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Language: English (also 10 other official languages)
Currency: South African Rands
Holidays: January 1, March 21, March 29, March 30, April 1, April 27, May 1, June 16, August 9, September 24, December 16, December 25, December 26
Times: Most shops in the city centre and suburbs open between 08h00 and 17h00. Shops in some major malls may open at 09h00 and close at 21h00 or later. Banks close at 15h30, and have limited Saturday morning opening times. Muslim-owned businesses close at noon on Fridays and re-open at 13h00.
Climate: Most tourists visit Cape Town during our long summer from November to February. A Mediterranean climate with little rain, 11 hours a day sunshine or more and long sunny evenings sets a party mood.
It seldom rains in summer, and only briefly when it does. The winters are cool and wet, but the temperature hardly ever falls below 10° C. |
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If you would like a hard copy of our Explore South America Booklet, please send us an Email Request. |
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There is nowhere quite like Cape Town. It is in Africa, and of Africa, but yet so different. Perched between the ocean and the mountain, and with a National Park as its heart, it's wild and wonderful. But it's also the oldest city in our country, and it has a cultural heritage spanning more than 300 years.
It is in Cape Town that the Rainbow Nation really covers the spectrum, as nowhere else in the country do we have such cultural diversity. Between beautiful Cape Dutch homesteads, elegant Georgian townhouses, traditional dancers with painted faces performing in the city streets, the smell of spicy Malay cooking, the tang of a well-matured wine, and the sound of the snoek horn advertising the wares of fish vendors, this city will fill your senses.
You will never be bored in Cape Town. Table Mountain offers some of the best climbing in the world, and it's right here in the city. The surfing is fantastic; the diving is cold but good. You could go mountain biking, or try sandboarding. Go sea kayaking - you may see seals, dolphins or penguins
You can shop till you drop at Cavendish, Canal Walk or the V&A Waterfront where you'll be spoilt for choice. There is so much live music, so many temporary and permanent art exhibitions, so many movies, plays and even opera, ballet or symphony concerts, that you will have absolutely no excuse to stay in your hotel room.
Cape Town has something for everyone. As well as catering admirably for the top end of the market with its many excellent quality establishments, it also has more backpackers’ hostels than any other city world-wide.
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 Cape of Good Hope Cape Winelands Garden route Hermanus Knysna
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| CAPE OF GOOD HOPE - A Park for All |
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The Cape of Good Hope is popularly perceived as the meeting point of the Atlantic and the Indian Oceans. Geographically, however, the Indian Ocean joins the Atlantic Ocean at Cape Agulhas.
The Cape Of Good Hope is an integral part of the Cape Floristic Kingdom, the smallest but richest of the world's six floral kingdoms. This comprises a treasure trove of 1100 species of indigenous plants, of which a number are endemic (occur naturally nowhere else on earth).
The strategic position of Cape of Good Hope between two major ocean currents ensures a rich diversity of marine life. The area offers excellent vantage points for whale viewing. |
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| THE CAPE WINELANDS |
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A visit to Cape Town is not unique without a stop in the Cape Winelands. Here you will find breathtaking natural beauty combined with the rich history of the different cultures that walked this area in the days gone by. This region is most famous for its excellent wines, everything that a person’s palate desires, and architecture to match. The towns that make up this region are beautifully situated between the mountains, which give it an inexhaustible amount of good earth in which these wonderful vines grow. Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek is just some of these amazing towns in which you will find everything from Cape Dutch, French and the local African flavours combined to give you an experience that you will never forget. |
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| THE GARDEN ROUTE - A Coastal Paradise |
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The Garden Route stretches along the paradise coast. From Tsitsikamma forests to Mossel Bay and Oudsthoorn, it has every ingredient for a perfect holiday for all ages.
The Garden Route has lots of sunshine days, a temperate climate and blue sea with white sandy beaches. It is overlooked by the majestic Outeniqua Mountains. Clean lakes, lagoons and rivers are all unspoilt which provides a wonderful adventure land.
Adrenaline adventures, big game viewing, good food, fine wines and friendly hospitality throughout the whole region, makes the Garden Route a destination not to be missed. |
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| HERMANUS - The heart of the Cape Whale Coast |
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On a narrow strip between majestic mountain and azure sea lies Hermanus.
The town literally bristles with shops, restaurants and accommodation establishments. Its museum, fishing harbour, pristine beaches, cliff paths, nature reserve and hiking trails assure there is always ample to keep even the demanding visitor busy.
Hermanus has grown from a rustic fisherman's village to being acknowledged by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) as one of the twelve best whale-viewing sites in the world.
From its rocky cliffs, whales can be seen from as close as five meters. It is also the only place in the world where one can watch the whales and, by means of an underwater microphone, hear their calls at the same time!
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| KNYSNA – South Africa’s Favourite Town |
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A natural paradise of lush indigenous forest, tranquil lakes and golden beaches adorns South Africa's unspoiled southern coast. Nestling on the banks of a shimmering lagoon in the heart of this “Garden Route” is the picturesque town of Knysna.
Knysna is famous for its spectacular environment and natural beauty, which promise hours of fun for the outdoor enthusiast and adventurer. Beaches, rivers, lakes and lagoons provide ample opportunity for water sports including canoeing, diving and fishing, while mountains and forest beckon bikers, riders and cyclists. Within the town, craft shops, flea markets and cosy café's beckon with small-town charm and hospitality.
The area is a veritable Garden of Eden; home to the brilliantly coloured Knysna Loerie, a plethora of waterfowl and forest birds, dolphins and visiting whales.
The indigenous forest constitute the largest complex of closed-canopy forest in southern Africa, whilst the remarkable richness of the Fynbos vegetation contributes over 8000 plant species to the Cape floral kingdom.
Knysna is a holiday paradise, with special attractions, good food, outdoor activities and shopping opportunities to please every temperament.
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