Cape Town and all its beauty

Where does one begin when trying to describe Cape Town?

Africa’s southern-most city, home to Table Mountain and international award-winning wines, the biggest shopping centre in the Southern hemisphere (Canal Walk), a city with two oceans (Indian in the east and Atlantic in the west)…These are just some of the descriptions by which Cape Town is known.

Let us begin with a brief history: Cape Town’s written history can be traced back as far as 1487 when the explorer Bartolomeu Dias set sail from Portugal to find a sea route to the riches of the East and landed at Gouritz River Mouth after having unwittingly rounded Cape Point.

But it was not until Jan van Riebeek of the Netherlands, at the behest of the Dutch East India Company, landed in 1652 at what was to become known as Cape Town to establish a refreshment station for travelers on their way to the East that European settlement began at the Cape.

It was in the early 1800’s that a notable exodus to the Cape from the cooler climes of Europe began. Since then there have been significant periods of upheaval, peace, war and the dawning of a bright future in 1994. Cape Town’s population is made up of such a diverse mixture of people from a wide from range of cultural, religious, political, and ethnic backgrounds that it is a truly cosmopolitan place to live and visit.

Back to modern day Cape Town and this is a city that competes with the best cities in the world in terms of all it has to offer tourists and locals alike. It is often regarded as one of the world’s most spectacular cities because of its geography.

There is the ocean with all that it has to offer from sporting pursuits to magnificent sunsets; there are the Cape Winelands where some of the finest red and white wines in the world are produced and where visitors are welcome to spend an entire day – and longer – sampling the tastes, sounds and lifestyle of this majestic area. Visitors and locals are spoilt for choice when it comes to selecting a restaurant at which to eat. There is an international flavour in this city that is rivaled by few others. From German to Oriental, Italian to Cuban, Fusion to Cape Malay there are elegant fine-dining establishments and conversely casual eateries to suit all preferences and palates.

The night life in Cape Town is unrivalled by any other city in South Africa. One can dance the night away in a number of venues located in the city centre, one can enjoy an evening of jazz music in a cigar bar, enjoy sundowners at Clifton beach or enjoy late night shopping at the V & A Waterfront.

Cape Town really does cater for everyone – what ever your heart desires you will find it in Cape Town.

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Stellenbosch Wine Route

Stellenbosch Accomodation| Wild Mushroom

A tour of the famous wine route through the vineyards of Stellenbosch is, without question, one of the most pleasurable things to do on your holiday to the Cape. History and scenery, stories and wine combine to form a fantasy journey into the past. Intrigue, romance and award-winning vintages mingle in a rich tapestry that will linger in your memory long after you leave the emerald valley.

What is “The Wine Route”?

There are several ‘official’ wine routes in Stellenbosch and many unofficial ones too. You could even try exploring the area on your own but it is highly recommended that you try at least one of the ‘official’ routes first since they are designed to give you a good understanding of the area which will make it easier for you to find your way around by yourself.

The other advantage of a guided tour is that you will be driven to all the farms and then back to town again so you can taste as much wine as you like without having to worry about getting a little tipsy. Driving drunk is never a clever idea and nobody wants to be left out of tasting the glorious wine just because they have to drive!

Each route will take you to a different set of farms where you will get to taste their wine and get a brief history of the place. Most of the farms in Stellenbosch have very interesting histories and plenty of humorous anecdotes which will have you smiling (or laughing out loud) into your wine glass!

So Many Choices!

Before you choose a tour operator, it’s a good idea to decide what you want to get out of the experience. Do you want to do as much as possible because you have limited time, alternatively, do you want to relax and have plenty of time to explore each farm without being rushed back into a crowded bus?

Different operators offer different selections of activities and “busyness” levels. All good operators will be happy to give you information on exactly what their tours include and most of them have websites with all the information you need. Some tour operators cater specifically for large groups while others offer flexible, individual tours.

Good Advice

A good way to find the perfect tour for you is to ask someone who knows the area and is familiar with the tourism industry. A great place to find a person who can give great advice is to ask the staff or management of the guesthouse or B&B where you are staying. A good guesthouse will have friendly, knowledgeable staff who will be only too happy to help. The other advantage of asking for advice is that you can tell the person exactly what you need instead of reading through a whole lot of websites and pamphlets that turn out to be unsuitable after all.

With a bit of good advice and a clear idea of what you want, your trip to the magnificent wine lands of Stellenbosch will be an adventure to remember.

Article Source: www.isnare.com