington Wine RouteThe town of Wellington is situated amongst lush vineyards and olive and fruit orchids at thefoot of the Hawekwa Mountains.The route leads to some ofWellington’s most prestigiouswine cellars where visitors cantaste and buy the wines orenjoy leisurely lunches underthe trees. Wine enthusiasts andcasual visitors alike will gainvalue from a visit to theWellington region.For more information, visit thewebsite:http://www.visitwellington.comMISSION VILLAGE ROUTEMany groups contributed to the history of the Western Cape and South Africa in its entirety.One of the most influential groups was the missionaries who came here to bring the Christianfaith to the indigenous inhabitants and to support the newer Christian European arrivals.Many towns came into being as mission stations and/or Dutch Reformed Church settlements.The Mission Village Route incorporates various towns and villages in the West Coast anduncovers the history of early missionaries who ventured throughout South Africa. The townsthat are part of the Mission Village Route are Ebenaezer, Goedverwacht, Mamre,Papendorp, Rietpoort, Vanrhynsdorp, Vredendal, Wittewater, and Wupperthal.ROUTE 27The West Coast Road (R27) leads to a world of tranquil towns, rough coastlines and endlessstretches of beach. Route 27 explores the West Coast and its many small villages and towns.Situated on this route are the small towns of Aurora, Darling, Hopefield, Langebaan,18

Paternoster, Cape Columbine, St Helena Bay, Saldanha, Velddrif and Laaiplek, Vredenburg,Yzerfontein as well as Jacobs Bay, the West Coast Fossil Park and Dassen Island.More information on these places is contained in the West Coast Region of this article.ROUTE 62Route 62 covers the area between Cape Town and Oudtshoorn, the Garden Route and PortElizabeth. The route offers more scenic possibilities than the alternative N2 Highway,connecting the Breede River Valley region and the Little Karoo. The road was originallydeveloped to link various rural towns and villages to major centres. Several small towns liealong the route and they have many treasures to be discovered. The scenic route passesthrough farming towns such as Calitzdorp, Ladismith, Barrydale, Amalienstein, Montagu,Bonnievale, Robertson, Ashton, De Rust, Rawsonville, McGregor, Worcester, Ceres, Tulbaghand Wolseley.For more information on this tourist route, visit the website at http://www.route62.co.zaRoute 62 Brandy RouteThis is the second such route to be launched in the country with the aim of promoting andcreating awareness of the region and of its superb brandies. The route follows the popularR62 road and incorporates estates such as the KWV Brandy Cellar, Montagu Museum,Barrydale Wine Cellar, Boplaas, Grundheim, Kango Cooperative and Mons Ruber.WEST COAST BIRD ROUTEThis route allows bird enthusiasts to explore the vast West Coast region. The bird route leadsto ten popular birding destinations that include Rietvlei and the Milnerton Lagoon, the WestCoast National Park, the SAS Saldanha Nature Reserve, West Coast Fossil Park,Vredenburg/Saldanha Golf Club, Berg River Hides, Rocherpan Nature Reserve, Verlorenvlei,Elands Bay, Bird Island, Lamberts Bay, the Olifant’s River Estuary and Papendorp.These sites are all well-known bird habitats and the ideal holiday for an avid bird-watcherwould probably include a visit to all these sites. However, if this is impossible, rest assuredthat any one of these sites offers such diversity that it is worth the trip. Besides, you canalways return next year to visit the other sites as well, can you not?WEST COAST FOSSIL ROUTESigns of the early creatures that roamed these plains are found all over the region. The routeleads to spots such as the Hopefield Information Centre where one will find many fossilremains including the very famous Saldanha Man skull, as well as the West Coast Fossil Parkand the West Coast National Park.Palaeontological remains dating back five to seven million years ago have been found in theWest Coast Fossil Park. The fossils are those of animals such as the sabre-toothed cat,penguins and marine mammals such as whales and dolphins. The park has some fascinating19

displays and future exhibits will include life-size reconstructions of extinct animals.Excavations are ongoing and tours are offered.The West Coast National Park is located in Langebaan and features the oldest fossilisedhuman footprint ever found.20

REGIONSThe Western Cape is divided into eight regions, namely the Breede River Valley, the CapeMetropole, the Central Karoo, the Garden Route, the Klein (Little) Karoo, Overberg, the WestCoast and the Wine lands.BREEDE RIVER VALLEYBreede River Valley Tourism23 Baring Str, Worcester, 6850.Tel: +27 (0) 23 348 2795Fax: +27 (0) 23 347 4678E-mail: jdamens@breedevallei.gov.zaWebsite: http://www.worcester.co.zaThe Breede River Valley is surrounded by majestic mountains and is intensively cultivatedwith orchards, vineyards and wheat lands. The region offers superb views of gigantic cliffs,translucent streams and vast variety of fauna and flora species. The valley was named afterthe Breede (Broad) River that curves its way, snake-like, through the region.The Breede River Valley is the largest of the three fruit- and wine-producing districts in theWestern Cape. This intensively cultivated area boasts some of the top winemakers in thecountry and is also a leading racehorse breeding area.21

The popular Route 62 passes through the region and calls at many of the valley’s finestattractions. This region has it all, from wineries and cultural tours to game reserves, art andcraft centres and outdoor activities. It is a definite must-see and must-do!ASHTONThis town at the bottom of the Langeberge (Long Mountains) is an important wine-producingand fruit-processing centre. The small town progressed from a prosperous farmingcommunity in the 1940s and lies on the Tourist Routes 62 and 60.ADVENTURE AND SPORTCogman’s Kloof: The cliffs and rock formations of the Cogman’s Kloof offer an open invitationto serious rock climbers.Hiking: Hiking trails criss-cross the lower foothills and allow good views of the fynbosvegetation.Mountain-biking: Mountain-bike trails take adventurers through the Wildepaardehoek andpast a dam with lovely scenery.CUISINEWine: Wine cellars are scattered around the town and many cellars offer boat trips on theBreede River to complement the wine-tasting experience. There are several wine farms andcellars in the area, including Ashton Co-op, De Wetshof Estate, Van Loveren and ZandvlietEstate.FAUNA AND FLORASheilam Cactus Farm: Lying close to both Ashton and Robertson, Sheilam is also known asLittle Mexico. The farm grows many exotic cactus plants, many of which are exported to allover the world.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREOld English Fort: This fort, built in 1899 during the Anglo-Boer War, is located in Cogman’sKloof.Steam Locomotive: The locomotive is situated in Main Road and was designed and built inCanada in 1919 by the Montreal Locomotive Works.OTHER ATTRACTIONSStud farms and Racehorses: The area is famous for its stud farms where many of the topracehorses in the country are bred.BONNIEVALEAlso called “beautiful valley”, this town lies in the green Breede River Valley, cultivated withvineyards as well as peach and apricot orchards. Bonnievale is also the valley of cheese andwine and the habitat of a large variety of flora and fauna. The town is situated on thepopular Tourist Route 62.22

ADVENTURE AND SPORTFour-by-four and hiking: Take part in the many opportunities for 4x4 drives and hiking andexplore the natural attractions of the area.Angling, boat trips and canoeing: The Breede River offers many opportunities for these watersports.CUISINECheese: Tours are conducted at Parmalat, a sweet-milk Gouda cheese factory, the largestcheese factory in South Africa.Wine: Several wine estates, co-operatives and wine cellars are found in the area. TheRobertson Wine Route incorporates all the cellars in Bonnievale, including one of the oldestcellars in the region, Nordale Wine Cellar.FAUNA AND FLORABird life: A large variety of beautiful species of birds can be found in the area, among themthe Breede River goose.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREMyrtle Rigg Memorial Church: This age-old church has a solid lead roof and its door comesfrom Zanzibar.CERES (including Prince Alfred Hamlet)Ceres, named after the Roman goddess of fertility, lies at the centre of one of the major fruitgrowingareas in South Africa. The town’s motto, “the beauty of the place enchants us” couldnot have been better chosen. Magnificent mountains surround the village and the Breede23

River drains the valley. The fertile soils and the heaviest rainfall in the Western Cape createideal conditions for the fruit orchards that are cultivated here.Prince Alfred Hamlet lies at the start of the Gydo Pass that climbs the Skurweberg, offering alovely view of the Ceres valley. The village was founded in the early 1860s and named afterQueen Victoria’s second son, Alfred.ADVENTURE AND SPORT4x4, hiking and biking: Suurpoortjie has several 4x4 routes, hiking trails and mountainbikingtrails.Matroosberg Mountain Drive: This drive is only accessible by 4x4 vehicles and has severalviewpoints from which the stunning surroundings can be seen.ARCHAEOLOGY AND PALAEONTEOLOGYSan Rock Art: The Ceres Fynbos Reserve features several examples of San rock art. TheKagga-Kamma Nature Reserve also features some very old San paintings.CUISINECeres Fruit Juices and Ceres Fruit Growers Factory: Ceres Fruit Growers is the largest fruitco-operative in South Africa and has the largest storage complex in the Southern Hemisphere.Book a tour of the facilities, as well as of Du Toit Fruit, where you can see how fruit is driedand kept in cold storage. Ceres Fruit Juices also hosts tours of its facilities.Farm Tours: Guided tours can be organised at various farms to see how fruit is picked,packed and processed.CULTURE / COMMUNITY TOURISMSan village at Kagga-Kamma Nature Reserve: The reserve offers one of the most intriguingcultural experiences in the country. The reserve houses a reconstructed San village wherevisitors may observe the inhabitants practising the ancient skills of their forefathers.FAUNA AND FLORANature Reserves and Game Farms: There are several reserves and farms in the area thatprotect the natural fauna and flora of the region, including Klein Cedarberg Private NatureReserve, Vaalkloof Private Nature Reserve and Matroosberg Reserve.Ceres Fynbos Reserve: The reserve features several examples of San rock art, interestingrockscapes and a profusion of wild flowers and birds that make their home in the fynbos.Kagga-Kamma Nature Reserve: The reserve is home to several species of game and alsohas some extremely old San paintings. Its reconstructed Khoikhoi village aims to preservethe traditional lifestyle of these people and is a popular tourist attraction.Mitchell’s Pass: This is one of the most spectacular stretches of road in the Cape and offersspectacular views of the emerald green countryside.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREToll House: This historical building is a national monument and is situated along the scenicMitchell’s Pass.Transport Riders’ Museum: The museum exhibits a collection of wagons that were used inCeres from 1880 until 1940.24

DE DOORNS (including Touwsriver)This small town in the Hex River Valley was named after a local thorn bush (doringbos). Thevineyards of the Hex River Valley produce most of the export grapes of South Africa. Thelegend of the witch (heks) tells of a young girl, Eliza Meiring, whose great love died a tragicdeath in 1768. When her grief became too much for her to bear, she jumped to her death. Tothis day she is said to wander the area looking for her lost love.During the late autumn season the valley turns into a colour extravaganza, which is verypopular amongst photographers. The Hex River is dominated by the Matroosberg Peak(Sailor Mountain) named after Klaas Matroos who lived in the area.Touws River originated as a railway depot and junction.ADVENTURE AND SPORT4x4 Route: The Hex River 4x4 Trail starts at the foot of the Quado MountainRange. The Aquila Game Reserve also has a 4x4 route.CUISINETours: The De Doorns area is predominately a farming region and many farm tours areorganised where visitors can observe how the fruit is packed and arranged. Some wine farmsgive visitors an opportunity to pick their own grapes.FAUNA AND FLORAAquila Game Reserve: The reserve features some beautiful mountains and is home to manyspecies of animals and birds. Various outdoor activities can also be enjoyed, such as horseroutes and 4x4 trails.25

HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREAstronomical Survey Monument: This extraordinary monument consists of two concretepillars on which astronomical instruments were mounted. These serve as reminders of theBritish who studied the stars here in 1882.Cape Dutch architecture: The stately Cape Dutch homesteads, with their white gabled wallssparkling in the sunlight are scattered throughout the valley, valuable reminders of a moregracious era.Steam Locomotive: The locomotive is displayed in a park in the town centre.GOUDAThis small village lies 15 km west of Tulbagh and boasts a pub that is a livingmuseum.McGREGORThe Victorian houses and old-style thatched cottages lend this village a historic air. McGregoris home to many artists and craftsmen who find their inspiration from the serene environmentand the magnificent natural beauty. The historic town is located on Route 62.ADVENTURE AND SPORTBoesmanskloof Hiking Trail: The trail starts in the village and ends in Greyton. The peace andquiet of this untamed area is guaranteed to restore the mind, body and spirit.26

4x4 Routes: Several routes in the area guarantee picturesque views, especiallyof the mountains.Heron Hiking Trail: The route leads over a flat landscape to two dams, ideal for bird-watching.Kleinberg Hiking Trail: This trail offers magnificent views of McGregor and the surroundingplateau.Mountain-biking: A challenging mountain-biking route zigzags through a local reserve.Rooikat Hiking Trail: The challenging trail winds through the Elandsberg Mountains.ART AND CRAFTSArt and Crafts: Many venues exhibit and sell the works of local artists. Malmani Craftsfocuses on African crafts, Mill Stone Pottery produces translucent handcrafted porcelain,unique to the area, and Roy Reycraft crafts and sells solid brass sundials.Waldorf Market: The Waldorf School organises a morning market on the first Saturday ofeach month.CUISINEMcGregor Winery: The winery is open for wine-tasting and sales.FAUNA AND FLORAKrans Nature Reserve: The reserve is blessed with a beautiful natural environment with manyspecies of birds and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding hills.Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve: The reserve is located 5 km outside the town.MONTAGUMontagu was named after John Montagu, a former Colonial Secretary, and was founded in1851 on the farm Uitvlucht. The town is the gateway to the Little Karoo and lies on Route 62.Situated in an important fruit-growing area, Montagu has the reputation as one of the bestpreservedlate Victorian villages in the Cape. Many believe in the healing qualities of naturalhot-water mineral springs and those at Montagu are popular among many visitors.ADVENTURE AND SPORT4x4 Route: The mighty roar of the 4x4 often resounds along the popularWaboomsberg, Witkwas and Wagon Wheel Routes.Hiking: The hiking trails in the area include the Bloupunt and Cogman’s Kloof trails which offerovernight accommodation.Rock-climbing: This is another popular activity in the area.CUISINEPotjiekos and Tractor Rides: An attraction peculiar to the area is a ride up the LangebergMountains and the opportunity to taste the traditional South African dish, potjiekos.Wine-tasting: The three wine cellars in the area produce excellent wines and are definitelyworth a visit.27

FAUNA AND FLORANature Garden: The garden was founded in 1954 and is open to visitors. In springtime vygiesand other plants are in bloom, transforming the garden into a virtual paradise.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREDutch Reformed Church: The building of this church commenced in 1852.Joubert House: The house is located in Long Street and is the oldest house in the town, builtin 1853.Long Street: Long Street is one of the most historic streets in the country where 14 ofthe town’s 22 national monuments can be found.Montagu Museum: The various historical memorabilia include signed photographs of JohnMontagu.Old English Fort: The fort dates back to 1899 and lies above the Cogman’s Kloof Tunnel.NATURAL WONDERSHot mineral springs: No-one is sure when Montagu’s hot mineral springs were discovered; thegeneral opinion is that they were discovered by early trekkers (pioneers). Today, those whocome here for the benefit of their health can stay at a luxurious hotel. Visitors from overseaseven come to visit these restorative waters.RAWSONVILLEThis town dates back to 1859 and today, lies at the centre of a very successful wineproducingarea. Rawsonville is part of the well-known Route 62.CUISINEWine-tasting: Most of the vineyards in the area offer guided tours and, having sampled theproducts, most visitors find it difficult to resist taking some of the excellent wines home withthem.NATURAL WONDERSATKV Goudini Spa: Rawsonville also lies close to some hot mineral springs and the ATKVGoudini Spa allows visitors to benefit from the springs. Surrounded by mountains and greenvineyards, the area is naturally scenic.ROBERTSONThe town was founded in 1853 and named after the Reverend Robertson, the minister of theDutch Reformed Church in Swellendam at the time. Robertson vineyards produce popularlocal dessert wines and brandies of high repute. The town is the centre for horse-breedingin the Western Cape. It preserves its Georgian and Victorian architecture meticulously. Thetown is situated on Route 62.ADVENTURE AND SPORTHiking and biking: Several hiking and mountain-biking trails traverse the beautiful WaboomMountains.Mountain-biking: Cycling: Guided mountain-biking tours of the area can be arranged.28

Outdoor Activities: The area has a vast array of activities to choose from, such as cyclingthrough the vineyards, hiking, horse-riding, 4x4 routes, mountaineering, canoeing, riverrafting,abseiling and bird-watching.Water-sport: Canoeing trips and other water-sports can be conducted on the Breede River,about 3 km from the town.ART AND CRAFTSHadeda Potteries: Handmade ceramics are created here in a rustic old wine cellar. Othercrafts can also be purchased here.CUISINERobertson Wine Route: This route takes visitors to the green vineyards and aromatic rosegardens of the towns of Ashton, Bonnievale, McGregor and Robertson. Robertson is arecognised Wine of Origin region and the Cape’s largest wine-producing region underirrigation. The route includes some 14 estates and is well known for its dessert wines and forthe production of a unique white wine. The region organises many annual wine shows topromote its outstanding wine estates.Viljoensdrift Wines: Come to Viljoensdrift for the wine-tasting and stay for a boat tour thatshows off the abundance of birds that live in the area.FAUNA AND FLORADassieshoek Nature Reserve: The reserve lies in the Langeberg Mountains and has beautifulmountain scenery, lovely natural plant life and a rich variety of animals.Sheilam Cactus Garden: Lying close to both Ashton and Robertson, Sheilam is also knownas Little Mexico. The farm grows a wide variety of exotic cactus plants, many of which areexported all over the world.Silverstrand Holiday Resort: The resort is situated on the banks of the Breede River and hascamping and water-sport facilities.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURERobertson Museum (Druid’s Lodge): William English named the house Druid’s Lodge andmany of the family’s letters and photos are displayed in the house.SARONThe melodious name of this mission station has its origins in the Bible and it means “thePlains”.TULBAGHThe first settlers came to the area in 1700 and the town was laid out in 1795 and named afterRyk Tulbagh, one of the best Dutch Governors of the Cape. Today, Tulbagh is accessible viaRoute 62. Near tragedy was turned into triumph after an earthquake that shook the town in1969 damaged all the beautiful buildings located in Church Street. Fortunately it was possibleto restore all the buildings to their original state and all were subsequently declared nationalmonuments.29

The stylish white Cape Dutch buildings are beautifully offset by the mountains that surroundthe town.ADVENTURE AND SPORTElsbos Route: One hiking route leads over several farms and gives hikers an idea of howfarming is done here. The second route leads through fynbos vegetation along the hills of theWitzenberg Mountains and guarantees breathtaking views.Fishing: Many farm dams allow fishing of species such as bass, carp and tilapia.Hiking, biking and horse-riding: The Tulbagh area is criss-crossed with several hiking, bikingand horse-riding trails. The Groot Winterhoek Area is known for its lovely hikes. Enquire at thelocal tourism office for more information.Horse-riding: Riding trails lead through fruit trees and vineyards.CUISINEFruit Tours: Some farms offer fruit tours that include a ride on a fruit cart. Dried fruit andpreserves are sold on the premises.Tulbagh Wine Route: This is one of the youngest and smallest wine routes in the Cape. Theroute offers fantastic scenery and visitors can taste the region’s excellent quality wine. Avariety of cellars are on the route, including Drostdy Wine Cellar, Lemberg Wine Estate andTulbagh Wine Cellar.FAUNA AND FLORAGroot Winterhoek Wilderness Area: This area extends over 30 000 ha and lies within theGroot Winterhoek (Great Winter’s Corner) Mountains. The mountainous landscape isalternated by gorges and streams and the natural vegetation is predominately fynbos. Hikersand visitors who are only taking a drive through are guaranteed lovely views.30

HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREChurch Street: Tulbagh’s Church Street has the greatest concentration of nationalmonuments in the country. After it was nearly destroyed during an earthquake in 1969, thehistoric street has been restored to its original Cape Dutch splendour.De Oude Drostdy: One of the town’s national monuments, this establishment was built in1806 and displays an exquisite collection of typical Cape furniture and articles.WOLSELEYThis beautiful town lies in a large farming area and was established in 1893. It is named afterSir Garnet Wolseley, a famous British General and Governor of Natal. The majesticWaaihoek, Witsen and Waterval Mountains that are snow-covered in winter surround thetown. Four beautiful passes lend access to Wolseley, namely Nuwekloof, Bain’s Kloof, DuToit’s Kloof and Mitchell’s Pass. The town is part of the well-known Route 62.ADVENTURE AND SPORTKluitjieskraal Mountain-bike Trail: This biking route takes one over and past beautifulmountains and forests.New Munster Hiking Trail: The hike leads one through indigenous vegetation towards theMostertshoek Mountain.CUISINEWine Estates: Several wine estates, such as Bergsig Wine Estate, De Heuvel Wine and OliveEstate, Romansrivier Wine Estate and Waboomsrivier Wine Cellar allow visits and winetasting.31

WORCESTERThis town was established in 1818 and named for Lord Worcester, elder brother of the thenGovernor of the Cape, Sir Charles Somerset. It is set in the lush valley of the Breede Riverand can be reached from Cape Town through the Du Toit’s Kloof Tunnel carved deep into theHex River Mountains. These mountains are the highest in the Cape and their white-toppedpeaks are visible from far in the distance. The town also lies on the popular Route 62.ADVENTURE AND SPORT4x4 and hiking at Klipbok Mountain Resort: The resort has various hiking and 4x4trails and many birds and animals are found within its boundaries.River-rafting: Professional guides accompany adventurers down the route with its quick andruthless rapids.ART AND CRAFTSHugo Naudé Art Gallery: Naudé was a pioneer artist who established the gallery in 1904 andlived and painted here until his death in 1941. It hosts many exhibitions annually.CUISINEKWV Brandy: One of the largest brandy distilleries in the country is the KWV Brandy Cellar.Worcester Wine Route: The Worcester winelands include the wine cellars of Wolseley,Slanghoek, Villiersdorp, Hex River Valley and, of course, Worcester. The winelands havereceived several awards for their Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinotage and CabernetSauvignon. The wine route comprises some 21 cellars, many of which are situated on Route62.32

FAUNA AND FLORAKaroo National Botanical Garden: This garden is unique in that it is the only truly succulentgarden in the Southern Hemisphere and on the African Continent. The garden is also a havenfor rare and endangered plants and over 300 protected species grow here. There is a diverseselection of succulents, euphorbias and other dry-country plants. Approximately 144 haof the estate are kept as a flora reserve and this section has several kilometres of hikingtrails. After the spring rains the plants of the garden rejoice by bursting into bloom.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREArchitecture: Worcester has several examples of elegant Cape Dutch architecture as well asa number of neoclassical buildings.Beckhuis Museum: The building was erected in 1841 and the museum depicts the lifestyles ofearlier Worcester residents.Kleinplasie Open Air Museum: The museum portrays the way of life of the early farmers.Various old buildings were retained and the museum preserves certain activities andartefacts. Demonstrations of traditional tasks, such as candle-making and bread-making, areheld regularly.33

CAPE TOWNCape Town Convention Bureau7th floor, NBS Waldoff Building, 80 St George's Mall, Cape Town, 8001.PO Box 16548, Vlaeberg, 8018.Tel: +27 (0) 21 483 9410Fax: +27 (0) 21 483 9241E-mail: cmt@capetown.gov.zaWebsite: http://www.gocapetown.co.zaThe sheer abundance of the blessings that have been heaped upon this area at thesouthernmost tip of the African Continent astonishes many people. Majestic mountains, theFynbos Floral Kingdom, pristine beaches, animal and bird species galore, seawaters whereswimming, angling, surfing, yachting and scuba-diving can be done in safety, whales anddolphins and the oldest history in the country – it hardly seems fair for one region to have itall.Cape Town, the administrative capital of South Africa, is perched at the foot of the majesticTable Mountain. The history of Cape Town started in the mid-seventeenth century when theDutch East India Company sent Jan van Riebeeck to the Cape to establish a halfway stationon its trade routes to the Far East. This makes it the oldest city in South Africa.Cape Town, with its cosmopolitan atmosphere, is considered to be one of the world’s mostbeautiful cities. The waters of Table Bay are spread before the city and are dotted with sailingyachts, commercial boats and pleasure vessels. Robben Island lies about 10 kmnorth-west of the harbour. Cape Town is surrounded by nature reserves and has the mostbeautiful scenic coastal drives. In this city, one is never far from the beaches and the sea.34

Cape Town, the Southern Peninsula, Blaauwberg, Helderberg, city of Tygerberg andOostenberg form the Cape Metropole, an extended city. These areas in turn consist ofdifferent suburbs and villages. In addition to its exuberant natural beauty, the city also hasmany sophisticated shopping malls, street markets, theatres and restaurants, as well as avast array of places of historical, architectural and aesthetic interest.The Cape Metropole Tourism is committed to preserving the area’s natural heritage and hasadopted an environmental programme to improve and promote environmental practices, aswell as to increase environmental awareness within the travel and tourism industry.35

CAPE TOWN CENTRALCape Town TourismPinnacle BuildingCorner Burg & Castle Streets, Cape Town, 8000.PO Box 1403, Cape Town, 8000.Tel: +27 (0) 21 426 4260Fax: +27 (0) 21 426 4266E-mail: info@cape-town.orgWebsite: http://www.cape-town.orgCape Town extends over a very large area and its many suburbs each have a uniquecharacter. Some are so big that they could be regarded as individual cities. The northernsuburbs include Goodwood, dating from 1905, Parow with its carillon of 12 bronze bellsthat play their melodies twice daily and Bellville, which offers more than its share ofrestaurants and shopping malls.The southern suburbs are Rosebank, with the Irma Stern Museum of South African Art,Observatory where the SA Astronomical Observatory is located, Newlands, Wynberg with itsheritage of eighteenth-century architecture and Constantia, home of the Wine Museum andthe Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden.ADVENTURE AND SPORTAbseiling, paragliding: The cool breeze lifts paragliders gently from Lion’s Head over the citycentre and abseilers often use Table Mountain as their starting point.36

Beaches: The entire Cape Metropole coast extends a warm hand of welcome to sun and surflovers from all over the world. Among the best-known beaches are the secluded Cliftonbeaches where the beautiful people gather. Muizenberg’s long, sandy beach and its warmwaters with its resort-like atmosphere are popular with families. Gordon’s Bay also offerswater with comfortably warm temperatures. Other safe swimming-beaches include those atthe Strand and Fish Hoek. Sandy Bay is the “official” nudist beach, reached by a footpathfrom Llandudno, and the white sands of Camps Bay Beach are fringed by lovely palm trees.Big Walk: In October, some 20 000 walkers from all ages take part in the Big Walk. The routecovers the 40 km between Simon’s Town and Cape Town.Cycle Tour: The annual 100+ km Argus Cycle Tour attracts more than 30 000 cyclists from allover the world and provides entertainment to thousands of spectators.Diving: The “Cape of Storms”, as the Cape of Good Hope was once called, and its rockycoastline has brought many a ship to an untimely end. It therefore offers some of the bestwreck-diving opportunities in the world. The wrecks differ in age and condition, but they haveall become integrated with their underwater habitat and a large variety of marine creatureslives and feeds in and among the wrecks.Dragon Boat Racing: Another spectacular and exhilarating sport was started in Cape Town in1992, namely Dragon Boat Racing. It started when two ceremonial wooden dragon boatswere presented to Cape Town by Taiwan and since then has become a regular event. Itattracts many onlookers and enthusiasts.Fishing: The sea-around Cape Town has ideal conditions for surfing and deep-sea fishing, aswell as for shore-angling. Some of the fish to be caught here are yellowfin and longfin tuna, aswell as the broadbill swordfish.37

Golf: South Africans love their sunshine and sport and golf is favoured by many. The variousgolf courses scattered all over the Peninsula provide ample opportunities for relaxation.Hiking, walking and cycling: Walking, hiking and cycling are wonderful ways of exploring theCape Metropole and of seeing all the sights at your own pace. The hiking routes of theDurbanville Nature Reserve, Koeberg Private Nature Reserve, Helderberg Nature Reserve,the Milnerton Hiking Trail and the Liesbeeck Hiking Trail provide the opportunity for those whoare less fit to take in the sights at their leisure. Lion’s Head, Silvermine and Tygerberg NatureReserves, Tokai and Newlands Forests, The Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and theConstantia Green Belt can also be explored on foot.Hobie-catting: Fish Hoek and Hout Bay offer ideal conditions for this activity.Horse-racing: The Cape Turf Club and the Western Province (WP) Racing Club holdhorse-racing events on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays as well as polo and gymkhanacompetitions.Mountain-climbing, kloofing: Lion’s Head and Devil’s Peak flank Table Mountain, which offersmany good mountain-climbing and kloofing spots, walks and hikes.Shark-diving: For an adventure that will be the envy of your friends, contact the privatecompany in False Bay which offers diving with the sharks from within the safety of a cage.Alternatively, if you are really brave and an experienced diver, dive with the sharks at the TwoOceans Aquarium at the V&A (Victoria & Alfred) Waterfront.38

Sports: Soccer, cricket and rugby, South Africa’s most popular spectator sports are played atvarious venues all over the Cape Town area.Table Bay is a popular stop-over for yachts on leisure trips and round-the-world yacht racesand during the summer local yacht owners have frequent round-the-buoys races. The RoyalCape Yacht Club is located at the docks of Table Bay and is the starting point for the worldrenownedCape-to-Rio Yacht Race.Two Oceans Marathon: The gruelling 56-km Two Oceans Marathon is another popular longdistanceevent that is held every year over the Easter weekend.Water sport: Sea-kayaking, surf-bashing in an inflatable boat or splitting the waves with a jetski are other ways of exploring the region. Kommetjie and Llandudno are also good surfingspotsand wind-surfing is popular at Big Bay and Bloubergstrand.ART AND CRAFTSHouses of Parliament: The Houses of Parliament, built inhigh Victorian style, house a museum filled with works ofart and other memorabilia dating back to the first CapeParliament of 1854.Long Street: A leisurely stroll along Long Street, which islined with fine Georgian and Victorian buildings that housemodern-day pawnshops and boutiques, often presentvisitors with unexpected treasures. The Turkish baths atthe top of the street are also worth a visit. Please note, however, that there are separatebathing times for men and women.Metropolitan Gallery: The Metropolitan Gallery in the heart of Cape Town city centre at35 Church Street showcases South African art in all the media.39

Michaelis Collection: The Michaelis Collection contains a valuable, internationally renownedcollection of artworks by sixteenth to eighteenth-century Dutch and Flemish masters. It issituated in the Old Town House in Greenmarket Square. Visitors can also browse through thenearby Greenmarket Square flea market and fashion boutiques.South African National Gallery: Cape Town is the home of the South African NationalGallery. The gallery can be reached via the oak-lined Government Avenue that runs throughthe Gardens, at the top of Adderley Street. The National Gallery’s permanent collection hasoutstanding examples of British, French, Dutch and Flemish art, but recent acquisitionsconcentrate on South African contemporary art. It has an extensive collection of beadwork,indigenous sculpture and repatriated artefacts that had been removed from the country overthe last 200 years. The reference library is open to the public and these beautifulsurroundings lend extra flavour to a cup of tea, which can be enjoyed at the Gallery shop andCafé.CUISINEWine and seafood: The Western Cape is the heartland of the wine and seafood industry ofSouth Africa. Wine estates cover vast areas of the province.Goede Hoop Wine Estate: The establishment dates from 1880 and lies on the slopes of abeautiful valley. Visits by appointment only!Kaapzicht Estate: The estate was originally established as the farm Friesland in 1712 andwas later known as Rozendal. In 1946, the estate became the property of the Steytler family.Today, it produces some exquisite wines.CULTURE / COMMUNITY TOURISMBo-Kaap: The Bo-Kaap ("Upper Cape" orMalay Quarter), with its winding narrowsteep streets flanked by restored earlynineteenth-centurycottages painted inpastel colours, strongly retains the flavourof the past. Originally, this area was usedfor slave quarters, stables and militarybarracks. Slaves from Batavia, imported byseventeenth-century Dutch colonists,shared the quarters with the imams exiledfrom Indonesia for challenging Dutchcolonial rule. Their descendants continue tolive here and the Cape Malay community,which has evolved over centuries, retainsits strong group identity. Most of the inhabitants of the colourful houses are devout Muslimsand the call to prayer is a regular sound in the area. The Bo-Kaap Cultural History Museum at71 Wale Street is housed in one of the oldest surviving buildings in the area, erected in the1760s. The museum portrays the lifestyle of a typical Malay family of the nineteenth centuryand also displays a collection of historical carts and carriages. It is a meeting place for Bo-Kaap residents who also host their own exhibitions about Muslim culture here.40

District Six: The once vibrant multicultural suburb of District Six, now mostly barren land, liesas testimony to the power of Apartheid to destroy communities. The Group Areas Act, whichenforced strict separation of the various race groups, was passed in 1950 and resulted in60 000 residents of District Six being moved and their houses demolished. Althoughlittle evidence remains of its former tenants except for some churches, schools andmosques, many people still mourn the community’s passing. The creativity and richcommunity life of the original inhabitants is legendary. Relics of this community are housedin the District Six Museum at 25A Buitenkant Street, once the Methodist Church, situated onthe outskirts of the city centre. The museum seeks to be a living memorial to all dispossessedcommunities and to provide for their coming together to share their stories as wellas making other contributions. An especiallytouching display is a map of District Six on whichits former residents have indicated where theirhomes and other landmarks used to be.Townships: Organised township tours offer visitors thebest opportunity to learn more about the people andtheir lives. Tours include visits to “spaza shops”(township shops), township taverns (better known as“shebeens”) and to some of the local residents’homes. Another stopover would be the local craftmarket and many look forward to the visit to atraditional healer and the herbal store. One of thelargest residential areas in the Cape, Mitchell’s Plain,spreads across the Cape Flats and was demarcatedas a residential area for the Cape coloureds duringthe Apartheid years. Blacks were restricted to thetownships of Langa, Nyanga and Guguletu. Morerecently, migrants from the Eastern Cape begansquatting in Khayelitsha (Xhosa for “new home”).ENTERTAINMENT AND SHOPPINGCape Town has a vibrant nightlife and offers a wide variety of entertainment. Besides theVictoria and Alfred Waterfront, with its many bars, restaurants and cafés, the city centre isanother entertainment hub.The Nico Malan Theatre is the chief venue for the performing arts and the Jazz Café inManenberg plays host to indigenous Cape jazz talent. The club scene is centred in the areaaround Loop Street and Long Street. There are movie theatres in all areas of Cape Town,some specialising in less mainstream productions. Cape Town is also a haven for shoppers,ranging from luxurious modern shopping centres, street sellers, antique and designer shopsin the city to the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront and various flea markets.Camphill Village: Camphill is a unique rural residential and working community. Thisbiodynamic farm in Klein Dassenberg Road, Atlantis, provides work for people with specialneeds and all the goods they manufacture are for sale to the public. The farm has a herband vegetable garden and plant nursery and produces dairy, cosmetic and confectioneryproducts. The craft market is open on the first Sunday of every month and picnic spots,guided tours and a children’s corner offer hours of entertainment.41

Flea markets: Flea markets arevery much part of the CapeTown culture. The Pan AfricanMarket in Long Street is believedto be the largest of its kind in thecountry. It sells African arts andcrafts and many of the artists canbe seen at work in their studios.Other flea markets includepermanent markets at CapeTown Station and at the Victoria& Alfred once used as a militaryparade ground in the eighteenthand nineteenth centuries. Today,it operates as a giant car park oras a thriving open-air market,depending on the day of the week. The stalls offer an astonishing collection of fabrics, plasticware,haberdashery and food. The Khayelitsha Craft Market is situated in Khayelitshatownship and offers a variety of uniquely crafted African items. Visit it as part of a townshiptour. The Philani Flagship Project in Crossroads trades in hand-printed fabrics.Greenmarket Square: At the heart of the citylies Greenmarket Square, home to apermanent flea market and lined with shopsand restaurants. The adjoining pedestrian mall,St Georges Street, has many interesting stallsand shops. Greenmarket Square is bounded byShortmarket, Longmarket and Burg Streets andused to be a fruit and vegetable market. Today,the market bustles with flea market stalls thatsell everything from art to clothes. The fleamarket is open from Monday to Saturday.Locals and visitors congregate here to shop,eat good food or simply to relax .Monwabisi: The coastal resort off BadenPowell Drive boasts the largest man-made poolin the Southern Hemisphere and its many otherfacilities make it a popular resort.Ratanga Junction: This theme-park offersunparalleled entertainment for young and oldand will keep the entire family entertained forhours. Ratanga activities range from adrenalinepumpingrides in day-time to night-timeentertainment for adults such as night clubsand pubs.Shopping Centres: Cape Town has several modern shopping centres, such as CavendishSquare in Claremont, the N1 City Centre with its indoor Putt-Putt centre and Sanlam Centre inthe northern suburbs.42

