Our environment is exciting
and varied -
the perfect base to explore the Western
Cape
Gordon's
Bay is a small, pittoreske
seaside resort at the eastern
end of the False Bay.
The white-sanded Bikini Beach
is considered as particularly
wind-protected and bath-suitable.
At the Beachfront promenade
popular fish restaurants, Pubs
and Cafés line up. In
the old port one can book boat
cruises or deep sea fishing.
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Past the Beach Road of Gordons
Bay and after the port, you
reach one of the most
beautiful coastal roads of the
world. The R44 towards
Kleinmond and Hermanus winds
itself along a breath-taking,
steep coast.
In spring (August - November)
you often see whales here.
The view is particularly
dramatic at the Steenbras River
bridge. From here one can wander
up the river to the mountain
pools. Behind the Steenbras
delta begins Kogelbaai, one
of the most beautiful beaches
at the cape, particularly good
for surfing.
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Only a few kilometers from
Gordons Bay away you can visit
one of the most beautiful wineries
at the Cape.
Vergelegen
Wine Estate was
founded by Willem Adriaan van
der Stel in 1700.
The cape-dutch manor-house
is surrounded by expanded English
gardens. The Chinese Kampferbäume
at the front entrance are over
300 years old. Their trunk is
several meters thick . As oldest
trees in South Africa they were
explained as a national monument.
Also very attendance worth
- close by lying - is the Helderberg
Nature Reserve. The protected
area gives a comprehensive idea
of the fascinating cape flora
(Fynbos) and invites to beautiful
walks.
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Cape Town
Due to the favorable geographical
location one of the most important
sea ports of the world is in
Capetown.
Already at the end of the
19th Century the existing plants
were not sufficient, so that
the development of the port
began. In the course of the
years the port complex was constantly
extended and modernized. The
work parts of the harbor basin
were up-poured, in order to
create place for the new buildings
of the today's town center.
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A trip on the famous Table
mountain is one of to the troutistic
highlights Capetown has to offer.
On sunny days one has a wonderful
view on the town center, the
ocean and on the mountain points
of the Cape Peninsula.
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Stellenbosch, Franschhoek
Wine
Stellenbosch (approx.
30 minutes) today has approximately
50,000 inhabitants and is the
center of the wealthy wine region
at the Cape. The city possesses
one of the most renowned universities
in South Africa with a faculty
for viticulture.
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The beginnings of the viticulture
at the Cape go back
to the 17th century. Dutch and
French settlers brought know-how
from their home countries. In
the sunny valleys around Stellenbosch,
Paarl and Franschhoek they were
soon very successful.
Even today it is still the
central area of wine production.
But good wines come also from
the Breede River region, from
Overberg and the Swartland up
to the Cedar mountains.
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Franschhoek
(approx. 1 hour) has
more French flair then ever.
This is particularly clear on
the Main Road, where street
coffee shops, French restaurants,
fashion shops and galleries
line up.
In and around Franschhoek
are numerous renowned wine estates
such as Boschendal, La moth,
L'Ormarins, Dieu Donné,
Mouton Excelsior or Haute Provence.
Most wine estates along the
Franschhoek wine route can be
visited for wine tasting.
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Hermanus
Most prominent bathing resort
at the Overberg coast is Hermanus
(approx. 1 hour) which
belongs to the oldest seaside
resorts in South Africa. In
1920 there were already 16 hotels.
With good reason Hermanus
calls itself "whale
capital of the world".
Annually between July and
November dozens of Southern
right Whales pull for reproduction
into calm waters of the Walker
Bay, sometimes up to 100 whale
cows with their calves.
Special in Hermanus: The sea
mammals approach up to few meters
to the cliffs and can be well
observed therefore. A cliff
path (Cliff walk) with many
well placed lookout points and
seats pulls itself over 15 kilometers
on the coast along.
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