Western Cape Accommodation
Cape Town, Winelands, Garden Route – but three of the major tourist meccas within the Western Cape. These are three very varied areas and as such, accommodation in the Western Cape is hugely varied too, as are the activities on offer.
South Africa’s Mother City (aka Cape Town) is world renowned for Table Mountain, the massive rock around which the city is built. Cape Town is the capital of the province and by far the largest and most cosmopolitan of the Western Cape’s settlements. Within the city itself you can absorb contemporary cultural expression in the form of music, art and dance, sample some of the world’s finest cuisine and take in a cityscape unlike any other. If you enjoy the buzz of city life, stick with the centre, but for a more chilled experience, head further south to the small seaside suburbs of St James and Kalk Bay, where you can enjoy a bohemian vibe mingled with the atmosphere of the harbour and its fish sellers. Given the mountain’s presence, Cape Town is littered with hikes and its position on the peninsula means there are many beaches offering surfing, swimming, kite-surfing and general ‘beaching’.
Just 45 minutes from Cape Town lies one of the Western Cape’s other gems, the Cape Winelands. Here you will find sweeping vineyards nestled between mountains, giving this accommodation in the Western Cape a special spark. Apart from wine-tastings, this area is known as the culinary capital of South Africa making it a definite must-do on your itinerary. As with Cape Town, there are many outdoor activities to engage you too, from hiking and picnicking to mountain bike tracks.
If Western Cape accommodation options in those areas don’t make the grade, try travelling a little further up the coast and you will come across the Garden Route. This area is extraordinarily popular given its long white beaches, warm sea temperatures, beautiful surroundings and year-round excellent weather. Some of the most popular towns on the route include Plettenberg Bay, Knysna and Wilderness. Not only will you find great beaches and great food in these parts, but it is also an adventure sport hub where you can try skydiving, tubing, zip lining as well as pop into a few small game reserves.
These are just three great places offering great Western Cape accommodation and endless activities. If one were to list them all, no one would ever leave!