Victoria and AlfredWaterfront: The Waterfront isprobably one of the firstplaces that people visit whenthey reach the city. And onevisit will probably not beenough as there is just toomuch to do and see. TheWaterfront is easily reachablefrom the CBD along CoenSteytler Avenue and from theAtlantic suburbs along Beachand Portswood Roads. It isactually a large workingharbour, which has beendeveloped into a touristattraction.The history of the Waterfront dates back to 1860, when Prince Alfred, the second son ofQueen Victoria, tipped the first rock for the construction of the harbour. The original AlfredBasin was too small to handle the increased sea traffic and the larger Victoria Basin wassubsequently built. The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront successfully incorporates a workingharbour, restaurants, historical sites and entertainment into a year-round attraction frequentedby locals and tourists. Embark on a boat trip from the harbour, browse in the flea market,watch street entertainers or take a leisurely stroll along the Waterfront. Eat in restaurantsoffering cuisine from all over the world or enjoy takeaways by the waterside, surrounded byseagulls, vigilantly keeping watch for that stray crumb. The selection of theatres, cinemas,restaurants, bars and live music venues provides entertainment late into the night. TheWaterfront also includes the Two Oceans Aquarium, the Maritime Museum, the TelkomExploratorium and the Imax cinema with its five-storey-high screen.FAUNA AND FLORACape Peninsula NationalPark (CPNP): The CapePeninsula National Parkis one of Africa’sconservation icons andprotects such diverse areasas mountains, coasts andmarine reserves. It lies atthe south-western tip ofAfrica and encompasses thePeninsula Mountain Chainthat stretches forapproximately 60 km fromSignal Hill in the north toCape Point in the south.Cape Point is thesouthernmost point in theCape Peninsula and not, asmany mistakenly believe,the most southerly point in Africa43

The proclamation of the CPNP in May 1998 united several parks and reserves as one entityunder a single management authority. Today, the Cape Peninsula National Park incorporatesTable Mountain and its neighbours, Devil’s Peak and Lion’s Head, as well as three previouslyexisting reserves, the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, Table Mountain Nature Reserveand the Silvermine Nature Reserve. Various other areas have also been identified forinclusion in the future.Most of the park, except for theCape of Good Hope area, isunfenced. The CPNP can beaccessed at several places,namely the KirstenboschBotanical Gardens, theOudekraal Reserve, theSilvermine Reserve, BouldersPenguin Colony and the Cape ofGood Hope Nature Reserve. Thepark is surrounded by CapeTown Metropolitan Area andoffers an astounding variety oflandscapes, flora and fauna.Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden: This truly magnificent garden, established as aNational Botanical Garden in 1913, is world-famous for its indigenous plants and for its settingon the slopes of Table Mountain. It has a charming restaurant and gift store and visitors canalso bring along their picnic baskets. Guides can be arranged and regular guided walks takeplace on Tuesdays and Saturdays.The Silvermine Reserve off the Ou Kaapse Weg (Old Cape Road) also features manyspecies of fynbos (proteas, ericas and reeds), and several species of indigenous trees.Included in this section on the eastern side of the Peninsula are the Muizenberg and Kalk BayMountains. A mountain-bike route and several hikes lead to Noordhoek Peak and NoordhoekRidge that has picnic and ablution facilities. The Sunbird Environmental Recreation Centre ison Silvermine Road in the reserve. It has accommodation for some 42 people and offersguided walks, adventure activities, wetlands, hiking trails, night-time exploration and art andcraft sessions.The Boulders Penguin Colony is near Simon’s Town. During the late 1980s a few breedingpairs of the endangered African or “jackass” penguin settled here and since then the colonyhas grown steadily. The boardwalk from which visitors can observe these cute little creatureshas been designed to be wheelchair-friendly.The Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve is part of the rock-bound coastal section. Thediverse types of coastal fynbos found in the southern region of the reserve have successfullyevolved to survive in the salty, sandy and nutrient-poor soil.The area protected by the CPNP includes the coastline and the marine species living alongthe coast. The Cape Peninsula Marine Reserves include the following sections: from Jager’sWalk (Fish Hoek) to Glencairn Beach, from Bakoven Rock (south of Miller’s Point) toBobbejaanklip (south of Partridge Point), Cape Point to Scarborough, Melkbos Point to DieJosie, and Lourens River (Strand) to the southern breakwater of Gordon’s Bay Harbour.44

Cape Point marks the point where the cold Benguela Current and warmer Agulhas Currentcome together. Because of this phenomenon some 660 of the 2 008 species of marineinvertebrates and vertebrates that have been identified along the Southern African coastlinefrom Namibia to Mozambique are found on the Peninsula coast.No section of the Peninsula is wider than 10 km, a relatively small region to host such adiversity and variety of fauna and flora, geological, cultural and historical assets. The mainvegetation is the mountain fynbos of the Cape Floral Kingdom. More than 2 285 species ofplants grow on the Peninsula. The main fynbos types are proteas, Cape reeds or grass andericas, hardy plants that thrive in the less than hospitable soil. But the diversity does not endhere – other types of vegetation include renosterveld grassland, ground orchids, beachvegetation and evergreen forests. Many of the approximately 1 470 species of plants foundon Table Mountain are found nowhere else in the world.45The diversity of the vegetation of thepark is equalled by the diversity ofthe animal and bird species that usethe park for shelter and food. Manymedium and smaller-sized animals,such as bontebok and baboons, anda multitude of birds can be seen inthe park. One of the reptilianspecies found here and nowhereelse in the world is the TableMountain ghost frog.The park does not only meritattention because of its naturalattractions, but also because of itsmany sites of archaeological and historical significance. Sites include prehistoric middens leftbehind by San hunter-gatherers in caves, commemorative crosses honouring the Europeanseamen who first travelled here and shipwrecks that lie along the coast.The park area offers several other attractions and activities, such as information andeducation centres, restaurants, tea gardens and souvenir shops. The cable car that travels upTable Mountain and the Cape Point funicular railway, the only such railway in Africa, are bothpopular activities that allow visitors to view the park in all its splendour. The funicular railwayleads to a viewing platform at the old lighthouse on Cape Point, some 678 m above sea level.The lighthouse can also be reached via a hiking trail. Just imagine the breathtaking view thatthis vantage point has to offer. Other activities in the park include hiking and climbing routes,two launch sites for hang-gliders and parasailers at Lion’s Head and Silvermine, scuba-divingand snorkelling. For more information, consult the National Parks menu or visit the park’swebsite at http://www.capepeninsula.co.zaFynbos: The Cape Metropolitan area is home to one of the six floral kingdoms of the world.More than 8 600 indigenous species of plants, some 5 800 of which are found nowhere elsein the world grow here. Fynbos grows abundantly on the mountains, coasts and plains.During winter and spring, when the rains bring forth an amazing explosion of flowers, theCape's fynbos is at its most spectacular. Many nature reserves have been established toprotect the area’s natural riches. Mountain fynbos carpets the lower slopes of the Hottentots-Holland Mountain Range, Strandveld (coastal) fynbos thrives at the Koeberg Reserve inBlaauwberg and the Wolfgat Reserve in the South Peninsula. In the Helderberg andTygerberg Reserves, proteas and shrubs are abundant and, in the clay mountain soils of

Durbanville Reserve, some of the rarest and most endangered species of renosterveld fynbosgrows. For more information on the Fynbos Floral Kingdom, consult the article on fynbos onthis CD.Ostriches: The West Coast Ostrich Farm in Van Schoorsdrift Road, just off National Road N7to Malmesbury, offers educational and entertaining talks and visitors can see these singularbirds in their natural habitat. The adventurous visitor may accept the challenge to attempt tostay on an ostrich’s back while it emphatically does not want you to. The farm also has arestaurant, outdoor boma (a sheltered outside barbecue area) and a souvenir shop.Robben Island: Robben Island is not only recognised for its historical value and WorldHeritage status, it also boasts a thriving natural environment. During springtime there is adazzling array of wild flowers in bloom. About 74 species of birds are found on the island andmany seabirds use it as a breeding ground. There is a big breeding population of Africanpenguins on the island. On the boat trip between Cape Town and Robben Island visitors mayspot several species of marine mammals such as Cape fur seals, whales and dolphins. Onthe island, animals such as ostrich, bontebok, springbok and many more can be found.Tree Lane: The lane is the longest historic bluegum tree lane in South Africa. Enjoy its leafytranquillity along Road R304, Old Darling Road.Two Oceans Aquarium: This man-made attraction is the largest and most technicallyadvanced aquarium on the African Continent. It is situated at the Alfred & Victoria Waterfrontand tells the story of the two oceans surrounding the Cape, the Atlantic and Indian Oceans,by cleverly using some ingenious displays. The displays include kelp forests, as well asinhabitants of the ocean ranging from the smallest (plankton and sea horses), to some of the46

largest (sharks and rays).If you arrive at the righttime, you can watchwhile the turtles andsharks are fed by divers.And, if you wish tobecome a more activeparticipant, a popularattraction is a dive intothe shark tank.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREThe beauty of Cape Town and its surroundings has inspired the building of graceful andbeautiful buildings. Today, the city mirrors the history and architecture of the manygenerations of people who settled here over the ages. Many of the old architectural wondershave been well preserved and stand in stark contrast to their neighbours, imaginativecreations of glass and steel.Bertram House: There are many beautiful houses in Cape Town, which have been restored toreflect the different eras and the lifestyles of those who lived in them. Bertram House is a lateGeorgian red-brick house at the top of Government Avenue and contains extensive collectionsof Georgian furniture, Chinese and English porcelain and English silver. It also has aninteresting programme of exhibitions, craft demonstrations, workshops, lectures, chambermusic and concerts. Bertram House is furnished in the style of a wealthy, nineteenth-centuryBritish residence and the period garden adds to the effect.Breakwater Prison (Lodge): The lodge is located in Portswood Road at the Waterfront andwas built in 1895 to house convicts who were cutting stone for the breakwater. Visitors canstill see the treadmill that was installed in 1890 to discipline the prisoners. Today, this buildinghouses the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business and the BreakwaterLodge.Cape Medical Museum: The museum is housed at the New Somerset Hospital in PortswoodRoad, which was built by Governor Sir George Grey in 1859. It depicts the history of earlymedical science in the former home of the superintendent of the hospital.Castle of Good Hope: The Castle in Buitenkant Street is the oldest existing building in SouthAfrica and is one of Cape Town’s landmarks. This stone fort, in the shape of a five-3pointedstar, was constructed from 1666 to 1679 and stands across the Grand Parade from theCity Hall. Its five bastions are named after the different titles of the Prince of Orange of theNetherlands. Its 10-m-thick walls and five corner bastions mark the skyline with the historyof its time. Still used as a military base, its ancient rooms also house a museum with military47

and maritimeartefacts dating backto the seventeenthcentury. The Castlealso houses theWilliam FehrCollection ofpaintings andantiques.Company’s Gardens: The area known as the Gardens, at the top of Adderley Street, is thesite of the original Company’s Gardens. The Gardens were established in 1652 by Jan vanRiebeeck to supply fresh food to passing ships. Today, the oak-lined Government Avenue ishome to friendly grey squirrels and offers tired office workers a refuge from the city bustle.The Gardens has a sun dial that dates back to 1787, as well as a bell tower that datesback to 1855. The avenue also leads to the South African Museum, the South AfricanNational Gallery, the Bertram House Museum and the Jewish Museum. South Africa’sParliament Buildings are nearby and stand around the cobbled Stal Plein (Stable Square).Grand Parade: The parade is inDarling Street and is one of CapeTown’s historical squares. It was amilitary parade ground during theeighteenth and nineteenthcenturies. Thick red lines arepainted on the ground to indicatewhere the fort, the first building inCape Town, used to stand.Groote Kerk: The “Great Church”is the parent Church of the DutchReformed Church and also theoldest church in South Africa. Itwas completed in 1704 and hasbeen enlarged twice. It containsan elaborate carved pulpit and beautiful collections of Cape silver and old family crests. Theclock in the bell tower (part of the original building) has a very distinctive two-tone strike.Holocaust Centre: Cape Town is home to the first and only Holocaust Centre in Africa. TheCentre is in Hatfield Street, conveniently located in Cape Town’s “museum mile” and close tothe South African National Gallery, the South African Museum, the South African Library andthe South African Jewish Museum. The Centre was established to commemorate the48

six million Jews who died in the Holocaust during Nazi rule in Germany. It is open fromSundays to Thursdays from 10:00 to 17:00; and on Fridays from 10:00 to 13:00.For more information visit the website at http://www.museums.org.za/ctholocaustKoopmans-De Wet House: The dwelling is situated in Strand Street and was built in 1702. Itssuperb neoclassical façade dates back to the late eighteenth century and the furnishingsinclude valuable collections of porcelain, glass, furniture and art works. The house is famousfor its unique wall paintings and also for the immense vine-growing in the courtyard, reputedto be the oldest vine in South Africa.Old Slave Lodge: The lodge is situated at the top of Adderley Street. It is the second oldestbuilding in Cape Town and displays various historical aspects of the Cape. The originalbuilding, built in 1679, served as a lodge for slaves of the Dutch East India Company. It couldhouse about 600 slaves and was also used at various times to hold criminals and theemotionally disturbed. In the mid-eighteenth century, an upper storey was added. The slaveswere moved to a new lodge close by and the British government set up office here in 1807.After this it was used as a post office, library and the Supreme Court. Today, it houses theSouth African Cultural History Museum. The history of slavery in Cape Town can also befollowed to the slave execution site and the Slave Tree where slaves were auctioned.Old Town House: The building, completed in 1761, is located on Greenmarket Square andwas one of the first double-storey buildings in Cape Town. It has had many uses, includingamongst others being the seat of the Burgher Watch, the Burgher Senate, a magistrate’scourt and police station. It served as Cape Town’s City Hall until 1905 when the presentCity Hall, with its baroque embellishments and honey-marble façade in ItalianRenaissance-style, was completed on the Grand Parade. The Old Town House is now amuseum. The City Hall lies in Darling Street and overlooks the Grand Parade. It also housesthe City Library and the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra. The Municipal Carillon in thetower consists of 39 bells and its distinctive clear sound can sometimes be heard over thedin of the city sounds.Maritime Museum: This unique institution is situated in the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. Itdepicts the influence of the sea on the lives of South African people and the development ofthe South African Navy. It houses the largest display of model ships in the country, as well asshipwreck artefacts. The Discovery Cove for children and the Ship Model workshops arepopular attractions. The Museum Ship SAS Somerset, the last remaining Boom DefenceVessel in the world, is berthed metres away from the Maritime Museum, where a dioramashows how boom defence vessels protected harbours during World War II.Martin Melck’s House: This handsome Lutheran Church, which was erected surreptitiously,ostensibly as a storehouse in 1774 by Martin Melck, a wealthy Lutheran merchant, is inStrand Street. At that time, the only religion permitted at the Cape was that of the DutchReformed Church. The parsonage adjoining it was built in 1787 and the Martin Melck Houseon the other side of it was built in 1781, after Melck’s death. The complex as a whole is anexcellent example of eighteenth-century Cape architecture. Martin Melck’s House nowhouses its newest addition, the Gold of Africa Museum, featuring a large collection of Africangold artefacts.Noon Gun: At exactly midday every day, a single shot is fired from the Noon Gun atop SignalHill in the Bo-Kaap district. The cannon was first fired from the Castle in 1806 to signal thecorrect time to navigators out at sea. It was then moved to Signal Hill, still primarily tocommunicate to ships but in 1918, the mayor of Cape Town started a new tradition. Thecannon was used to signal a two-minute, midday pause to pray for the men who were fightingWorld War I.49

Rhodes Memorial: The memorial is situated in Rondebosch off Rhodes Drive. This Memorialis built of Table Mountain granite in memory of Cecil John Rhodes, who was Prime Minister ofthe Cape Colony from 1890 to 1896. The area also has a magnificent view of the Cape Flats,False Bay and the Drakenstein Mountains.Robben Island: The historical Island has played such a significant role in the history of SouthAfrica that it has gained recognition as a World Heritage Site. This island, just off the WesternCape coast, has had an eventful past. It has seen service as an asylum, a leper colony and,more recently, as a jail for political prisoners. South Africa’s former President, the firstPresident of the democratic South Africa, Nelson Mandela, was its most famous inhabitant.As the freedom struggle progressed, the island prison became an important symbol in thefight against political and racial oppression. Tours to the island are highly educational but alsoinclude the fun of a boat trip to the island. Advance booking is essential. The boats leave fromthe Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. For more information, read the section on Robben Islandunder World Heritage Sites.Sendinggestig Museum: The museum is located at 40 Long Street and is an old 1804 slavechapel that houses exhibits on the Christian missions that operated in the Western Cape.South African Air Force Museum: The museum is in Piet Grobler Street at Ysterplaat AirForce Base, in the suburb of Brooklyn and depicts the history of the SA Air Force withexhibitions of old military uniforms, aircraft and other articles.South African Cultural Museum: The museum is situated in Adderley Street and featuresexhibits ranging from ceramics, toys, silver, textiles and artefacts from ancient Egypt, Greeceand Rome and the East. Indigenous pottery, the work of modern South African ceramists anda unique postal stone collection can also be seen. Before the Cape was colonised, postalstones were used by passing ships as temporary post offices. The name of the ship and thedate when it visited the Cape were engraved on stones to communicate with other passingships. The Post Office Stone, after the two padraos (memorial crosses) erected byBartholomeu Dias, one at Luderitz in Southern Namibia and one at Kwaaihoek in Table Bay in1488, is the oldest known relic left by the Portuguese in Southern Africa. It is also the earliest50

inscribed stone in South Africa and was made of a local stone, Malmesbury shale. The stonewas originally left on the shores of Table Bay and removed for building purposes. A cast ofthe stone is also on view in the Table View Library. The tombstones of Jan van Riebeeck andhis wife lie in the courtyard of the museum.South African Fisheries Museum: Cape Town is home to the South African FisheriesMuseum. The museum features interesting exhibitions, models of fishing boats and fishinggears.South African Jewish Museum and Synagogue: This unique and historical establishment isfound at 84 Hatfield Street, and houses a rich collection of items depicting the history of CapeTown’s Jewish community and also early South African history. It was South Africa’s firstsynagogue. The museum is open from 10:00 to 17:00 from Sundays to Thursdays.South African Museum: Theestablishment is located inQueen Victoria Street. It wasopened in 1825 and is theoldest and largest museumin the country. The museumhas recreated scenes ofSouth African life throughthe ages and houses a richvariety of exhibitions,ranging from nature topeople and their history. Itsexhibitions include suchtreasures as a fossil gallery,which depicts the process ofevolution in the Karoo, aWhale Well and the onlyexisting example of a quagga foal (an extinct form of zebra). The Whale Well is a multisensory,multimedia display featuring suspended whale skeletons and the songs of whales.The museum also includes some of the finest rock art collections in the world, namely theCold Stream Stone and the Zamenkomst and Linton panels. For more information, contact itswebsite at http://www.museums.org.za/sam/St George’s Cathedral: The imposing cathedral is to be found at the bottom of the Gardens, inGovernment Avenue. The famous architect Sir Herbert Baker designed this magnificentbuilding.Statues: Life-size statues of Jan van Riebeeck and his wife Maria proudly watch over the citythey started and can be seen close to the City Hall in the city centre.Tuynhuis: Tuynhuis is the official Cape Town residence of South Africa’s President andstands in Government Avenue.Victoria and Alfred Waterfront: The V&A Waterfront was built in 1860 and is still a workingharbour. Many of the original buildings have been renovated and new ones built, all in themagnificent Victorian architectural design. There is a range of historical attractions to visit atthe Waterfront. The Old Harbour Tea Room, dating back to 1902, is now an upmarketrestaurant and the Robinson Dry Dock dates back to 1876. To this day it still provides repair51

facilities for the harbour. Other historical attractions include the Time Ball Tower and the OldClock Tower, which was built in 1887.NATURAL WONDERSTable Mountain: The characteristic flat-topped outline of Table Mountain is probably one ofthe most photographed and painted skylines in the world. Visible from some 150km awayat sea, it has, since the time of the first recorded discovery of the Cape of Good Hope in 1488,brought a feeling of homecoming to many seafarers. The trip up the mountain is anadventure in its own right and the views of the mountain and surrounds are not to be missed.Once at the top, you will stand amazed at the beautiful views of the city of Cape Town, theCape Flats and the coastline, stretching on one side from Table Bay to False Bay and on theother to the valley of Hout Bay and Kommetjie village. The modernised Table MountainCableway features a rotating cable car that gives a 360-degrees view of Cape Town.Enjoy the journey and the view from the natural “table top” that stretches for nearly 3 kmfrom end to end and stop for a while at the restaurant and souvenir shop.Depending on the time of the year, Cape Town’s icon is often hidden from the eye by a thickblanket of white cloud draped over it by the mighty southeaster wind. According to legend, theclouds are the billowing smoke from the pipes of the Devil and the legendary tobacco addict,Van Hunks, locked in a contest to see who could smoke the most. The prize of the contestwas Van Hunks’ soul.Table Mountain, naturally sculpted from sandstone, rises some 1 086 m above Table Bay.Small, eroded necks connect its two peaks. Kloof Nek is linked to the 669-m-high Lion’sHead, which in turn is connected by what looks like a lion’s body to Signal Hill, once used asa semaphore post for communication with ships at sea. Devil’s Peak stands to attention on52

the other side of the mountain. The front end of Table Mountain is only the front edge of the53-km craggy mountain sandstone spine that runs the length of the Cape Peninsula.The entire mountain area iscovered with more than 1 470species of fynbos and someof the plants and animals onthe mountain are found onlyhere and nowhere else in theworld. The famous silver treeand the Table Mountainghost frog are but twoexamples of the uniquemembers of this naturalbotanical kingdom.Trips up the mountain roadsoffer views of the differentworlds of city, sea and land.The road up Signal Hill offerssuperb views of the city andthe Atlantic seaboard. Thespiral pathway up Lion’s Head passes through silver trees and spring flowers and at night, theview of the sparkling city lights with a backdrop of a floodlit Table Mountain, is without equal.There are some 350 routes from the bottom ofthe mountain to the summit, ranging fromundemanding to extremely difficult, andshould only be undertaken by experiencedclimbers. Besides walks and hikes, there isrock-climbing, cross-country running, botany,birding, geology, abseiling and paragliding tobe enjoyed. However, most people are quitecontent to stand in awe of God’s wonderfulcreation.OTHER ATTRACTIONSCaltex Petrochemical Refinery: The refinery islocated in Plattekloof Road and offers guidedtours that need to be arranged beforehandwith the refinery.Planetarium: The planetarium is located at theSouth African Museum in Victoria Street andis accessible to wheelchairs.Telkom Exploratorium: This exciting placebrings the science of telecommunicationsvividly to life and allows children to participatein the displays.53

ATHLONEThis mainly Muslim area is one of the oldest suburbs in Cape Town. The sounds of theinformal traders who make their living selling wares on the street give Athlone a distinctiveand colourful character.ADVENTURE AND SPORTAthlone Stadium: The stadium hostsweekly soccer matches during thesoccer season.CULTURE / COMMUNITY TOURISMPeople who are interested in meetingpeople of different culturalbackgrounds often visit the clubs,restaurants and cinemas in Athlone.CAMPS BAYThis charming coastal suburb lies along the Atlantic Ocean and is framed by the TwelveApostles Mountain Range. It was named after a retired sailor, Friedrich von Kamptz, whosettled in the area in 1778. The palm-lined beachfront with its many restaurants and coffeeshops has a permanent holiday atmosphere.Further along the coastal road thegrand profiles of the TwelveApostles (Table Mountain’swestern buttresses) can be seenjutting out like the prows ofancient ships.ADVENTURE AND SPORTBeaches: Camps Bay andClifton’s world-renowned beachesare favoured by high society sunlovers.Camps Bay Beach with itslong white stretch of sand, palmtrees, tidal pool and braai(barbecue) area is popular forfamily activities. The surf is strong and there is no lifeguard but a rescue helicopter fliesregular patrols. Since the beach is not protected from the wind, it is not suitable for paddleskiersor surfers. To reach the beach, follow Victoria Road from Sea Point past Clifton.Hiking: Experience the natural beauty of the area by following the Pipe Track, a walk thatstarts at Kloofnek.54

Oudekraal: This point is a popular picnic spot along the coastal road from Camps Bay toLlandudno. Its small beaches offer safe swimming and its very deep water is well suited forscuba-diving.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREBellsfontein Kramat: This beautiful shrine was built in honour of the Islamic holy manNureelmobeen.Round House: The house was a hunting lodge built for Lord Charles Somerset, Governor ofthe Cape in the nineteenth century. It looks out over Camps Bay and houses a restaurantwhere visitors can relax and enjoy the magnificent view.CLIFTON (including Bantry Bay)55The four sheltered beaches of the exclusivesuburb of Clifton are the playing grounds ofmany world citizens. Clifton has aninternational reputation and in summer thebeaches are crowded by sun-worshippersfrom all over the world.ADVENTURE AND SPORTBantry Bay: The beach called Saunder’sRocks has a tidal pool for safe swimming.Beaches: Since Clifton is protected from thesouth-easterly wind, its beaches have

ecome some of the most popular venues in the area. Massive granite boulders separateClifton’s four beaches, which lie just off Victoria Road. Clifton offers safe conditions forbathing and body-surfing, but the strong undertow needs to be taken into consideration. Thepermanent presence of lifesavers add to the safe swimming conditions of the beaches.GREEN POINT (including Mouille Point)The suburb of Green Point lies on the slopes of Signal Hill, near the city centre.ADVENTURE ANDSPORTMouille Point: Enjoy aRollerblade adventurealong the sunset stripof Mouille Point.Sport Stadium: One ofthe largest sportstadiums in thePeninsula can befound on Green PointCommon, a formermilitary camp.ENTERTAINMENTAND SHOPPINGChildren’sRecreational Park:The park in BeachRoad offersentertainment suchas train rides,scooters and boats.Green Point Market:The colourful marketat Green PointStadium is openevery Sunday andsells everything fromcurios to antiques.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREDesign Museum: The innovative museum in the Green Point warehouse district is housed ina turn-of-the-century foundry building and promotes local design and gives access tointernational work. The museum displays design of all kinds, such as graphic, interior,architecture, jewellery, clothing, furniture, textile and product design. To learn more about themuseum, visit the website at www.designmuseumsa.co.zaGreen Point Lighthouse: Located at Mouille Point in Beach Road, the lighthouse is adistinctive landmark with its red and white stripes. It was built in 1824 and is the oldestlighthouse in the country.56

Mouille (“Mole”) Point: The point was named after an early mole built to provide a breakwaterfor Table Bay Harbour.OTHER ATTRACTIONSSerendipity Maze: The maze in Beach Road allows visitors to exercise both their minds andtheir bodies. This maze consists of hedge-lined paths through which visitors can find the wayto the centre of the maze.GUGULETUThis township, whose Xhosa name means “Our pride,” was built to house black people whomoved to the city after World War II. The area reverberates with the rhythms of African jazzand the calls of street sellers. All the street names are made up of the letters NY (NativeYard) and a number. For more information, visit Guguletu’s website athttp://www.sivuyile.co.zaADVENTURE AND SPORTSports Stadium: Boxing devotees have the opportunity to watch boxing at Guguletu’s IndoorSports Stadium.CULTURE / COMMUNITY TOURISMTownship tours: Conducted byprofessional tour guides, these tours arethe best way to experience life in thiscolourful area. Events include listening totypical township jazz sounds at theUluntu Community Centre.LANGALanga, meaning “Sun” in Xhosa, is Cape Town’s oldest black township established to houselocal black people who were evicted from their homes from 1923 to 1927. It was namedafter Langalibalele, a chief of the Amahlubi tribe in KwaZulu-Natal, who was banished to theCape in 1874 for rebelling against the British authorities in what was then the Crown Colonyof Natal.CULTURE / COMMUNITY TOURISMTownship Tours: The rich culture and history of this area is best explored in the company of aprofessional tour guide. Attractions include several taverns and Langa High School, the oldestblack high school in South Africa.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREOld Station and Cemetery: The Old Station and Cemetery is situated off Brinton Street and isthe last resting place of many famous South Africans.57

NEWLANDS (including Claremont and Kenilworth)The fashionable Newlands suburb lies on the upper reaches of the Liesbeeck River. Theseventeenth-century Dutch Governor Adriaan van der Stel built his country home in this areaand Lady Anne Barnard had her cottage called “Paradise” here. The suburb of Claremontsuburb was originally the Weltevreden Estate.ADVENTURE AND SPORTHiking in Newlands Forest: Amongst the tall trees there are many hiking paths that lead to theNewlands Reservoir. Beyond the reservoir is the pine forest and the Newlands Stream, whichcan also be explored on foot.Kenilworth Racecourse: This competitive establishment is located in Rosmead Avenue,Kenilworth and is home to the SA Turf Club. The highlight of summer racing, the annual J&BMetropolitan Handicap, is held here.Sport: Newlands is the home of the well-known Newlands Cricket Grounds and NewlandsRugby Stadium.FAUNA AND FLORAArderne Gardens: Located in Main Road, Claremont, the gardens are a spectacular exampleof Victorian gardens and have the finest collection of trees in Southern Africa.Ralph Henry Arderne established the gardens, originally part of the Arderne Estate,in 1845. The municipality acquired them in 1927 on the death of Arderne’s son.Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens: These wonderful gardens are situated in Rhodes Drive andare world renowned for their magnificent setting against the eastern slopes of Table Mountainand for the beauty and diversity of the Cape flora they contain. Their formally designed58

flower-beds blend into the natural surrounding fynbos and the yellowwood forests of themountain slopes. This botanical garden, which contains only flora indigenous to SouthernAfrica, boasts over 5 000 species. Footpaths meander through the garden, leading up into themountain slopes above and eventually to the top of Table Mountain. The Braille Trail and theFragrance Garden - filled with fragrant plants that visitors are encouraged to touch and smell -have labels in large print and Braille. Musical sunset concerts are held on the lawns insummer and exhibitions of African sculpture may be found competing for attention with theflowers. Kirstenbosch also hosts specialised plant exhibitions. There are restaurants, and anewly established Botanical Society Conservatory displays succulent plants from drierregions of the country, as well as specialised collections of alpines, bulbs, ferns and stoneplants(small succulents). The Kirstenbosch nursery is deeply involved in the propagation ofindigenous plants, particularly endangered species, and in promoting their cultivation inordinary home gardens. For more information on Kirstenbosch, consult the article onbotanical gardens. The gardens also form part of the Cape Peninsula National Park.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREJosephine Mill: Situated on the Liesbeeck River in Boundary Road, the mill is the onlyremaining working watermill of the nine that used to provide the Cape area with flour morethan 150 years ago. It was built in 1840. The Cape’s industrial past comes to life for visitorsas they are shown the mill in operation. The flour used by the mill’s restaurant, is ground atthe mill itself and is also on sale to the public. Guided walks, Sunday Summer Concerts andthe Winter School also attract visitors.Obelisk: The Obelisk marks the site where Herschel’s telescope was erected in 1842.Ohlsson’s Brewery: Guided tours are conducted of the oldest brewery in the country, locatedin Main Road, Newlands.SA Rugby Museum: Situated in Boundary Road, the museum is one of the largest rugbymuseums in the world and its exhibits date back to 1891. This museum is next to theNewlands Rugby Stadium.NYANGA / CROSSROADSThis township dates back to 1975. It started as an informal settlement for Xhosa migrants tothe city. Today, Terminus Road, from the KTC camp to the taxi ranks, is a hive of activitywhere informal traders sell everything from food to pins.OBSERVATORYThis residential area is named after the SA Astronomical Observatory and lies east of the citycentre between the Liesbeeck and Black Rivers. The area is inhabited mainly by students andits many cafés, pubs and live music venues make it a popular entertainment venue.ADVENTURE AND SPORTHiking: Guided walks can be undertaken along the Liesbeeck River, which meanders throughthe southern suburbs of Cape Town, areas rich in bird life. The lower section, particularly theRaapenberg Bird Sanctuary, is very popular among bird-watchers.59

ENTERTAINMENT ANDSHOPPINGFactory Shops: Observatory with itsmany factory shops caters for allthose who cannot resist a bargain.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREGroote Schuur TransplantMuseum: Positioned off De WaalDrive, the museum was the sceneof the first heart transplant in theworld, performed by Dr ChristiaanBarnard in 1967. The museum isopen on Tuesdays, Wednesdaysand Fridays from 09:00 to 12:30.Valkenberg Manor House: Thebuilding was built in 1770 and liesjust off Liesbeeck Parkway. It isone of the oldest Cape Dutchhouses in the Cape and has beenfaithfully restored. Today it is thereception area of the Courtyard atCape Town Hotel.OTHER ATTRACTIONSSA Astronomical Observatory: Forthose who would like to take areally good look at our skies, a visitto the observatory is essential. Itwas established in 1821 by theBritish Admiralty and lies just offLiesbeeck Parkway.Every day, except Sundays, the observatory sends an electric impulse to fire the Noon Gunon Signal Hill.PINELANDSThis secluded upmarket suburb developed on what was originally the farm Uitvlugt. The ZuluKing Cetshwayo was detained on this farm after the 1879 Anglo-Zulu War.ADVENTURE AND SPORTElsieskraal River Walkway: The walkway offers a relaxing 3-km route along both sides of theriver.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREWolraad Woltemade Statue: The statue in front of the Old Mutual Assurance Group Buildingin Jan Smuts Drive commemorates the bravery of the legendary Wolraad Woltemade who, in1773, gave his own life to save the survivors of a ship that had been wrecked in the watersnear Cape Town.60

RONDEBOSCH (including Rosebank and Mowbray)The Rondebosch suburb with its lovely gardens and trees was originally called Ronde Bosjen(Round Bushes) and Rosebank owes its name to a nineteenth-century estate established in1657.ADVENTURE AND SPORTGolf: The tree-lined suburban Rondebosch Golf Course offers many hours of relaxation.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREIrma Stern Museum: The museum in Cecil Road, Rosebank, on the University of Cape Town(UCT) campus, exhibits Stern’s work, as well as rare Congolese art, fifteenth-centuryEuropean furniture and Ming dynasty ceramics.Mostert’s Mill: One of the only two original Dutch windmills in the Cape, Mostert’s Mill, standsin Mowbray, in Rhodes Drive. The mill dates back to 1796 and was originally owned by theVan Reenen family of the farm Welgelegen.Rhodes Memorial: The Rhodes Memorial, built in memory of Cecil John Rhodes, is set on theslopes of Table Mountain and on clear days offers superb views across the Cape Flats, TableBay, False Bay and the Drakenstein Mountains. It lies just off Rhodes Drive.Rondebosch Common: This was a military camp during the 1806 British occupation andduring the rule of the Batavian Republic. Later, it became a grazing ground. In 1961, it wasproclaimed a national monument.University of Cape Town: The main campus of the University of Cape Town in Rondeboschhas some of the oldest buildings in South Africa. The campus lies just off Rhodes Drive. TheBelvedere summer house was built on the Rustenburg Estate and was reconstructed bySir Herbert Baker in 1894. The Woolsack Residence incorporates a mixture of CapeDutchcharacteristics and was rebuilt by Baker in 1894. Cecil John Rhodes commissionedits reconstruction so that it could be used by poets and artists.SHOPPINGFlea market: Rondebosch Park hosts a flea market on the first and last Saturdays of everymonth.RYLANDSRylands used to be a Muslim suburb, mainly inhabited by Indians, and was originally calledRylands Estate.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREMosques: The simple and elegant beauty of its majestic mosques enhances this suburb.SEA POINT (including Three Anchor Bay)No trip to Cape Town would be complete without a visit to Sea Point, where the roadmeanders along the seashore and where many restaurants and clubs are situated. Thispopular suburb is characterised by many high-rise buildings and a 3-km-long shoppingarea in Main Street. The beach and promenade also provide popular entertainment.61

ADVENTURE AND SPORTGraaff’s Pool: An antiquated attraction is Graaff’s Pool, 50 m from the promenade and for theuse of men only.Promenade: Sea Point promenade offers luxurious lawns, gardens and a playground for thechildren and is the ideal place for walking, jogging and socialising. Rocklands Beach, just offthe promenade, is a popular spot for romantic or family picnics.WOODSTOCKWoodstock lies east of thecity centre between VictoriaRoad and EasternBoulevard on the main routeto the southern areas. Thearea was originally calledPapendorp. In 1882, when itbecame a municipality, thecustomers of the localtavern, “The Woodstock”,(probably the majority of thearea’s inhabitants) voted tocall the new municipalityafter their favourite wateringhole. It later acquired thenickname “Little Madeira”when many Portugueseimmigrants settled here.ENTERTAINMENT AND SHOPPINGFactory Shops: Shopping is fun among the wide variety of factory shops. The factoryshopping district in this suburb is well known among bargain hunters everywhere and most ofthe clothing retail chains in South Africa are represented here.WYNBERGWynberg means “Wine Mountain”. It had its origins in 1658 when Jan van Riebeeck wasgranted a farm in the upper Liesbeeck River valley and planted vines on the south-easternslope of the hill. This part was given the name Wynberg, the remainder retaining the originalname of Boschheuwel. When the British occupied the Cape they established a military baseand hospital here and the town developed around these establishments.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURECape Education Museum: Located in Aliwal Road, the museum exhibits old Victorian andEdwardian education aids and school furniture, focusing on how education developed.Little Chelsea: This charming area in Durban Road features restored streets, old cottages,shops and art galleries.62

