Western Cape Article - South African Vacations

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