Lonely Planet Cape Town & the Garden Route

Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu and traditional African beliefs coexist peacefully in this proudly multicultural city. Given South Africas troubled history, such harmony has been hard-won and remains fragile: nearly everyone has a fascinating, sometimes heartbreaking story to tell. Its a city of determined pioneers from the Afrikaner descendants of the original Dutch colonists and the majority coloured community to the descendants of European Jewish immigrants and more recent Xhosa (isiXhosa) migrants from the Eastern Cape. They all bring unique flavours to Cape Towns rich melting pot.

Beyond the City

Wrenching yourself away from the magnetic mountain and all the delights of the Cape Peninsula is a challenge, but within an hour you can exchange urban landscapes for the charming towns, villages and bucolic estates of Winelands destinations, such as Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. Hermanus is a prime whale-watching location, and also a base from which to organise shark-cave diving. Further afield, the delights of the Garden Route unfold, with more inspiring scenery to be viewed on thrilling drives down the coast and over mountain passes.

| HELEN CATHCART/GETTY IMAGES

By Simon Richmond, Writer

Mother Nature surpassed herself when crafting the Mother City. Whether jogging along Sea Point promenade, climbing up Lions Head in the dawn light, clambering over giant boulders at Sandy Bay or driving the amazing coastal roads down to Cape Point, I never fail to feel my spirits soar as I take in the breathtakingly beautiful vistas. You dont need to break a sweat: sipping wine on a historic farm in Constantia or enjoying a picnic at an outdoor concert in Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden are equally memorable ways to commune with Cape Towns great outdoors.

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Whether you ride the revolving cableway or put in the leg work and climb, attaining the summit of is a Capetonian rite of passage. Weather permitting, your rewards are a panoramic view across the peninsula and a chance to experience some of the parks incredible biodiversity. Schedule time for a hike: the parks 245 sq km include routes to suit all levels of fitness and ambition, from gentle ambles to spot fynbos (proteas, heaths and ericas) to the two-day, 33.8km Cape of Good Hope Trail.

Cape Towns top sight in terms of visitor numbers, the is big, busy and in a spectacular location, with Table Mountain as a backdrop. Theres a pirates booty of consumer opportunities, from chic boutiques to major department stores, plus plenty of cultural and educational experiences, including walking tours of its well-preserved heritage buildings and public sculptures, the excellent Two Oceans Aquarium, and the spectacular new Zeitz MOCAA museum of contemporary art. Be sure to take a harbour cruise, too preferably at sunset.