South Africa’s Western Cape beckons visitors with its dramatic mountains, nature reserves and abundant wildlife. Enjoy the sweeping coastline of surf towns and fishing villages and the rich food and wine culture. Bordered by the Indian Ocean and South Atlantic, the province sprawls across Africa’s southwestern tip.
Start your trip in Cape Town, “The Mother City,” home of the iconic Table Mountain and Twelve Apostles peaks. Visit neighborhoods influenced by the British and Dutch as well as bars and restaurants on the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. Check out the stylish beach suburbs of Camps Bay and Hout Bay and drive along the twists and turns of Chapman’s Peak Drive to see sheer cliffs and towering mountains. Relax in Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden or hike the nature trails at the Cape of Good Hope.
Visit picturesque villages and spot myriad marine life along the False Bay coastline. Boulders Beach offers swims with penguins and Simon’s Town features shark cage diving. Browse the galleries and antique shops in Kalk Bay or head into the Silvermine Nature Reserve from St. James. Learn to surf in Strand and Gordon’s Bay or ride big waves in Muizenberg.
Head inland to the Cape Winelands, arguably South Africa’s most scenic wine region. Admire Stellenbosch’s colonial architecture and join a bike tour of nearby vineyards. Satisfy your palate in French-inspired Franschhoek, the country’s gourmet heartland, and hike to Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve for panoramic views.
The Overberg region combines history with wildlife. Spot southern right whales in Hermanus, see a slice of European heritage at Swellendam or rejuvenate in Caledon’s hot springs. Visit Oudtshoorn, the self-proclaimed ostrich capital of the world, or walk to Montagu’s mountain lookouts.
Get around easily using tourist-friendly bus and train travel. The ocean roads and mountain passes also provide the setting for some of the world’s most scenic drives.
Don’t miss a trip along Western Cape’s famous Garden Route. Walk with elephants at Knysna, try adrenalin sports in Plettenberg Bay or discover secluded lakes and beaches in the Wilderness National Park.