Philippi German Museum: Located in Springfield Road, this museum was once a Germanschool, and recreates the lives of German Settlers during the 1870s. Appointments need to bemade to visit the museum.ENTERTAINMENT AND SHOPPINGMaynardville Park and open-air Theatre: Shows are hosted here only during the summermonths and include performances of Shakespeare’s works. The annual Community ChestFestival is also held here.63

BLAAUWBERGBlaauwberg Tourism Bureau, 1 Marine Drive, Table View, 7441.PO Box 11317, Blaauwbergstrand, 7443.Table View 7441Tel: +27 (0) 21 557 8600 / 556 4399Fax: +27 (0) 21 556 4300E-mail: blaauwberg@absamail.co.zaWeb: www.blaauwberg.net/tourisminfoBlaauwberg, Dutch for “Blue Mountain”, is a truly lovely area and stretches from Mamre in thenorth to Milnerton in the south. It offers magnificent views of Table Mountain from acrossTable Bay, of Robben Island to the west and of golden wheat fields to the east. Apart from theviews, sun-worshippers and surfers also flock to its pristine white beaches to attain a naturalgolden hue and enjoy the refreshing surf.However, the area is not onlyscenic, it has also been at thecentre of some importanthistorical events. The famousBattle of Blaauwberg wasfought after the second BritishOccupation of the Cape in1806. Many ships also foughtand lost their last battleagainst the forces of naturealong the Blaauwberg coast.The wreck of the Reyfersdal lies off Silwerboomstrand and the SS Hermes was wrecked offMilnerton Beach in 1901 and lies just north of the lighthouse. The wreck of the NieuwHaarlem lies near the Milnerton Lighthouse and that of the Winton near Milnerton.But the area is not only a ships’ graveyard, the living are also very much a part of its ecology.There are several third generation “trek fishermen” who still operate along this coastline andtheir unique lifestyle is often of interest to visitors.ADVENTURE AND SPORTBeaches: Blaauwberg has a number of superb beaches, namely Dolphin Beach,Silwerstroomstrand, Sunset Beach and Table View. These beaches are ideal for swimming,sunbathing and surfing.Golf: Blaauwberg offers first-rate golf courses as well as facilities for many different kinds ofsport.Killarney Racetrack: This is one of the oldest motor sport complexes in South Africa andhosts many motor-racing events during the year.64

Surfing: Blaauwberg offers a number of superb surfing-spots, the most popular one being BigBay. Many surfing competitions are hosted here annually.Wind-surfing, kite-surfing: Big Bay,Dolphin Beach and Sunset Beach arefamous for wind-surfing and kite-surfing.FAUNA AND FLORABird Rescue Centre: Blaauwberg has aparticularly well-known rescue centrefor coastal birds, dedicated toconservation. It also rehabilitates sick,injured and oiled birds and releasesthem back into their natural habitat.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREPost Office Stone: The oldest relic of the Portuguese in South Africa is the Post Office Stone.The original stone is housed in the South African Museum. A replica of this stone can be seenat the Blaauwberg Tourism Office.Ysterplaat Air Force Museum: The museum exhibits the history of South African aviation anddisplays some examples of military aircraft.ATLANTISThis residential and industrial suburb was established in 1975 and hosts the lively Wesfleurflea market on Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings. It also includes Camphill Village,situated just off the N7 in Klein Dassenberg Road. This village offers craft markets, picnicspots and guided tours.ADVENTURE AND SPORTSand-boarding: This activity is gaining popularity and is often practised along the Atlantiscoast.BLOUBERGSTRANDThis seaside village owes its name (Blue Mountain Beach) to the 230-m hill behind it. Today,it is an upmarket residential area that also boasts some elegant restaurants, popular amongvisitors. Bloubergstrand offers the best views of Cape Town and Table Mountain across TableBay, as well as of Robben Island, which lies about 8 km west of the village.ADVENTURE AND SPORTSurfing, wind-surfing and paddle-skiing: Big Bay and Little Bay Beaches are well known fortheir surfing, wind-surfing and paddle-skiing competitions and safe swimming is also possible.To reach the beach, take the coastal road north from Milnerton to Blouberg. The beach wasthe scene of the 1806 battle between the British and the Dutch, which resulted in the secondBritish occupation of the Cape. See also “Blaauwberg” above.65

HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREOns Huisie (“Our Little House”) Restaurant: Eat lunch in the simple elegance of a restoredfisherman’s cottage whose historical architecture is characteristic of this area.MAMREThis small village grew around a Moravian Mission Station that was established in 1808 at theinvitation of the then Governor of the Cape, Lord Caledon. Originally known as Groenekloof(“Green Valley”), the town was named Mamre in 1854. The name means “an altar to theLord”. Mamre lies 6 km north of Atlantis on Road R307.CUISINEMamreweg/Darling Wine Cellar: Despite its religious past, wine has for long been part of thearea’s history and economy and the cellar has the best of the region’s popular wines in stock.FAUNA AND FLORANature Garden: The beautiful Nature Garden is open seven days a week and the indigenousfynbos vegetation can be explored via several footpaths. The famous West Coast wild flowersalso grow here in season. The Garden lies off Road R307, close to the village.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURELong House: The building was once used as barracks for the soldiers serving the Dutch EastIndia Company.Mamre Mission Station: The station has been restored and many buildings in the surroundingarea have also been carefully renovated and have retained much of its original atmosphere.Old Mamre Moravian Church: The fifth oldest church in South Africa was built in 1808 and,together with the cookhouse, shop and Mamre school (a national monument), takes us backto the time of the missionaries.Reed Houses: The Mamre area is particularly rich in colonial history and the old“hartbeeshuisies” (reed houses) that have survived the ravages of time are only some of themany buildings that are worth visiting.Watermill: The mill was built in September 1844 and has been renovated. At present ithouses a restaurant.MELKBOSSTRANDMelkbosstrand (Milkwood Beach) lies to the north of Bloubergstrand and was named after themany milkwood trees that grow north of the town.ADVENTURE AND SPORTBeaches: The sandy beaches are ideally suited for swimming, skin-diving and fishing. Thearea also offers breathtaking views and has several picnic areas.Fishing for rock lobsters: Rock lobsters can be caught on the northern side of the villageduring the season, although the lobsters on the south side are protected. Permits can beobtained from the Magistrate’s Office or from offices of the Receiver of Revenue.66

Hiking: The Gryskop and Dikkop Hiking Trails lie in the Koeberg Nature Reserve. The GryskopTrail has two sections, a 2,5-km route through lovely fynbos and a 1,9-km walk down to thebeach. Dikkop has a 13-km trail that includes a walk on the beach, as well as an 8-km trail.Wind-surfing: Van Riebeeck Beach is popular among wind-surfers, and the Kleine Zoute RiverMouth also offers excellent wind-surfing conditions.FAUNA AND FLORAKoeberg Nature Reserve: The reserve lies just north of the Koeberg Power Station and wasestablished to protect the diverse fauna and flora of the region. The Visitors’ Centre next tothe reserve offers an unforgettable ecotourism experience and teaches visitors about theimportance of nature conservation. Group visits should be arranged beforehand. The naturereserve boasts two magnificent hiking trails, each named after different species of antelope.The five-hour Dikkop Hiking Trail follows a circular path that starts in the Strandveld andtraverses wide sandy beaches and a dune-veld area. The two-hour Grysbok Trail starts at theInformation Centre, crosses a stretch of beach and passes a salt marsh that has an abundantbird population in winter. For more information contact the Information Centre.OTHER ATTRACTIONSKoeberg Nuclear Power Station: Koeberg is the only nuclear power station in Africa andoffers informative guided tours and also has souvenirs for sale at the souvenir shop. Thestation lies 5 km past the Melkbosstrand turn-off from Road R27. This site, 30 km from CapeTown, was chosen on account of its firm rock-bed and access to sea-water.MILNERTONThis town was named after Sir Alfred Milner, Governor of the Cape in 1902 when the townwas established. Situated on the banks of a lovely lagoon, Milnerton lies at the beginning ofthe West Coast with its beautiful wild flowers. It also offers breathtaking views of TableMountain and its flanks, Devil’s Peak and Lion’s Head.ADVENTURE AND SPORTBeaches: Bright splashes of colour dot the surf as surfers and wind-surfers ride the waves andMilnerton Beach is one of the best places to swim in this region. The beach also offers amagnificent view of Table Mountain. The Lagoon Mouth is a popular site for paddle-skiers.Golf: The links-style Milnerton Golf Course is a must for the avid golfer.Canoeing, power-boating and water-skiing: Milnerton Aquatic Club provides canoeing, powerboatingand water-skiing facilities.ENTERTAINMENT AND SHOPPINGMilnerton Water Park: Visit the park for healthy family fun. Squeals of laughter resound whenchildren and adults enjoy the water slides, volleyball, Putt-Putt, barbecue and picnic facilities.Ratanga Junction Theme Park: The adventure park provides adventurous rides and fun foreveryone. Spend the day here and come back for more! The 20-ha theme park isaccessible from the N1, Bosmansdam Road and Ratanga Drive and lies within the CenturyCity Development. It was built to resemble an old-style mining town and offers entertainmentaround the clock. It has more than 30 fun rides, ranging from children’s rides to family ridesand thrill rides for the adventurous. For the more sedate, there are movies, restaurants and67

nightly cabaret and comedy shows and daily stunt shows. Regular events, such as lasershows, concerts, street-dancing and special parties, offer popular night-time entertainment.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREHouse Zonnekus: Located on Otto du Plessis Drive, this stately landmark dates back to 1929.It was the seaside house of the late Sir De Villiers Graaff and can be seen from MilnertonBeach.Janssens Town Hall: The hall was originally built as a tea bungalow in the early days ofMilnerton and was later used as a casino. It lay at the end of the railway line from Cape Townand served as a refreshment stop for visitors to the Ascot Turf Club.Milnerton Bridge: Just beyond the stately row of palms that marks the entrance to Milnerton,an old wooden bridge, built in 1901, links Woodbridge Island to the mainland. The bridge liesin Otto du Plessis Drive and is now used as a pedestrian crossing to the Milnerton Golf Links.It was built during the Anglo-Boer War, after British troops had occupied Pretoria andJan Smuts, the Boer General, had started one of his many raids into the Cape Colony. Inorder to defend the Cape Coast, the British decided to build military access routes to the islandand to the coast to the north.Milnerton Lighthouse: This structure stands on Woodbridge Island off Otto du Plessis Drive. Itwas built as a beacon for ships entering Cape Town Harbour. A plaque commemorating thestranding of the Nieuwe Haarlem was erected at the lighthouse.Milnerton Railway Station: The station came into operation on 26 December 1903. A plaquecommemorating this event can be seen opposite the Palm Hotel.Paarlberg Stone: The stone stands in Pienaar Road, Milnerton, in front of the municipaloffices and was erected in 1975 in honour of the Afrikaans language.PELLAPella is a historical little village, which came into existence during the 1830s when a MoravianMission Station was built on a farm that was once known as Kop van Groenrivier (Head ofGreen River). The postal agency at Pella is called Katzenberg and the first mention of thename in official records dates back as far as 1876. The village still has a postal agency,housed in a small building close to the Moravian pastor’s house.TABLE VIEWMany an artist has found a comfortable advantageous spot somewhere in Table View andimmortalised his or her view of Table Mountain. This residential area also offers a livelynightlife, from restaurants and pubs to live music venues.ADVENTURE AND SPORTBeach: The beach, with Table Mountain as its backdrop, is perfect for walks, relaxing in thesun or swimming.Canoeing, water-skiing: These activities can be practised in the Rietvlei Nature Reserve.68

FAUNA AND FLORARietvlei Nature Reserve: The reserve has various bird trails through the wetland area, as wellas camping facilities and water-sport opportunities such as canoeing and water-skiing. Some150 species of birds have made their home in the reserve and the large flocks of flamingosand pelicans are an impressive sight.SANCCOB: The dedicated people at SANCCOB in Pentz Drive take care of oil-damaged,diseased and injured birds (mainly penguins). Visitors may visit the kiosk and buy souvenirs.Come and support the volunteers who do such essential work!69

HELDERBERGHelderberg Tourism BureauSouthey’s Vines186 Main Road Somerset West, 7130PO Box 3278, Somerset West, 7129Tel: +27 (0) 21 851 4022Fax: +27 (0) 21 851 1497E-mail: info@helderbergtourism.co.zaWebsite:http://www.helderbergtourism.co.zaFramed by the magnificent Hottentots-Holland and Helderberg Mountains, this popularholiday destination comprises several rural towns and seaside villages. The white, sandybeaches, protected False Bay waters, diverse flora and fauna, magnificent mountains andnearby winelands make it hard to decide what to do and what to leave, so it would be best toplan for quite a lengthy stay. The fact that it is within easy reach of Cape Town city centre(only 45 km away) also adds to its popularity.The Helderberg (Clear Mountain) region is made up of the towns of Gordon’s Bay, Lwandle,Macassar, Sir Lowry’s Pass, Somerset West and Strand.GORDON’S BAYGordon’s Bay is apicturesque cove in FalseBay, framed by theHottentots-HollandMountains. It is named forCaptain Robert Gordon, anofficer of the Dutch EastIndia Company, whoexplored the area in 1718.The village lies some45 minutes' drive fromCape Town and is 30minutes’ drive from CapeTown International Airport.ADVENTURE AND SPORTAbseiling, paragliding: Kamikaze Canyon allows pool jumps from 6 to 30 m high as well asabseiling down the 60-m Thunderfall Waterfall. Permits may be obtained from HelderbergMunicipality, Helderberg Tourism Bureau, Gordon’s Bay Tourism or from the Civic Centre inCape Town. Paragliders launch themselves from the top of Sir Lowry’s Pass.70

Bikini Beach: The narrow sheltered Bikini Beach is popular with sunbathers and swimmers.An evening stroll along the harbour wall offers colourful sights of the yachts and boatsmoored in the harbour.Gordon’s Bay Harbour: The harbour hosts numerous angling competitions, regattas and otheryachting events. The harbour wall and the stretch of coastline along Gordon’s Bay are idealplaces from which to fish. Pleasure charter trips also depart from the harbour and the seafoodrestaurant is well worth a visit.Hiking: The Cannon and Wagon-wheel Hiking Trail starts opposite the Steenbras Damentrance on Sir Lowry’s Pass and is an easy 20-minute walk. A permit is needed to explorethis trail.Hiking: The 7-km Danie Miller Hiking Trail starts at the top of Aurora Drive and ends just pastthe Gordon’s Bay anchor sign.Hiking: The Steenbras River Valley Trail is a 5-km walk from Gordon’s Bay on the coastalroad. A permit is needed for this trail.Water-sport: Gordon’s Bay Main Beach is ideal for water-sports and paddle-skis are availablefor hire. One of the best surfing beaches is in Kogelbay.FAUNA AND FLORASir Lowry’s Pass: The drive over Sir Lowry’s Pass - the summit of which is a popularlaunching spot for paragliders - brings one to the wonderfully lush deciduous fruit-growingregions of Grabouw and Elgin. This pass is one of the best-known passes in South Africa andoffers some of the most magnificent views in the country.Scenic Drive: Follow the scenic drive to the coastal resorts of Pringle Bay, Betty’s Bay,Kleinmond and Hermanus. Drive slowly so that you do not miss any of the scenery.Steenbras Dam: The water scheme used to supply water for the Cape Peninsula consists oftwo large dams lying in a valley in the Hottentots-Holland Mountains above Gordon’s Bay.From here, there are magnificent views of the Helderberg Basin and the Cape Peninsula. Onclear days one can see as far as Table Mountain and Cape Point. Bird life is plentiful andincludes flocks of Egyptian geese. Some rudimentary accommodation facilities have beenbuilt around the dam and trout-fishing is allowed once a permit has been obtained.OTHER ATTRACTIONSSouth African Naval College: On the eastern side of the bay lies the South African NavalCollege, which is responsible for the education, training and development of all candidateofficers (midshipmen) in the South African Navy. The College, in Beach Road, is a restrictedmilitary area but visits can be arranged through the Public Relations Officer.71

LWANDLEThis true African township lies on the N2 just outside Somerset West on the road to theGarden Route and Hermanus. Lwandle was established in 1958 to house migrant workerswho earned their living in the area. Several recognised tour operators can take you throughthe community and its sites.ART AND CRAFTSArt and Crafts Centre: The centre is in the former beer hall. It encourages local people toexhibit their handiwork and take part in music and theatre productions. The original arts andcrafts works are for sale, a fitting memento of your visit.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREHostel 33: This was one of the original dwellings in the township and has not been upgraded,so that visitors can see how early migrant workers lived.Lwandle Migrant Labour Museum: The exhibits in the museum in the former community hallshow the conditions under which migrant workers lived over the years.Township Walk: The walk will show visitors the transformation of Lwandle, from hostels formigrant workers to a community trying to establish a more prosperous permanent life forthemselves. The route includes the Museum, Hostel 33, the Hector Peterson Library, theTown Square and several shops and homes.MACASSARThe Muslim faith is alive and well in the Western Cape and regular pilgrimages areundertaken to Macassar where one of the kramats (shrines) of this faith is located.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURESheik Yusuf Kramat: Sheik Yusuf is considered to be one of the founders of the Muslim faithin South Africa and his last resting place is found on the farm Zandvliet. The Dutch exiled himfrom his home in Batavia in 1694. He died on the farm in 1699 and his kramat is visited bythousands of Muslims every year.SIR LOWRY’S PASSIf the original inhabitants of this village were to visit it today, they would not find it muchchanged. A tar road and a few brick buildings have been added but the atmosphere remainsthe same. Forgotten by time and untouched by progress, the town exudes an old-world charmand the feeling of having stepped back into time. The village population consists mainly of theso-called “coloured” people of the Western Cape and the warm welcoming smiles on theirfaces ensure us of their pleasure at receiving visitors.The village had its origin in 1890 when the railway line was extended from Somerset West tothe foot of the pass.72

HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREBuildings: The town is full of old buildings, some pre-dating the 1890s, which adds to the oldworldatmosphere. Unfortunately, none of these buildings have been renovated and many aretoday used as storerooms and outbuildings.Historic Trail: Sir Lowry’s Pass also has a historic trail. This trail takes one through the‘Gantouw Pass’ where one can clearly see the ruts left in the road by wagons and canonsused in earlier days for signalling. The wagon-wheel tracks have been proclaimed a nationalmonument.FAUNA ND FLORAWild flowers: The mountain slopes near the village are covered in wild flowers, an attractiveframe for the historical tableau that is the village.SOMERSET WESTThis town, named after Lord Charles Somerset in 1819, lies at the foot of the Hottentots-Holland Mountains. In 1850, inhabitants added the “west” to the town to distinguish it fromSomerset East in the Eastern Cape Province. The historic buildings tell the story of the town’sdevelopment with eloquence. Over Christmas, Somerset West’s Main Street is transformedinto a fairy-tale spectacle when Christmas lights are strung across it. People come from farand wide to see them and to browse around the night-time street market.ADVENTURE AND SPORTGolf: Take on the challenge of the championship Erinvale Golf Course and savour theaccomplishment. This golf course was designed by Gary Player and hosted the 1996 WorldCup Golf Tournament.Helderberg Nature Reserve: Altitudes in the reserve vary from 80 to over 1 000 m above sealevel. Several graded walking trails have been mapped out, ranging from a gentle amblethrough the lower reaches to longer and higher ones posing more of a challenge.73

ART AND CRAFTSCraft Markets: Somerset West hosts two popular open-air craft markets on Saturdaymornings at Southey’s Vines in Main Road. The Country Craft Market, at which more than150 local artists and crafters display their work takes place on the last Saturday of everymonth. The Helderberg Veldwinkel (“Veld Shop”) takes place on the first and third Saturdaysof the month.Helderberg Art Route: The route operates on the last Sunday of every month when some13 artists and crafters open their homes to the public. One can meet the artists at workin their studios, creating African art, sculpture, pottery, jewellery and glassware.CUISINEHelderberg Wine Route: The route is only a 15-minute drive from Cape Town InternationalAirport and is near the town of Somerset West and quite close to the Stellenbosch and PaarlWine Routes.Vergelegen: Built by the Dutch Governor Willem Adriaan van der Stel in 1700, it is one of theoldest grants in the Helderberg region. The beautiful Vergelegen homestead has beenpreserved and the gardens restored to their original grandeur. The five magnificent massivecamphor trees planted in front of the house by Simon van der Stel have been proclaimedhistorical monuments. Today, Vergelegen is owned by the Anglo American Corporation and isopen to the public for wine-tasting, tours and lunches.Morgenster Wine Estate: A touch of Italy in the heart of the Cape! The historic MorgensterWine Estate in Lourensford Road also produces and sells virgin olive oil from five Italiancultivars. The hills behind the graceful homestead are covered in olive trees. Morgenster alsosells olive pasta and young olive trees. Visitors need to make appointments first.CULTURE / COMMUNITY TOURISMIndibano Cultural Village: The village lies near the Firlands Farm Stall on National Road N2 tothe Garden Route. The name means the “meeting place” and it is indeed where Western andAfrican cultures can mingle successfully. Visitors should make arrangements in advance andwill be welcomed by traditional African dancers and the smell of African dishes cooking on anopen fire. African huts and wooden sculptures, the shebeen, the restaurant and the friendlypeople all combine to create a feeling of stepping into another world.ENTERTAINMENT AND SHOPPINGSomerset Mall: The mall is the shopping Mecca of the Helderberg region.FAUNA AND FLORADick Dent Bird Sanctuary: This bird haven is located in Lower Victoria Street and offers ahome to a vast number of water birds as well as to other species of birds.Flora: Mesic mountain fynbos makes up the greatest part of the plant life in the area.Specimens of proteas, pincushions and cone bushes are abundant. Fine forests of silvertrees, some of the few remaining natural stands in the country, can be found atSilverboomkloof, north-west of the reserve. A clump of indigenous trees in the area known asDisa Gorge dates back hundreds of years and includes stinkwood, magnificent yellowwoodand rooiels trees, some of which are 40 m in height.Helderberg Nature Reserve: The reserve is situated in Verster Street and stretches up theslopes of the magnificent Helderberg Mountain. The wonders of nature can truly beappreciated in this beautiful reserve, which covers some 365 ha. It is particularly74

acclaimed for its large variety of species of proteas, as well as for its rich bird life. It has10 km of walking trails through fynbos and indigenous forest. Blue and red disa orchids dotthe hillsides, where grey duiker, grysbok, bontebok and steenbok roam.Nearly 170 different species of birds have been recorded in the Helderberg Nature Reserve.These include the protea seed-eater and the Victorian scrub warbler found only in this area.The various melodious bird-calls, together with the soothing sound of running water and thepeaceful quiet, will compel you to immerse yourself in nature. However, snakes such as theCape cobra and puff adder may be encountered and should be avoided. Enjoy a strollthrough the bottom garden section, a visit to the duck pond or the views of the countrysideand ocean below. The reserve also has a restaurant and popular picnic areas under 100-year-old oak trees, as well as an educational centre and information centre.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURECoachman’s Cottage: The cottage was built some 140 years ago and is the only remainingcottage that features the original architecture of that time. The Somerset West Societyrestored the cottage in 1977, after which it was proclaimed a national monument.Lourens River Bridge: The structure is one of the landmarks of the area and crosses theLourens River, the only remaining bridge of five on which work started in 1844. No longer inuse, it was declared a national monument in 1958. It was built from Table Mountainsandstone and its two arches each have a span of 5,3 m.Ou Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk (Old Dutch Reformed Church): Located in ChurchStreet, this historic building is the last resting place of several prominent South Africans. Thechurch was originally built when the farmers in the Hottentots-Holland region expressed theneed for their own church. After numerous delays and a great storm, the church wascompleted in 1820.Pigeon House (Loft): The loft lies on the farm Die Bos (The Bush), 2 km from SomersetWest on the way to Sir Lowry’s Pass Village. It was built around 1810 and declared a nationalmonument in 1960. It is a lovely example of the lofts that were built on old Cape farms tomatch the gables of the main house.Police Station and Magistrate’s Court: These buildings are located in Main Street and datefrom 1835 and 1889 respectively. Both were proclaimed national monuments in 1958.Spook Hill: A visit to this hill can lead to hours of interesting discussions. See whether youcan come up with a reasonable explanation why cars roll uphill here, instead of downhill. Theright spot for the experiment is at the top of Paarl Vallei Road, directly in front of StraightwayHead Country House.STRANDStrand (“Beach”) on the shores of False Bay is one of the oldest holiday-resort towns in theWestern Cape and has a wonderfully long white beach, with the Hottentots-HollandMountains as a backdrop. The town started small in 1714 and has grown into a thrivingholiday destination.ADVENTURE AND SPORTBeaches: Swimmers may either plunge into the Olympic-size indoor swimming pool or intothe safe waters of False Bay. The beach stretches for 5 km along Melk Bay, where mini-golf,75

a water chute and two tidalpools provide extraentertainment. Surfers andswimmers enjoy the water atthis beach and the coastlinebetween the Strand and Rooielsprovides good boating,angling and diving conditions.Golf: The Strand Golf Cluband Greenways sport 18-holegolf courses, as well as cosybars and lounges.ENTERTAINMENT ANDSHOPPINGPromenade: Strand’s sandy,white beaches are flanked bya promenade and are linedwith restaurants, cafés andshops.FAUNA AND FLORABird-watching: The bird walkfollows the course of theLourens River and offersviews of several species ofbirds.76

OOSTENBERGOostenberg Tourism(Cape Town Tourism and events company / Oostenberg Area)Brighton Road, Kraaifontein, 7570PO Box 25, Kraaifontein, 7569Tel: +27 (0) 21 980 6112Fax: +27 (0) 21 980 6179E-mail: oostenbergltb@yebo.co.zaWeb: http://www.capetourism.orgOostenberg (“East of the Mountain”) is surrounded by vine-covered hills and is bordered bythe winelands to the east and Cape Town to the west. The historic wine estates in this areadate back to the eighteenth century and have faithfully preserved the architectural heritage ofthat time.On the gentle slopes of the Bottelary Hills between Stellenbosch, Kuils River, Brackenfell andKraaifontein lie some of the best wine estates the Western Cape has to offer. The first vinesin the Bottelary region were planted in the early 1700s and today, some of South Africa’sfinest red and white wines are produced here. Fort Simon Estate is the unique setting of amedieval-style castle, complete with a moat, where the winemaker creates liquid wonderscharacteristic of the area.The historic Mooiplaas homestead dates back to 1833 and nestles deep in the BottelaryHills. A unique feature of Mooiplaas (“Beautiful Farm”) is the fact that this estate uses thesteep slopes to create its exceptional wines. The Roos family grows and bottles its own wineon the estate.In addition to being beautiful, wine estates such as Hazendal and Mooiplaas offer some of themost outstanding vintages of the South African wine industry. The Hazendal Wine Estatedates back to 1699 and has been lavishly restored. The old cellar, the homestead and thegate posts have been proclaimed as a national monument in 1991. The wine-tasting centrealso offers light al fresco lunches and picnic baskets are available in season. The conferencecentre and the Russian Art Gallery / Marvol Museum on the estate exhibit some superbFabergé jewellery.The Oostenberg region is also conveniently close to the centre of Cape Town City andattractions such as the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront.KRAAIFONTEIN (including Brackenfell)The name Kraaifontein means “Crow Fountain”, referring to the many crows which nest in thetrees in the area. Development in this area started during the late 1600s and the Kraaifonteinof today is famous for its delicious fruit and especially for its vineyards.Brackenfell, a lively suburb, means “Fern Hill”, referring to the Scots word for hill, “fell”.FAUNA AND FLORABonzai Estate: Wide ranges of Bonzai trees can be found at the Bonzai Estate inKraaifontein.77

Tygerberg Zoo: The animal kingdom houses a collection of exotic animals, including tigersand monkeys, as well as European brown bears, which live in the largest bear enclosure inAfrica. The zoo’s feathered population is also quite impressive and includes swans and freeflyingbirds such as the only breeding white storks in Southern Africa. The zoo also has afarmyard, tea-room and picnic spots. The zoo is easy to find – take the N1 Highway towardsPaarl, turn left at Exit 39, turn left towards Klipheuwel and take the first left turn.KUILS RIVERThis charming small town, whose name means “River of Pools”, started as a cattle post forthe Dutch East India Company in the seventeenth century. The historic milestone that markedthe distance on the road from Cape Town can still be seen on Van Riebeeck Road.CUISINEZevenwacht Wine Estate and Restaurant: The estate lies just outside Kuils River inLangverwacht Road and its graceful Cape Dutch homestead overlooks the Cape MetropolitanArea. The wine estate also has a modern cheese factory where high-quality cheeses areproduced from Jersey and Friesland milk.78

SOUTH PENINSULAPeninsula TourismCivic CentreBeach RoadMuizenberg, 7945Tel: +27 (0) 21 788 6193Fax: +27 (0) 21 788 6208E-mail: peninsulatourism@yebo.co.zaThe blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean, beaches and mountains combine to make the SouthPeninsula one of the most beautiful places on earth. Beach resorts and picturesque fishingvillages provide popular family entertainment. One side of the Peninsula faces the open, coldAtlantic Ocean but the eastern, False Bay side is warmed by the Agulhas Current.The Table Mountain Range stretches down to Cape Point. The Cape Flats are part of thearea. Many of the townships and communities were established during the Apartheid era andwere thus not well planned. This area also includes parts of the Cape Peninsula NatureReserve.ADVENTURE AND SPORTBeaches: The South Peninsula has a variety of safe swimming spots.Hiking: The Table Mountain Chain has many hiking trails to choose from.CULTURE / COMMUNITY TOURISMDiverse towns and suburbs: The many towns and suburbs of the region make up a diverseand multicultural area. Visitors are advised to make use of guided tours to see the diversityof the population and to experience the culture.FAUNA AND FLORACape Peninsula Nature Reserve: This spectacular reserve consists of 7 750 ha ofindigenous fauna and flora. Various species of mammals including zebra, springbok, elandand various other species of buck live here, as well as over 150 species of birds. There aremany drives, walks and picnic spots in the reserve and great care has been taken to protectthe environment.CONSTANTIA (including Bishopscourt)Constantia: This is the oldest of the wine-producing areas in the Cape and the ConstantiaWine Route offers a glimpse into history, dating back to the first winemakers. The valley stillproduces internationally renowned award-winning wines. Groot Constantia Estate is theoldest wine estate in the country.CUISINEConstantia Wine Route: The route includes the estates of Groot Constantia, Klein Constantia,Buiteverwachting, Constantia Uitsig and Steenberg. The route is well sign-posted but most ofthe estates are closed on Saturday afternoons and Sundays. Superb accommodationfacilities and restaurants add to the attraction.79

ENTERTAINMENT ANDSHOPPINGAlphen Constantia Market: Thisevent is held in Constantia Roadon the first and last Saturdays ofevery month. The manor house atAlphen is a national monument,containing fine antique furnitureand paintings. The hotel alsoserves wonderful meals.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREGroot Constantia Manor: The oldest homestead in the Cape, situated on the Groot Constantiawine estate, is an excellent example of Cape Dutch architecture. It was built in 1685 by thethen Dutch Governor, Simon van der Stel, as his private estate. A century later it becamefamous for its wines. The Cloete family owned the farm from 1778 to 1885 and adapted it toits present style. The museum portrays life in the eighteenth century, with furniture andpaintings to match. Rare Chinese and Japanese porcelains, Delft ceramics and drinking andstorage vessels from 5000 BC to the nineteenth century are also on display. The Islamicshrine or kramat, part of a chain of kramats circling the Cape Peninsula, can also be visited.FISH HOEK“Vishoek”, now better known by itsinformal English name lies in avalley that runs east to west acrossthe Cape Peninsula. Thispicturesque seaside village hasbeautiful white beaches, offeringsafe bathing and a launching placefor catamarans and sailboards.ADVENTURE AND SPORTWater-sport: Not only does the beach offer safe swimming conditions, but divers, surfers andsailors can also enjoy the water. There is a hobie-cat launching spot at one side of the beachand regattas are held here regularly.Golf: The golf club welcomes visiting golfers.80

Hiking: Many mountain walks start at Fish Hoek, including Jagger’s Walk, a path that followsthe coastline.ARCHAEOLOGY AND PALAEONTOLOGYBurial sites and Fossils: Peers Cave houses nine ancient burial sites and is the place whereVictor Peers discovered the famous Fish Hoek Man in 1927. To reach the cave, follow thesigns from 20th Avenue that leads into 21st Avenue. The path to the cave is only a shortclimb up the dunes.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREClovelly Fire Museum: The museum is situated at 48 Clovelly Road and features a largedisplay of fire-fighting equipment.Fish Hoek Valley Museum: The museum is located at 59 Central Circle and exhibitsphotographs of the Fish Hoek Valley, as well as various Stone Age implements. This newdevelopment is run by volunteers and also features an Environmental Room with displays onwhaling, dolphins and the Elsies Peak Conservation Project.HOUT BAYHout Bay is primarily a fishing village andfreshly caught fish are sold daily from thequayside and in the fine seafood restaurants.In earlier times, thick forests grew along themountain slopes, giving it its name (WoodBay). For a small donation which goes tocharity, visitors can buy a “passport”proclaiming themselves citizens of theRepublic of Hout Bay, an indication of thepride with which the inhabitants have longsince viewed their occupancy of Hout Bay.ADVENTURE AND SPORTAngling: The ocean waters of the village are an angler’s dream. Yellowfin, tuna, swordfishand marlin frequent these waters. Visitors might even get a chance to see how the localfishermen catch their fish. Their age-old fishing method is called ‘trekking’, whereby heavynets are hauled to the shore.Walking: Surrounded by the peaks ofSentinel and Chapman’s Peak, this beautifularea is also ideal for taking relaxing walks.Water-sport: The 1-km beach ispopular among hobie-cat enthusiasts,wind-surfers, paddle skiers and surfers.81ART AND CRAFTSArt and craft shops: Exploration of the villageis a rewarding experience, not only becauseof the natural surroundings but also becauseof its atmosphere and its many arts and crafts

shops, such as Hout Bay Crafts, which offers ceramics, fine arts and hand-painted cloths forsale. There is also a craft market on the Village Green, which is open on Sundays.Leopard statue: The bronze statue of a proud leopard stands guard over the holidaymakerson the beach. The statue is the work of Ivan Mitford-Barberton and stands 1,4 m high.ENTERTAINMENT AND SHOPPINGChapman’s Peak: Theroute along Chapman’sPeak is one of theworld’s mostspectacular. The drivewill literally take yourbreath away, not onlybecause of the beautifulview, but also becauseyou will be travelling ona road that seems tocling precariously to themountain sides at adizzying height abovethe ocean waves.82Hout Bay Harbour: Theharbour offers the oldworldatmosphere offishermen at work ontheir fishing boats andthe novelty of boat tripsto Seal Island andDuiker Island. Theharbour has manyseafood outlets, giftand antique stores anda renowned harbourfront emporium.Hout Bay Market: Themarket is held everySunday in Main Roadopposite the PostOffice.Mainstream Shopping Centre: The centre offers shoppers a selection of outlets to choose andshop in.Mariner’s Wharf: The wharf is located in Hout Bay Harbour in Victoria Road, South Africa’sfirst harbour-front emporium. The seafood is legendary and includes fresh lobsters and snoeksmoked the old-fashioned way. Apart from the fresh fish on sale, the fish market itself is quite

an experience and the seafood restaurants and shops sell everything from shells, to gifts andcrafts.FAUNA AND FLORASeal Island: The island lies just across the harbour and is home to hundreds of seals andbirds. The waters around it are a breeding ground for the great white shark.Duiker Island: During the summer months, scores of Cape fur seals and black cormorantspopulate Duiker Island, a seal and seabird sanctuary. Several boat tours are conducted to theisland and are a popular tourist attraction. Contact the harbour master for more information.World of Birds: The home of feathered creatures is located in Valley Road and is one of thelargest bird parks in the world. The birds are kept in “walk-through” cages that were designedfor the benefit of both visitors and birds.Whale-watching: Whales visit the shores every year and from June to November visitorscrowd to these shores for an opportunity to see them.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREHout Bay Museum: Located in Andrews Road the museum tells the story of the developmentof the village and of its forestry, mining and fishing past.Kronendal: This Cape Dutch homestead is located in Main Road. The historical building wasbuilt in 1800 and now houses an exclusive restaurant.SA Sea Fisheries Museum: Situated in the harbour, the museum focuses on the fishingindustry of the area that has provided an income for people for hundreds of years. Thedisplays include models of boats and a computerised marine encyclopaedia.83

