In 1580 Sir Francis Drake, sailing around the Cape in The Golden Hind recorded in his diary: “This Cape is the most stately thing, and the fairest Cape in the whole circumference of the earth.” In 1652 a 23 year old ship’s surgeon, Jan van Riebeeck, was sent by the Dutch East India Company to establish a half-way-house at the Cape to provide fresh vegetables, livestock, a hospital and ship repair facility for their sailors on their way the East Indies.
Today visitors to the “Mother City” can relive the exciting history of Cape Town which is closely linked to events throughout South Africa. After a single storm wrecked eight ships in Table Bay in 1737, an alternative port at Simon’s Town was built. This historic town with its naval base and famous penguin colony at Boulders offers an excellent view of Gordon's Bay and Strand across False Bay. It is also an excellent lunch stop for visitors on their return from Cape Point at the foot of the peninsula, where one observes the converging of two great oceans, the Indian and Atlantic.
Other “visitor must sees” include the picturesque village of Hout Bay to buy curios in the harbour and a one hour boat trip past the Sentinel Peak to Seal Island. Back in the city, if the tablecloth on Table Mountain is not too thick, you can join the winding road to the cable car before climbing the 990 Metres to the summit. For the more energetic a two hour gentle climb up Lion’s Head is well worth the effort as the city and ocean vistas are unparalleled from the summit.
After a fantastic dinner at any of a huge variety of restaurants you can sample the famous Cape night life until dawn, before returning to you hotel.
