South Africa’s Western Cape brims with lots of incredible delights but still retains its tranquil settings. With amazing coasts, wine regions, and national parks and nature reserves, it has become a hot favourite holiday destination among European travellers looking for a peaceful and unique experience. Treat yourself to some of the best places for such a holiday in South Africa.
West Coast National Park
South Africa’s West Coast region has a diverse geology, where beautiful beaches as well as dramatic mountain ranges vie for attention. A lovely place to experience all this is the West Coast National Park. The park is also a popular haunt of hikers, bikers, kayakers and kite-boarders. For shutterbugs, there are enough opportunities to capture some excellent shots of the Langebaan Lagoon. Game viewing is no doubt the star attraction of West Coast National Park. You may locate tortoises, hartebeest, Cape mountain zebras, ostriches, springbok, dung beetles and snakes.
Garden Route
The Garden Route is a perfect amalgamation of beaches, mountain hideaways, forests, golf courses and malls. Every year, hundreds of holidaymakers converge on this magnificent stretch of coastline to explore its many delights. The N2 stretch (running from Heidelberg to Storms River Village) is the main highlight on the itinerary of most visitors. Quite close to Plettenberg Bay is Bramon Wine Farm, an exciting place for wine lovers to sample some of the finest local wines. Don’t miss the chance to catch a glimpse of bottlenose dolphins and humpback whales near the Plettenberg Bay.
Wine Regions
Wine tasting tours and safaris are important elements of holidays in the Western Cape, thanks to the numerous fabulous vineyards in the region. The beautiful Hemel-en-Aarde Valley is a popular wine region that features over a dozen vineyards, the most renowned one being the Hamilton Russell estate. Waterford Wine Estate is another celebrated vineyard, which has come up with the lovely idea of providing ‘Wine Safaris’ on the slopes of the Helderberg. This place is well known for its great variety of grapes that are grown in differing terroir and conditions. Join the wine and chocolate tasting sessions or simply unwind in the courtyard with a glass of wine.
Cape Agulhas
A rocky headland in the Western Cape, Cape Agulhas is the southernmost tip of Africa where the two mighty oceans – the Indian and the Atlantic – meet. An ancient monument here serves as the perfect place for clicking holiday souvenir pictures. Climb the wooden steps that lead to the top of the historic red and white Cape Agulhas Lighthouse and enjoy spellbinding views of the restless waters.