KALK BAYThis small fishing village is the ideal hideaway for tired city souls. Its name, “Lime Bay”, datesback to the seventeenth century when kilns were built here to burn seashells to manufacturewhitewash. Formerly a whaling station, the architecture, cuisine, art and crafts of the Kalk Bayof today deserve close inspection.ADVENTURE AND SPORTSwimming: For a leisurely few hours in the sun and surf, visit one of the two tidal pools thatallow safe swimming.ART AND CRAFTSKalk Bay Art Gallery: The gallery in Main Road offers a diverse collection of original art oflocal and international origin including African arts and crafts, watercolours and oils – thedifferent works are just too numerous to name.ENTERTAINMENT AND SHOPPINGBoat Trips: Regular boat trips are conducted from the harbour and the fishing boats thatreturn from the day’s work bring with them the anticipation of a good catch. The deep-seafishing boats also take visitors with them on their trips. As the boats nose their way towardsthe harbour around noon every day, excited crowds gather to see which has had the bestcatch of the day. Trips to Seal Island are undertaken regularly. Contact the harbour master formore information.Shopping: This town is a haven for antique and art lovers, who can spend many happy hoursbrowsing through the shops.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREHoly Trinity Church: Located in Main Road in Kalk Bay, the church is a lovely old stonebuilding with a thatched roof that was built in 1874. The church still features its originalwindows, regarded as some of the finest examples in the Cape.Mosque: One of the smallest mosques in the Cape Peninsula can be found here. It is morethan a hundred years old and is still in use.84

Old Dutch Reformed Church: The church dates back to 1875 and is a classic example of Neo-Gothic architecture. A fortunate art framer now has his shop in this historical building.KOMMETJIEThe quaint name of this villagerefers to a natural inlet shapedlike a “little bowl”. Today, a lowwall closes off the inlet.ADVENTURE AND SPORTBoating, surfing, crayfishing: Thebeaches around Kommetjie,although not ideal for swimming,provide many opportunities forentertainment.Boats can be launched from thenorthern section and surfersfrequent the southern side ofSunset Beach.There are gravel walkways along the coastline and there are several picnic spots. Theentrance to Long Beach lies along Surf Way, the turn-off to this being just before the village.Long Beach includes Bokramstrand and Klein Slangkoppunt (Small Snakehead Point). LongBeach is popular among surfers, wind-surfers and paddle-skiers. As the surf is strong, onlyexperienced surfers should attempt the waves. Crayfishers can often be seen near thelighthouse at Slangkoppunt.CUISINECrayfish Factory: The factory in Kommetjie processes up to 100 tonnes of crayfish per year forexport and can be visited by appointment.CULTURE / COMMUNITY TOURISMTwo Oceans Craft and Culture Centre: The centre is near Masiphumelele Village on the mainroad to Kommetjie and sells traditional Xhosa crafts and art. It enables us to learn more aboutSouth African culture and how the people express themselves in their art. The name of thevillage means “We must succeed” in Xhosa, indicating the determination of the local people toshape a successful future for themselves.ENTERTAINMENT AND SHOPPINGImhoff Farm: Spend the day here, opposite Ocean View on the Kommetjie Road, andexperience the old Dutch Cape. Eat the food and visit the buildings, see how cheese wasmade and do not forget to visit the Snake and Reptile Park and enjoy a ride on a camel orhorse.FAUNA AND FLORAAfrican Crane Breeding Centre and Giants of the Bird World: This establishment offers anopportunity to see many species of birds and animals. Come and see the largest flightlessbird in the world and enjoy the camel and horse rides.85

HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURELighthouse: The lighthouse at Slangkoppunt (“Snakehead Point”) was built around 1914 towarn seafarers of the dangers that lay close to shore. In 1933, electricity was installed at thelighthouse and today, its light can be seen from 33 sea miles away. The lighthouse keeperwill gladly show you around the lighthouse.LLANDUDNOThis upmarket residential area lies at the foot of Little Lion’s Head, the mountain lendingsome of its magnificence to the suburb. This area is a popular venue for sunset picnics.ADVENTURE AND SPORTBeaches: The beach is protected from the south-easterly wind by huge granite boulders.Sandy Bay, the first ever nudist beach in South Africa, is near this area, characterised bygreen mountain slopes and steep dunes.Swimming: It should be noted that Llandudno Beaches have powerful surf and care should betaken when swimming and a resident lifesaver should be present.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREShipwreck: The site where the tanker Romelia met its sad end in 1977 is just off SunsetRocks.MITCHELL’S PLAINThis area was formed in 1947, and is one of the largest residential areas in the Cape.Mitchell’s Plain Town Centre bustles with the voices of informal traders who sell a vastselection of goods.86

MUIZENBERG (including Zeekoeivlei, Sandvlei and Rondevlei)Muizenberg, a popular resorteven in the 1600s, is stillfamous for its beach. Anostalgic reminder of itsgracious past is the colourfulbathing boxes on the beach andthe stately Victorian andEdwardian buildings in town. Itis also famous for reputedlybeing one of Rudyard Kipling’sfavourite places. Zeekoeivleiand Sandvlei are ideal venuesfor water-sport and Rondevleihas an excellent bird sanctuary.ADVENTURE AND SPORTBeaches: Muizenberg Beach is a very safe bathing beach and is very popular with families, asit has a children’s amusement park, a cluster of swimming pools and a pavilion. The beach,with its white sands and gentle breakers, is perfect for sunbathing, swimming and watersports.Muizenberg Beach is admired for its rows of coloured bathing boxes and its beach isthe start of a long Beach running 40 km to Gordon’s Bay.Imperial Yacht Club: The yachts lie on the western banks of Zandvlei, which is fed by manysmall streams. Board-sailors, yachtsmen and canoeists make use of the facilities.Walkway: Because of the beauty of the area a walk is always a good idea. The walk betweenMuizenberg and St James provides a number of architectural highlights and the Muizenberg-St James Walkway offers great ocean views.ART AND CRAFTSJoan St Leger Lindbergh Arts Foundation: The establishment hosts art exhibitions andmusical performances and also houses an Africana reference library.Masque Theatre: The Masque Theatre stages at least 12 productions annually.Natale Labia Museum: Positioned in Main Road, Muizenberg, the museum functions as an artmuseum and cultural centre and satellite gallery of the South African National Gallery. Itspermanent exhibitions range from furniture to works of art, while temporary art exhibitions ofjewellery, interiors, art glass and fine art and lectures and music recitals are often hostedhere. The building was erected in 1930 on the site of an old British military fort.FAUNA AND FLORARondevlei Bird Sanctuary: The sanctuary in Fisherman’s Walk, Zeekoeivlei, just off PrinceGeorge’s Drive, was established for the protection of waterfowl. The sanctuary has shady87

waterside paths and hides from which to study the birds and the small population ofhippopotami. There are also small mammals such as mongoose, otter, grysbok andsteenbok. The Gill Field Museum is a natural history museum and is well worth a visit.Silvermine Mountain Reserve: The Silvermine Reserve off the Ou Kaapse Weg (Old CapeRoad) is part of the South Peninsula National Park (SPNP). Silvermine features manyspecies of fynbos (proteas, ericas and reeds), and several species of indigenous trees.Included in this section on the eastern side of the Peninsula are the Muizenberg and Kalk BayMountains. A mountain-bike route and several hikes lead to Noordhoek Peak and NoordhoekRidge that has picnic and ablution facilities. The Sunbird Environmental Recreation Centre ison Silvermine Road in the reserve. It has accommodation for some 42 people and offersguided walks, adventure activities, wetlands, hiking trails, night-time exploration and art andcraft sessions. The Cape Peninsula National Park (CPNP) is one of Africa’s conservationicons and protects such diverse areas as mountains, coasts and marine reserves. It lies atthe south-western tip of Africa and encompasses the Peninsula Mountain Chain that stretchesfor approximately 60 km from Signal Hill in the north to Cape Point in the south. Cape Point isthe southernmost point in the Cape Peninsula and not, as many mistakenly believe, the mostsoutherly point in Africa.Southern Black-backed Gull Sanctuary: This bird haven lies east of Muizenberg on RoadR310. The Swartklip (“Black stone”) Hills provide one of the last breeding colonies for theblack-backed gull, also called the kelp gull. These birds breed in the summer months and areeasily observed from the road.Zandvlei Bird Sanctuary: Visits to the sanctuary are only allowed in the company of a ranger.The marsh provides many of the 132 species of birds that have been identified here with anideal breeding ground.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREHistorical sites: Muizenberg has a rich historical heritage and some of its most importanthistorical sites include the South African Police Museum, the Magistrate’s Court and CarnegieLibrary, and Het Posthuijs. Het Posthuijs (the Post House) in Main Street dates from the lateeighteenth century and is considered to be the oldest structure along the False Bay coast.The Dutch East India Company originally used it as a policing post. These museums alsocontain exhibits of the Battle of Muizenberg. The Post Office in Main Road, completed in1911, is considered to be the first post office in South Africa to receive mail by air.All Saints Anglican Church: The modest T-shaped building dates from 1890 and is situated inMain Street.Muizenberg Railway Station, completed in 1913 in red-brick and sandstone, is a typicalexample of Edwardian architecture.Muizenberg Synagogue: Located in Camp Street, the synagogue was built exactly where theoriginal wood and iron building once stood.Muizenberg Toy Museum and Collectors Shop: Experience the joys of childhood again! TheMuizenberg Toy Museum and Collectors Shop at No 8 Beach Road, Muizenberg offers adisplay of toys from turn-of-the-century toy factories, including early steam trains, pedal cars,rocking horses, dolls, clockwork figures and Dinky Toys – the variety is amazing. Themuseum is housed in an historic mansion designed by Sir Herbert Baker.88

Rhodes’ Cottage: Cecil John Rhodes, the empire-builder, retired to Muizenberg after theevents that led to the Anglo-Boer War and died here in 1902. Rhodes was Prime Minister ofthe Cape Colony from 1890 until 1896. Today, Rhodes’ Cottage in Main Road is open to thepublic as a museum and displays some period furniture and some of Rhodes’ personalpossessions.Rust en Vrede House: The renowned architect Sir Herbert Baker also left his mark in thisarea when he designed Rust en Vrede, which is still a private residence. The house isregarded by many as one of his best works.South African Police (SAP) Museum: Situated at 186 Main Road, the establishment is the firstmuseum of its kind in the Western Cape. This museum tells the story of our brave police forceand relates some of its members’ heroic deeds.NOORDHOEK (including Chapman’s Peak)Follow the famous Chapman’s Peak Drive along the mountains and discover Noordhoek(North Corner), a true country village that has become the home of many gifted artists andcraftsmen. Noordhoek was originally a farming area, but has become a popular residentialarea with a 7-km-long, sandy beach.ADVENTURE AND SPORTBeach: The 7-km-long, largely deserted beach is lovely and is ideal for a long peacefulramble or canter on horseback. The north end of the beach is popular with surfers andfishermen.ART AND CRAFTSNoordhoek Art Route: The route visits local artists whose work range from bronze sculpturesto stained glass and ceramics. Noordhoek Farm Village on Chapman’s Peak Drive has aninformation kiosk with friendly staff who will provide information on the Noordhoek area andthe Art Route.Village Farm: The farm stall sells organically grown vegetables, and a wide range of unusualgifts and clothing can be found in the quaint shops. “The Enchanting Wood” and “TheStables” restaurant in the village opens its doors at eight in the evening.ENTERTAINMENT AND SHOPPINGMonkey Valley Beach Nature Resort: The resort in Mountain Road, Chapman’s Peak is set ina milkwood forest and offers comfortable accommodation with spectacular beach views. Therestaurant in the resort has a warm and intimate atmosphere.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREShipwreck: The wreck of a nineteenth-century ship, the Kakapo, lies at the south end ofNoordhoek beach.NATURAL WONDERSChapman’s Peak: The road up the mountain offers one of the world’s most spectacular scenicdrives, with many picnic spots and viewing sites to choose from. Vertical sandstone cliffs thatsoar high into the sky, overshadow the 10-km road between Noordhoek and Hout Bay. Giantgranite boulders seem to hold the road suspended above the shimmering sea below, creatingan awe-inspiring experience. Italian prisoners of war built the road half a century ago.89

SIMON’S TOWNSimon’s Town was named after theDutch Governor Simon van der Steland was first used by the Dutch EastIndia Company as its winteranchorage. It offered safety from thedangerous storms in Table Bay.Simon’s Town was also the BritishRoyal Navy base from 1814 until 1957,when it was handed over to the SouthAfrican Navy.The South African Navy continues touse the town as its coastalheadquarters and it still retains a verystrong naval character.ADVENTURE AND SPORTBeaches: The beaches are the mainattraction in summer, particularlyBoulders Beach that, together withFoxy Beach, is home to one of onlytwo mainland jackass penguinbreeding colonies. To visit this area, park at Seaforth and walk along the bridle path. Amidstmassive granite boulders are a succession of sandy inlets, which give access to severalshallow pools. It is also a good diving spot. Boulders Beach offers safe swimming for childrenand is an ideal location for inexperienced snorkellers. Seaforth Beach also offers safeswimming and a wooden raft and water slide provides fun for the entire family.Fishing: To stay near False Bay is any fisherman’s dream. Choose between rock-, surf- andboat-angling.ENTERTAINMENT AND SHOPPINGWaterfront: The centre in St George’sStreet offers shopping and entertainmentand an interesting mix of shops. It liesagainst the magnificent backdrop of theFalse Bay Yacht Basin. Enjoy a lovelylunch at one of the restaurants and lookout over the basin or go for a cruise toCape Point or Seal Island on the Cape ofGood Hope catamaran.FAUNA AND FLORAJackass Penguin Breeding Colony: One of the few land-breeding colonies of jackasspenguins can be found near Simon’s Town. As you walk along the beach footpath, you cansee nesting jackass penguins in the brush and often, while sitting on the beach or swimming,you may have a close encounter with these little creatures.90

HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREAdmiralty House: The site of the house dates from 1720 when the first building, the home ofAntoni Visir, the founder of the town, was erected here.Albertyn’s Cottage, a typical early English-style building, lies near Cole’s Point and was builtin 1799.Dido Valley Cemetery: The cemetery in Main Road is the last resting place of many navalofficers and other seamen. They lie in the military section on the south side of the cemetery.East Dockyard Gates marks the entrance to the dockyard via Cole Point Road. The dockyardwas officially opened in 1910.Historic Mile: Along St George’s Street, many quaint old buildings and museums are areminder of Simon Town’s naval history. Twenty-one of these buildings are over 150 yearsold.Ibeka: This building in Cornwall Street was built in 1816 as a private home, but was laterused as an isolation hospital, a boarding school and as quarters for the Royal GarrisonArtillery.Just Nuisance: A statue of Able Seaman Just Nuisance stands in Jubilee Square. This is atribute to a Great Dane, a dog that was a loyal companion to many sailors during the SecondWorld War, even escorting drunken sailors on the train from Cape Town to Simon’s Town.This beloved dog was officially inducted into the Royal Navy with the rank of Able Seamanand on his death in 1943, was buried with full naval honours.Martello Tower: The tower in Martello Road was built in 1796 to defend the Cape against theFrench during the Napoleonic wars. Today it houses a museum of maritime history.Noorul Islam Museum: The museum is dedicated to the history of the Islamic people whospent their lives in the town.Roman Rock Lighthouse: This is the third oldest lighthouse in South Africa and is the onlylighthouse to have been built on a rock. This lighthouse was commissioned in 1861 and canbe seen at the entrance to Simon’s Town Harbour.SA Naval Museum: The building in Court Road that houses the museum was built in 1814 asa mast house and sail loft. The museum displays full-size minesweeper and submarinedioramas, as well as ship models and naval relics.Simon’s Town Museum: The building that houses the museum was built in 1777 as aresidence for the then Governor. In its lifetime it has seen many uses - a hospital, customshouse, police station, post office and magistrate’s office. It is said that the museum has itsown ghost and visitors can view the original slave quarters and a mystery mural. Themuseum focuses on the cultural history of the town and lies in Court Road.Stempastorie: The building is located at 2 Church Street and earned its name from the factthat Rev. ML de Villiers composed the music for the South African national anthem “DieStem” (The Voice) here. Today, the museum displays all sorts of national emblems.91

St Francis Church: The Church of St Francis in Court Road, off St George’s Street, is reputedto be the oldest existing Anglican Church in South Africa. The church was first namedSt Frances, after Lady Frances Cole who raised most of the funds to build the church. Enjoya spiritual experience in this quietly devotional and historical atmosphere.Warrior Toy Museum: Located in St George’s Street, the museum exhibits a unique collectionof toy cars, trains, aeroplanes, dolls and lead soldiers enjoyed by children throughout theages.OTHER ATTRACTIONSThe Scratch Patch in Simon’s Town offers visitors an opportunity to pick their own choice ofgemstones from the hundreds of thousands that cover the floor.ST JAMESThere are many lovely coastal villagesalong the coast. One of these,St James, has a small beach with rockpools and bright wooden bathingboxes. This charming residenceoverlooks False Bay and its beach hasa large tidal pool, which is ideal forsmall children. Many of the beautifulhouses in this village are nationalmonuments.TOKAI (including Bergvliet and Retreat)This lovely place owes its name to the hills in Hungary where Tokai grapes were first grown.The Tokai Forest Reserve launched a reforestation project in 1883 and, as a result of thisplan, large pine trees still cover large parts of the nearby Constantia Mountain, enveloping thearea in their characteristic fragrance.FAUNA AND FLORAThe Tokai Forest Reserve on the mountain lies largely isolated from the sounds of the cityand is the perfect getaway. It is a fertile area that offers a home to birds, porcupines,squirrels, klipdassies, black jackals and baboons. Picnic areas and fun runs, as well as horseriding-,hiking- and mountain-biking routes, add to its attraction. The arboretum in the forest ishome to a rich variety of indigenous and exotic tree species including Californian redwoodsand oaks. It is a national monument and dates from 1885. The lovely view from Elephant’sEye Cave is well worth the effort of a steep walk up Constantia Mountain, accompanied bylovely birdsong. An additional treat is the mushroom display and in-season mushroom pickingat the information centre.92

STRANDFONTEINStrandfontein is a fast-growing location and has a beautiful view of False Bay.ADVENTURE AND SPORTBeaches: The beaches of Strandfontein offer picnic sites and the tidal pool offers safeswimming. A great attraction is also the supertube. Follow Baden Powell Drive fromMuizenberg to Strandfontein.Mnandi and Monwabisi are also popular beaches to visit. They are situated near one of thelargest tidal pools in the Peninsula. To reach these beaches, follow Baden Powell Driveeastwards along the False Bay Coast.FAUNA AND FLORAWhales: Whales travel up and down the Cape coastline and the best times for seeing themare from June to November every year.93

TYGERBERGTygerberg Tourism,Queen & Oxford Street,Durbanville, 7557.Tel: +27 (0) 21 970 3172/1Fax: +27 (0) 21 970 3173E-mail: tygerbergtourism@capetown.gov.zaTygerberg is a modern, relatively new development. The region consists of several suburbswhere many people have made homes for themselves, attracted by the charming houses andstreets and the modern conveniences of shopping centres and businesses.BELLVILLEThis suburb was originally called “Twelve Mile”, indicating its distance from Cape Town citycentre, and renamed after Charles Bell, Surveyor-General of the Cape in 1861.ADVENTURE AND SPORTBellville Velodrome: This is the biggest indoor venue and international sport facility in theCape Town area. The Velodrome often hosts functions such as music shows.ART AND CRAFTSArts Association: This well-known Bellville institution can be found at the Bellville Library inKarl van Aswegen Road and houses an art gallery, art centre and a coffee shop.Sanlam Art Gallery: The gallery is home to some of the best works of South African artistsand lies in Sanlam’s Head Office in Voortrekker Road.CULTURE / COMMUNITY TOURISMMayibuye Centre Museum: The museum in Modderdam Road is part of the University of theWestern Cape and relates the history of South Africa’s Anti-Apartheid struggle. It houses avast and historically important exhibition.ENTERTAINMENT AND SHOPPINGDoor-de-Kraal Lane Craft Market: This craft market is open on the first and last Saturdays ofeach month.Tyger Valley Shopping Centre: This centre buzzes with life and offers opportunities forshopping and fun in a luxurious atmosphere. One of its unique features is the indoor Putt-Puttcentre.DURBANVILLENamed after the then Governor of the Cape, Sir Benjamin D’Urban, and dating from the early1800s, this small town was once known as Pampoenkraal (“Pumpkin Corral”).CUISINEDurbanville Wine Route: A number of wine estates grace the Tygerberg region. TheDurbanville Wine Route includes the estates of Altydgedacht, Bloemendal Wines, Diemersdal94

Wines, Meerendal Estate, Durbanville Hills and Nitida Estate. Altydgedacht, where wines areproduced from unusual grapes such as the Italian Barbera, lies in the hills above Durbanville.Meerendal produces top quality Pinotage and other red wines. Nitida, although small andnew, is already producing red wines of great promise, and three-centuries-old Diemersdalproduces excellent Cabernet. Bloemendal Wine Estate in Racecourse Road is known for itsinnovative and high quality wines and also has boardroom and conference facilities.CULTURE / COMMUNITY TOURISMTownship Tours: Several tour operators offer township tours that include visits to shebeens(unlicensed and informal taverns) where you can join in the boisterous fun.ENTERTAINMENT AND SHOPPINGDurbanville Art and Craft Market: The market contains a large variety of stalls with premierquality handcrafted works on sale.FUANA AND FLORADurbanville Nature Reserve: The reserve lies in the heart of Durbanville and was establishedto protect an endangered vegetation type, specifically renosterveld, coastal fynbos andmountain fynbos. Bird lovers often visit this paradise to view the unusual species of birds thatfrequent this park. Visitors are allowed to use the picnic sites and guided walks can beorganised.Durbanville Rose Garden: The aromas emanating from the Rose Garden are almost aswonderful for the soul as the sight of the soft colours shimmering in the sun. Visitors arewelcome at all times and on Sunday afternoons, from October to May, cream cakes and teaare on the clubhouse menu.Tygerberg Nature Reserve: This 89-ha reserve lies in the Tygerberg Hills and offerslovely views of the Cape Peninsula. There are several hiking trails that take approximatelytwo hours to complete and many species of birds patrol the skies above the reserve. Thenatural vegetation is renosterbos, an extremely endangered veld type.West Coast Ostrich Show Ranch: The ranch houses ostriches in their natural surroundingsand educational tours of the ranch are conducted. More adventurous visitors may venture aride on the back of an ostrich.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURE20 Oxford Street: This building is believed to be the oldest dwelling in Durbanville, datingback to the early-eighteenth century. It has been proclaimed a national monument andhouses a restaurant.Onze Molen: Two Dutch Windmills are located on the corner of High and Onze Molen Streets,strong reminders of the early settlers who came to tame the land.Rust-en-Vrede (Rest and Peace) Cultural Centre: The Centre is located in Durbanville and isan old Cape Dutch complex that dates back to 1850. It was originally a prison but has alsoseen service as a magistrate’s court, a school and even as a private residence. TheDurbanville Clay Museum is in the Centre and houses creations by some well-known SouthAfricans, as well as the Oude Meester Collection. The beautifully sculpted gardens are just asmuch a work of art as those housed inside the museum.Victorian King’s Court: This graceful building in Church Street dates back to 1890 and is anational monument.95

GOODWOODGoodwood was originally developed as a centre for horse-racing and was optimistically calledafter the famous racecourse in Britain.ENTERTAINMENT AND SHOPPINGN1 Shopping Centre: No woman worth her salt would drive past this centre and not acceptthe invitation to shop at its many bargain stores. The centre lies on the N1 National Road.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREGoodwood Museum: The museum at 43 Church Street is in an old house dating from the1920s, with antique furniture and ornaments to match.KHAYELITSHAThe relaxation of the previous strict racial segregation laws in the late 1980s led to manysquatter communities mushrooming seemingly overnight on vacant land around the CapePeninsula. This is how Khayelitsha, now Cape Town’s largest township, came into existence.Services such as water and electricity are being installed in areas where previously therewere none, but many of its inhabitants still live in shacks and have to use communal taps andtoilets. These shacks are constructed of corrugated iron, plastic bags and any other availablematerial. Many sidewalks are crowded with hawkers and many homes operate spaza(“hidden” shops) offering a wide range of goods. Shebeens (unlicensed and informal taverns)also operate from some homes. Obtain the services of a registered tour guide and discoverthe singular attraction of this place in the company of someone with local knowledge.ART AND CRAFTSKhayelitsha CraftsCentre: Local womenbring their craftwork tothe centre, located at theAnglican Church, to sell.The prices of the articles,such as African dolls andleatherwork, are veryreasonable. Often, thevoices of the churchchoir can be heard in thebackground, creating aquietly devotionalatmosphere.Philani Women’s Project:This project in Walter Sisulu Road, Site C, Khayelitsha was established to help local womensupport themselves and their families. A visit would therefore not only help people to earn aliving but would also allow you to take home unique and lovely works of art, such as rugs ortapestries.96

Zenzele (“Do it Yourself”) Enterprises: This training centre on the corner of Bonga and SpineRoads offers courses in sewing as well as in doll making and pottery. The handmade articlesare for sale to visitors. This attraction is best visited in the company of an experienced tourguide.PAROWIn 1865,when the ship Kehrwieder met its fate during a storm in Table Bay, its captain,Johann Parow, decided to settle on the land and become a farmer. He gave his name to thesettlement that subsequently came into existence here.ENTERTAINMENT AND SHOPPINGSanlam Centre: This popular shopping centre provides hours of shopping fun and otherentertainment.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREParow Museum: Admirers of antique furniture and paraphernalia will enjoy spending time atthe Parow Museum at 13 Smith Street.97

CENTRAL KAROOCentral Karoo Tourism63 Donkin st, Beaufort WestPO Box 560, Beaufort West, 6970.Tel: +27 (0) 23 449 1000Fax: +27(0) 23 414 3675E-mail: karootour@internext.co.zaWeb: http://www.centralkaroo.co.zaThe San called the Great Karoo the “Land of the Great Thirst”, which would have been ironic280 million years ago when the land was a vast swamp. Today, it can only be described asan arid land and its attraction lies in its expanse of blue, open skies and far-reachinglandscape of plains and hills where one is tempted to draw one deep breath after another andtwirl like a child in ever larger circles because you will not bump into anything.The rain, on those few occasions when it does fall, comes down in torrents, eroding the dryriver-beds. Familiar sights in the Karoo are wind-pumps, which use the energy of the wind tocontinuously pump water from deep boreholes to fill livestock troughs, and the flocks of sheepgrazing on the scattered shrubs. The many prehistoric fossils found here reveal the region’sprehistoric nature and have attracted international attention.The dry and arid plains were once a refuge for runaway slaves, smugglers and the banished.Some of the hills were known as Murderer’s Karoo, as many murderers and robbers escapedinto the vast and desolate plains, never to be seen again.98

The Karoo has had a lion’s share of pioneers in diverse fields. Born in the Karoo wereDr Emil, hailed as the father of modern orthopaedics, Albert Fick who did pioneer workon contact lenses and the heart-transplant pioneer Professor Chris Barnard.Indeed, when you come to the Karoo and allow the stillness and expanse to weave its magic,it is easy to believe that these great thinkers drew their inspiration directly from the vastsource of wisdom that is Mother Earth.BEAUFORT WESTBeaufort West, often called the “Capital of the Karoo”, was established in 1820. It wasoriginally named Beaufort, after the Duke of Beaufort, the father of the then Governor of theCape, Lord Charles Somerset. “West” was added later to distinguish the town from the otherCape towns of Fort Beaufort and Port Beaufort. The town is the hub of a rich farming district,famous for its merino sheep. This breed of sheep was first brought to the area from Holland in1789 and there are now more than 35 million sheep grazing on a diet of shrubs and herbs.The sheep’s diet has made their meat a much sought-after item on the menu of those peoplewho have developed a taste for the distinctive flavour of Karoo lamb and mutton. The area’sdry winter climate also brings many tourists here during the colder months.99

ADVENTURE AND SPORTFour-by-four, mountain-biking: Many adventure activities are available, such as mountainbikingand 4x4 drives.Hiking: There is a wide selection of hiking trails in the area, such as the Aardvark Trails, theSpringbok Hike in the Karoo National Park and the Wilgebosch Kloof Trails.ARCHAEOLOGY AND PALAEONTOLOGYStone Age sites: Set aside some time to explore the Beaufort West area as it lies at thecentre of a large plateau that is considered to be one of the world’s richest Stone Age sites.There are several sites of archaeological interest to be visited and the adventure also givesyou an opportunity to explore the countryside.San Rock Art: These works of art can be seen at Nelspoort, just off National Road N1, about40 km north-east of Beaufort West, but permission has to be obtained to visit the site.CULTURE / COMMUNITY TOURISMKwa-Mandlenkosi: This is one destination that should not be missed! On this township tour,visitors will come into contact with traditional healers and the residents of the townships.Local Xhosa food and hospitality can also be enjoyed. Contact a registered tour guide andmake your arrangements in advance.FAUNA AND FLORAKaroo National Park: Among the animals living in the approximately 3 300-ha park arelimited numbers of springbok, gemsbok and hartebeest. Two of South Africa’s mostendangered species have been resettled here, namely the riverine rabbit and blackrhinoceros. The quagga, a zebra-type creature, which was once extinct, has been recreatedand once again roams the park. Smaller predators such as lynxes, black-backed jackals andwild cats can also be glimpsed. A feature that is definitely unique to the park is the greatconcentration of tortoises, ranging from the largest, the leopard tortoise weighing45 kg, to the smallest ( only 100 mm long and 150 g in weight ). Spring, when thearea is covered with wild flowers, is a good time to attempt the Springbok Hiking Trail, ademanding 27-km journey that takes over three days. To get in touch with prehistory, wanderalong the Fossil Path, where the fossils are over 50 million years old. The path is suitable forthe blind and for wheelchair users.Meiringspoort: This spectacular 20-km-long river gorge, approximately 120 to 140 km south ofBeaufort West, is the beautiful home of many plants, animals and birds.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREBlockhouse: The blockhouse, situated next to the railway bridge, was built by British troops in1901 during the Anglo-Boer War to guard the bridge.Old Jacob’s House: Dating back to the 1820s, this is the oldest residence in the town.Old Mission Church: The church was built in 1872 and is an important part of the town’shistory.Old Town Hall: The hall dates back to 1867 and exhibitions inside the building focus on thetown’s history and on the heart-transplant pioneer Prof. Chris Barnard.Parsonage/Barnard House: This is the house where Prof. Chris Barnard, the heart-transplantpioneer, was born and spent his boyhood years.100

Voortrekker Path: This path commemorates the residents of the town who embarked on the“Great Trek” into the interior.KLAARSTROOMThis small historic village lies at the foot of the Swartberg Mountains. Its Afrikaans namemeans “Clear Stream”.LAINGSBURGThe town was laid out in 1881 and was formerly known as Buffelsrivier. Its name was laterchanged to Laingsburg after John Laing, the then Commissioner of Crown Clands of theCape Colony. The town was in the news a century later when the Buffels River came down inflood in 1981 and destroyed almost the entire town. Since then, Laingsburg has been rebuilt,but many of its residents still carry the emotional burden of the tragedy.ADVENTURE AND SPORTAnysberg: This mountain is frequented by hikers, abseilers and cavers.Hiking: Several hiking trails criss-cross the area. Hikers are treated to magnificent mountainscenery and abundant bird life.Karoo Ultra Marathon: This 80-km marathon has been held here for more than 33 years. Yearafter year, runners come back to explore the heart of the Karoo.ARCHAEOLOGY AND PALAEONTOLOGYFossils: The town of Laingsburg is considered a geological paradise. The local mudstone islayered with fossils and volcanic ash blown across from South America 250 million years agohas also been found in the district. This takes the form of a white band of quartz that runsacross the veld, evidence of continental drift, as a similar layer has been discovered in SouthAmerica.ART AND CRAFTSKaroofees: This festival attracts many visitors to the area every year. The festival normallyincludes a beer tent, veld restaurant, half marathon and musical performances.FAUNA AND FLORAScenic Drives: The Vleiland, Rouxpos, Witteberge and Rooiberg Passes offer lovely views ofthe magnificent mountain scenery.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREOld Blockhouse: This concrete structure is located alongside the bridge over the GeelbekRiver. The blockhouse was built by the British during the Anglo-Boer War.LEEU-GAMKAThe small town is a convenient stop-over for travellers on the N1. Enjoy a stroll around thetown and take time to appreciate the attractive architecture of some of the buildings and visitthe graves of the two British soldiers who died here during the Anglo-Boer War.101

MATJIESFONTEINThe lovely small Victorian town ofMatjiesfontein has been declared anational monument in its entirety. AScot, James Logan, founded thesmall settlement at the end of thenineteenth century. He built a hoteland restaurant here and suppliedwater to the railways. During theAnglo-Boer War, a British garrisonwas stationed here and the hotelserved as a military hospital with alookout post in the tower. The townused to be a popular andfashionable health resort that couldcount Cecil John Rhodes among itsmany visitors.It is conveniently situated on the main national road between Johannesburg and Cape Townand thanks to some colourful residents, the town is also gaining a reputation as a cultural andentertainment centre.ENTERTAINMENT ANDSHOPPINGLondon Bus: This bus makes dailytours through the town and has avery witty narrator as a tour guide.MERWEVILLEDating from 1901, the Karoo architecture of this town is a tribute to the simple elegance ofearlier times. The area resembles the Nevada Desert and on the outskirts there is a grave ofan Australian soldier who was so disturbed by the Anglo-Boer War that he committed suicide.102

ADVENTURE AND SPORTFour-by-four: In the Nuweveld Mountains 4x4 enthusiasts can choose from six differentroutes. They range in difficulty level, but all offer beautiful mountain views.Fout-by-four, hunting: The area boasts many 4x4 routes, and offers many opportunities forhunting and game-viewing.Nova Vita Trails: The farm has several hiking, mountain-biking and 4x4 trails. The trails takevisitors across plains and offer panoramic views and views of many animal and plant species.MURRAYSBURGThe town is known for its lovely scenery and well-preserved buildings. It is named forDr Andrew Murray, a well-known minister of the Dutch Reformed Church in thenineteenth century.ADVENTURE AND SPORTAbseiling, mountain-biking, 4x4 trails: The area offers many recreational activities, includingabseiling, mountain-biking and 4x4 trekking.Hiking: Groot Driefontein and Sarels River have scenic hiking trails.ART AND CRAFTSCraft Shops: The village is home to many crafters and is known to many as the “CraftersMecca of the Karoo”. Crafts sold in the shops include pottery, fabric paintings, stained glass,paintings and many, many more.PRINCE ALBERT (including Gamkaskloof)103Prince Albert, on the northside of the SwartbergMountains, was establishedin 1842 and named after thethen newly-born son ofQueen Victoria. The wellpreservedold buildingscontribute greatly to thecharming old-worldatmosphere. The town is theperfect base from which todiscover the wonders of theSwartberg area. The areaincludes Gamkaskloof (alsoknown as The Hell) andMeiringspoort.The village of Gamkaskloof got its name from the Khoisan word for lion (gamka), which isalso the name of the river that runs through the valley. In this valley near the town of PrinceAlbert, a small community lived in isolation for more than 100 years. Access was very difficultand the community could only be reached by foot or horseback until a road was carvedthrough the mountains in 1962. Some say the daunting name of “The Hell” was given to the

village by a local stock inspector who once described the journey to the village as going “tohell and back”. Needless to say, the name stuck.ADVENTURE AND SPORTHiking, mountain-biking: The region has much to offer for the outdoor enthusiast. Hiking andmountain-biking are but some of the ways in which the lovely countryside can be explored.ARCHAEOLOGY AND PALAEONTOLOGYDinosaur Footprints: Fossilised dinosaur footprints are found near town.ART AND CRAFTSPrince Albert Gallery: Local artists exhibit their work at the gallery.Prince Albert Tannery (Looiery): The tannery produces and sells some exquisitely craftedleather articles, such as sheepskin slippers, fur hats and much more.Wolskuur Spinners: The talented crafters at this centre produce artistic hand-woven carpets,jerseys made of 100 per cent wool, as well as other products.CUISINEDelicacies: No visit to this area would be complete without having sampled some of thelocally freshly grown and produced culinary delights. Karoo lamb, olives, olive oil and cheeseare some of the local delicacies.Farm Visits: Various farms in the district offer tours and visitors can purchase some of thefresh farm products.Fruit: The area around Prince Albert is famous for its sun-ripened fresh fruit. This fruit is soldfresh or dried at several venues.Olive Festival: The Olive Festival is held here every April and visitors are entertained by astreet market, delicious food and music.Witblits: Similar to American “moonshine”, this potent drink made from fermented fruit is soldat several places in town. The method for producing it has followed the same principles formany years, although modern methods are considered to be more hygienic.ENTERTAINMENT AND SHOPPINGTown Observatory: The observatory provides facilities for amateur astronomers.Walks and Stories: Various routes have been laid out to allow visitors to meet some of theresidents who made Prince Albert what it is today. The routes pass well-preserved homesand buildings built in a specific style of architecture. The Ghost Walk is particularly popularwith those who pride themselves on their strong nerves. This walk takes them to people andplaces that tell of those who refused to leave the town, although they have been dead forcenturies.FAUNA AND FLORASwartberg Pass: This pass was built by Andrew Geddes Bain with convict labour from1881 to 1888 and is considered to be one of the most scenic passes in the country. It offersspectacular views of the countryside and leaves visitors in awe of nature, as well as of man’sdetermination to overcome obstacles. The pass was declared a national monument in 1988on the centenary of its opening.104

HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREAlberts Mill: The mill was built in 1850 and was declared a national monument in 1963.Dennehof: This is the oldest farmhouse in the area and has been declared a nationalmonument.Dutch Reformed Church: The church was completed in 1865 and has a very strikingappearance. It served as a fort during the Anglo-Boer War when British soldiers used it as alookout point.Fransie Pienaar Museum: The house in which the museum is situated forms part of thehistory of the town and also houses exhibitions on the history. The house was built in 1906and served as a hospital from 1952 to 1978. The exhibitions include a collection of antiquesand artefacts that were collected by Fransie Pienaar.Swartberg Hotel: This magnificent Victorian-style hotel was built in 1868 and still has someantique furniture. It is also a national monument.Vintage Car Museum: The museum displays various cars and motorcycles. The first vehicleto arrive in town, a 1923 Model T Ford can be seen here.105

GARDEN ROUTEGarden Route TourismPO Box 1514, George, 6530Tel: +27 (0) 44 873 6355Fax: +27 (0) 44 884 0688E-mail: info@gardenroute.org.zaWebsite: http://www.capegardenroute.orgThe spectacular scenic beauty of the Garden Route has brought this area to the attention ofthe entire world. Many international visitors visit the area annually and many have also boughthomes here. This is truly a region that caters to a wide variety of tastes.The Garden Route comprises a narrow coastal plateau stretching from Helderberg in theWest to the Storms River in the East. The Langeberg, Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma Mountainsframe it in the north and the lovely beaches run into the Indian Ocean in the south. The regionhas its own unique climate, described as temperate coastal – warm summers and coolwinters with year-round rainfall.The lush tapestry of indigenous forests, lakes, lagoons, waterways and rivers is bordered bya rugged coastline with magnificent beaches washed by the warm waters of the IndianOcean. The area boasts some of the richest variety of vegetation south of the Limpopo Riverand has the largest natural forest complex in South Africa.The appearance of the Garden Route region was shaped over many years by the powerfulforces of nature. Over five million years ago, when the sea level was 200 m higher than itis at present, the waves worked on the bottom plateau and when the level dropped, the resultwas a landscape of sandy beaches, alluvial flat-lands and lakes. As time went by, the riversformed valleys and made them even wider and deeper, sculpting the lagoons and lakes oftoday.The Garden Route is one of the most popular tourist destinations in South Africa. The seasideresorts are surrounded by lush indigenous rainforests and towering mountain peaks. It is oneof the few places in the world where one can travel less than an hour and find oneself in a106

completely different type of landscape. Hikers often explore the mountains and fields ofprotea-rich fynbos and can choose between day walks or longer hiking trails.Many animals such as bushbuck, duikers, vervet monkeys and bush pigs roam the area.Other typical Garden Route inhabitants are butterflies, lizards and a rich variety of bird life.The secretive Knysna loerie, yellow-throated warbler, olive woodpecker, chorister robin andAfrican goshawk have made their home here.Over the years, many legends and stories have been woven around the Knysna Forestelephants, so much so that their existence took on a mythical quality. Over 200 yearsago, the southern coast was the territory of great herds of elephants. However, as more andmore people came to the area, hunters depleted their numbers to such an extent that theybecame an endangered species. The last seven elephants retreated into the depths of thethick Knysna Forests and adapted well to the forest conditions. In fact, they adapted so wellthat many at one time believed that they had all been killed. Sadly, although they are stillthere, the future of the herd is still not secure.The Garden Route presents us with so many wondrous sights that many even call it “A Tasteof Eden” and quite rightly so.ALBERTINIAAlbertinia is named for the Reverend JR Albertyn of the Dutch Reformed Church atRiversdale. He planned the settlement as a Dutch Reformed community centre betweenRiversdale and Mossel Bay, but he had left the area before the town was established in 1904.The area surrounding Albertinia includes splendid views of the coastline, the LangebergMountains and the winding Gourits River. Bird-watchers are frequent visitors and the mildweather also attracts many other holidaymakers. Albertinia is also known as the “Home of theAloe”, a clue about the character of the natural vegetation of the district.ADVENTURE AND SPORTGourits River Drift Route: The Gourits River bungee jump has an international reputation andis definitely not for the faint-hearted. Visitors are also offered another adventure option,namely bridge-swinging. It certainly offers a novel angle from which to appreciate the scenery.Outdoor Activities: The area has many different activities for outdoor enthusiasts, such as 4x4routes, horse-riding, hiking, fishing, bird-watching, fly-fishing and golf.ART AND CRAFTSPotpourrie Kontreiwinkel: The shop sells a wide selection of local arts and crafts all done bylocal artists and crafters.FAUNA AND FLORAAloes: Albertinia has a large quantity of aloe plants growing in the area. The area near theVals River Pass is a particularly good spot to see aloes and cycads.Cape Fynbos: The countryside has some of the best examples of plants belonging to theCape Fynbos Floral Kingdom. Many of the plants are endemic to the Albertinia region.Dunes Route: The route passes through the uninhabited Canca Valley, where the famedAlbertinia thatching reed is found and is also a great location for viewing proteas and otherplants in season.107

Game-viewing: There are various nature and game reserves in the area where the “Big Five”have also taken up residence.Ostriches: A visit to one of the many ostrich farms in the area is a delightful experience. Onecan learn more about these awkward birds, enjoy lunch or a snack and maybe even attemptto stay on an ostrich for more than a few seconds. The shops also sell various ostrichproducts and curios.Rein’s Nature Reserve: This reserve lies some 30 km south of Albertinia and is home to morethan 500 species of plants and to animals such as tortoises and Cape mountain zebras. Birdand whale-watchers also frequent the reserve.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREAncient Fish Traps: These traps date back some 4 000 years, when Khoisan huntersconstructed them to add fish to their diet. The traps are still in working condition.Albertinia High School: Take a walk past the High School that was established in 1908. Theschool was later extended, but the old buildings can still be seen.History: To ensure that you do not miss any of the historical sites, arrange to go on ahistorical tour through the town.Mission Street: Many of the homes of the founders of the town still stand in this street.NG (Dutch Reformed) Church: The church was built in 1904 and has an exceptional andunique architectural style.OTHER ATTRACTIONSAloe Factories: For centuries, aloes have been used for medicinal purposes and the aloefactories produce products and ingredients used in the health and beauty industry. Guidedtours can be organised if arrangements are made in advance.GEORGEThe town of George nestles at the foot ofthe beautiful Outeniqua Mountains, some12 km inland from the coast. Georgewas founded in 1811 and is the sixtholdest town in the country. It is named forthe British monarch at the time, George III.It is the largest town along theGarden Route. Because George liesclose to several other towns, it hassteadily grown into the distribution,education and medical centre of theregion.108The timber industry was the maineconomic activity of the town for manyyears and still plays a major role in the

town’s economy. Many visitors return home with a special item of furniture, a permanentreminder of their visit to the area.ADVENTURE AND SPORTAngling: Surf and rock-angling is a popular pastime, as cobs, stumpnose and blackfish arefound in the waters along the coastline. Angling is also permitted at Touws River and IslandLake.Beaches: The small cove of Victoria Bay is a popular surfing-spot. Herold’s Bay is favouredby the locals and has large tidal pools, which are safe for bathing and great for angling.Canoeing: Canoers negotiate the waters of George Dam, Swartvlei, Island Lake, Groenvleiand Touws River.Cycling: The area has a wide variety of cycling routes from which to choose.Flying Tours: Various helicopter and flying tours offer the advantages of a bird’s eye view.Visitors are flown across the region and over the majestic mountains.Golf: The George Golf Course and the Fancourt Golf Course are among the finest courses inthe Western Cape.Hang-gliding: The George area has many good hang-gliding points.Hiking: There are over 70 hiking routes in the region, catering for all kinds of fitness levels.One of the most popular hiking trails is the tough eight-day Outeniqua Hiking Trail, whichstarts in George and passes through the Outeniqua Mountains north of Knysna throughmountain fynbos and indigenous forests.Horse-riding: The Garden Route Dam rents out horses to be ridden around the area. Thetrail guarantees breathtaking views of the majestic Outeniqua Mountains.Outdoors: A variety of different activities can be ventured in the area, such as 4x4 routes,abseiling, bungee-jumping and mountaineering.Power-boating: Power-boating is only allowed within certain areas on Island Lake andSwartvlei.Sailing: Island Lake and Swartvlei allow sailing and board-sailing. The Yacht Club is situatedon Island Lake.ART AND CRAFTSArt and Craft Route: George has many different art galleries and craft markets, which offersomething for everyone. The route also visits the Strydom Gallery, which was established in1968, and the Artistico Gallery where South African artwork is on display.CULTURE / COMMUNITY TOURISMXhosa Village: The Khulani Xhosa Village is situated at the outskirts of Thebalethu and offersvisitors true Xhosa hospitality and culture.FAUNA AND FLORABado Kidogo – Exotic Parrot Farm: This bird-breeding farm has over 150 different species ofbirds and visitors can walk around and view the birds at leisure.109

Bird-watching: The lakes around George are home to many different bird species. TheMalachite Bird Hide is situated at the northern shore of Langvlei and over 250 species of birdshave been recorded here.Montagu Pass: The Montagu Pass through the Outeniqua Mountains behind George wasopened in the late 1840s and offers some of the most spectacular views in South Africa. Thepass is a national monument.Outeniqua Choo-Choo: The steam train, the only one still in operation in the country, datesfrom 1928. The service runs twice daily from George to Knysna and back and takes travellersalong the coast, over numerous lakes and through attractive wooded ravines. It is the perfectcombination of history and nature.Outeniqua Nature Reserve: The reserve is home to a rich variety of plant life that sustains awide variety of animal species. Various hiking trails have been mapped out.Outeniqua Power Van: If you prefer more modern machinery, a guided tour in the motorisedrail trolley that runs between George and Oudtshoorn is the option for you. The route windsup the Outeniqua Mountains and you can appreciate the splendorous beauty from the comfortand safety of the power van.Seven Passes Road: The road goes through seven passes past George and Knysna, windingthrough indigenous forests. Plan your journey to include several stops to admire themagnificent scenery.Southern Cape Herbarium: The herbarium displays lovely examples of local flora. The annualWild Flower Show is hosted here in October.Whales: Victoria Bay lies 9 km east of George and whales are often spotted in the surf.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREChurches: St Mark’s Anglican Cathedral, built in 1850, is the smallest cathedral in theSouthern Hemisphere. George also has one of the oldest Roman Catholic Churches in SouthAfrica (dating from 1848), and a Dutch Reformed Church (1843).George Museum: The museum is situated in Courtenay Street and focuses on George’stimber industry and the history of George.George Timber Route: This route was created to allow people to visit several of the importantattractions in George on foot. The attractions are mainly related to the town’s timber historyand include the special old trees of the town, as well as several timber stores. The attractionsincluded are the George Museum, the Big Outeniqua Yellowwood, York Street Interiors, theMagnolia Tree, Old Oak Tree, Touw Meubels, the Giant Magnolia Tree, Norfolk Island Pines,the Gum Tree, the Tibouchina Tree, Houseman’s Furniture, the Big Oak Tree, WoodcraftFurniture, the Cape Ash Tree, Witfontein, the Saasveld Forestry School and De SteylFurniture.Old Oak Tree: This tree is one of George’s famous landmarks. It was planted in 1811 and hasan old iron lock embedded in the trunk. Said to have been the place where slaves were soldin the past, some people refer to it as the Slave Tree. It is also reputedly the largest oak in theSouthern Hemisphere.110

Outeniqua Railway Museum: This is the only national railway museum in the country andexhibits locomotives and rail equipment.Pacaltsdorp Church: The oldest church in the George area it was built in 1825.GREAT BRAK RIVERThis village with its pleasant climate offers a pleasant combination of natural beauty and oldstylebuildings. The town was first named Wolwedans (Wolf Dance) referring to the hyenas inthe area, which were incorrectly called wolves. The name was then changed to Great BrakRiver after the river that flows through it. The town is situated between George and MosselBay.ADVENTURE AND SPORTBeaches: The beaches are popular magnets for holidaymakers and include Little Brak,Hersham, Great Brak and Glentana. Rheebok and Tegniek Beaches have tidal pools, whichoffer ideal and safe conditions for swimming.Hiking: The area has various trails to choose from, such as the Wolwedans Hiking Trail.FAUNA AND FLORABird-watching: The area is blessed with a large variety of bird life, many of which are onlyfound in this area.Flora: The district has many different and unique species of fynbos and other flora, includingindigenous forests.Marine Life: Southern right whales, dolphins and seals are frequent visitors to the beachesin the area. There are various viewing spots all along the coastline from which visitors canmarvel at the natural grace and ability of these fascinating creatures of the sea.111

Pepper Tree: This tree is one of the largest pepper trees in the country with a diameter of11.2 m.Picnic Spots: The lovely countryside offers several spots where people can enjoy a leisurelymeal while drinking in the beauty of the area.Wildlife: The area has several nature reserves and game farms, where a variety of animalscan be seen.Wolwedans Dam: The area surrounding the dam is particularly beautiful, owing to its naturalfauna and flora.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURESearle Memorial Church and Searle Family Graveyard: Charles Searle and his familywere among the early residents of the area, having arrived in 1858. They are rememberedin the Searle church and graveyard where many family members are buried.OTHER ATTRACTIONSWatson Shoe Factory: Many residents earn their living at this factory. The guided tours of thefacility are enlightening and entertaining.HARTENBOSThis is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the Garden Route Region and is knownfor its beautiful beaches, calm surf and the beauty of its fynbos.ENTERTAINMENT AND SHOPPINGATKV Holiday Resort: The resort has modern facilities amid a lovely setting of fynbos anduntamed nature.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREHartenbos Museum: The Great Trek of 1838 is the main theme of this museum.HEIDELBERGThis small town lies on the banks of a tranquil river and the slopes of the Langeberg. Thetown dates back to 1855 and supports the farming-orientated community that producesmainly wheat, wool and citrus fruits.ADVENTURE AND SPORTAngling: The mouth of the Breede River provides heavenly conditions for anglers and is alsoa good place for watching the whales.Adventure Activities: The area around Heidelberg offers a variety of activities, namelymountain-biking, fishing, horse-riding, golf, swimming, tractor and trailer trails and boat hire.Grootvaderbosch Hiking Trail: The trail winds through areas of great natural beauty.FAUNA AND FLORABirds: Bird-watchers frequent the area along the Breede River and the Langeberg Mountains.112

Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve: The reserve covers a 250-ha indigenous forest. The wellknownBushbuck Trail meanders through the reserve and mountain bikers are also cateredfor.KNYSNAKnysna, a very popular holidaydestination, is a small town withdistinctive old-world charm. It also grewfrom the timber trade and was foundedat the beginning of the nineteenthcentury by George Rex, reputed to bethe son of the British King, George III,from his secret marriage to HannahLightfoot. Knysna lies among thewooded hills and encircles the largeKnysna Lagoon and is the perfect basefrom where to explore the wonders ofthe area.ADVENTURE AND SPORTAdventure: One needs never sit still when in Knysna. Horse-riding, abseiling, paragliding,canoeing, diving, great white shark-diving and fishing are all on the adventure menu.Cape St Blaize Cave Hiking Trail: Thecave is the starting point of a hiking trailthat winds its way through a vast areaof great natural beauty and diversity.Forest Walks: The Knysna Forests are awonderland where one can lose oneselfamong the trees and the sounds ofnature. The different walks also haveseveral picnic spots and bikers can alsotravel through the forests.Knysna Yachts: The Knysna Yachting Club issituated at the Knysna Harbour and there are alwaysyachts traversing the lagoon and sailing past thebeautiful, but dangerous, Knysna Heads.Water-sport: The areas of the Knysna Lagoon thatare zoned for nature reserves allow little disturbanceof the natural habitat. Power-boating, water-skiingand sailing are, however, allowed in certain spots.Many types of pleasure craft, such as cabincruisers, sailboards and paddle-skis are for hire.113

Live-aboard cruisers can even be rented for meandering around the lagoon for days on end.Deep-sea fishing trips are also available.ART AND CRAFTSArt and craft shops and markets: Many talented artists and crafters live and work in Knysnaand sell their art at Knysna’s street markets and in the many shops around town. Items madefrom the indigenous woods of the area are internationally renowned.Knysna Arts Festival: This popular festival takes place over ten days in late September/earlyOctober. The festival showcases a collection of visual and performing arts.Painting Holiday: For those who fancy themselves to be artists in the making, a Knysnapainting holiday with the Elliott family is the ideal solution. The couple offers various paintingcourses.CUISINEKnysna Oyster Company: The Oyster Company was established in 1949 and is situated onThesen Island. Oysters from the Knysna Lagoon, a long-time traditional delicacy of theregion, are cultivated and sold here.CULTURE / COMMUNITY TOURISMJudah Square: The square offers the ideal way to experience the Rastafarian culture. Knysnahas the largest Rastafarian community in the country and the community invites visitors to thesquare to experience and learn more about the religion and its way of life.Knysna Township Trail: The trail allows visitors to experience the old townships of the areaand meet the local people. A visit to Mary, an old storyteller, is an occasion not to be missed.ENTERTAINMENT AND SHOPPINGPleasure Boat: There are several boating opportunities on the Knysna Lagoon. Visitors cantake a cruise on a boat to The Heads and enjoy a light meal whilst drifting past one of the mostbeautiful natural wonders of the area.Knysna Waterfront: Dine on fresh oysters and tour the brewery or browse around Knysna’swaterfront.FAUNA AND FLORABird life: More than 280 species of birds have been recorded on Thesen Island, in SteenbokPark and on the Groenvlei and Swartvlei Lakes.Featherbed Nature Reserve: A good base for water-sports and walks, the Featherbed NatureReserve lies on the unspoilt western head of the Lagoon and can only be reached by ferry.The reserve is a Natural Heritage Site and is home to two of Knysna’s icons, the KnysnaLoerie and the Blue Duiker. Bird-watching is extremely popular in the area, as the varied andcontrasting types of habitat found around the lagoon attract many different species of birds.Knysna Lagoon: The lagoon is a protected marine reserve and is the breeding ground of therenowned Knysna oyster, as well as of the threatened Knysna sea horse.Rare species: Knysna is the home of the forest elephant, which has been nearly hunted toextinction. Only a few of these giants are left and they are rarely seen. Knysna is also wellknown for its sea horse and its unique pansy shell.114

Whales: The southern right whale is a welcome and frequent visitor to the Knysna shores.One never tires of watching them make their graceful progress through the surf and do theoccasional high dive.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREMillwood House: When gold wasdiscovered in the Knysna Forest in 1876,prospectors flocked here from all over theworld. Millwood House, originally erectedin the gold-rush town of Millwood, wasdismantled and re-erected in Knysnaafter the gold rush ended. It is now afascinating museum depicting the earlydays of Knysna.NATURAL WONDERSKnysna Lagoon: Two distinctivesandstone cliffs called The Heads markthe spot where the Knysna Lagoon meetsthe sea. These huge, brightly colouredcliffs are considered to be one of themost striking geological features alongthe South African coast. The view fromthe top of The Heads, over the lagoonand with Knysna town in the background,is spectacular. Footpaths on The Headslead to secluded caves and an encounterwith the turbulent waves.Noetzie Beach: The drive to secluded Noetzie Beach guarantees some beautiful views. Oncethere, visitors will need to navigate a steep path down to the isolated beach and lagoon. Theamazing scenery is enhanced by five private castle-like homes built on the beach.MOSSEL BAYThe Portuguese navigatorBartholomeu Diaz made hisfirst African landing at MosselBay in 1488. He was the firstknown European to land onSouth African soil and thefirst meeting betweenEuropeans and Africansoccurred at Mossel Bay whenDiaz encountered the ancientKhoisan people. The firsttrading between Europeansand Africans occurred atMossel Bay when Vasco daGama traded successfullywith the Khoisan in 1497.115

The name was given to the area to refer to the mussels that were found nearby.Mossel Bay is located halfway between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. It is a popular holidaydestination and no wonder, for, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, it is thetown with the mildest all-year climate in the world.ADVENTURE AND SPORTBeaches: The bay is one of the calmeststretches of water along the SouthernCape coast and there are many lovelybeaches separated by rock stretches.Cape Saint Blaize has a sandy channelbetween two rocky ridges, which isknown as the “Poort”. After the harbourthere is Munro’s Bay, Santos Beach, astring of beaches separated by rocksknown as “Die Bekkie”, and there arealso Pansy Beach and Dias Beach.Water-sport: Angling, powerboat-fishing and surfing are popular pastimes and the waters offMossel Bay are ideal for yachting.ARCHAEOLOGY AND PALAEONTOLOGYKhoisan Cave: Many artefacts have been found in the cave, dating back some 70 000 to120 000 years, believed to have been used by ancient Khoisan people.CULTURE / COMMUNITY TOURISMSan Village: This village presents visitors with a very rare opportunity to become acquaintedwith the San culture and history. The San as a people are very nearly extinct and theirtraditional way of life no longer exists. Various arts and crafts can be purchased andtraditional local dishes are served.ENTERTAINMENT AND SHOPPINGFishing Charters: Local fishermen take visitors with them on their fishing trips to showoutsiders how they earn their living. It is an educational and fun experience, an adventurewith a purpose.Garden Route Casino: The modern casino allows locals and visitors alike to come and trytheir luck.Point Area: The lookout point provides magnificent views of the coastline and sea.FAUNA AND FLORABird life: Many of the different birds found in the area are migratory. Each type of vegetationfeeds and shelters its own special species of birds. Varieties of waders and gulls are foundalong the shores and the estuaries at the Gouritz River Mouth and the Great Brak Rivershelter herons and egrets. The fynbos is home to many orange-breasted sunbirds. Thefarm-lands and the offshore areas also each house their own unique types of birds.116

Fynbos: Mossel Bay is situated in the famous Cape Floral Kingdom and is home to manydifferent species of fynbos.Mossel Bay Seal Island: Boat trips to a nearby island offer stunning views of the 5 000-strongseal colony. It is hard to believe that so many creatures can live, feed and breed in such asmall area, but they seem quite content with their lot.Porpoises: Porpoises often travel from the bay, past the point into the open sea and this iswhen they are best visible from shore.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREBartholomeu Diaz Museum: The museum complex, housed inside a converted granary, builtin 1901, consists of four different museums. The displays of the Maritime Museum include alife-size replica of the ship that Diaz used in 1488, and which sailed from Portugal to SouthAfrica in 1988 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Diaz’ landing in Mossel Bay, as wellas other models of ships. The complex also houses the Cultural and Shell Museum, theGranary and the Post Office Tree.Buildings: Mossel Bay still has many old buildings, including Munro’s Hoek House dating backto 1830, now a national monument; Old Barry Building dating from 1849; 10 Church Streetbuilt in 1857; Old Black’s Office built in 1904; the Masonic Lodge dating back to 1884 andmany more.Cape St Blaize Lighthouse: The lighthouse dates back to 1864.Chapel: The Chapel was the first building in the area where Christians could come together toworship. It was built in 1501 by Joao da Nova.Crime and Disaster Tour: This tour, with its unusual name, is surely an attraction unique toMossel Bay. The tour visits various sites where ghosts still walk, perhaps to try and explain tothe living the mysterious and unexplained events that occurred here.First Post Office: South Africa’s first letter was posted at the Post Office Tree here in 1500.Passing ships would leave letters under this tree for other ships to pick up later.Lazaretto Cemetery: The cemetery has gravestones dating back to 1809.NATURE’S VALLEY117Close your eyes and conjure up a pictureof a place your imagination would nameNature’s Valley. If you see a valley ringedby mountains and surrounded by forest,covered in lush trees and plants, you arenot far off. This captivating village with itshomes hidden among the trees overlooks asandy beach and despite its popularityamong holidaymakers successfullymanages to retain its unspoilt character.Entry into the valley is entry into a worldwhere you are only allowed to coexist withnature if you know your place.

ADVENTURE AND SPORTHiking: More than 50 km of hiking trails radiate from the village, the routes mapped outthrough coastal forests and fynbos vegetation.Water-sport: The surf, beach and lagoon are popular for a number of reasons – swimming,angling and canoeing.PLETTENBERG BAYThe attractive upmarket holidaydestination of Plettenberg Bay ischaracterised by long stretchesof sandy beaches and safeswimming waters. The beauty ofthe rocky coastline, the lagoonand the ancient forests add tothe area’s popularity. The baywas named Bahia Formosa(“Beautiful Bay”) by a Portugesenavigator in 1576. Almost200 years later, theGovernor of the Cape, Baron vanPlettenberg, on an expeditioninto the then unexplored interior,decided to name the bay afterhimself.His expedition also discovered the forests filled with usable timber and a woodcutter’s postwas established soon after.ADVENTURE AND SPORTAdventure at Keurbooms River Nature Reserve: The reserve has several nature trails,totalling approximately 5 km, which offer superb views over Plettenberg Bay and the lushvalley. Mountain bikes and boats can be hired at the campsite. The Keurbooms Canoe Trail isan easy 7-km, two-hour paddle through the Keurbooms Nature Reserve.Angling: Nature’s Valley, (about 35 km east of Plettenberg Bay), Keurbooms, Lookout Rocks,Beacon Island and Robberg Beach all are great angling spots. Deep-sea anglers can expectto catch tuna, hake and calamari.Black-water Tubing: Private operators offer tubing adventures down the Storms River, about70 km east of Plettenberg Bay.Boat Cruises: The boats travel out to the bay where visiting sea creatures, such as dolphinsand whales, can be observed.Bungee-jumping: The highest commercial bungee jump in the world is situated at BloukransRiver Bridge, about 50 km east of Plettenberg Bay.118

119Diving: The coastline offers manyfascinating and wonderful diving andsnorkelling spots. The underwaterreef off Beacon Island, for example isan old favourite among divers.Elephant Walk: The Diepwalle Forestis famous for its giant yellowwoodtrees. Animals such as bushbuck,duiker and even elephants roam theforest and there is a large variety ofbird life. Elephants once thrived in theKnysna Forest but by 1990 theirnumbers had declined to just three orfour and they are now rarely sighted.Flights and Gliding: Private operators offer flights over Plettenberg Bay and surroundings.Special flights to view whales are also conducted.Golf: Plettenberg Bay has several well-established golf courses.Hiking Trails: There are several hiking trails in the area, such as the Robberg Walk andNature’s Valley Trails. A 2-km hiking trail starts at the Big Tree all the way to the N2 Highway.The Big Tree is a massive Outeniqua Yellowwood, which is over a thousand years old.Other similarly-sized trees also grow in the area.Homtini Cycle Route: The 19-km route makes a loop through the Goudveld State Forest.Horse-riding: Horse trails are a perfect way to discover the beauty of the forests.Mountain-biking: Among the several routes is a very well-known one named the HarkervilleCycle Route which winds along the coastline and through the forest.Otter Hiking Trail: One of the most popular hiking trails in South Africa, the Otter Trail,traverses the forests and unspoilt rocky shores of the Tsitsikamma National Coastal Park.The Otter Trail starts in the reserve and ends at the Groot River, five days and 48 km later.Along the way, there are 11 rivers to cross.Sea-kayaking: Ocean and river-kayaking are popular pastimes, not least because theyinclude the possibility of having close encounters with dolphins and seals and even with somespecies of birds.Tsitsikamma Hiking Trail: The Tsitsikamma Trail loops back to form a more arduous, five-dayand 56-km trail. This inland route starts at the Groot River near Nature’s Valley and windsthrough the Tsitsikamma Mountains to the Storms River Mouth.Water-sports: The Bay is an excellent location for hobie-catting, sailing, surfing and waveskiing.Keurbooms River is also a popular venue for water-skiing and also canoeing.ARCHAEOLOGY AND PALAEONTOLOGYStone Age sites: The findings in Nelson’s Bay and Matjes River Cave indicate that the caveswere once inhabited by Middle Stone Age Man and by Khoisan people more than 100 000

years ago. The Robberg Nature Reserve also hosts some sites of architectural interest. Theearly “Strandlopers” who lived off the sea used the caves on the peninsula as shelters andarticles found here have shed some light on aspects of their lifestyle.ART AND CRAFTSArts and Crafts Route: The route from Sedgefield to Plettenberg Bay visits many artists andcrafters who sell their unique work and open their studios to visitors.CUISINENyati Traditional Mampoer and Witblits Distillery: The distillery produces and sells mampoerof superior quality. Mampoer is a clear liquid with a very high alcohol content and is distilledfrom fruit.Trumilk Dairy: The Bitou Valley Company invites you to come and taste its cheese, wine andliquor. The company has already received accolades for producing the best feta cheese in thecountry, but it also counts Cheddar cheese and Camembert among its products.CULTURE / COMMUNITY TOURISMUmthombo Theatre Group and Township Tours: The theatre group aims to raise funds for thecommunity to improve the condition of life in the townships. Obtain the services of aregistered tour guide to accompany you on a township tour to see how these people live.ENTERTAINMENT AND SHOPPINGForest Wagon Trails: Taking a ride on a horse-drawn carriage through the forests down to therugged coast line, is a treat that most people have never experienced before.Wild Waters Park: The adventure park offers facilities such as supertubes, mini-golf, aswimming pool and picnic spots.FAUNA AND FLORABird life: Several unique species of birds, such as the Knysna loerie and the orange-breastedsunbird, inhabit the region. More than 260 species of birds have been recorded in the fourdifferent and unique habitats: forests, fynbos, wetlands and coastal.Elephant Park: The proud legacy of the Knysna elephants lives on here, where visitors areallowed to touch and feed the tame elephants.Fynbos: Some 27 species of ericas, as well as other plants, such as wild proteas and fynbos,grow in the region.Garden of Eden Reserve: A small patch of indigenous forest is protected by the Garden ofEden reserve. A circular walk winds through a dense green forest filled with ferns and thelarge trunks of ancient trees covered in moss and lichen.Keurbooms River Nature Reserve: The reserve is situated 5 km from PlettenbergBay and stretches up the river for 5 to 6 km. A ferry ride allows leisurelyappreciation of the landscape and the fauna and flora of the reserve. The riverine forest offersexcellent bird-watching opportunities and visitors have a good chance of seeing largemammals such as bushbuck, bush pig and grysbok.Marine animals: The shallow waters of the bay encourage whales to calve here in the latewinter months and, throughout the year, schools of dolphins surf in the waves.120

Monkeyland: This unique primate sanctuary is home to many species of free-roamingmonkeys.Robberg Nature Reserve: At one end of Plettenberg Bay, the Robberg Peninsula juts out intothe sea. This is the site of the Robberg Nature Reserve, which has a hiking trail that crossesits rocky peninsula. The reserve houses colonies of seals and of seabirds, such as blackoystercatchers. The reserve also contains some sites of archaeological interest. The early“Strandlopers” who lived off the sea used the caves on the peninsula as shelters and findingshave shed light on certain aspects of their lifestyle.Tsitsikamma Coastal National Park: The park stretches for 80 km along the coastline. It offersa diversity of fauna and flora. The inland wooded ravines are thick with ancient yellowwoodtrees, and the coast is made up of lagoons, dunes, beaches and coral reefs. Theboundaries of the park stretch three nautical miles (5,6 km) out to sea and theUnderwater Trail for divers is one of its unique features. The mouth of the Storms River isideal for swimming and snorkelling. The Otter Trail runs through the reserve and is one of themost popular hiking trails in South Africa. The Tsitsikamma Trail loops back to form a morearduous, five-day and 56-km trail. This inland route starts at Groot River and travels throughthe Tsitsikamma Mountains to the Storms River Mouth.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREBeacon Isle: The island jutting out from the beach at the mouth of the Piesang River is nowthe site of a luxury hotel. In 1772 a navigational beacon was built here and from 1912 to 1920it served as a whaling station. It then became a boarding house and a hotel was built on thesite in 1940. An old harpoon gun and cast-iron blubber pot are reminders of the island’soccupation by Norwegian whalers.Forest Hall: This manor was built in 1864by William Newdigate and is now privatelyowned.Old Rectory: This building was erected in1776 as a barracks for the Dutch East IndiaCompany. It was purchased by St PetersChurch in 1869 and used as a rectory.Old Timber Store: Johann Jerling built thestore in 1787. Its remains are preserved asa national monument.St Andrews Chapel: The small churchbuilding, built entirely of yellowwood, is theoldest church in the diocese of George.RIVERSDALEThis small town was established in 1838and named for Harry Rivers, the CivilCommissioner of the Swellendam District.It lies about 40 km from the coast atStilbaai and near the LangebergMountains. The mountains and beaches121

offer lovely scenery and opportunities for relaxation. Riversdale is a floral paradise and has awealth of indigenous flora. The town serves a predominately farming community thatproduces mainly wheat and grain, fruit, cattle, sheep and honey bush tea.ADVENTURE AND SPORTAdventure: The various recreational and outdoor activities include hiking, bird-watching, 4x4routes, abseiling, horse-riding, hang-gliding, fishing and water-sports.SEDGEFIELDOn the eastern banks of Swartvlei lies the popular resort town of Sedgefield. The area isendowed with many lakes that provide homes to many species of birds. The town is situatedbetween George and Knysna and has many and varied natural attractions.ADVENTURE AND SPORTAngling, hiking: Groenvlei Lake is known as a good spot for bass-fishing and there areseveral hiking trails in the area.FAUNA AND FLORABird life: The Sedgefield area has a rich variety of birds. Some 250 species have beenrecorded.Goukamma Nature Reserve: The reserve covers Lake Pleasant and Buffels Bay and protectsa rich variety of vegetation and animals, including rich bird life.122

STILBAAIThe quiet small town of Stilbaai is also known amongst the locals as the “Bay of SleepingBeauty”. This is another of those names that stimulate the imagination to speculate about itsorigins. The answer to this puzzle may be quite simple and it probably simply refers to thenatural beauty of the town’s setting that includes exceptional limestone formations and naturalsprings.ADVENTURE AND SPORTWater-sport: The area surrounding Stilbaai provides wonderful opportunities for water-sportand other outdoor activities, such as angling, river ferry trips, swimming, cycling, horse-riding,4x4 routes, surfing, diving, camping and various sports.Fynbos 4x4 Farm Route: The 4x4 route allows visitors to test the strength of their fourwheeldrives while viewing various historical monuments and museums.Hiking: The area has several hiking trails that traverse the diverse natural environment.ARCHAEOLOGY AND PALAEONTOLOGYFish Traps: Ancient fish traps constructed by the Khoi-San people can still be seen today.Middle Stone Age Artefacts: These artefacts can be viewed at the Tourism Bureau. Theywere found at the Blombos Caves. However the caves are not open to the public.FAUNA AND FLORABotanical Gardens and Pauline Bothnen Reserve: The reserve protects a wealth of fynbosand other indigenous plants.Nature Reserves: There are a variety of nature reserves in the vicinity, such as Reins- andGeelkrans Nature Reserves.Palinggat Fountain: Fresh-water eels are found in the waters of the fountain. They are tameand visitors can hand-feed them chicken livers. Specific feeding times have been established.Eels have inhabited the fountain for some 125 years.Scenic Drives: There are various scenic driving routes along the coastline and inland. TheRiver Route winds along the Gouka River and guarantees stunning views of green pasturesand farms. The route also offers various attractions along the way, such as Hoekland, whereone can view game, and Kandahar where lavender oil is extracted. Hiking routes are foundon several farms.Whale-watching: From June to October, whales frequent the waters along the coastline. Thevisits of these marine giants are a popular tourist attraction.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREBuilding styles: Buildings depicting various architectural styles are part of the town’s uniqueattraction. The fishermen’s village at Melkhoutfontein and two national monuments in thecentre of town are good examples.123

WILDERNESSWilderness is a bustling little holidaytown, surrounded by rolling greencoastal hills and ensconced betweenthe beautiful Touws River Lagoon anda magnificent sandy beach. A stringof six lakes, stretching for over40 km along the coast from theWilderness to the Goukamma Rivervalley, forms the backbone of theWilderness Lake Area, which ismanaged by the National ParksBoard.ADVENTURE AND SPORTAdventure Activities: Activities that are popular in the area include mountain-biking, diving,canoeing, abseiling, surfing, hang-gliding, paragliding and horse riding.Hiking: Hiking trails traverse theestuarine environment, some ofwhich take only a few hours while theentire circuit takes a day to complete.Five of South Africa’s species ofkingfishers can be spotted here.Water-sport: The lakes are ideal forangling, board-sailing and yachting.Power-boating and water-skiing areallowed on the lagoon, but onlycanoes and rowing boats are allowedto venture further up the TouwsRiver.ART AND CRAFTSWilderness Art Route: The route includes the studios of many talented artists as well as craftmarkets. The Wilderness Craft Market is located on the banks of the Touws River and isnormally held on the last Sunday of every month. Rangers of the South African NationalParks Board run the market and the funds raised are used to upgrade facilities and improvethe lives of the local communities.FAUNA AND FLORABird-watching: The lakes of Langevlei and Rondevlei are unspoilt areas, where the coastalfynbos mixes at the water’s edge with reeds, rushes and water grasses. They provide one ofthe richest refuges for waterfowl in South Africa.Kaaimans River Bridge: Follow the example of professional photographers and use the bridgeas a vantage point from which to photograph the countryside.124

