Drop the name “Cape Town” into any conversation and you’re likely to be met with a barrage of stories, all of which will be different except that they glow with memorable experiences. This is because Western Cape safari travel is so diverse, from the scenery to the local culture and attractions that every visitor will find something different here among Cape Town’s many accolades from travellers. The city was also named the Third Best City in the World by the leading travel magazine in the United States last year.

The main areas of Cape Town include the City Bowl, Atlantic Seaboard, Southern Suburbs, Northern Suburbs, Cape Peninsula, Cape Flats and Blouberg. The city and surrounds present a collage of different scenery. Visitors can experience the urban cosmopolitan feel of the Metropole, relax and savour the gastronomic treats on offer in the pastoral setting of the Cape Winelands or explore endless beaches along both sides of the Peninsula. Holidays in Cape Town have the ability to leave a lasting impression on any visitor, no matter what their fancy.

Probably the best time to visit Cape Town for a holiday is in the summer between December and February, when the weather is at its finest. This season is dry and hot, with temperatures often reaching well into the 30’s and dense blue skies creating a true holiday feeling. This season is extremely busy due to the influx of excited visitors to the city. A quieter period for those seeking peaceful Cape Town getaways is either autumn or spring, when the weather is still very pleasant but the city is out of its main tourist season.

Attractions in the city
The City Bowl and nearby Atlantic Seaboard provide visitors seeking holidays in Cape Town a modern, chic and first-world setting, surrounded by the clear waters of the Atlantic Ocean. This area offers historical interest with the many museums nearby such as the Natural History Museum, the District Six Museum and the Holocaust Museum. Little markets such as the Church Street Antique Market and Green Market Square add a distinctly African charm to the downtown area.

Similarly, Long Street and Kloof Street in the CBD have many boutique stores, restaurants and cafés and the nearby National Art Gallery will thrill all art enthusiasts. Shopping is a major attraction in Cape Town and malls such as the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront offer modern and label trends within easy reach from the city. Table Mountain, Cape Town’s most famous landmark, is accessible by a high-tech cable car from the city centre and is a ‘must-do’ activity for any visitors to the city.

The Atlantic Seaboard
The Atlantic Seaboard includes the elite suburbs of Bantry Bay, Camps Bay and Llandudno. These are the playgrounds of the elite and wealthy. Bantry Bay is a scenic and quiet suburb, allowing for easy access to the attractions of the city centre. Camps Bay is set amongst ultra-trendy architecture mixed with a vibrant night life, offering fun on the pristine beaches coupled with night time excitement in exclusive clubs and bars and some of the best restaurants in the Western Province. Llandudno Beach is notable as it is tucked away amongst massive granite boulders and offers brilliant swimming and sun-bathing experience whilst providing a relaxed, tranquil and secluded setting close to the city.

Hotels in the area include the impressive and world-famous 12 Apostles Hotel just outside of Camps bay, the uber-modern Les Cascades guest house in Bantry bay and 26 Sunset Avenue in Llandudno, a quiet gem tucked away in the beautiful scenery of Llandudno. These hotels offer very easy access to a number of Cape Town attractions, Newlands Forest and of course, the Greenpoint Stadium, Cape Town’s very own superstructure for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The South Peninsula
The South Peninsula is a mixture of heritage and sea-side charm. The area stretches from the Atlantic Seaboard through to False Bay. The old-English seaside town and surfer’s paradise of Muizenberg is part of the Peninsula, as is Simon’s Town, famous for its naval base and Boulder’s Beach, a protected area where beachgoers can swim with the resident colony of African penguins.

The breathtaking scenery of Cape Point, the southernmost part of the Cape Peninsula allows for superb views of the two oceans and of the surrounding panorama of jagged and dramatic mountains.

The Cape Peninsula is perfect for peaceful and relaxing holidays in Cape Town. There are many well-priced restaurants in the area which create fun and well-loved seafood dishes from the fresh catches made in False Bay.

The Colona Castle Manor House in Lakeside offers offers a quieter escape to Cape Town: old-world charm mixed with modern excellence in service and is an excellent choice of accommodation for those looking to relax in the South Peninsula. The Steenberg Hotel is situated inland in Tokai, surrounded by the beautiful Tokai forest plantation, and is five minutes drive from the Constantia Wine Route

The Winelands
The Constantia Wine Route is not the only one in Cape Town. The Wine Routes in the Cape Winelands (in the Boland area) are world famous and consistently produce some of the best wines in the world. The Winelands includes the historic towns of Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek. There is also a variety of luxurious accommodation options set amongst the mountainous and fertile terrain of the area, are a mere hour’s drive from Cape Town’s city centre.

The Lanzerac Hotel and Spa offers guests accommodation in Stellenbosch in a 300-year-old Cape Dutch mansion with Spa facilities. These are also offered at Le Franschhoek Hotel and Spa, set in the culinary capital of South Africa. Franschhoek Country House and Villa Suites are also located in Franschhoek and provide an elegant escape into the world of food and wine.

Holidays in Cape Town and Western Cape getaways to the surrounding areas have something to offer everyone. Families can enjoy safe and clean beaches on the Atlantic Seaboard and Peninsula coastline as well as exciting attractions such as shopping malls and theme parks. Conversely, active and adventure-seeking individuals can enjoy the vibrant nightlife and diverse cultures of the historic Cape. Those seeking a peaceful refuge can relax and be pampered at one of the many spa resorts. Business travellers have easy access to state-of-the-art conference venues and accommodation whilst wine lovers can enjoy quaffing some of the world’s finest wines in breathtaking scenery and towns which live for viticulture. Cape Town getaways are a world-class opportunity for fun and relaxation with attractions to suit everyone.

About the Author:
Exclusive Getaways South Africa offer a traveller’s collection of luxury accommodation in South Africa, including accommodation for holidays in Cape Town.