Drenched in natural beauty, the Western Cape Province arcs enticingly around its capital, Cape Town, which sits in one of the world’s most seductive settings, between mountains and the sea. Heading off to enjoy the wealth of wonders in the Western Cape? Here’s our favourite things to do in this beautiful province.
The classic road trip
Drive along the coastline from Mossel Bay to Storms River, and you’ll discover hills and sun-kissed vineyards, lush forests, deserted beaches and winding rivers. This is one of the most unforgettable experiences in the Western Cape. Choose South Africa’s timeless road trip journey – exploring the Garden Route.
Drink wine in the Winelands
With more than 560 wineries in the Cape, you couldn’t so much as pop a cork without hitting a wine farm. The Constantia, Stellenbosch, Durbanville and Route 62 routes are the most popular, although the less well known Plett Wine Route is also putting its name on the map. The Plett Wine Route’s four wineries are located in The Crags, on the stretch of the N2 between Plettenberg Bay and Nature’s Valley. The region produces cool-climate wines, mostly whites, with the Sauvignon Blanc a firm favourite with visitors.
Chapman’s Peak
Known as one of the world’s most scenic drives; Chapman’s Peak drive is a road carved out of the rocky mountainside on the Atlantic coastline. Linking Hout Bay with Noordhoek, Chapman’s Peak is a 9 kilometres drive and its 114 curves provide ever changing panoramic views. There are a number of parking areas along the drive, where visitors can stop, take in the scenery and enjoy a picnic.
Table Mountain
No self-respecting tourist should leave Cape Town without snapping a picture of Table Mountain, one of the most photographed landmarks in South Africa. This iconic flat-topped landmark towers 1,087 meters above the city center and beckons both locals and visitors to perch atop its panoramic plateau and breathe in the splendor of this ravishing city.
Boulders Penguin Colony
A must-see for wildlife lovers is the Boulders Penguin Colony with three beautiful beaches, where these charismatic creatures waddle along the clean white sands. In Simon’s Town, about an hour’s drive from Cape Town, the beaches are home to a breeding colony of more than 2,000 endangered African Penguins.
Encompassing many of South Africa’s most popular tourist attractions, the Western Cape has a seemingly never-ending list of amazing places for visitors to check out. Indeed, the fourth-largest province in the country has a staggering array of beautiful landscapes on show, with Cape Town’s distinctive backdrop and the gorgeous scenery of the Garden Route just two of its many highlights.
