Cape Town, South Africa - Heaven on Earth
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The One and Only Cape Town
My first vacation to Cape Town, at the age of 4, was to a nearby beach town, Muizenberg. It was the first time I saw the beach. What an unforgettable experience!
This is a picture of me many years later enjoying the magnificence of this beautiful city - Cape Town. What wonderful memories we have of our numerous visits to this interesting part of the world.
I have traveled to many countries and I believe Cape Town is the most beautiful city and is indeed "Heaven on Earth".
“Cape Town, My Kind of Town, Cape Town Is”
Cape Town, South Africa
History of this Magnificent City
Cape Town was founded by the Dutch East India Company and was developed as a supply station for Dutch ships sailing to Eastern Africa, India and the Far East. Jan van Riebeeck arrived there on the 6 April, 1652 and established the first permanent European settlement in South Africa. Cape Town quickly became the economic and cultural hub of the Cape Colony.
Until the Witwatersrand Gold Rush and the development of Johannesburg, Cape Town was the largest city in South Africa.
Today it is one of the most multicultural cities in the world. It is a major destination for immigrants and expatriates to South Africa. As of 2007 the city had an estimated population of 3.5 million.
Exploring Magnificent Cape Town
This picture is of Paul and me in 1983, enjoying and exploring magnificent Cape Town.
The Cape is a fascinating destination for visitors. You will find that the Cape Peninsula is the perfect choice for lovers of history and nature, as well as for beach goers. At the Castle of Good Hope you can see the oldest buildings, or look down at the cliffs of Cape Point. The beaches, the nightlife, the wonderful restaurants, or the historic towns on the Wine Route will make your visit to Cape Town a memorable one.
"The fairest Cape we saw in the whole circumference of the Earth"
~ Sir Francis Drake
Here are my recommendations to assist you in making a decision to visit Cape Town.
- Table Mountain: This famous landmark with it's flat-topped mountain offers breath-taking views of rocky shorelines, mountains and blue oceans. There are approximately 350 different climbs to the summit. The view from every corner is superb and you will see why the claim that this is the Fairest Cape, is correct.
- The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront: Named after Queen Victoria and her second son Alfred. Visit the waterfront where the charm of the Victorian era has been preserved. The magnificent old buildings within this harbour has created a village of museums, shops and hotels. Boats are available for charter.
- Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens: Situated on the south-eastern slopes of Table Mountain. These National Botanical Gardens have over 4000 species of indigenous plants from all over South Africa. There are maps and self-guided walks to help visitors fully appreciate these lovely gardens.
- Cape Town Beaches: Clifton, Sea Point, Camps Bay & Llandudno: This scenic drive curves through quaint seaside suburbs from Mouille Point, Green Point and Three Anchor Bay to the Sea Point promenade. Here, you will find wonderful restaurants, great boutiques for shoppers, and night-spots with good music. The people are friendly and make you feel very welcome.
- Clifton's beaches are made up of four sandy coves, separated by large rocks, known as 'The Twelve Apostles'. You will find beautiful beaches and palm trees in Camps Bay. My favorite is Llandudno beach with it's large rocks.
- Hout Bay, Fish Hoek & Kalk Bay: A very enjoyable drive to Hout Bay which is a lovely picturesque fishing village, then on to Fish Hoek for catamaran races. If you are interested in deep sea fishing, you can take a charter boat in Kalk Bay.
- Cape Winelands for Wine-tasting: My favorite wine route, which we enjoyed, included Stellenbosch, Paarl, Franschhoek and Constantia. You will find some of the finest wines in the world at these vineyards.
- Ratanga Junction Theme Park: For a full day of entertainment visit this theme park . There are fun rides for the whole family to enjoy and you will also find lots to eat.
- Cape Point: Where the cold Atlantic Ocean on the west coast and the warm Indian Ocean meet. One of the highest sea cliffs in the world. You will find an abundance of birds, animals and plants here.
- Robben Island: The island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years is today a national monument. There are regular excursions to the island.
"The fairest Cape we saw in the whole circumference of the Earth"
~ Sir Francis Drake
Table Mountain, Cape Town
Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town
Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, Cape Town
Cape Winelands, Cape Town, South Africa
Cape Town - Superb Holiday Destination
Beaches - Cape Town and Beyond
Bantry Bay has a beach known as Saunder's Rocks. This beautiful beach contains wonderful tidal pools for safe swimming.
Then you will find Camps bay, as well as Glen beach right next door.
For those who are feeling too hot to even wear a bathing suit, go swimming at Sandy Bay.
Llandudno beach has wonderful sand, blue water and palm trees. Llandudno is a glorious beach and is mostly protected from Cape Town's winds. One of my favorite beaches.
The beaches of Clifton are a favorite hangout for models and film stars alike.
Noordhoek has long stretches of sandy beaches ideal for water sports.
Throughout Cape Town and the Western Cape you will find an abundance of unspoilt and pristine beaches ideal for water sports, sunbathing, swimming or just relaxing.
Cape Town's
Beautiful Beaches
Visit Beautiful Cape Town, South Africa
Wonderful Gifts for Yourself
Great information to prepare for your trip to Cape Town
Latest News About Cape Town
- South Africa's Mandela celebrates party's 100th
- Nelson Mandela smiles during a lunch to Benefit the Mandela Children's Foundation as part of the celebrations of the opening of the new One&Only Cape Town resort on April 3, 2009 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Chris Jackson, Getty Images) JOHANNESBURG ...
- MiX Telematics Launches MiX Insight Analyser for Premium Fleet Customers
- CAPE TOWN, South Africa, May 30, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- MiX Telematics (jse:MIX), a global leader in driver safety, vehicle tracking and fleet management solutions, launches MiX Insight Analyser to its broad base of Fleet Manager (FM) customers.
- South Africa to Debate Social Cohesion After Painting Furor
- South Africa still has ?challenges of poverty, unemployment, landlessness and race, class and gender,? Zuma told Parliament in Cape Town today. ?These continue to be defining features of how society relates and they can be a cause of deep pain, ...
- GSMA Announces the Finalists and Overall Winner of Its Inaugural Mobile Health ...
- CAPE TOWN, South Africa, May 30, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- GSMA-mHealth Alliance Mobile Health Summit -- The GSMA, in collaboration with the Qtel Group and Qualcomm Incorporated, today announced the finalists and overall winner of its inaugural ...
Magnificent Cape Town
"Heaven On Earth"
Cape Town South Africa
Travel Guides, Maps and Tea - Cape Town
Please Sign my Cape Town, South Africa Guestbook
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JJNW
May 4, 2012 @ 7:10 pm | delete
- Wow. What a fabulous place. Thanks for sharing.
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CCTVwebmaster
Apr 24, 2012 @ 7:23 am | delete
- Great lens, cant wait to visit Cape Town again, my favourite place in the world!
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digitaltree
Apr 4, 2012 @ 7:42 pm | delete
- Nice Lens, very informative, good to know about this amazing place.
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Tipi
Mar 23, 2012 @ 11:58 am | delete
- Cape Town, South Africa is on my bucket list! :)
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CNelson01
Mar 4, 2012 @ 9:21 pm | delete
- I should have been born rich rather than good looking. I'd love to visit Cape Town, perhaps when my ship comes in.
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My Travels in and Around South Africa and Other Lenses
by bobbala
Clarise was born in Potgietersrust, South Africa. She married Paul in 1963 and had two beautiful daughters, Beverley and Felicity.
She was successf...
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