Pied Kingfisher Trail: The route takes one along the boardwalk from which one has ampleopportunities to see a large variety of birds.Viewpoints: There are exceptionally beautiful viewpoints all over the region that allowmagnificent sceneries of lakes, forests, coastline and mountains.Whale-watching: The coastline has several good spots, such as Dolphin’s Point, from whichwhales and dolphins can be observed. Generally, the best time of the year for whale-watchingis from June to October.Wilderness National Park: The Wilderness National Park incorporates the lake area that liesbetween Sedgefield and Wilderness. A rich variety of small mammals and birds live in thepark’s wide-open waterways, reed beds and marshes and surrounding bush and forests. Thepark has gained recognition for its prolific bird life and its inhabitants include large wadingbirds, such as pink flamingos and African spoonbills. Of the 95 species of South Africanwaterfowl, 75 can be spotted here.Woodville Big Tree: This tree is an astonishing 800 years old! Its massive branches make fora great picnic spot.WITSANDThis small town is a popular seaside resort that is also a commercial fishing centre. Witsandis situated on the mouth of the Breede River. Its name means “white sand”.125

LITTLE KAROOGarden Route / Little Karoo Regional OfficesPO Box 1514, George, 6530Tel: +27 (0) 44 873 6355Fax: +27 (0) 44 884 0688E-mail: info@gardenroute.org.za / frieda@edendm.co.zaWebsite: http://www.capegardenroute.orgWhen people think of the Great Karoo, vast expanses of dry sands and dunes, stretching asfar as the eye can see and blue open skies not showing a single cloud, immediately spring tomind. This could also be a description of the Little Karoo, except by comparison, it is a muchsmaller region than the Great Karoo. Karoo is the Khoi word for “dry”, an obvious choice ofname for these two desert-like regions.The Little Karoo, though sparsely vegetated, also displays that remarkable power of attractionthat we associate with desert landscapes - far horizons, magnificent sunsets and wide-openskies. The region is ensconced between the majestic Outeniqua, Langeberg and SwartbergMountain Ranges. Although water is scarce, farmers utilise the sunny climate and fertile rivervalleys to grow high-quality produce, such as vegetables and fruit. Wine and dairy productsare also produced here and there are several ostrich farms in the region.The slightly higher rainfall in the less arid part of the Little Karoo creates magnificent scenerythat includes natural patches of indigenous fynbos, particularly proteas.The region also features one of the country’s most amazing natural wonders. The CangoCaves are a series of beautiful and brilliant limestone caves tunneling beneath the foothills ofthe Swartberg Range.One visit to the Little Karoo will immediately reveal the warmth and open-hearted hospitalityof the people of the region. One of the best-known annual events in South Africa is the KleinKaroo Kunstefees (Little Karoo Arts Festival) where many of South Africa’s talentedcraftsmen, artists and musicians display their talents. This would be the ideal opportunity tovisit the region and experience a true rural welcome.AMALIENSTEIN / ZOARThe farm Amalienstein was bought by the Berlin Missionary Society in 1850. Two missionstations were completed in 1853 in the building style of a century ago. The town was namedafter Frau Amalie von Stein who donated the money to purchase the land. The missionstations were transferred to the Dutch Reformed Church during the First World War. The townis part of the tourist route on Route 62.CALITZDORPThis village also lies on Route 62 and overlooks the Gamka River Valley. The surroundinglandscape is mostly fertile farmland, but is also renowned for the beautiful mountain scenery.ADVENTURE AND SPORTAdventure Opportunities: Calitzdorp has a variety of outdoor activities to offer, such as horsetrails, mountain-biking, canoeing, fishing, 4x4 routes and hiking.126

Birds: Many beautiful species of birds live and breed in the mountains and land surroundingthe town.CUISINEPort: Calitzdorp is known as the port wine capital of South Africa. The hot, nearly perfectclimate of Calitzdorp represents ideal conditions for growing port grapes and Calitzdorp portis a highly sought-after product.Wine: When visiting Calitzdorp, one can visit five wine cellars in the region, namely Boplaas,Die Krans, Calitzdorp Winery, Axe Hill and Withoek.FAUNA AND FLORAGamkasberg Nature Reserve: The famous golden Mimetese protea was first discoveredgrowing in this reserve.Hennie Cloete Nature Garden: A visit to the garden allows one views of many of thesucculents, which are common to the area. The garden is also a good vantage point fromwhich to view the town and surrounds.Scenic views: The roads following the Swartberg Pass, Huisriver Pass or the Rooiberg Passhave several vantage points where one can stop and enjoy the magnificent scenery.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURESt Mark’s Church: The church bells were cast in London and date back to 1880.Queen Street: Many Edwardian and Victorian architectural-style buidings stand in this street.DE RUSTThis village lies at the southern entranceto Meiringspoort and is an area ofexquisite beauty. The town was foundedin 1900 on a portion of Meiring’s farm.Petrus Meiring explored the vast world ofthe Karoo and discovered the routethrough the Swartberg Mountain Range,which then became known asMeiringspoort. The town is also situatedon Route 62.ADVENTURE AND SPORT rFour-by-four Trails: 4x4 enthusiasts oftentravel the trails that lead to historicand remarkable San rock paintings.Meiringspoort Half Marathon: Thismarathon is held annually in October andattracts many visitors from around thecountry.127

Stompdrift Dam: The dam is the region’s largest dam with an impressive perimeter of 25 km.Activities, such as boating, kayaking, skiing, swimming and bird-watching take place here.Swartberg Circle Route: The route includes Meiringspoort and the Swartberg Pass, regardedas one of the most fabulous mountain passes in the world.CUISINEWine-tasting: Various establishments offer wine-tasting and the town is renowned for itsdessert wines.FAUNA AND FLORABirds: The region boasts many different species of birds, including black eagle, fish eagle,spoonbill and storks.Flora: The botanical diversity of the Meiringspoort region is truly extraordinary. One of themost striking flowers that grow in the region is the wild geranium.Fauna: Many species of animals, varying from small field mice to Cape mountain leopards,can be seen in the area.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREHistorical Building Walking Trail: The trail includes visits to many of the town’s most importanthistorical buildings and allows a glimpse into the history of the town.NATURAL WONDERSGreat Waterfall: Legends tell of stories that a mystical Meiringspoort mermaid lives in the coolwaters of the waterfall.Meiringspoort Gorge: The gorge is one of the most magnificent natural wonders of the areaand covers some 20 km of the Swartberg Mountain Range.Mountains: The geological formations of the mountains surrounding Meiringspoort formstrange and convoluted shapes. Framed against the clear blue sky, they are magnificent tolook at.Red Hills: The red-coloured open caves in the hills on Rietvlei farm have been declared aNature Heritage Site.DYSSELSDORPThis old mission station extends a welcoming hand to all visitors. To fit in with the character ofthe village, abandon your car and beg a lift on the donkey-cart taxi.HAARLEMThis small village lies some 30 km from Uniondale on Route 62.128

LADISMITHThis town lies at the foot ofthe Swartberg MountainRange. It was founded in1852 and named after LadyJuana Smith, the beautifulSpanish wife of the Governorof the Cape at the time, SirHarry Smith. It wasdeliberately spelt with an “i” todistinguish it from Ladysmithin KwaZulu-Natal, alsonamed after her. The town issituated on Route 62.CUISINECheese, wine, meat: The town is the centre of a proud farming community and has manyenterprises that are related to the food industry. Visits to the cheese factory and the industrieswhere meat products and wine are produced can be arranged.FAUNA AND FLORATowerkop: At a height of 2 203 m, “Magic Peak” is an impressive addition to theLadismith skyline. The actual Towerkop is the mountain with the split peak. According tolegend, when the mountain came in the path of a witch who was trying to fly over it, shebecame so angry that she struck it with her wand and split it in two.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREBuildings: The town has many buildings depicting different architectural styles dating back tothe 1830s.OUDTSHOORNOudtshoorn is best known for itsostrich farms, which thrive in thearid, semi-desert conditions ofthe Little Karoo. It was at thecentre of the ostrich-featherindustry that flourished at theturn of the twentieth century.Oudtshoorn is also the principaltown of the Little Karoo and issurrounded by the Swartbergand Outeniqua MountainRanges.129

Oudtshoorn is situated on the edge of the Garden Route and a convenient stop-over whentravelling to Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. The town is on Route 62.ADVENTURE AND SPORTCango Caves: Althoughexperienced cavers may findthe guided route by whichvisitors explore the CangoCaves too easy for their tastes,the 1,2-km-long caves canpresent a challenge to thosewho are afraid of smallspaces. The route expects oneto crawl through four tunnels,some of which are quite tight,but the end result is absolutelyworth it. Each cavern ismagnificent in an entirelydifferent way. The route endsin the breathtaking “Post Box”,one of the best-known cavernsin the complex.Hiking: Various hiking trails arefound in the area. The two-tofiveday Swartberg Hiking Trailis one of the most popular trails.ART AND CRAFTSKlein Karoo National Arts Festival: In March and April the festival draws more than 100 000visitors from across the country. The festival hosts productions featuring various art forms,including dancing, music, films, plays and poetry.CUISINEKlein Karoo Wine Route: The wine production of the area is relatively small, but many of thewines produced in the area are the best in their class. Several wine cellars have opened theirdoors to the public.Ostrich meat: The region is famous for its delicious ostrich cuisine, which also include ostrichbiltong (jerky).130

CULTURE / COMMUNITY TOURISMBonguletu: The township of Bonguletu is located on the outskirts of Oudtshoorn. Many of thelocal women have learnt how to craft items from ceramics. Their work, especially theirceramic post boxes, has become so sought-after that a “post box route” has been developed.The route visits various open-air art galleries and houses that have been painted in colourfulAfrican designs, where various arts and crafts are sold.ENTERTAINMENT AND SHOPPINGKuriopik: This ostrich market specialises in ostrich products and African curios.Oudtshoorn Express: This luxury overnight steam train travels from Oudtshoorn to the smallport-distilling town of Calitzdorp in the Gamka Valley.FAUNA AND FLORACheetahland: Cheetahland offers educational tours of their facility where cheetah, lion andother indigenous predators are housed in cages landscaped to simulate their natural habitats.Ostrich Farms: There are a numberof ostrich farms in the area, each ofwhich offers fun, excitement and theexperience of a lifetime. Guidedtours, curio stores, ostrich-racing andriding, ostrich meals and photographytours are on the activity list.Scenic views: A trip over theSwartberg Pass is recommended forits breathtaking views and delightfulpicnic spots. The Outeniqua Passcrosses the Outeniqua Mountainsand links the towns of Oudtshoornand George.The steep descent on the southern side of the mountain offers spectacular views of thelandscape.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREBuildings: The large houses built during thewealthy ostrich period in Oudtshoorn’s historystill grace the area and are affectionatelyknown as “ostrich palaces”.CP Nel Museum: The museum has exhibits onthe local history and the ostrich trade.NATURAL WONDERSCango Caves: The magnificent complex oftunnels and caverns that runs under theSwartberg Mountains is one of the mostimpressive natural wonders in the province.131

The KhoiKhoi who lived in the caves some 15 000 years ago, called it “place of waterbetween hills”. It was indeed the force of water that carved the tunnels and caves in theancient limestone hills. Unfortunately, over the years, the caves have been vandalised, butrestoration has been done and skilful lighting and informative tours help visitors to appreciatethe wonder of these caves.UNIONDALEThis small and tranquil town came about by the joining of two towns, namely Hopedale andLyon. It was initially known as a centre for wagon-building and the ostrich-feather industry, buttoday the town is mainly a farming centre. Uniondale is situated next to the Langkloof and thefarms in the area mainly carry sheep and goats and grow apples.ADVENTURE AND SPORTHunting: Hunting is only allowed on selected farms.Outdoor Activities: The various activities include scenic drives, hiking, game-viewing and 4x4routes.ARCHAEOLOGY AND PALAEONTOLOGYSan Rock Art: Just 80 km from Knysna Mountain Pastures are some rock shelters decoratedby San artists. The Bird Overhang Cave includes some clear paintings of red and blackrunning figures and some birds. The Shaman Cave depicts some complex human-like figuresand semi-circular shapes.ENTERTAINMENT AND SHOPPINGAfrican Aloe Factory Shop: The factory produces and sells health and beauty products madefrom Aloe Ferox, a plant that has long been revered for its medicinal value. Tours of thefactory need to be arranged in advance.Route 62: Uniondale is the start or end of the tourist route, Route 62.FAUNA AND FLORAFruit and Flora: In the area that borders the Langkloof there are several farms that producefruit as well as indigenous flora.Scenic Views: Prince Alfred Pass was built and designed by Sir Thomas Baines and offerssome magnificent views. The pass still has the original hand-packed stone retaining walls.Other scenic drives include the dirt roads of the Homtini and Phantom Passes. The tarredroad of the Langkloof route twists and turns along the slopes of the Tsitsikamma Mountainrange.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREAnglo-Boer War Fort: Six forts were built to protect Uniondale during the Anglo-Boer War.One of them was eventually restored and from here one can look out far over the town andsurroundings.Buildings: Uniondale is home to many historical and exquisite buildings such as the JewishSynagogue.Uniondale Ghost: The Uniondale ghost is known throughout the country. The story originatesfrom a tragic accident in 1968 when a young couple was driving home. A woman was132

sleeping in the back of the car when her fiancé lost control of the car. She was killed in theaccident and is said to still dwell in the area, looking for her fiancé.Uniondale Watermill: The mill was built in 1854 and has recently been restored. It nowhouses an art gallery and an exquisite restaurant.VANWYKSDORPThis small town between Ladismith and Mossel Bay was established in 1904.ADVENTURE AND SPORTFour-by-four Routes: The 4x4 trail into the Rooiberg Mountains, north of the town, presentlovely views of the Valley of Ten Thousand Hills.Donkey-cart ride: Enjoy a ride on a donkey-cart and visit all the local places of interest at aleisurely pace.133

OVERBERGOverberg TourismPlein str 22, Caledon, 7230PO Box 250, Caledon, 7230Tel: +27 (0) 28 214 1466Fax: +27 (0) 28 212 1380E-mail: info@capeoverberg.orgWebsite: http://www.capeoverberg.orgDrive east from Cape Town for one hour over Sir Lowry’s Pass and the Hottentots-HollandMountains and discover the Cape’s best-kept secret, eloquently named the Overberg (“Overthe Mountain”). This is a land of majestic mountains, unpredictable seas, rocky cliffs andsandy beaches, home to lovely fynbos plants as well as many animals and birds.The Overberg is often referred to as the Whale Coast, in reference to the fact that manyspecies of whales, the most common being the southern right whales, nurse their young inthe waters off the Overberg coastline from June to November of each year.The visitors who frequent the region are often first drawn here by the beaches, the surf andthe holiday resorts but as they gradually discover the fascinating histories of the charmingrural villages and the beauty of the Fynbos Floral Kingdom, they return year after year, justlike the whales.Farming is an important activity in the region and the vineyards, orchards and rollingwheat fields have claimed many parts of the landscape for their own.Overberg lies in the famous Cape Floral Region with its well-known fynbos vegetation. Manyof the species growing in this region are found nowhere else in the world. The naturalvegetation gives rise to a richly diverse animal and bird population. One of the notedconservation successes in the country originated in the Overberg, where the highlyendangered blue crane has found a new home in sanctuaries established specifically for thispurpose. The conservation effort is taken very seriously by Overberg authorities andresidents, as is attested by the more than 15 nature reserves and two national parks.SUIDPUNTSuidpunt (South Point) is at the southernmost point of Africa and is a subregion of theOverberg. Suidpunt stretches from Gansbaai in the west through Buffeljagsrivier, Struisbaaiand Arniston to the mouth of the Breede River in the east. The region includes the towns ofArniston, Bredasdorp, Elim, L’Agulhas, Malgas and Struisbaai.Stock-farmers settled in the region as far back as 1710. Some of the major pioneer familiescarried the family names of Uys, Swart and Lourens. Among other settlers were severalsurvivors of shipwrecks who probably felt that dry land was safer.Cape Agulhas is the southernmost tip of Africa and also the place where the Indian andAtlantic Oceans meet.134

ARNISTON (WAENHUISKRANS)Arniston residents still refer to this small village as Waenhuiskrans, (“Wagon house cliff”),after a cave in the area large enough to house several ox-wagons, discovered by the firstfarmers to settle in the area. The name was later changed to Arniston, after a ship that waswrecked off the coast in 1815, with great loss of life. The village is over 200 years old and it isnot hard to believe that the thatched, whitewashed fishermen’s cottages date from that time.The entire village is a national monument.ADVENTURE AND SPORTAngling: Both boat and rock anglers can expect to come away from the waters satisfied withthe day’s catch.Harbour: Fishermen sell their fish in the harbour and ski-boat owners also use it as theirplayground.Swimming: The waters are ideal for swimming.FAUNA AND FLORAWaenhuiskrans Cave: This cave with its many beautiful pools can be visited during low tide.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREArniston Monument: In front of a hotel in Arniston stands a monument which was erected bythe wife of Col. Giels in memory of their four sons who died when the Arniston sank. Themonument looks out towards the spot where the ship sank.135

BARRYDALEThis town is on Route 62 and is the gateway to the Overberg and the Klein Karoo. Threedifferent vegetation types grow within a 30-km radius of the town - lush forests in theeast, arid Karoo in the north and fruit farms in the west. Needless to say, hikers makefrequent use of the many hiking trails to discover the delights of the region.CUISINEBrandy: Taste the excellent brandy and wines of the Barrydale Cooperative Wine Cellars.Tradouw Fruit Packers: During the fruit season tours can be organised to view the activities inthe packing sheds.Wine: There are several wine cellars in the area. They offer lunches, wine-tasting and cellartours.ENTERTAINMENT AND SHOPPINGRonnies Sex Shop: This name is definitely an eye-catcher! Ronnie (the owner of the shop)first intended to open up a fruit and farm stall, but when his friends added the word ‘sex’ to thesign in front of the shop, he changed his mind and opened up a pub. The pub also offersbraai facilities, E-mail facilities and is definitely a lot of fun.Tradouw Pass: The pass links the town with the Garden Route and Swellendam. A trip downthe pass offers beautiful views of the rock formations and winter waterfalls of the area. Theregion around the pass is home to many species of birds that live among the beautiful fynbosplants.Warmwaterberg Spa: The spa is well known for its medicinal waters which are said to havehealing powers.BOT RIVERNestling at the foot of the Houw Hoek Mountains, this town overlooks expanses of wheatfields. The Bot River Lagoon and Walker Bay are close to the town and attract many visitors tothe area.ADVENTURE AND SPORTKlein Paradys Equestrian Centre: The centre offers rides on well-trained horses.CUISINEBot River Wine Route: The route calls at the vineyards of Beaumont Wines, GoedvertrouwWine Estate and Wildekrantz Wine Cellars.FAUNA AND FLORABot River Lagoon: The wetlands of the Bot River Lagoon are home to several species ofbirds.Walker Bay: The Walker Bay coastline offers frequent glimpses of southern right whalesfrom June to November.136

BREDASDORPBredasdorp is surrounded bygentle rolling hills, wheatfields and sheep farms. It wasSouth Africa’s first “dorp”(town) and was establishedby Michiel van Breda in 1838.Van Breda and anotherleading personality, Pietervan der Byl, disagreed aboutwhere the church should bebuilt.The result was that two churches and two towns were established, namely Bredasdorp andNapier. Modern Bredasdorp is the economic hub of the Suidpunt Region. In the past, the areawas also known as the “Ships’ Graveyard”, on account of the 120 wrecked ships that lie alongits coastline. The earliest wreck dates back to 1673.The town has a typical rural environment, but the development of the nearby Air Force TestFlight and Development Centre, and the transfer of the Overberg District Council’s HeadOffice to Bredasdorp has accelerated the development of the town.ADVENTURE AND SPORTFoot of Africa Marathon: This very popular marathon is routed through the southern region ofSouth Africa and is also considered as one of the toughest in the country. The twenty-sixthmarathon took place in 2003 and a Commemorative Room depicts the history of themarathon.Hiking: The Bredasdorp Nature Reserve has several hiking trails.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREAgricultural Museum: The museum houses old farming equipment and a statue of a merinoram.Audrey Blignault Room: The room was furnished in honour of the Afrikaans writer, AudreyBlignault, who was born in Bredasdorp.Bontebok Fence Museum: The fence dates from 1837 and was the first protective fenceerected with the sole purpose of saving the Bontebok from extinction.Bottle Collection: The biggest collection of bottles in the country is housed in the Old Jail inHoop Street.137

Churches: There are many churches in the area all featuring unique architectural styles andhistory, such as the Dutch Reformed Church, the Reformed Church and the Anglican Church.Merino Statue: The statue was erected in honour of the merino sheep which represents oneof the most important economic activities of the area.Rectory: The town has an excellent museum complex containing a restored rectory,furnished with pieces of furniture from shipwrecks and the Waenhuis (Wagonhouse), whichexhibits a variety of wagons and old farming implements.Shipwreck Museum: The museum exhibits fascinating treasures taken from the many shipswrecked off the stormy coast.FAUNA AND FLORABredasdorp Nature Reserve: South of the town lies the 80-ha Bredasdorp Nature Reserve onthe slopes of the Bredasdorp Mountain Range. The hiking trails that traverse the reserve offerviews of the unspoilt fynbos vegetation and the animals that have made their home here.De Hoop Nature Reserve: The reserve runs along 40 km of unspoilt coastline and stretchesinland for 10 km. It is one of the most biologically diverse sanctuaries in the world andcontains one of the largest undisturbed areas of coastal fynbos. There are over 1 500 speciesof plants (50 of which are unique to the reserve), as well as 70 species of mammals and 220species of birds. Its 15-km-long vlei (“lake”) is the lifeblood of the reserve and sustains therichest concentration of bird life in the country. The species of birds in the reserve range fromcoots, ducks and grebes to small waders, herons and egrets, and the limestone caves at itsnorthern end house thousands of bats. The endangered Cape vulture has a breeding colonyin the Potsberg Mountains and the Cape mountain zebra and bontebok are also found here.Other species of buck, such as eland, grey duiker, grysbok, steenbok, grey reebok andklipspringer also roam the vast, green plains. Offshore, the reserve is a premier calving andmating ground for southern right whales. Less conspicuous mammals such as caracal, Capefox, water mongoose and the striped polecat also live in the reserve. Reptiles andamphibians, such as snakes and tortoises can be seen as well.CALEDONCaledon was founded in 1813 near the place where hot mineral springs are found. Thesprings were first used by KhoiKhoi tribes. It is named after a former Governor of the Cape,the Earl of Caledon.ADVENTURE AND SPORTFour-by-four Routes: 4x4 expeditions can be organised with the local farmers.CUISINEBeer and Bread Festival: The festival takes place in March and the whole area shows off itsbeer and local crafts.ENTERTAINMENT AND SHOPPINGCaledon Casino, Hotel and Spa: The Casino, luxurious hotel and spa were built adjacent tothe natural hot mineral springs.138

FAUNA AND FLORACaledon Wild Flower Gardenand Reserve: The reserve iswell worth a visit, especially inspring when the flowers are inbloom. The 10-km hiking trailis a popular attraction.Wild Flower Show: Caledonhosts a flower show everySeptember. The first show,organised by local flowerenthusiasts, was held in1892.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURECaledon Museum: The museum is housed in an old Victorian house and exhibits artefacts ofthe town’s past. The museum shop sells many locally made products.Holy Trinity Church: The church was consecrated in 1855 and people still worship here.OTHER ATTRATIONSCaledon Maltings: Caledon Maltings produces most of the malt used in South African beers,totalling some 127 000 tons annually. It is situated off Main Road.139

ELIMMoravian missionaries founded Elim in 1824 and the whitewashed, thatched dwellings arereminiscent of this period. The quaint village is a national monument and today only membersof the Moravian Church live in it. The fynbos in the area is truly magnificent.ADVENTURE AND SPORTSpookdraai: The Spookdraai (“Ghost’s Corner”) Hiking Trail takes the hiker on a short journeythrough a landscape of fynbos, abundant bird life and historical sites. Several lookout pointsprovide breathtaking views over the town and sea.FAUNA AND FLORAFlower Shows: Elim hosts an annual flower show to showcase its unique fynbos.Geelkop Nature Reserve: The Protea Prudens plant species is unique to the Geelkop(“Yellow Head”) Nature Reserve.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREMoravian Church: The church, the heart of the town, dates back to 1824. The clock, some200 years old, is the oldest working clock in South Africa.Watermill: The beautifully constructed watermill was built in 1833 and is the largest woodenwaterwheel in the country.GANSBAAI (including Pearly Beach and Buffelsjagbaai)The village, whose name means “Goose Bay”, looks out over beautiful Walker Bay. Thename refers to the colony of Egyptian geese that once nested in the nearby freshwaterfountain. Several conservation areas have been established to protect the considerablenatural attractions of the area.ADVENTURE AND SPORTAngling: Gansbaai is a popular rock- and land-based angling spot.Diving: Private operators conduct shark tours to examine these magnificent creatures. Greatwhite sharks frequent these waters.Hiking: Several hiking trails can be used to explore the areas of Bosluis, Byeneskrans andDuiwelsgat.Surfing and Swimming: Enjoy safe swimming and surfing conditions at Pearly Beach,Uilenkraalsmond and Stanford’s Cove.ARCHAEOLOGY AND PALAEONTOLOGYStone Age and San remains at Klipgat Caves: Excavations have uncovered artefacts datingfrom the Middle Stone Age, as well as remains left by Khoisan groups who used the cavesabout 2 000 years ago.FAUNA AND FLORADyer Island: This island is situated 6 km off the Gansbaai shore. It is a breedingcolony for jackass penguins. The island was named after Samson Dyer, an African American140

who lived on the island to collect guano. The island has an abundance of wildlife and hasbecome the feeding ground of the great white shark.Whales: Southern right whales can often be seen from the cliffs at De Kelders, especiallyfrom June to November.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREDanger Point Lighthouse: In early times many ships met their doom on the Gansbaai coastuntil the lighthouse was constructed in 1895.Shipwrecks: The wrecks of ships, whose last journeys ended near the Gansbaai shoresinclude the Birkenhead, a British troopship which sank here with the loss of over 400 lives,the Johanna and the Nicobar. The skeletons of these wrecks still lie along the coast.GENADENDALThe town was established in 1738 around the oldest Moravian Mission Station in Africa.Genadendal means “Valley of Grace” and was founded by George Schmidt, a Moravianchurch missionary sent to preach to the Khoi people. With a little imagination, the beautifullypreserved village could transport you to life in the Cape two centuries ago.ADVENTURE AND SPORTGenadendal Hiking Trail: The trail begins and ends at the mission station and meandersthrough the Riviersonderend Mountains.ENTERTAINMENT AND SHOPPINGMoravian Church: The church is well known for its talented choir and brass band shows.Watermill: The mill sells bread made from stone ground flour and is baked in an open-airoven.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREGenadendal Mission and Museum Complex: The complex exhibits the history of the firstMoravian Mission Station in Africa, dating back to 1737. The first (unsuccessful) attempt toestablish a mission was at this location.Old Print Shop: The shop has one of the oldest mission printing presses in South Africa.GRABOUW / ELGINGrabouw, founded in 1856, lies in the fertile Elgin Valley, the main apple-growing region ofSouth Africa. The other main products grown in the region are fresh flowers and grapes,which also make for beautiful scenery.ADVENTURE AND SPORTHottentots-Holland Hiking Trail: The Hottentots-Holland Hiking Trail starts in a forest and endsin Franschhoek.Steenbras Dam: The dam is the main water supply for the Cape Metropole and was built in1921. Many hiking, walking and mountain-biking trails traverse the lovely area.141

CUISINEWine Route: The wine route includes an interesting visit to Pale Moon Apple Wine Farm andPaul Cluver Wines.Windermere Estate: The estate was established in 1927 and makes cider from freshlypressed apples. Visitors can taste the cider in the old farm stable.FAUNA AND FLORAHottentots-Holland Nature Reserve: The reserve has some lovely scenery and the hiking trailwas adapted for the visually impaired.Scenic views: Roads and passes carved through the mountains have made the areaaccessible to visitors and offer lovely views of the surrounding countryside. The nearbypasses include Sir Lowry’s Pass, Viljoen’s Pass and Houwhoek Pass.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREElgin Apple Museum: The museum is dedicated to the fruit that has made this valley famous.It is one of only two such museums in the world.OTHER ATTRACTIONSElgin Festival: The festival is held annually in November and features many floralarrangements, craft markets and food and wine displays.GREYTONAt the foot of the misty, often snow-capped Riviersonderend Mountains lies the tranquilvillage of Greyton. Many crafters and artists inhabit the thatched cottages situated in shadedoak-lined streets. The town was named after the then Governor of the Cape Colony, SirGeorge Grey.ADVENTURE AND SPORTHorse-riding: Greyton horse trails take visitors up the rugged Riviersonderend Mountains andover open grasslands.Hiking: Various hiking trails criss-cross the area, including the Boesmanskloof Hiking Trail,Genadendal Trail and trails through the Greyton Nature Reserve.FAUNA AND FLORAGreyton Nature Reserve: Many species of antelope roam the fynbos-covered mountainslopes.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREBuildings: There are a variety of historical buildings in Greyton, such as the Post House, theMoravian Church and Greyton Lodge.HERMANUSThis popular seaside resort, also known as the “Riviera of the South”, is one of the best whalewatchingdestinations in the country. Every year, between June and November, visitors andlocals eagerly await the arrival of the southern right whales, who visit these shores to breedand calve. The town was originally named Hermanuspietersfontein after a wandering Boer142

named Hermanus Pieters, who settled here in the 1830s. In 1902 the unwieldy name wasshortened to Hermanus. The cobbled alleys and open-air restaurants of the town give it avaguely European atmosphere and is one of the many reasons why people return here againand again.ADVENTURE AND SPORTAngling at Grotto Beach: The beach is one of the best angling spots in the area and wasawarded Blue Flag status in 2002 for its splendid and clean condition.Angling: Anglers from around the world are attracted by the many species of fish, such askob, silver fish and red stumpnose found in the surf and lagoons. Angling for rock lobsters isanother popular activity, but this is only allowed within the season.Beaches: The Hermanus area has many inviting beaches where sunbathers gather, as wellas surf and lagoons where swimmers, surfers and anglers spend their time.Cliff Path: The path offers remarkable views of the sea and the mountains. The lookout pointsare ideal for spotting whales and dolphins from June to December.Diving: Many people are attracted by the novel experience of shark cage diving organised byseveral operators. The reefs and wrecks off the coastline can be explored by scuba divers.Hiking: The hiking trails that traverse the cliffs offer wonderful views of Walker Bay.Hoy’s Koppie: Named after Sir William Hoy, this hill is situated in the middle of the village andis a part of the Fernkloof Nature Reserve. Paths that are easily accessible lead to the top ofthe hill where Sir Hoy and his wife are buried. The view from the top of the hill is breathtaking.Sailing: The Hermanus Yacht Club on the Klein River Lagoon hosts many events andcompetitions.143

Snorkelling and Swimming: Sandbaai Beach has many rock pools which are safe forswimming. Snorkellers also enjoy swimming among the marine creatures inhabiting the pool.The Marine Tidal pool and Fick’s pool are well sheltered and safe for swimming.Surfing: The waters at Voëlklip, Onrus Beach and Kammabaai have the best waves forsurfing.ART AND CRAFTSWhale Coast Art Route: The route takes visitors to several local artists who exhibit and selltheir work. It also includes various art and crafts galleries.CUISINEHermanus Wine Route: This route is also known as the Hemel en Aarde (“Heaven andEarth”) Valley Wine Route. The climate in this region ensures the production of some of thebest wines in the country. These include Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay wines.Some seven wine cellars are part of the route, including Bouchard Finlayson, HamiltonRussell Vineyards, Whalehaven Wines, Cape Bay, Sumaridge, Bartho Eksteen andBeaumont Wines. All the wines from this route are available at the Wine Village that sellswines from over 310 estates and cellars. It is one of the largest wine shops in the country.New Harbour: Watch the fishing boats unload their fresh catch and then move along to one ofthe harbour restaurants, where you are guaranteed a fresh seafood meal.Perlemoen: Hermanus is at the centre of the South African perlemoen industry. The wordperlemoen means “mother-of-pearl”, referring to the pretty interior of the shell. Fishing for thisdelicacy requires a permit. Many of the local restaurants have it on the menu.ENTERTAINMENT AND SHOPPINGShopping: The area boasts many unique boutiques, markets and stores.FAUNA AND FLORADie Plaat Walker Bay Nature Reserve: The beautiful beach and lagoon areas that areprotected by Die Plaat Walker Bay Nature Reserve can be explored via walking and horsetrails.Fernkloof Nature Reserve: The reserve has many footpaths and an overnight trail through theCape Floral Kingdom vegetation. Vantage points on the higher slopes guarantee wonderful144

views of the coast. The reserve is attractive throughout the year on account of the fynbos thatis never without some flowering plants. The Fernkloof Reserve is also home to the largestcarnivorous plant in the world, the Roridula gogonias.Rotary Mountain Way: The road up the mountain offers truly magnificent views of the localscenery.Whales: Hermanus is the only town in the country that has an official whale-crier. During thepeak of the whale season, in September and October, the whale-crier parades through thestreets, announcing new arrivals with a blast on a kelp-horn. The vantage points from the lowcliff-tops and the clear water at the base of the cliffs provide the best land-based whalewatchingopportuinities in the world.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREFishermans Village Photo Cottage: This old building in Market Square above the Old Harbourexhibits many fascinating photographs that depict the history of the village.Old Harbour Museum: The Old Harbour features a row of beautifully restored fisherman’scottages, one of which houses the museum. The museum has an underwater microphoneattached to a sonar buoy in Walker Bay that picks up and transmits the songs of the whales.It also has a telescope through which the whales can be watched.OTHER ATTRACTIONSMagnetic Observatory: The observatory monitors the variations in the earth’s magnetic fieldand is one of many such observatories in the world.Tiger Eye Manufacturing: Tours of the factory reveal how these gemstones are cut andpolished. The Rock Shop sells the stones and jewellery made from them.KLEINMOND (including Hangklip, Betty’s Bay, Pringle Bay, and Rooiels)This popular holiday destination draws its name (meaning Small Mouth) from its location on aminor mouth of the Bot River. Kleinmond has safe swimming conditions and canoers frequentthe lagoon. The entire Kleinmond area, including Hangklip, Rooiels, Pringle Bay and Betty’sBay is recognised for its significance as a biosphere of extreme natural and botanicalsignificance. The Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve was proclaimed in 1998.By the late eighteenth century Hangklip had gained the reputation of being a hideout fordeserters and outlaws. They frequently stole livestock from the local farmers but, when theythen turned to murder and kidnapping, the authorities tracked them to their hideouts andkilled many of them. Today, Hangklip’s rustic atmosphere is enjoyed by anglers, divers andthose who need peace and quiet.The three small lakes at Betty’s Bay offer good swimming, canoeing and board-sailingconditions.Rooiels is named after the rooiels (red alder) trees that grow along the banks of the river.The small pretty bay is set amidst a coastline of jagged rocks and cliffs. The coastal fynbosreaches almost to the sea.Beautiful Pringle Bay, at the mouth of the Buffelsrivier, has one of the safest swimmingbeaches along this part of the coast. Canoes can travel up the river, deeper inland.145

