Reflections: On the Cape
Venturing into Sub-Saharan Africa from the Western world is layered with mystique, trepidation, and fantasy. While most opt for a safari somewhere in between, it is quite often Cape Town that becomes their entrée into the continent. In recent decades, the world has fallen head over heels for this cosmopolitan city – one that offers a dry, sunny climate not unlike Southern California, and one that is brimming with excellent hotels and restaurants that compete with the very best on offer, made a little more accessible with South Africa’s friendly exchange rates.
Cape Town is an active city - for there is no shortage of dramatic landscapes and picturesque viewpoints wherever you may go. In just a few hours, you can literally walk (or hike) from downtown up to the top of Table Mountain, one of the world’s most iconic monoliths, for an incredible vista. Head southward past penguin-filled beaches and lush botanical gardens to the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point, where the Atlantic meets the Indian Ocean. To its east are rolling vineyards, new world vintages birthed from centuries-old Dutch farmhouses that give Sonoma and the Loire some serious competition. And then, of course, is the dream of a safari – and if you’ve never been on one, you should. The lion’s share of travellers head to Kruger National Park on the opposite side of the country to see the ‘Big Five,’ but there are some less known – but equally luxurious – safari lodges a stone’s throw from Cape Town that offer many iconic species without the crowds.
And of course, the Western Cape region, of which Cape Town crowns, is only the beginning of the cornucopia of experiences, environs, and memories that Southern Africa offers its visitors. Getting there is no easy feat — accessible only by some of the world’s longest flights, you’re not far from Antarctica (and yes, there’s a flight to Antarctica from the Cape). But for the lengths you travel, Cape Town offers nearly everything you’d want in a destination, serving as a perfect introduction to Africa, and one that will likely entice you back again and again.
From top left: Protea flowers in the market; The Company's Garden; Steenberg Winery's tasting room; The Cape of Good Hope as seen from Cape Point; Boulders Beach penguins; Muizenberg Beach; Bo Kaap; Camps Bay; Cape Town from above, as seen hiking on Table Mountain. At top: Platteklip Gorge hiking up Table Mountain.
Photo Credit: Syllogi
