Capetown
Cape Town - the world's "fairest cape" - is special. Its
coast is beautiful. View it from atop Table Mountain,
walking its wild views, savouring world-renowned
Kirstenbosch's Gardens or the dramatic peninsular, it
attracts visitors from far and wide. What city in all
the world has a fairer backdrop than Table Mountain
- an instantly recognisable symbol of the 'tavern of
the seas' far out in the ocean for which centuries of
sailors have kept a lookout? Many bespoke African
safari holidays with King & King begin at Cape Town.
The Portuguese landed here in 1503. Local wandering
inhabitants, the Khoi people, took exception and a
skirmish ended in bloodshed. Dutch and British
seafarers also realised the strategic importance of the
Cape and today's city was founded by the Dutch in
1652. It is arguable that the first man was here two
million years ago. Hominid remains have been found
north and west of the Cape.
As the mountain dominates the city, so the mountain
influences the weather. You can spend all day on
the mountain - there are more than 500 paths to the
top - but the weather can turn cold and wet within
minutes. Two cableway cars run to the top most days but
not always, because of weather conditions.
Many notable buildings are worth a visit.
Kirstenbosch Gardens welcomes thousands
of visitors a day for the number and variety of indigenous
plants - some still used as medicines by local people - to
the magnificent blooms which come out in the middle of
the day everywhere you look: white, cream, yellow,
lemon, orange, red and mauve daisies; yellow and orange
pincushion proteas and their attendant sunbirds; dark
blue aristeas, weird bird of paradise flowers; the cycad
amphitheatre with some plants pre-dating the
dinosaurs, fynbos walk, Cape reeds, plants for
making tea, coffee, dyes, ropes, baskets. You need a
day.
Before you reach the gardens the memorial to the
owner who gave it to the nation, Cecil Rhodes, is
also accessible off Rhodes Drive; inside, a massive
bronze head of the man gazing north to the rest of
the continent to part of which he gave his name, to
much of which he lent his enormous drive,
enthusiasm and contacts to fund development.
Take the day-long peninsular drive around the Cape.
Have tea in the townships.
Wander around the docks.
A King & King bespoke African safari holiday can
organise a helicopter ride to Franschhoek for you to drop
in on the winelands.
See classic Cape Dutch architecture dating from 1670.
You'll love Cape Town - and go back. |