ADVENTURE AND SPORTHangklip Coast: The coast can be explored via several walking and hiking trails.Palmiet River: Canoeing, white-river rafting, tubing and swimming are enjoyed in the river.Rooiels Lagoon: The Rooiels Lagoon offers safe swimming conditions for children.Sand-boarding: Silversands Dune is a popular sand-boarding location.Water-sport: The coastline offers many opportunities for angling, snorkelling, crayfishing,swimming, scuba-diving and surfing.ARCHAEOLOGY AND PALAEONTOLOGYCape Hangklip: Cape Hangklip has rendered evidence of human activity dating from theNeanderthal era. Artefacts include several stone hand-axes. The later Khoisan inhabitantsalso left behind signs of habitation, such as kitchen middens (trash heaps) and fish traps inthe caves.ART AND CRAFTSArt Route Gallery: The gallery in Clarence Drive exhibits and sells many original works of art.FAUNA AND FLORABird life: The many different natural habitats of the area are home to a large number ofdifferent species of birds.Fynbos: The Cape Floral Kingdom contains some 8 600 species of fynbos.Die Mond Nature Reserve: The reserve stretches across the mouth of the Heuningnes River,the lagoon and the dunes that are covered in coastal fynbos. In spring (from late July toSeptember) it is richly carpeted in wild flowers.Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve: The entire Kleinmond area is a highly significant natural andbotanical biosphere and was proclaimed a Biosphere Reserve in 1998. The KogelbergBiosphere Reserve covers over 100 000 ha and includes many species of fynbos. Inthis extremely precious area are the towns of Rooiels, Pringle Bay, Betty’s Bay andKleinmond.Harold Porter National Botanical Gardens: The Harold Porter National Botanical Garden hasa dramatically beautiful location between the Kogelberg Range and Atlantic Coast near the oldwhaling station at Betty’s Bay. The waterfalls and small streams of the fynbos landscape arethe favourite hang-outs for the resident colonies of baboons. Harold Porter, the businessmanwho bequeathed this piece of land to the National Botanical Institute, first called it “Shangri-la”because of the beautiful surroundings. The footpaths starting at the cultivated gardens at thefoot of the mountains take you into completely unspoilt surroundings. Some of the sights thatyou will see in the garden are gorges with rich vegetation and waterfalls, as well asmountains. Leopards are still fairly common in the area but these animals are rarely seensince they are shy and prowl mostly at night.Kleinmond Coastal Nature Reserve: The Palmiet River Lagoon is part of the reserve and is apopular venue for swimming, board-sailing, canoeing and power-boating activities. Anextensive network of footpaths leads from the nature reserve through the mountains and to146

the adjacent Highlands Forest Reserve. The paths offer wonderful seaside views, as well asviews of the floral variety of the area.Jackass Penguin Reserve: The reserve is at Stony Point and protects the breeding ground ofjackass penguins.Whales: Schools of southern right whales mate and nurse their young in these waters everyyear from June to November.Wild Vlei Horses: A herd of free-roaming wild horses have established themselves near theRooisand Reserve.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREIron Museum: The museum in Main Road is South Africa’s only museum dedicated to thehistory of the household chore of ironing and the implements that have been used for it overthe ages.Toy Museum: The museum exhibits a collection of the toys played with by children over manydifferent decades.NATURAL WONDERSCape Hangklip: This awe-inspiring 460-m-high peak projects into the sea and reminds onestrongly of the Cape of Good Hope. In fact, many mariners sailing down the East Coast inthe past often mistook Cape Hangklip (“Hanging Rock”) for the Cape of Good Hope andbelieved they were turning into Table Bay. This common mistake led to the bay being calledFalse Bay.L’AGULHASCape Agulhas is the southernmost point of Africa and is the place where the Indian andAtlantic Oceans meet. The name, Cape of Agulhas (“Cape of Needles”), originated with theearly Portuguese seafarers. They discovered that at this point the compass needle did not147

show any deviation between true north and magnetic north. The tip’s location is marked by acairn that was erected in 1986.The Agulhas coast has seen many ships come to grief in the area and the skeletons of morethan 250 wrecked ships lie buried or half-buried in the waters.FAUNA AND FLORAWhales: Every year, from June to November, schools of southern right whaleschoose the waters along the coastline to breed and nurse their calves.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURELighthouse: The lighthouse at Cape Agulhas is the oldest in South Africa and was built in1848. The lighthouse displays a strong influence of Egyptian architecture and is still in use.The Lighthouse Museum is also part of the building.MALGASThe tiny settlement of Malgas is best known for its manually operated pont (ferry) thattransports people and goods between the eastern and western banks of the Breede River.During the 1850s, Malgas operated as a river port transporting goods to and from CapeTown. This practice came to an abrupt end when the transport vessel Kadie was wrecked onthe rocks at the Breede River Mouth.ADVENTURE AND SPORTWater sport: The Breede River is tidal for some 20 km, creating favourable conditionsfor several forms of water-sport.FAUNA AND FLORABreede River: The river habitat is home to a wide variety of species of fish and birds.Whales: Several species of whale visit the area from June to November every year.NAPIERNapier developed after a Dutch Reformed Church was built in the area in 1838. The town wasfirst called Klippedrift and then changed to Napier after the then Governor of the Cape, SirGeorge Napier. The mountains in the area are covered in natural fynbos vegetation andwheat, cattle and sheep farms stretch to the north.ADVENTURE AND SPORTBat Caves Hiking Trail: This two-hour hike allows one to discover the area’s indigenousfynbos vegetation.Grootberg Hiking Trail: Many proteas and fynbos are endemic to the area around Napier andcan be seen along this trail. On a clear day one can even see many of the surrounding townsas well as the Langebaan Mountains.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREDutch Reformed Church: The church was constructed in 1928 and declared a nationalmonument in 1978.148

Feeshuis (Festival House): This is the oldest building in the town and in 1988 was restored tocommemorate the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of Napier. Inearlier days the house was used to house slaves and was also once a wine cellar.Gold Mine: Gold fever gripped the the area during the 1870s and 1880s. There is still an oldmining tunnel just north of Napier.Ox-wagon Monument: An impression of an ox-wagon wheel track was made out of concreteto commemorate the 150 th anniversary of the Great Trek of 1838, when several thousandpioneers abandoned the Cape Colony to establish settlements outside its boundaries,away from British rule. The monument is in Main Street and was erected in 1988.Rose Boats and Toy Museum: The museum exhibits several handmade models ofsteamboats and trains.Sundial and Watermill Wheels: The sundial was erected by Mr Danie du Toit in 1965 and isone of the biggest in the country. The town has two watermills, in Meul Street and JubileumStreet.RIVIERSONDERENDRiviersonderend means “River without End”, indicating the river on whose banks the townlies. The town was established in 1925 as a centre for the farming community in the fertilevalley.ADVENTURE AND SPORTHiking: One of several hiking trails in the area tracks the course of the Sonderend River.Watersport: The Sonderend River offers various opportunities for wate-rsports.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURERiviersonderend Photo Museum: The photos displayed in the museum depict the town’shistory.STANFORDThe village was established in 1856 on the banks of the Klein (“Small”) River. Many of thetown’s buildings date back to 100 and 300 years ago, one of the reasons for the village’sstatus as a national conservation area. The village market square and the old buildings arestrongly reminiscent of the simpler times of the town’s early existence. Many fynbosenthusiasts visit the town to undertake tours of the surrounding countryside.ADVENTURE AND SPORTAngling: Nearby Walker Bay offers excellent angling spots.Hiking: There are various hiking trails in the area, such as at Paardenberg and in theSalmonsdam Nature Reserve.Horse-riding: The Stanford area has many scenic horse trails.149

Water sport: Boat trips down the Klein River or bird-watching cruises come highlyrecommended. Kayaking also allows one to venture closer to the birds without disturbingthem.Stanford Walking Trail: The trail meanders along the Klein River and allows undisturbed birdwatching.ART AND CRAFTSCraft shops: With such unusual names as “Dowies” and “The Laughing Lamb”, the town’scraft shops are bound to sell some very interesting craft items.Earthship House: The house in the Chaynouqa Private Nature Reserve was built entirely ofrecycled materials. It also makes use of rainwater and solar power.Sir Robert Stanford’s Home of Art, Crafts and Collectables: The works of local artists andcrafters are sold here.Stanford Trading Post and New Junk: The stores exhibits and sells, amongst others, Africancrafts.CUISINEBirkenhead Micro-brewery: Enjoy the special and unique brews produced at this estate.Klein River Dairy’s Cheese Shop: This petite shop sells South African-made Gruyère andLeiden cheeses.Wine-tasting: Wine-tastings are offered by the Springfontein Wine Farm and Erica Wines.CULTURE / COMMUNITY TOURISMMarket Square: The square, once the place where ox-wagons were unhitched duringNagmaal (Communion Services), today hosts events such as the Stanford Heritage Festival,held here annually on the last Saturday in October.FAUNA AND FLORASalmonsdam Nature Reserve: Just beyond Stanford lies the Salmonsdam Nature Reserve.The mountain fynbos vegetation sustains many small mammals such as the bontebok as wellas various bird species. The Cape sugarbird and orange-breasted and malachite sunbird areoften seen here. The black harrier inhabits the more marshy patches and giant proteas alsogrow in the reserve. The three-day hiking trails explore the reserve.Fynbos Ecotourism Route: The endangered blue crane is but one of the rare inhabitants tolook out for on this route.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREAnglican Church: The building, originally a mission school, was converted into a church in1872.Bachelor’s Hope: The building at 19 Morton Street was built in 1902 as a town house. In the1930s it was jokingly called Bachelor’s Hope as many of the female teachers who lived therecame eventually married the local bachelors.150

Duminy’s Shop and Home: This building at 23 Church Street has changed ownership manytimes. The last owner was Hendrik Duminy who owned it throughout the Second World Waruntil the 1960s. It is now a well-known historic attraction.Dutch Reformed Church: The church at the corner of Queen Victoria and Church Streets wascompleted in 1926.First Farm House: The house on Klein River Valley Farm was built in 1785. Different familieslived on the farm over the years. Later it was converted into a store and named Ons Winkel(Our Store).First Police Station: This was the original police station and home of the police chief.Old Graveyard: Many of the earliest residents are buried in this graveyard.Oulap School: This was the first school in town and the building dates back to 1870.Stanford House: The house, now a smart hotel, was a farm shed before it was converted intoa house around 1903.Spookhuis: The haunted house was built in 1885 from limestone. Most locals have at leastone ghost story to tell you about the house and its former inhabitants.STRUISBAAIStruisbaai (“Ostrich Bay”) is a vision of restored whitewashed fisherman’s cottages andcolourful fishing boats set against a turquoise sea. It is rapidly growing in popularity amongholidaymakers, especially those who wish to avoid the crowds. The 14-km continuous whitebeach of Struisbaai is one of the longest beaches in the Southern Hemisphere. According tolegend, the name refers to the ostriches that were once found in the area.ADVENTURE AND SPORTHarbour: The small harbour was built in 1859 and was deepened and improved in 1990. It ismainly used by fishing boats and ski boats.ENTERTAINMENT AND SHOPPINGShell Shops: Various shops sell the treasures deposited on the beaches by the sea on theirown or use them to manufacture little fantasy sculptures.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREAnglican Church: This thatched church is a national monument and is becoming increasinglypopular as a venue for wedding functions.Hotagterklip Cottages: These restored fishermen’s cottages at the entrance of Struisbaaiwere built by early fishermen.SUURBRAAKThis little town developed around a mission station in 1812 and the village still has many oldstyle houses. Local residents still make use of traditional and non-modern tools such as horse151

and donkey-drawn ploughs and wooden stoves. It is surrounded by a stunningly beautifulriver landscape and the foot of Tradouw Pass is only a few kilometres from Suurbraak.ADVENTURE AND SPORTHiking and mountain-biking: The area is traversed by various hiking and mountain-bikingtrails.SWELLENDAMSwellendam, founded in 1743, is the third oldest town in South Africa and huddles at the footof the Langeberg Mountains. The town dates from the time when the Dutch East IndiaCompany selected the Breede River valley as an administrative centre. It is named for thethen Dutch Governor of the Cape, Hendrik Swellengrebel, and his wife Helena ten Damme.152

ADVENTURE AND SPORTRiver-rafting, canoeing: Water-sport enthusiasts enjoy river-rafting and canoeing on theBreede River.Swellendam Hiking Trail: The six-day, 81-km circular Swellendam Trail is one of the best trailsin the province and runs through the Breede River Bird Sanctuary.FAUNA AND FLORABontebok National Park: Six kilometres from Swellendam lies the smallest national park inSouth Africa, the Bontebok National Park. It was created to protect the then endangeredbontebok. In 1960 a total of 61 bontebok were transferred here and since then theirnumbers have steadily increased. Cape mountain zebra and red hartebeest were alsoreintroduced to the reserve. Several footpaths traverse the park, offering regular glimpsesof the many birds in the area. Swimming, fishing and camping are allowed in the park.Marloth Nature Reserve: This botanists’ paradise is situated along the Langeberg Mountainsand is home to many species of fynbos and wild flowers.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREBuildings: The oak-lined avenues of Swellendam contain many old buildings, most of whichdate back to the eighteenth century.Dutch Reformed Church: One of the architectural jewels of the town is the Dutch ReformedChurch whose unusual architectural features often leave visitors dumbstruck.Old Drostdy: The Old Drostdy, in Cape Dutch style, was built in 1747 and houses furnitureand other priceless memorabilia from the early days of Swellendam.Old Gaol: The second oldest building in Swellendam is the Old Gaol.Rheenendal Mill: The mill has been restored and houses a restaurant.VILLIERSDORPThe “sleeping beauty of the Overberg” was founded in 1843 by Field-Cornet Peter de Villiersand is surrounded by farm-lands and mountains.ADVENTURE AND SPORTTheewaterskloof Dam: The dam is one of the largest dams in the country and is a popularwater-sport venue. Many anglers and sailers visit the dam.Overberg Cycle Tours: Push yourself and your bike to the limit as you attempt to overcomethe challenges of the tough mountain terrain.ART AND CRAFTSApple Valley Art Route: The art route leads to the studios of several artists and crafters.CUISINEKelkiewyn Wine Cellar: The cellar was founded in 1922 and offers wine-tastings.Villiersdorp Wine Cellar: The cellar dates from 1922 and is a revered Overberg establishment.153

ENTERTAINMENT AND SHOPPINGAkkedis Flora and Fruit Tours: Operators organise regular tours to farms that produce largeamounts of fruit for export.New Overberg Tours: The itinerary includes several day trips, including sheepdog tours in thecompany of the renowned dog trainer Ron Phillip.FAUNA AND FLORAWild Flower Garden and Nature Reserve: The reserve boasts some 400 species of fynbosand many species of birds and is thus very popular among nature lovers. The slopes of theAasvoël Mountains and Blokkop Peak also lie within in the reserve.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREBo-Radyn: Bo-Radyn lies on the Elandskloof Pass and was the farmhouse where the founderof Villiersdorp once lived. It dates back to 1777.De Villiers Graaff School: This distinguished school is over 125 years old.Oude Radyn: This building in Church Street is the only dwelling in the Cape with its originalBatavian gutters.154

WEST COASTThe West Coast is best described as an enigma. On land and in the sea, the West Coastnever ceases to surprise visitors and long-time inhabitants have found it best to adapt to thecontradictions of the land and not to try to understand it. Well, it is said that “variety is thespice of life”, isn’t it?Where the cold sea and the warm land meets, a barren desert-like landscape is created,which in spring (from late July to September), changes appearance completely, to emerge asa vivid carpet with more than 350 species of wild flowers. This phenomenon only lasts for arelatively short time, leaving the seeds to lie dormant again, waiting for next year’s winterrains to bring them to life.Although the land is considered inhospitable and barren, the sea yields the most generouscrops of seafood imaginable. Local children grow up on delicacies such as crayfish andoysters for which other people have to pay premium prices.Eking out an existence on this coastline is no mean feat and has shaped the singularcharacter of the people inhabiting the fishing villages on the coast. These villages are alsofast becoming popular holiday destinations, sought out by city dwellers desperate to escapethe routine and the mundane.Deeper inland, the Cedarberg Conservation Area protects an unspoiled mountain area whereembattled cedars cling stubbornly to the most remote spots. It is a prime hiking area and alarge natural art gallery where the many San rock art sites can be found.The Western Cape shares the West Coast with the Northern Cape Province. The largeststores of diamonds have been mined mainly in the Northern Cape at Alexander Bay. Most ofthe West Coast Region is undeveloped and one of its most important industrial developments155

is the nuclear power station at Koeberg. This site, 30 km from Cape Town, was chosen for itsfirm rock-bed and easy access to sea-water.AURORAAurora, meaning ‘The first light’, is a very small village at the foot of the Piketberg. The area isvery hot in summer but the evening breezes blowing from the magnanimous Atlantic Oceancool down the village in the evenings.ADVENTURE AND SPORTHiking and mountain-climbing: Outdoor enthusiasts can go on full-day hikes on Aurora’s SunMountain or Mountain Mist Trails. Sun Mountain has a cave with San paintings. Mountainclimbers also enjoy their adventures on the mountains. Several of the hikes takevisitors through areas with unique flora.Mountain biking, 4x4: Bike trails meander up Mountain Mist and 4x4 trails are also availablein the surrounding area.FAUNA AND FLORAFauna: The area surrounding Aurora is home to many different species of mammals andbirds. The game is small, such as steenbok(rock bucks) and porcupines. Birds aremainly giant eagles which nest in the surrounding mountains.Flora: Aurora has a unique variation of fynbos and in early spring the area blossoms into aflower-garden wonderland.Scenic views: The road leading to Redelinghuys leads to Sun Mountain, Mountain Mist andthe Radar Station. Visitors will be welcomed there with a magnificent view of St Helena Bayand on clear days one can even see Table Mountain.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREBuildings: Aurora has many old Sandveld houses and several buildings featuring lateVictorian architecture.OTHER ATTRACTIONSAnnual Show: Aurora hosts an annual agricultural and gymkhana show in August.Participants and spectators from all over the country are drawn to these shows.BITTERFONTEINThe town took its name from a salty fountain in the vicinity, the Bitterfontein (“BitterFountain”). Despite the foul-tasting water, the area is well known for its lovely wild flowers thatbloom from late July to September. The farms around the town are famous for their deliciousmutton.ADVENTURE AND SPORTKnersvlakte: There are picnicking and camping areas at the Knersvlakte.FAUNA AND FLORABird-watching: Several bird species populate the area, including several waders andpredators, attracting keen bird-watchers.156

Wild flowers: Bitterfontein is known for its annual wild flower show, put on by Mother Naturefrom late July to September to the wonderment of locals and visitors alike.NATURAL WONDERSBitterfontein Fountain: Bitterfontein Fountain is the fountain that the village was named after.Signs indicate its location.OTHER ATTRACTIONSBitterfontein Green: Bitterfontein Green is a green granite found nowhere else in the world.Do not forget to find out more about this rare stone while you are in the area.CITRUSDALCitrusdal (“Citrus Valley”) was established by the Dutch Reformed Church in 1916. Itssurrounded by beautiful countryside and the magnificent Koue Bokkeveld and SwartbergMountains. The town and its surrounding countryside is famous for its superior citrus productsand the wines from the Citrusdal Cellars. The town is also known as the “Gateway to theCedarberg”.ADVENTURE AND SPORTOutdoor Activities: The area offers opportunities for hiking, mountain-biking, rock-climbing andscenic drives. Those who want to push their 4x4 vehicles to the limit will also have plenty ofopportunities.Sky-diving: Sky divers share the skies with the region’s birds.Water-sport: Citrusdal also offers water-sport activities, such as canoeing and fresh-waterangling.ART AND CRAFTSSan Rock Art: A guided tour takes visitors to several San rock art sites in the mountains.CUISINECitrusdal Wine Cellar: The cellar produces several highly popular wines. Visitors are welcomeat the cellar to taste and buy wine.Goede Hoop Citrus Co-op: This co-op is one of the largest citrus-packing sheds in the countryand conducts frequent tours of its facilities.Goue Vallei (“Golden Valley”): Try some of the excellent local wines and buy, buy, buy.FAUNA AND FLORABird-watching: Bird-watching expeditions are one of the popular activities of the area.Cedarberg Wilderness Area: Citrusdal is very close to the Cedarberg Wilderness area wherevisitors will find several hiking trails and rock-climbing routes.Wild flowers: From late July to September, the Citrusdal area is also decorated by a carpet ofwild flowers. This phenomenon attracts many visitors to the area. The more subdued beautyof the fynbos vegetation can be enjoyed throughout the year.157

Piekenierskloof Pass: The pass overlooks the fertile valley and the Cedarberg Mountains.See the magnificence of the area spread out before you and marvel at nature, especially inspring (from late July to September), when wild flowers clothe the area in their warm vibrantcolours.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURECitrusdal Museum: The museum reflects the lifestyles and history of the Khoisan and theearly pioneers.Craig Royston Outpost: The Craig Royston Outpost is the town’s original outpost, dating backto 1860. This outpost is now a museum and also has wine sales, a farm shop and offers lightmeals.NATURAL WONDERSHot Springs: Even the early explorers believed that the nearby hot springs had healingpowers. The site contains both hot and cool pools.CLANWILLIAMClanwilliam is one of the oldest towns in the country, rich in history and with much to offernature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. It was originally called Jan Dissels Vlei but in 1814,the Governor of the Cape, Sir John Cradock, renamed the town for his father-in-law, the IrishEarl of Clanwilliam. The town lies at the centre of several flower and historical routes and issurrounded by farms. The healthy Rooibos or “bush” tea is a popular product of the area.158

ADVENTURE AND SPORTClanwilliam Dam Resort: The Clanwilliam Dam Resort is well known to water-sport andangling enthusiasts. The dam is also considered as having the best waters for water-skiing.Maltese Cross: The Maltese Cross is a magnificent 20-m-high rock formation in theCedarberg Mountains. The hiking route to the rock takes three to four hours to complete andtravels through the Cedarberg Conservation Area. Hikers need permits to enter theconservation area.Wolfberg Arch: The Arch is a seven-hour hike starting from the farm Dwarsriver that leads tothe top of the Wolfberg Cracks. Permits are mandatory and the trail is quite exacting.ARCHAEOLOGY AND PALAEONTOLOGYBushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve: The Wilderness Reserve in the Cedarberg Mountainshouses several San rock art sites, one of which made a significant contribution to scientists’understanding of San culture. Research is still ongoing and more sites are continuously beingdiscovered. One of the most interesting sites depicts a zigzag line with animal and humanfigures walking on it. The White Net shelter is also interesting and one of the few placeswhere white paint has been preserved.San Rock Art Trails: Two farms, Sevilla and Salmanslaagte, have trails leading to some veryinteresting San rock art sites. The Sevilla Rock Art Trail is the better known of the two.Images that can be seen include red patches, believed to be patches of power that gavesupernatural powers to shamans.FAUNA AND FLORACedarberg Wilderness Area: The Cedarberg Wilderness Area lies east and south ofClanwilliam. The area has been left largely undisturbed and is now under the control of CapeNature Conservation. The conservation project aims at protecting the Cedarberg Range toensure the preservation of cedars, as well as of several other endemic species of plants. TheCape mountain leopard has also found a protected home here among the many varieties offynbos and the distinctive rock formations.Ramskop NatureReserve: in Augustand September a wildflowercarpet coversthe Ramskop NatureReserve and itbecomes a populartourist spot. Hiking isallowed and campingfacilities are available.The Stadsaal Cavesfeature the so-calledelephant drawings,another example ofSan rock art.159

Rooibos tea: The Rooibos (“Red bush”) tea leaf is widely believed to have medicinal powersand is also used in facial products. Rooibos Tea Natural Products offers tours of itsestablishment.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURENational Monuments: Clanwilliam has various historical buildings, including seven nationalmonuments.DR Church or “The Flower Church”: This church was completed in 1829 and inaugurated in1830. The church was named the “Flower Church” after the week-long flower festival which isheld in the church every year in September.Old Gaol: This national monument was built in 1808. The original gaol only had three cells.The building was later enlarged and is today a museum.The Rectory: The building was once the Anglican Church Rectory. It was declared a nationalmonument and is now a guest house.Wupperthal Moravian Mission Station: The Moravian Mission Station at Wupperthal, issituated about 65 km east of Clanwilliam.NATURAL WONDERSCedarberg Mountains: The mountains were named for the indigenous species of cedar treethat now only survives on the more inaccessible slopes. Large natural rock sculptures adornthe mountains, the 20-m-high Maltese Cross being unanimously considered the mostbreathtaking. Besides containing these natural masterpieces, the mountains also contain160

many rare indigenous plants and many San rock paintings that decorate the rock faces.Animals found in this mountain retreat include rock hyrax, klipspringers, baboons andleopards.OTHER ATTRACTIONSObservatory: Amateur astronomers operate theprivate observatory in the Cedarberg. Visitorsare welcome to visit and study the southernskies with their stars and planets shiningbrightly against the clear and dark skies.Strassberger Velskoen Factory: Velskoene aremade from leather and designed for heavy-dutywear. Strassberger Velskoen Factorydemonstrates how these shoes are made andalso sells them.DARLINGThis small town with the charming name lies some 75 km from Cape Town and is surroundedby vineyards, wheat, dairy and sheep farms. The biggest attraction however is the wild flowersthat bloom annually from late July to September. The town is home to several artists,including the comedian Pieter Dirk Uys and his alter ego Mrs Evita Bezuidenhout.Darling was named after Charles Darling, the Lieutenant-Governor of the Cape at the timewhen the town was laid out in 1853.ADVENTURE AND SPORTWalks: The town organises wild-flower walks during the flower season and nature lovers canenjoy game-drives and bird enthusiasts often come here to study the local birds.ART AND CRAFTSDarling is home to several art and crafts shops that sell articles guaranteed to impress,interest and attract visitors.Evita’s Arts and Crafts: The owner of Evita’s Arts and Crafts, Pieter Dirk Uys (otherwiseknown as Mrs Evita Bezuidenhout) and the town of Darling host the “Hello Darling” ArtsFestival.Evita se Perron: The very popular Mrs Evita Bezuidenhout presents her drama and cabaret atEvita se Perron.FAUNA AND FLORAWild flowers: Several wild-flower reserves, such as Waylands, Oudepost, Tienie Versveld andContreiberg, protect the lavish natural vegetation of the area. All the reserves are open fromAugust to December.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREArt Gallery: The gallery displays several works of art.161

Darling Museum: The museum is located in the old City Hall, which was built in 1899. Themuseum records the history and development of the town and includes exhibits such as oldkitchen utensils and Victorian artefacts. Darling is one of the biggest dairy-producing areas inthe Western Cape and Darling butter is renowned. The butter museum forms part of the mainmuseum.Signal Cannon: The cannon was first mounted on Klipberg in 1734 to signal farmers when aship had arrived at the Cape, so that they could take their produce to town to sell. It alsosignalled danger to the residents, when needed.EBENAEZER (including Papendorp)The small village of Ebenaezer is surrounded by a predominantly farming community thatproduces mainly lucerne (alfalfa), beans and coriander. Ebenaezer and Papendorp overlookthe Olifants River Estuary. The nearby wetlands of the Olifants River Estuary are an importanthabitat for migratory birds and for many other species of birds. The main source of income ofthe residents of Papendorp is derived from fishing in the estuary.FAUNA AND FLORAWild flowers: From July to September the entire region turns into a floral wonderland.Olifants River Estuary: The wetlands estuary is a bird paradise and gives bird-watchers ampleopportunities to spot many species of birds.Whale-watching: Ebenaezer and Papendorp are often used as a base from where to visit thebeaches to watch whales during the whale season (June to November).ELANDS BAYThe village of Eland’s Bay and its surrounds is truly picturesque and the nearby lagoon is apopular bird-watching spot. Surfers frequent the the local beaches.ADVENTURE AND SPORTAngling: Sea and fresh water anglers are a common site in Elands Bay. Crayfish can also becaught, but only during the crayfish season and then only once a permit has been obtained.Adventure Activities: Elands Bay is a popular surfing location, but the area also offers 4x4routes, as well as mountaineering and mountain-biking opportunities.ARCHAEOLOGY AND PALAEONTOLOGYSan Rock Art in Eland’s Bay Cave: Eland’s Bay Cave lies a few kilometres from the sea and itsrock art dates back 10 000 years. The red handprints on the cave walls have been interpretedas the artist’s wish to enter the spiritual world.FAUNA AND FLORAVerlorenvlei: Some 240 different bird species reside at Verlorenvlei (“Lost Marsh”).The watersof Verlorenvlei flow into the Atlantic Ocean.Whales and dolphins: Visitors can do whale and dolphin-watching from shore, every yearfrom June to November.162

Wild flowers: Elands Bay has a rich variety of soil types and every year from late July toSeptember, dormant wild-flower seeds sprout and change the landscape into a floralwonderland.GRAAFWATER (including Leipoldtville)The origins of Graafwater date back to 1910 when it was built as a railway junction. The areais well-known for its hiking and bird-watching opportunities and for the wild flowers that bloomfrom late July to September.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREHeerenlogement (“Gentlemen’s Lodging”): About 30 km north of Graafwater, on theVredendal Road, there is an old cave called the Heerenlogement. During the seventeenthcentury travellers used it as overnight accommodation. Some 170 lodgers carved their initialsinto the walls of the cave. It is now a national monument.HOPEFIELDHopefield was founded on the banks of the Zoute River (“Salty River”) in 1853 and wasoriginally a church community. The town is named for the two surveyors, Hope and Field, wholaid it out on the farm Langekuil.ADVENTURE AND SPORTHiking, bird-watching: The farms Helderwater and Langrietvlei have some hiking trials.Langrietvlei is also a good spot for bird-watching.ARCHAEOLOGY AND PALAEONTOLOGYSaldanha Man Fossils: Thirteen kilometres south of Hopefield, the farm Elandsfontein featuresthe site where fossil deposits of the so-called Saldanha Man were found. The local Tourismbureau has a fossil display.FAUNA AND FLORAFynbos show: Every August the town hosts a fynbos show.JACOBS BAYA few kilometres north of Saldanha Bay lies the charming town of Jacobs Bay. The featuresof the irregular coastline include peninsulas as well as rocky and sandy beaches. This smalltown is also known as ‘Namaqualand by the sea’, because it strongly resembles the region inthe Northern Cape, where, every year from late July to September, a wild-flower carpet,similar to that of Namaqualand in the Northern Cape, decorates the normally arid land.ADVENTURE AND SPORTWater-sport: Anglers and divers make frequent use of the waters of the Atlantic Ocean towhile away the time and Swartriet Bay is a popular kayaking and wind-surfing venue.Hiking: Several hiking trails traverse Swartriet and Tieties Bays.163

FAUNA AND FLORADolphins and whales: Dolphins and whales can be spotted in the surf from Juneto November.Wild flowers: The local wild flowers are especially beautiful during August and September.KLAWERKlawer lies a three hours' drive north of Cape Town on the banks of the Olifants River. Thetown was named after the wild clover growing in the area. From late July to Septemberthe area is covered with blooming wild flowers. Klawer is the central point from whichplaces such as Lambert’s Bay, Strandfontein, Vredendal, Clanwilliam andVanrhynsdorp are easily accessible.ADVENTURE AND SPORTOutdoor Activities: Hiking trials, river-rafting, 4x4 routes and veld motorcycles are but a few ofthe outdoor opportunities in the area.KORINGBERGKoringberg (“Wheat Mountain”) is situated between the towns of Moorreesburg andPiketberg. It was established on the farm Brakwater and is the centre of a wheat-farmingarea.ADVENTURE AND SPORTHiking: Several hiking trails lead to the top of the mountain.164

LAMBERT’S BAYThis charming seaside village is about a two and a half hours' drive from Cape Town and isknown for its beautiful beaches and as a popular crayfishing spot. Over the years, Lambert’sBay has developed from a picturesque fishing village to a popular holiday resort. The localsurf is regularly visited by Cape seals.ADVENTURE AND SPORTAngling: Lambert’s Bay is a coastal and deep-sea anglers’ paradise.Panorama Park: The park offers the dual attraction of 4x4 trips and game-watching.Sport: Golf, volleyball and tennis are but some of the sports that can be played in Lambert’sBay.Water-sport: The water-sport opportunities of Lambert’s Bay include jet-skiing and diving.FAUNA AND FLORABird Island: Penguins and several species of birds attract ornithologists and bird lovers to theisland.Wild flowers: Every year, from late July to September, Mother Nature conjures up a floralwonderland.Jakkals River: This Jakkals River environment is home to a large flock of flamingos.165

Whales and dolphins: From June to November southern right whales regularly passthis way on their journey north.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREWadrift: The house at Wadrift is built of whale bones.LANGEBAANLangebaan (“Long Channel”) is a popular resort town on the 15-km-long, 5-km-wideLangebaan Lagoon and has something for everyone, from the nature lover and the tired soulto the sun-worshipper.ADVENTURE AND SPORTHiking: Several hiking routes traverse the area. The routes vary from 4 to 14 km in length.Water-sport: Diving, kayaking and sailing are some of the water-sports practised in the area.FAUNA AND FLORAWild flowers: Wild flowers in bloom can be seen from from late July to September.West Coast National Park: The West Coast National Park protects an internationally knownwetland area. Apart from offering the best wild flowers in the area, it is also home to manyspecies of wetland birds and mammals such as eland and wildebeest. Every year, from lateJuly to September, the Postberg section is annually transformed by the rich colours ofwild flowers. From June to November whales are often spotted along the coast.166

LUTZVILLE (including Koekenaap)Formerly known as Vlermuisklip (“Bat Rock”), Lutzville is especially known for its quality wine,the lovely beach and sea and the magnificent wild flowers from late July to September.Lutzville and Koekenaap lie about 35 km from the beach, which offers many angling andcrayfishing opportunities.ADVENTURE AND SPORTOutdoor Activities: Angling, bird-watching, river cruises, canoeing, camping and hiking aresome of the activities offered by the area.ARCHAEOLOGY AND PALAEONTOLOGYSan Rock Art: The San Rock art site near Lutzville is close to the town. The paintings areprotected by an overhanging rock.CUISINELutzville Wine Cellars: Lutzville Wine Cellars invite visitors to taste some of the local winesThey also sell wine and souvenirs.FAUNA AND FLORASeal Island: Seal Island lies just off the coast, some 30 km from Lutzville. In addition to theseals, whales can also be seen off the coast from June to November.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURESishen-Saldanha Railway Bridge: This railway bridge over the Olifants River is a uniqueconstruction and is well worth a visit.Vlermuisklip: (“Bat Rock”), the distinctive rock that gave the town its earlier name, is anational monument and makes a nice photograph.MALMESBURYMalmesbury, 65 km north of Cape Town, is the largest town in the Swartland area. Thepresence of a sulphur spring sparked the first development in the area and the first farmswere setlled here in 1703. The town was originally known as “Het Zwartland (“The BlackLand”) because of the natural vegetation of black rhinoceros bushes in the area. In 1829 thetown was renamed by the then Governor of the Cape, Sir Lowry Cole, in honour of his fatherin-lawSir James Harris, the first Earl of Malmesbury.Malmesbury is the centre of for sheep farming, grain and wine-production, as well as poultryrearing.ADVENTURE AND SPORTBiking trails, horse-riding, golf course and hiking: Enjoy a wide range of activities in theMalmesbury area.CUISINESugarbird Glazed Fruit Factory: The factory produces glazed fruit products and sells themdirectly to the public.Swartland Agri Info: The combined Tourism Bureau and wine-tasting centre is in an authenticold wheat mill.167

Swartland Wine Route: This routeincludes the Allesverloren, Mamreweg,Porterville, Riebeek, Swartland andWinkelshoek vineyards. Taste thewines, have lunch and buy yourfavourites.FAUNA AND FLORAKalbaskraal Nature Reserve: This reserve offers the beauty of a wide selection of indigenousflora.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREBokomo Mills: The building is the headquarters of Bokomo, the oldest milling company in thecountry, which was established in 1919.Communion Wells: A series of wells that originated in 1750, the Communion wells, surroundthe Dutch Reformed Church. These wells supplied water to the members of the church’scongregation.Malmesbury Museum: The museum houses a variety of photos of the town and displaysvarious articles relating to the Anglo-Boer War of 1899 to 1902.Swartland Dutch Reformed Church: This church was built in 1745.OTHER ATTRACTIONSBokomo Pasta Factory: This factory is one of only two of its kind in the world. Tours should bebooked well in advance.MOORREESBURG (including Koringberg)Moorreesburg in the Swartland is a quiet farming village at the centre of a flourishing woolindustry, surrounded by summer gold wheat lands. The town is also believed to have thedensest population of sheep in the world.ADVENTURE AND SPORTMisverstand (Misunderstanding) Dam: Anglers and water skiers frequent the dam.Outdoor Activities: Exciting outdoor activities, such as bird-watching, horse-riding expeditions,hiking, mountain-biking and 4x4 trails are on the area’s adventure menu.ART AND CRAFTSDirkie Uys Art Gallery: The gallery often hosts art exhibitions of beautiful high-quality works.168

FAUNA AND FLORANeulfontein Hilltop: This hilltop offers a splendid view of Table Mountain.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREWheat Industry Museum: The museum is one of only three wheat museums in the world andfocuses on wheat-farming and the history of wheat-farming in Moorreesburg.Wheat Silos: The silos in Moorreesburg are the largest in the Southern Hemisphere and areused to press green crops and store grain.PATERNOSTERExplore and enjoy the simple allureof whitewashed fisherman’scottages in an unspoilt fishingvillage. The cottages are over 100years old and are still inhabited.Paternoster means “Our Father”,referring to the prayers ofshipwrecked Portuguese sailors.ADVENTURE AND SPORTAngling: Angling and seasonal crayfishing can be done from boat or land.Diving and Spear-fishing: These activities are particularly popular.Hiking: Hiking trails lead across the landscape from Tieties Bay to Swartriet and fromPaternoster to Stompneus Bay.FAUNA AND FLORACape Columbine Nature Reserve: The considerable attractions of the Cape ColumbineNature Reserve include wild flowers, fynbos-covered dunes, rock pools, shell-strewn stretchesof sand and richly diverse bird life. The sounds of seagulls, cormorants, sacred ibis and manyother seabirds fill the air of the reserve along this rocky stretch of coast south of Paternoster.Wild Flowers: Beautiful wild flowers bloom in the area, especially during August andSeptember.Whales and dolphins: Whales and dolphins frequent the waters off Paternoster for almost tenmonths of the year.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURECape Columbine Lighthouse: The lighthouse at Cape Columbine was built in 1936 and is thelast manned lighthouse in the country. It was also the first lighthouse to receive all threenavigational safety features, namely a light, fog signal and a radio beacon.169

