Editors Out - Time Out Cape Town: Winelands and the Garden Route

Perhaps the most obvious feature setting Cape Town apart from other big cities is the land on which it lies: a dramatic coastline of pristine white beaches and icy waters, with the iconic flat-topped Table Mountain overseeing all. Then theres its unique ethnic mix, which sets it apart from the rest of South Africa: only 31 per cent of its people are black Africans (the national average is just under 80 per cent); many Cape Town residents have a mixed heritage, including those from the distinctive Cape Malay community. And while many of the citys residents still live divided lives, those kids born after 1994 are paving the way for a truly integrated society, one that strives to embrace the South African concept of the rainbow nation.

Cultural life flourishes in this vibrant atmosphere, from original theatre productions to film festivals and a thriving urban art scene. Cape Town and the nearby Winelands also take the lead when it comes to gastronomy, with far the best food and wine, of course in the country, and some serious destination restaurants.

But while Cape Town may be different from the rest of South Africa, it shares many problems with the wider nation: poverty, the AIDS epidemic, crime (although it is one of the nations safest cities). Whatever challenges it faces, one thing is constant: this multifaceted city has a habit of making people fall in love with it. For some it could be the view of Camps Bay and the glistening ocean as you crest Kloof Nek thats the draw; for others the sound of the muezzins call to prayer wafting over Bo Kaap on a misty morning; or the smell of a fresh espresso at the Neighbourgoods Market in gritty Woodstock; or the sensation of sand between the toes while walking with penguins on Boulders Beach; or simply the taste of aromatic spices as you dig into a midnight samosa from a roadside stall on Long Street. Lisa Van Aswegen, Editor