Few holiday destinations can offer the variety and attractions of Cape Town. Nestling in the shadow of Table Mountain, it is one of the world’s truly breathtaking, natural locations. No amount of colourful and descriptive language can possibly do justice to the sight presented by the city and mountain from the sea. It just has to be seen and experienced. However, natural splendour is only one part of the story of why you may wish to visit Cape Town.

The past
If you like history, then there’s plenty to see in Cape Town. The archaeological records for the surrounding area goes back many thousands of years and you can see sites where the earliest people known to the cape settled and farmed. The modern historical record of the period begins with the first European ‘discoverers’ of the cape, the Portuguese, in the 15th century. The Dutch soon followed and established Cape Town and its environs. They rapidly began to create a colonial culture that would eventually become known as ‘Boer’ – and which would become widespread throughout the later South Africa.

Inevitably, the town’s strategic importance on the global trade routes brought it to the attention of the British who added it to their empire in the early 19th century where it stayed until its eventual incorporation into South Africa and eventual independence. The Dutch and British both brought people from all over the globe to live and work in the area. This mixing of people and cultures from all around the world, coupled with the indigenous African cultures, has led to the multi-cultural city we see today.

The legacy
Cape Town is, of course, far more than its history. Yet what the history has helped create is a city where you’ll enjoy:

– Fabulous and diverse cuisines from all over the world including African, Indonesian, Chinese, Indian and many European variations;
– Marvellous architectural legacies of different peoples, ages and traditions;
– A variety of different cultural heritages that mean some areas of the city contain shops and bars that wouldn’t be out of place in any major modern city; while in other locations you’ll feel like you’re in old Holland or in parts of India or Indonesia etc;
– a fantastic variety of people from different ethic backgrounds, all of whom form a part of what’s now called ‘The Rainbow Nation’.

Diversions
The city, of course, is famed for far more than its historical and cultural legacies. For a start, it offers wonderful opportunities to explore the bush and wildlife. Yes, this can be the marvellous big game reserves that are world famous, but also the less muscular side such as fantastic penguin colonies on the coast and areas of natural beauty in terms of flora and fauna. It’s also possible to go hiking on trails in and around Table Mountain. These can be of various levels of difficulty ranging from ‘demanding’ where previous experience and perhaps special equipment is required, to ‘gentle’ – which can be accomplished in ordinary clothing and without the physique of Superman!

Then there are the beaches. Cape Town sits happily astride both the Indian and Atlantic oceans. If you fancy a dip and sun bathe after a hard day’s exploring, the beaches on the Atlantic side are considered trendy and chic – but you’ll find the water’s a little cooler than on the Indian ocean side where the beaches are a little more popular.

The way to see it
It’s perfectly possible to explore the city on your own or on a conventional tour holiday. Yet the former option may be a little intimidating if, like many, you don’t like finding your way around strange cities.

A conventional tour may be fine but you may find that you’re being shuttled off as one member of a large and rather impersonal group. The result of that, as we’ve perhaps all experienced, is being taken and shown things that are of little interest to you while spending insufficient time looking at those that are. The alternative that is increasingly possible with discerning travellers is the custom-designed tour holiday.

These can take any shape or form you wish. It is essentially a bespoke holiday to Cape Town that is crafted to your needs, interests and requirements, rather than to the ‘average’ of a much larger group.

This sort of holiday, perhaps partly guided if you so wish, can help you not just see this great city but also to live it.

Author Bio: Rachel Hill is a Southern Africa Travel specialist, a company specialising in luxury, tailor-made Cape Town holidays, as well as holidays to other destinations in Southern Africa. Our experienced consultants will help you design your very own luxury South Africa holiday, and will be happy to provide you with a free quote.

Category: Travel
Keywords: Cape Town