PIKETBERGThe small village of Piketberg lies against the Piketberg Mountains, surrounded by wheatfields, vineyards, fruit-farms and fields of fynbos. Its name, which means “Outpost Mountain”,dates back to the period when an outpost was established here by the Dutch to curb thecattle-rustling activities of the Khoi.ADVENTURE AND SPORTHiking: There are several hiking routes in the area, including the 3-kmBoesmanskloof Hike and the Moonstruck Hike that pass interesting rock formations andcaves where San rock paintings can be seen. Both these routes are on Excelsior Farm.Horseback Trails: Several farms organise horseback expeditions. They allow visitors toappreciate the local variety of bird life.Canoeing: The Berg River is an extremely well-known canoeing venue. The Berg RiverCanoe Marathon is a major sporting event that is held annually.Outdoor Activities: The area offers many scenic walks, mountain trails on the PiketbergMountains and 4x4 routes. The Piketberg Mountains boast some breathtaking views andthere are several camping facilities on the mountain range.ARCHAEOLOGY AND PALAEONTOLOGYSan Rock Paintings: Well-preserved San rock paintings may be seen in rock shelters on thefarms Bushman’s Hollow, Langberg, Bangkop and Staelklip.CUISINETable Grapes: The farms surrounding Piketberg grow several different types of table grapesof very high quality that are exported to Europe.Winkelshoek Wine Cellar: Winkelshoek Wine Cellar stores and sells all the wines originatingfrom the vineyards of the Swartland Wine Route. Another popular product of the cellar is thelocal brandy.FAUNA AND FLORAFynbos on Bergskeur Farm: The magnificent indigenous fynbos and protea vegetation of theBergskeur Farm is truly lovely. The farm’s location on top of a mountain adds to the attraction.Versveldpass: Versveldpass leads to the Piketberg Mountain Plateau. The pass was first builtin 1899 by hand, without the use of dynamite. The Pass has since been upgraded severaltimes and the tarred road up the winding pass offers a picturesque view over the area.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURECannon: The cannon at Piketberg High School was once used to warn residents ofapproaching Khoisan raiders.Dutch Reformed Church: Carl Otto Hager designed the Dutch Reformed Church in Neo-Gothic style. The church was declared a national monument in 1978. A monument tocommemorate the centenary of he Great Trek was erected in 1938 in the Church grounds.Jewish Synagogue: The Jewish synagogue in Kerk Street was built in 1925 and was boughtby the municipality in 1970.170

Old Graveyard: Situated in Die Trek Street is the Old Graveyard. Some of the graves dateback to the seventeenth century. Most of the graves are those of Jewish families and ofBritish casualties of the Anglo-Boer War.Piketberg Museum: The Piketberg Museum houses a collection of historical items dating backto the town’s origin in 1880, as well as an Anglo-Boer War exhibition.OTHER ATTRACTIONSAgricultural show: Every year, towards the end of August, Piketberg hosts an agriculturalshow.PiketKo: PiketKo is a large citrus storage facility. Tours are conducted during working hours.PORTERVILLEPorterville was established in 1863 and named after the Attorney-General of Cape Town,William Porter. The town is situated at the foot of the Voorberg Mountain (“Mountain inFront”).ADVENTURE AND SPORTAngling: Angling is a popular pastime and Porterville hosts many angling competitions.Hiking and mountain-biking: There are several trails in the area.Paragliding and hang-gliding: Paragliding and hang-gliding use the Voorberg Mountain as alaunching pad and many less-adventurous people also enjoy the magnificent views over thearea.CUISINEPorterville Wine Cellar: This cellar offers wine-tasting opportunities and also sells its winesdirectly to the public.FAUNA AND FLORAGroot Winterhoek Nature Reserve: The reserve includes the second highest mountain peakin the Western Cape and has many hiking trails that can be attempted.Scenic views: The Dasklip Pass has several viewpoints from which the countryside can besurveyed.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREDutch Reformed Church: The church was established in 1925.Jan Danckhaert Museum: The museum has exhibits on the town’s history and includes aKhoisan display.Naval Gun: The gun was fired to alert local farmers when ships arrived in Table Bay so thatthey could travel to Cape Town to sell their produce to visiting ships.Old Roller Mill: The original mill is still in use today.171

REDELINGHUYSThe Redelinghuys area is known for its rich and diverse bird life, its varied fauna and flora andits potato farms.ADVENTURE AND SPORTOutdoor Activities: Outdoor activities include 4x4 trails, hiking trails, cycling, canoeing,mountain-biking and fresh-water fishing.FAUNA AND FLORAWild flowers: from late July to September, the fields are covered with a colourful array ofbeautiful flowers.Verlorenvlei “(Lost Marsh”): The waters of the marsh sustain a rich bird life and Verlorenvlei isa protected ecological area.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREAmmunition Storage Depot: This building is approximately 100 years old.Dutch Reformed Church: The church bell dates from 1864 and is the pride and joy of thecongregation.Klaarfontein Homestead: Alongside Verlorenvlei lie the ruins of a once beautiful homestead,Klaarfontein. Fishermen and farmers used to trade fish and vegetables here.RIEBEEK KASTEELThe origins of the town’s name should not be too hard to figure out if you know your Capehistory. It was named after Jan van Riebeeck and the Kasteelberg (Castle Mountain), themountain on whose slopes it was built.ADVENTURE AND SPORTOutdoor Activities: Hiking and biking routes (such as the Kasteel Mountain Bike Route) and4x4 routes criss-cross the area.ART AND CRAFTSRiebeek Art Route: The route includes several arts and crafts locations.CUISINERiebeek Wine Cellar: The Riebeek Wine Cellar and Kloovenberg Wine and Olive Estate offerwine-tastings and sales. The the Môrester Grape Farm organises tours for interested visitors.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURERed Ox Monument: The monument was erected in 1938 in recognition of the contributon thatoxen made to the Great Trek. Look for it in the village square.172

RIEBEEK WESSituated just 4 km from Riebeek Kasteel lies the village of Riebeek Wes. Two majorpolitical figures who played important roles in South African history were born here, namelyGeneral Jan Smuts and Dr DF Malan.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREGeneral Smuts’ Birthplace: General Smuts was born on the farm Bovenplaas. Today, thehouse is on the property of PPC Cement.RIETPOORTThis small missionary village is situated 28 km from Bitterfontein, tucked away betweenextraordinary granite formations. Rietpoort presents a real opportunity to escape the rigoursof the modern lifestyle. Hitch a ride on a donkey-cart, enjoy a picnic of traditional cuisine andlisten to the melodious sounds of the local choir singing traditional songs and, for a while atleast, it is easy to forget the world beyond the boundaries of the village.FAUNA AND FLORAWild flowers: From late July to September the area blossoms into a Namaqualand flowerworld.SALDANHA BAYThe town of Saldanha Bay developed around the safest and deepest natural harbour in thecountry. The busy town is the industrial hub of the area and has several seafood-processing173

industries and a large naval base nearby. It is also the base from which vast quantities of ironore from the Sishen area in the Northern Cape are exported.ADVENTURE AND SPORTBoat trips: Several operators offer boat trips that depart regularly from the harbour.Crayfishing: The season for crayfishing is from November to April.Hiking: Several trails criss-cross the area, including the SAS Saldanha and the OranjevleiHiking Trail.Water-sport: Water-sport enthusiasts frequent the lagoon, which drains into Saldanha Bay.Many yacht races and regattas are held annually in the bay.FAUNA AND FLORAHoedjieskoppie Nature Reserve: The “Little Hat Hillock” reserve overlooks Saldanha Bay andTable Mountain can also be seen in the distance.SAS Saldanha Nature Reserve: The reserve is a bird-watchers paradise and offers a displayof wild flowers from July to September. Southern right whales visit the shores of the naturereserve from June to November.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREFrench Huguenot Memorial: The memorial in town commerates Saldanha’s Huguenotsettlers.ST HELENA BAY174

The brilliantly blue sea, pristine white rocks and crisp sea air attract many to secludedSt Helena Bay. The Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama, who landed here on the feast ofSt Helen, on 7 November 1497, gave the bay its name. The area was the scene of the firstknown skirmish between Europeans and Africans in Southern Africa, which developed out ofa brawl between a Portuguese sailor and some Khoi. On that occasion, however, no one waskilled.ADVENTURE AND SPORTAdventure activities: Some of the adventure possibilities that the area offers are diving, hiking,micro-lighting, sea-kayaking, surfing, wind-surfing and 4x4 routes.CUISINESnoek Season: Snoek (a form of sea-pike) is one of the delicacies of the West Coast. Duringthe snoek season, these fish are caught in their thousands and several methods ofpreparation are employed to create fish treats and dishes. Many consider snoek roe (alsoknown as Cape Caviar) their favourite and snoek soup and quiche are also popular.FAUNA AND FLORABirds: The bay is renowned as a bird-watchers’ paradise.Whales and dolphins: St Helena Bay is home to both whales and dolphins all year round.Wild flowers: The wild flowers of the region bloom from late July to October.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREVasco da Gama Monument and Vasco da Gama Museum: The monument and museumhonour the discoverer of St Helena Bay.VANRHYNSDORPThe town was first known as Trutro (pronounced Troe-Troe) but was changed toVanrhynsdorp in 1881 to honour the Van Rhyn family for its contribution as community andchurch leaders. Vanrhynsdorp is in the wild-flower region but also has a rich variety ofsucculents, an unusual occurrence in this dry area. The Matzikamma Mountains add evenmore diversity to the lovely area. Discovering all the interesting sites in and around the townwill keep you occupied for several days.ADVENTURE AND SPORTAdventure Activities: Off-road motor cycling, 4x4 routes, paragliding, river-rafting, rockclimbingand swimming are some of the adventure opportunities.Hiking: Several hiking trails traverse the region. The Succulent Hiking Trail leads throughterrain where indigenous succulents are sure to be spotted. Snorkfontein is also a popularhiking destination and has camping facilities.Mountain-climbing and biking: The Matzikamma Mountain Range presents many opportunitiesfor mountain-climbing and mountain-biking.Photography: Amateur and professional photographers are presented with views too lovely toignore.175

ARCHAEOLOGY AND PALAEONTOLOGYSan Rock Art: Gifberg is the site of many paintings, most of which include the traditional Sancolours of red and yellow ochre. One exception is a black painting, which is believed to signifyfeelings of fear.San Rock Art: The farm Papkuilsfontein lies some 51 km from the town. The rock painting onthis farm depicts a snake-like figure, predominantly black, with a variety of attachments.Wiedouw San Rock Art site: The site is small but the painting contains three interestingelements: elongated human figures, net-like images and handprints. The site lies in theGifberg (“Poison Mountain”). The mountain owes its name to the profusion of beautifulchincherinchees which cover the mountain in springtime, but which are lethal to livestock.ART AND CRAFTSArt and craft shops: The town of Vanrhynsdorp has many arts and crafts dealers, specialisingin items such as veldskoene, photographs, iron candle-holders, paintings and pottery.CUISINEOlifants River Wines: The Namaqua wine centre sells exquisite wines and wine-tastingopportunities are also available.FAUNA AND FLORABlack eagle: The black eagle is one of the most majestic feathered inhabitants of the regionand is most often spotted at places such as Waterval and Vleiland Aves. The region has fivedifferent bird-watching routes to allow sightings of several species. The oxidation dams arealso good bird-watching spots.Fynbos: Gifberg contains many glorious species of fynbos.Karoo vegetation: Many different species of flora and succulent indigenous to the Karoo coverthe area.Spring Flower Circle Route: The route visits all the spots where one is guaranteed the mostbeautiful views of the blooming wild flowers that adorn the region from July to September.Urionskraal and Gifberg Roads: These are good night-drive routes if you wish to study thehabits of some of the nocturnal animals that inhabit the area.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREAnglo-Boer War Route: The Anglo-Boer War Route visits spots in and around the town.Graves of fallen Boers and British soldiers, as well as the war headquarters and Jan Smutsresidence, are located in Vanrhynsdorp.Het Gesticht: Het Gesticht was the first meeting place of the Dutch Reformed Congregation.Old Gaol: This prison dates back to 1895.Van Rhyn Museum: This museum building dates back to 1897 and focuses on local history.NATURAL WONDERSRock formations: The rock formations of Knersvlakte, Maskam, Khobee and OubergSandstone all date back millions of years. The area is very rich in different kinds of mineralsand gemstone, such as marble, limestone and diamonds.176

Nama-Karoo: As you travel through the Nama-Karoo, stop for a while and reflect on the factthat this landscape is over 650 million years old.OTHER ATTRACTIONSObservatory: The open-air observatory at Vanrhynsdorp offers spectacular star-gazingopportunities.VELDDRIF (including Laaiplek, Noordhoek, Port Owen & Dwarskersbos)Velddrif is a pleasant resort town at the marshymouth of the Berg River, and is popular withanglers and bird enthusiasts. Its gorgeous beachesare situated along St Helena Bay and form part ofthe MTN Whale Route.ADVENTURE AND SPORTWater-sport: Many anglers have made Velddriftheir annual retreat from the rat race. There arealso many other different water activities, such ascanoeing and boat trips.CUISINEBokkem Factories: A visit to one of the bokkem factories will enable visitors to see how thisWest Coast delicacy is processed. The factories also sell this small dried salted fish to visitorsdirectly.FAUNA AND FLORARocher Pan Nature Reserve: The Rocher Pan Nature Reserve is primarily a bird sanctuary.The pan teems with migrant wading birds, of which the pink flamingo is the most spectacular.Whales: The beaches in the area are a popular viewing spot during the whale season (Juneto November).VREDENBURGVredenburg is the business centre of the West Coast where many inhabitants from smallertowns come for shopping and administrative services. The spring around which this towngrew was originally called Twisfontein (“Fountain of Strife”) and Prosesfontein (“LawsuitFountain”) as a result of the squabbles between two farmers who both laid claim to it. In 1875,when the town was established around the spring, it was named Vredenburg (“Town ofPeace”).ADVENTURE AND SPORTRiding Resort: Visitors can go on exploratory horse trails in the veld or along the coast.ARCHAEOLOGY AND PALAEONTOLOGYWest Coast Fossil Park: The park covers a huge land area, some of which has been a richsource of animal fossil remains.177

VREDENDALThe modern town of Vredendal is the economic centre of the Lower Olifant’s River Valley andlies 50 km from the sea. Vegetable farming and wine-making are the main economic activitiesof the region. The wild flowers offer added attraction from July to September and the irrigationscheme of the valley attracts many agritourists.CUISINEOlifants River Wine Route: Vredendal is part of the wine route and boasts five wine cellars:Spruitdrift Wine Cellar, KWV Distillery, Namaqualand Wine Cellar, Stouman’s Private Cellarand Vredendal Wine Cellar.FAUNA AND FLORAMatzikamma Eco-Park: The park is the best place to view the wide variety of fauna and floraof the area.WUPPERTHALWupperthal is rich in culture and history and started life as a Moravian Mission Station. Thelocal economic activities have a long history and are still centred around the shoe and glovefactories and agriculture, where farmers reap their grain with sickles and donkey-carts stillthresh the grain.ADVENTURE AND SPORTHiking, mountain-biking and 4x4 routes: These are some of the outdoor activities offered inthe area.YZERFONTEINThe lovely white beaches, flourishing fynbos and pleasant weather conditions attract manyvisitors to this small coastal village. Yzerfontein also affords beautiful views of Table Mountainto the south and Dassen Island to the north. The unspoilt coastline includes the famousSixteen-mile-Beach.ADVENTURE AND SPORTSixteen-mile-Beach: The beach is a popular spot among swimmers, surfers, anglers andwind-surfers.FAUNA AND FLORABird Watching: The area offers spectacular bird-watching opportunities. This ecotourismorientateddestination includes the wild flowers that bloom mainly from July to September.Dassen Island: This, the largest island off the West Coast is 4,5 km long and 2 km wide.The island also boasts a lighthouse and is home to many species of birds, penguins andmammals.Whales: The shores have several lookout points from which visiting whales can be watchedfrom June to December.178

WINELANDSPaarl Tourism Bureau216 Main Street, Paarl, 7622.PO Box 47, Paarl, 7622.Tel: +27 (0) 21 872 3829Fax: +27 (0) 21 872 9376E-mail: paarl@cis.co.zaWebsite: http://www.paarlonline.comThe Winelands Region is a mere 45 minutes' drive from Cape Town. Apart from the obviousattraction of its superb wines, the region also has great natural beauty and is extremely rich incultural history.The beautiful and fertile valleys, set beneath craggy mountains, are covered in vineyards andorchards of ripening fruit. Perhaps the early settlers took their inspiration from the lovelysurroundings in order to create the gabled Cape Dutch architecture that characterise most ofthe historic buildings on the vineyards and in the towns.The French Huguenots who arrived in 1688 brought their winemaking skills to the countryand significantly contributed to the history and culture of the region. The French names ofmany of the vineyards hark back to these early winemaking days.The winelands are renowned, not only for their wines, but for many other products as well.The Franschhoek Valley has many producers of cheese, olives and olive oil, herbs andberries.Visitors are spoilt by the magnificent surroundings that are so typical of the area and, ofcourse, the region boasts some of the best restaurants in the country! Visits to some of theoldest towns in the country will unquestionably exceed every expectation!179

FRANSCHHOEKThe Franschhoek (“French corner”) valley was settled by French Huguenots in 1688 and, to alarge extent, has retained its French flavour. The town was originally known as Olifants Hoek(“Elephants Corner”) on account of the elephants who used the protected valley as a“maternity ward”. The town lies in the valley that is protected on three sides by soaringmountains. The beautifully restored manor houses lend grace to the fruit-laden orchards andspreading vineyards.180

ADVENTURE AND SPORTHiking: The Boland Hiking Trail can be completed in two to three days. The trail starts at theNuweberg Nature Reserve at Grabouw and ends at the Franschhoek Pass. Hikers shouldfirst get a permit from Jonkershoek.La Motte Forestry Station: Enjoy several walking and mountain-biking trails, fly-fishing andhorse-riding. Permits are required to visit the station.ART AND CRAFTSArt galleries, craft and antique shops: The main street of the town is a shopping Mecca.Carpets: Uniquely knotted carpets and other woven products are sold at Kei Carpets onLe Mouillage Farm, 4 km from the town.CUISINEFranschoek Wine Route: The Franschhoek Wine Route includes vineyards such asBellingham, Boschendal, Franschhoek Vineyards Co-op and La Provence, to name but a few.Restaurants: The French love of gourmet food is reflected in Franschhoek’s excellentrestaurants. Some eight of South Africa’s “Top 100” restaurants are situated in Franschhoek,making the town the gourmet capital of the country.FAUNA AND FLORAMont Rochelle Nature Reserve: The Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve was established topreserve the natural vegetation and wildlife of the area and is criss-crossed with hiking trails.Permits can be obtained from the town museum or the local tourism bureau.Scenic views: Drive around the countryside and feast your eyes upon beauty. Thespectacular Franschoek Pass looks out over Franschhoek Valley.181

HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREBoschendal Estate: Boschendal Estate is a beautifully restored house in Cape Dutch style.This estate once belonged to Cecil John Rhodes, one-time Prime Minister of the Cape andfounder of Rhodesia.Huguenot Monument and Museum: The Huguenot Monument and Museum recalls the historyof the Protestant refugees. Persecuted by King Louis XIV because of their religious beliefs,the French Huguenots fled to the Cape and many of the refugees were given land by theDutch government. The impressive Huguenot Memorial, set in beautiful gardens, forms thefocal point of this attractive town.PAARLThe large commercial centre of Paarl is situated on the banks of the Berg River This town,whose name means “Pearl” owes its name to two massive granite boulders on the mountainoverlooking the town. The founder Abraham Gabemma, in 1657, saw the granite rockglistening in the sun after a rainstorm and named it Pearl Mountain. The town originated in1720 when a church was built and residential stands laid out. Paarl is surrounded by fruitorchardsand vineyards and linked to neighbouring regions by spectacular mountain passes.Paarl is the birthplace of the movement to obtain recognition of Afrikaans as an officiallanguage in place of Dutch and has significant monuments to Afrikaner culture.ADVENTURE AND SPORTBike Point: Guided cycling trips are offered to explore Paarl and the Winelands.Fynbos Trails: These are guided horse-rides that explore the foothills of theHawequa Mountains.182

Adventure activities at Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve: The landscape of fynbos and graniterock formations hosts opportunities for angling, hiking, climbing and mountain-biking.Wineland Ballooning: Enjoy early morning balloon rides over the magnificent Berg RiverValley.ART AND CRAFTSPaarl Art Route: The route includes a variety of art and crafts establishments, such as HoutStreet Gallery and the Old Mill Theatre.CUISINEBrandy Route: Paarl has two brandy producers, Paarl Rock Brandy Cellar and Backsberg.Their cellars can be visited on the Brandy Route.KWV Brandy: KWV is probably one of Paarl’s best-known attractions. This major exporter ofSouth African wine houses the five largest vats in the world under one roof. Tours areconducted from Monday to Saturday and include the Cathedral Cellar.Nederburg Wine Estate: The Nederburg Wine Estate hosts tours of the facilities, whichinclude wine-tasting and buying. The buildings of the estate are monuments to the beauty andhistory of a former era.Paarl Wine Route: The Paarl Wine Route includes a whole host of estates and farms,including Backsberg, Boland, Perdeberg, Nelson’s Creek, Simonsvlei, Zanddrift andZandwijk. The two brandy producers can also be visited.CULTURE / COMMUNITY TOURISMQunu African Art, Crafts and Entertainment Centre: This Centre on Nelson’s Creek WineEstate is a replica of the traditional Xhosa village in which Nelson Mandela grew up. It shedslight on traditional Xhosa lifestyles. The sights and entertainment include traditional crafts,dancing, singing and visits to sangomas (traditional healers).FAUNA AND FLORAAttraction Route: The route visits the wide variety of animal attractions in Paarl, such asLe Bonheur Crocodile Park and Wiesenhof Wild Park.Limietberg Nature Reserve: This reserve offers several outdoor activities amid an immaculatenatural environment.Paarl Arboretum: Established in 1957, the arboretum includes 32 ha of land situated alongthe Berg River. Some 750 species of trees grow here.Paarl Bird Sanctuary: The 45-ha sanctuary is home to some 140 different species of birds.Paarl Mountain Reserve: The massive 500 million-year-old granite domes in the PaarlMountain Nature Reserve on the outskirts of Paarl are the second largest in the world. Thereserve is also criss-crossed by hiking trails and mountain-biking trails.183

HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREAfrikaans Language Monument: The Afrikaans Language Monument was built to honour thedevelopment of this Dutch-based language and stands on the slopes of Paarl Mountain.Afrikaans Language Museum: The Afrikaans Language Museum lies in the centre of townand explains how the language developed.Paarl Museum: The museum features the cultural diversity and development of the town andhas collections of Cape Antiques, artefacts and documents.184

Walking Mile: The walk starts at the Thatched Roof Church, the oldest Dutch ReformedChurch in the country and ends at two museums, the Paarl and Afrikaans LanguageMuseums.Zeederburg Square: Giant oak trees and elegant Cape Dutch, Victorian and Georgianbuildings line Main Street.PNIELThe humble village of Pniel lies on the banks of the Dwars River in the Drakenstein Valley.The Simonsberg Mountains and the Hottentots-Holland Mountains dominate the village. Itsestablishment dates back to 1843, when South Africa’s slaves were freed and a missionstation was founded to provide aid and accommodation to these former slaves.ADVENTURE AND SPORTPigeon-racing: Pniel is a popular pigeon-racing venue.Pniel Sporting Complex: Rugby and cricket matches are held here regularly.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREChurch Bell: A belfry was erected in 1937, in remembrance of the Reverend Stegman whowas the founder of the Pniel Mission Station.Freedom Monument: The monument was erected in 1992 to commemorate the freed slaveswho, in 1843, were the first inhabitants of the area.STELLENBOSCH185

Governeor Simon van der Stel founded this stately town in 1679 and named it after himself.He probably thought that only this broad and fertile valley was worthy of his respected name.Stellenbosch is the second oldest town in South Africa and its many old buildings andmuseums are well preserved. It is also affectionately known as “Die Eikestad” (“Town ofOaks”) because of the many oak trees that line the streets.ADVENTURE AND SPORTAngling: The Ida’s Valley Dam is a popular fly-fishing spot. At the foot of the majesticSimonsberg lie two trout still-waters containing some of the largest trout in the country.Golf: There are three golf courses in the Stellenbosch area.Hiking: Various hiking routes traverse the area, including a two-hour hike (or 3-kmdrive) that leads to View Point, from which one can survey the valley. The day trails in theJonkershoek State Forest take one to clear mountain streams and waterfalls.Hot-air-ballooning: Hot air balloon trips provide a bird’s eye view of the valley, its vineyardsand majestic mountains.Jonkershoek River Valley: In addition to various historical tours, there are several horseriding,hiking and walking trails through the fertile Jonkershoek River Valley.Outdoor Activities: A variety of activities are available, namely cycling, mountain-biking, hikingand horse trails.Vineyard Hiking Trail: The 16-km Vineyard Trail offers a rewarding hike through the hills andwine estates.ART AND CRAFTSArt Galleries: The University of Stellenbosch is one of the oldest tertiary education centres inthe country. Apart from the beauty and historic atmosphere of the campus, the campus alsohas two art galleries. Various sculptures, paintings, etchings and ceramics, as well as Africanartefacts, are housed at the SASOL Art Museum and the Stellenbosch Art Gallery.186

Dombeya Farm: Dombeya Farm has a hand-spinning and dyeing workshop that sells a varietyof hand-knitted woollen jerseys.Libertas Parva: This establishment houses a Rembrandt van Rijn Art Museum.CUISINESimonsberg Cheese: Visitors can sample and buy some of the Simonsberg cheese factory’saromatic cheeses.Stellenbosch Wine Route: The Stellenbosch Wine Route is one of the icons of the WesternCape. There are over 30 wine estates around Stellenbosch, which, after Constantia Valley, isthe oldest winemaking centre in South Africa. From the start, wine and its production were anintegral part of the community’s life and culture. The granite soils, found mostly against theeastern mountain slopes, are well suited to the growing of grapes for quality red wines, whilethe vineyards towards the west, on the sandy soils of sandstone, favour the production ofwhite wines. The moderate and fairly cool climate, with rain largely confined to the wintermonths and with hot dry summers, produces some of the most outstanding quality cultivars.There are some 260 different vintages available for tasting on the wine route. Many of thecellars also have fine restaurants and provide picnic baskets. There is no better way for afledgling wine lover to gain an intimate glimpse into the world of the winemaker. Wines maybe taken away immediately or can be delivered, both within South Africa and abroad. Formore information on the wine route, visit its website at http://www.wineroute.co.zaStrawberry Farming: The Stellenbosch area is also a fertile strawberry-farming area andboxes of strawberries can be bought at very reasonable prices at any of the farm stalls,provided, of course, that they are in season.Van Ryk Brandy Cellar: Demonstrations of the distillation of brandy and the making of barrelsare conducted at the Van Ryk Brandy Cellar.187

Wine Vats: The wine vats of the Bergkelder Cellars are tunnels that run into the side ofPapegaai Berg (“Parrot Mountain”).ENTERTAINMENT AND SHOPPINGOude Libertas Amphitheatre: The amphitheatre is part of the Stellenbosch Farmer’s WineryCentre. The theatre regularly hosts events such as ballet and opera from Decemberto March and wine is served during intervals. Visitors are also welcome to bring their picnicbaskets along during the Sunday afternoon concerts.Spier Estate: Spier is one of the prime tourist attractions in town. The stately buildings includerestaurants, a wine centre and banqueting halls. Added attractions are pony rides and thecheetah breeding centre. The Spier Steam Train leaves from the Victoria and AlfredWaterfront in Cape Town and takes visitors on a tour through the vineyards.Oom Samie se Winkel: This old-fashioned style shop, one of the first trading stores to beopened in Stellenbosch, still sells a wide variety of items.FAUNA AND FLORAAssegaaibosch Nature Reserve: The reserve protects a part of the Jonkershoek Valley that isnaturally rich in rare proteas. More than 130 species of birds and 40 species of mammals,including leopard and the Cape grysbok, can be seen here.Butterfly World: Butterfly World, where one can walk amongst some 24 species of delicatebutterflies and small birds, encourages the breeding of these small flying beauties.Game Farms: There is a range of game farms within easy reach of Stellenbosch, such asLe Bonheur Crocodile Farm, Drakenstein Lion Park and Spier Cheetah Farm.Botanical Gardens: Hortus Botanicus is the botanical gardens of the University ofStellenbosch. The gardens protect a large variety of indigenous succulents, cycads, orchidsand welwitschias.Jan Marais Nature Reserve: The Jan Marais Nature Reserve is a botanical reserve whosewild flowers are at their best during September and October.Jonkershoek trout hatchery: Explore the Jonkershoek trout hatchery along the various hikingtrails.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREThe town’s eighteenth-century heritage, historical homes, and 76 national monuments takeone back to its glorous past.Berg House: The House contains many of the items found in a typical Victorian residence.The Braak: The Braak, or town common, lies at the centre of the town. The area issurrounded by beautifully restored historical buildings, such as Burgher House, St Mary’s-onthe-BraakAnglican Church and the Verenigde Oost Indische Compagnie (VOC)(Dutch EastIndia Company) Arsenal.Buildings: The gabled Bletterman House reflects the French lifestyle of 1789 and GrosvenorHouse is a neoclassical building dating from 1800.188

Dutch Reformed Mother Church: The Dutch Reformed Mother Church in Drostdy Streetincludes the walls of the original church, built in 1722. Some of the members of oldStellenbosch families are buried here.Ghost tour: Many of the ancient inhabitants seem to refuse to leave their homes and still roamthe town. A special ghost tour tries to catch them in their wanderings.Historical Walking Tours: Explore the town centre on foot and know that you are walkingdown a path trodden by many generations of people. Dorp Street features the longest row ofold buildings in the country. The buildings include an old Lutheran Church and the TownHouse.Rhenish Complex: This group of buildings reflects much of the architectural history ofStellenbosch. The complex houses the toy and miniature museum.Schreuderhuis: This dwelling is one of the first of 12 establishments that formed thepioneer settlement.Village Museum: The Stellenbosch Village Museum consists of a complex of restored housesdating from as far back as 1709. The furnishings and gardens of these houses reflect thevarious periods in which they were first built, from the late seventeenth to the middlenineteenth centuries.VOC Kruithuis: Visitors who have an interest in military should not miss this museum, whichwas a powder magazine built by the Dutch East Company in 1777.OTHER ATTRACTIONSRustenburg Health Hydro: For visitors who are very stressed and feel that they need to bepampered, a visit to this world-famous resort is a definite must.Shows: Stellenbosch annually showcases a variety of events, such as the StellenboschStreet and Music Festival in September and the Food and Wine Festival in October.WELLINGTON189

This town was laid out in 1838 and is named for the victor of the Battle of Waterloo, the Dukeof Wellington. The valley in which the town lies was once called Limietvallei (“Border Valley”)as it used to be the border of the Dutch East India Company’s holdings in the Cape.Wellington lies at the foot of the Groenberg (“Green Mountain”) on the banks of the KrommeRiver. Wellington is a small, quiet town with many sites of historical interests and buildings ofCape Dutch architecture. It is known for its leatherwork industry and as the headquarters ofthe dried fruit industry.ADVENTURE AND SPORTBain’s Kloof Hiking Trails: Bain’s Kloof has several hiking trails through a landscape of themost beautiful species of wild flowers.Horse Trails: Guided horse trails can be organised through the Hawequa Mountains.Mountain-bike Trails: The Hawequa Mountains offer many exhilarating mountain-bike trailswith breathtaking views over the Berg River Valley.Rugby: Wellington is the administrative headquarters of the Boland Rugby Union and is thehome of the Boland Stadium.CUISINEDried Fruit: The headquarters of the South African Dried Fruit Industry is situated in MainRoad. This company is the largest packer and marketer of dried fruit in the country.Wellington Wine Route: The route covers a relatively small area and the farms lie within easyreach of each other. The route includes Bovlei Co-op, Cape Wine Cellars, Jacaranda, RetiefFamily Cellar, Wamakersvallei Co-op and Wellington Winery. The route is well-known for itsexquisite red wines as well for its Chardonnay.ENTERTAINMENT AND SHOPPINGLeather Factories and shops: The leather factories produce and sell an exclusive range ofshoes. Other leather products can also be purchased, such as brief cases.FAUNA AND FLORALimietberg Nature Reserve: The reserve covers a large part of the Boland Mountains andconsists of nine different hiking routes through lovely fynbos vegetation.Bain’s Kloof Pass: The pass was opened in 1853 and is one of the most spectacular routes inthe area. The pass links Wellington to Ceres and Worcester. Apart from the convenience ofthe pass, it is worth the trip just to see the beautiful views of the valley.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREBlockhouse: Dating back to the Anglo-Boer War, the blockhouse outside Wellington was builtby the British to protect the railway line.Buildings: The town is an architectural jewel, with many buildings of Cape Dutch, Victorianand American styles. The buildings are still in use today and can be viewed on a walkingroute through the town.Clairvaux, Murray Jubilee Hall and Samuel House: The house used to be the residence ofDr Murray, the famous Scottish-born minister of the Dutch Reformed Church, and subsequentlya missionary-training institute.190

Coronation Arch and Victoria Park: A park forms the backdrop to the arch erected incommemoration of King Edward VII’s coronation in 1902.Dutch Reformed Church: The church and the statue of Dr Murray date back to the 1840s.Dr Murray introduced the distinctive Scottish and American influences into the area.Ferguson Hall: The hall is the home of Bible Media, publishers of religious literature andmedia.Lady Loch Steel Bridge: This was South Africa’s first steel bridge and is still in use today.Ouma/Granny’s House Museum: The museum is home to many unique and preciousartefacts.Stucki School: Many well-known South Africans attended this school, which dates back to1860.Wellington Museum: The Wellington Museum features the cultures of the various Africangroups as well as the cultures that had an influence on Wellington’s development.191

SOURCESAlbertinia Tourism WebsiteAurora Tourism: http://www.myaurora.comBarrydale Tourism: http://www.barrydale.co.zaBlaauwberg Tourism Bureau: http://www.blaauwberg.co.zaBreede River Valley Tourism: http://www.breederivervalley.co.zaBrochure from Association for Visual Arts – Metropolitan GalleryCalitzdorp Tourism WebsiteCape Peninsula National Park: http://www.capepeninsula.co.zaCape Point: http://www.capepoint.co.zaCape Town – the official visitor’s guide 2002 brochureCape Town Birding Route: http://www.capebirdingroute.orgCape Town Holocaust CentreCape Town South Africa Directory: http://www.gardenroute.co.zaCape Town. The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. Art Publishers Pty LtdCape Town Tourism: http://www.gocapetown.co.zaCape Town Trails: http://www.gardenroute.co.zaDe Rust Tourism WebsiteDistrict 6 Museum brochureFranschhoek Tourism: http://www.franschhoek.org.zaGarden Route Information: http://www.gardenroute.netGarden Route Tourism: http://www.capegardenroute.orgGeorge Tourism: http://www.georgetourism.co.zaGreat Brak River Tourism WebsiteHelderberg Tourism Board: http://www.helderbergtourism.co.zaHermanus Tourism: http://www.hermanus.comKlein Karoo Wine Route WebsiteKleinmond Tourism: http://www.hangklipkleinmondtourism.co.zaKnysna Tourism WebsiteLangebaan Tourism: http://www.langebaaninfo.comLittle Karoo Tourism: http://www.capegardenroute.org192

Mossel Bay Tourism: http://www.visitmosselbay.co.zaMuizenberg Toy Museum and Collectors Shop: http://www.gardenroute.co.zaMuseums of Cape Town: http://www.museums.org.zaOudtshoorn Tourism: http://www.oudtshoorn.comOverberg Info BrochureOverberg Map BrochureOverberg Tourism: http://www.capeoverberg.orgPaarl Tourism: http://www.paarlonline.comPiketberg Tourism: http://www.piketberg.comPlettenberg Bay Tourism: http://www.plettenbergbay.co.zaPrince Albert Tourism: http://www.patourism.co.zaRoute 27 Tourism: http://www.route27.org.zaRoute 62: http://www.route62.co.zaSouth Africa Tourism: http://www.southafrica.netSouth African Jewish Museum: http://www.sajewishmuseum.co.zaStanford Tourism: http://www.stanfordinfo.co.zaStellenbosch Tourism: http://www.istellenbosch.org.zaStilbaai Tourism WebsiteThuthuka Tours – Cape Town township tours brochureTownship Lwandle: http://www,8ung.at/townshipTulbagh Tourism: http://www.tulbagh.comUniondale Tourism WebsiteVisitor’s Guide to Cape Town and the Western Cape brochureWellington Tourism: http://www.visitwellington.comWest Coast Tourism: http://www.capewestcoast.orgWestern Cape Tourism: http://www.capetourism.orgWilderness Tourism: http://www.wildernessinfo.co.zaWinelands Tourism: http://www.capewinelands.org193