Table Mountain is a flat-topped mountain forming a prominent landmark overlooking the city of Cape Town in South Africa. It is often the first landmark which tourists see as their flights descend into Cape Town International Airport. The mountain forms part of the Table Mountain National Park. Table Mountain and it's two neighbouring peaks: Lion's Head and Signal Hill offer stunning views of Cape Town, and provide adventure-seekers with hiking opportunities of various difficulty. Sunset viewing atop Signal hill is a favourite pastime for local and foreign visitors alike. The Table Mountain Cable-cars offer an approachable method of summiting the 1055m peak. Once you reach the top, there's a restaurant for the hungry and a curio shop for those looking to take some memorabilia back with them. Be on the look out for the Dassies- a relative of the Elephant- that call the mountaintop home.
Rugged rocks and sheer cliffs towering more than 200 metres above the sea and cutting deep into the ocean, provide a spectacular background for the reserve’s rich bio-diversity. Cape Point falls within the southern section of Table Mountain National park. The natural vegetation of the areas – fynbos – can be found all over the Cape Floral Kingdom, the smallest but richest of the world’s six floral kingdoms.
The name is Dutch for "Seal Island." Nobel-Prize winner and former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela was imprisoned there for 18 of the 27 years he served behind bars before the fall of apartheid. Two more of South Africa's former presidents were also imprisoned on the island during the country's tumultuous political history. Today, the prison has been decommissioned, but daily tours of the island are offered, giving visitors a chance to learn about the country's history. The island rests just a couple of kilometres off the western coastline of the city, and can be seen from the top of Table Mountain.
Kirstenbosch is an important botanical garden nestled at the eastern foot of Table Mountain in Cape Town. The garden is one of ten National Botanical Gardens covering five of South Africa's six different biomes and administered by the South African National Biodiversity Institute. The Kirstenbosch Educational Centre offers various programmes where learners can learn about the fynbos biome.
Groot Constantia is not only South Africa's oldest winery (founded in 1685), but is also a Provincial Heritage Site. The original farm was around 764 hectares and sports a typical Cape Dutch style of architecture at the Manor House. We learn about wine making and viticulture during a guided tour through the Groot Constantia wine cellar.
The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is situated on the Atlantic shore. Departures to Robben Island take place at the Clock Tower. This Waterfront also houses the Two Oceans Aquarium where you can view more than 3000 marine creatures in 7 different exhibition areas and learn of the two oceans surrounding the Cape.
Sylvia Sylveste
Thank you so much for this awesome week! We all really enjoyed this trip! And I'm already
looking forward to coming back again soon!
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Karen Swanepoel