To
Hermanus. Once a small fishing village, it's now a town bursting at the seams with tourists eagerly awaiting the clarion call of the town's Whale Crier. During the summer, southern right whales pass just offshore, and the cliff face overlooking the old harbor is a good vantage point from which to see them. There is nothing quite so majestic as watching these behemoths frolic with their calves in the warm Indian Ocean waters. Every September heralds the 10-day Whale Festival, a must for nature and theater lovers alike. While in Hermanus, visit the Camphill Farm Community Shop for its high-quality organic dairy products and handmade baked goods produced by adults with mental and physical handicaps. You may also want to pay a visit to Fernkloof Nature Reserve and the Bouchard-Finlayson winery (known for its award-winning chardonnay and pinot noir).
Better still, the road to Hermanus offers many interesting side attractions. The quickest route is the N2 highway via Sir Lowry's Pass. It offers incredible views of False Bay and sweeps through verdant valleys, orchards and forests. An even more rewarding journey is scenic Route 44 via Gordon's Bay. It hugs the rugged coastline and passes many charming villages. The Hemel en Aarde (Heaven and Earth) Valley also lies between Cape Town and Hermanus. It's renowned for its wines, and several wineries are open to visitors. Our favorite is the Hamilton-Russell Estate, the most southerly wine producer in Africa and known mainly for its whites. http://www.hermanus.co.za.
To The Caledon Casino, Hotel and Spa. Inland from Hermanus on Highway R320 lies the picturesque old town of Caledon, hot and sleepy in summer, cold with brightly burning fires in winter. The hotel has 96 rooms, including six luxury suites, and a children's entertainment program. Invigorating activities offered include horseback riding, fly-fishing, archery, clay-pigeon shooting and mountain biking. Don't forget the most important part of your visit: After a night of gambling, relax completely in the rejuvenating hot mineral springs. 1 Nerine Ave., Caledon. Phone 028-214-5100. http://www.thecaledon.co.za.
To Franschhoek and Paarl. Although a bit more distant than the wine routes near Cape Town, a trip to these two towns offers a combination of lovely scenery and good wines. A journey by car via Stellenbosch and the Helshoogte Pass (R310) takes you to a marvelous valley that's ringed by monumental mountains and home to several great wine estates, including Boschendal with its superb early Cape Dutch architecture and "pique-nique" lunches on the lawn. The small but charming town of Franschhoek, the center of a small region that was settled by French Huguenots, has several superb restaurants. Paarl, which lies northwest of Franschhoek on Highway R45, is larger and less inherently attractive, but several wine farms of note are in the area, including Backsberg (fine reds and superb brandy); Nederburg (again, the reds are notable); and Fairview Estate (for a wide variety of cheeses—Havarti, Camembert, gotino, St. Martin, Brie—as well as wines). Visit http://www.franschhoek.org.za for more information on Franschhoek and http://www.paarlonline.com for Paarl and its surroundings.
To West Coast National Park. An hour's drive north of Cape Town, this park occupies a scenic section of the Atlantic coast along Saldanha Bay. It offers a chance to stretch out on a pristine beach or take in panoramic views. The Postberg Nature Reserve, on the western shores of Langebaan Lagoon, is the most beautiful part of the park and is home to bat-eared foxes, eland, gemsbok, springbok, red hartebeest, bontebok and lots of birds. There are marked stop-off points in the park—you are not allowed to hike around at will. The area is at its best from mid-August through September, when the gates to the Postberg Nature Reserve are opened to reveal a wonderland of wildflowers in bloom. The area is home to more than 500 species of flora, and the colors are simply amazing. The park has a small restaurant, but the better option is to stop along the road back to Cape Town. Yzerfontein has a remarkable beach and reasonable restaurants. Open daily June-September 7 am-6:30 pm, October-March 6 am-8 pm. R60 adults (flower season), R30 adults (outside flower season). Phone 022-772-2144. http://www.sanparks.org.
Local Tours
Tour companies are almost too plentiful in Cape Town, making it difficult to choose one among the crowd. Equally bewildering is the range of activities available. In recent years, adventure tours and ecotours have mushroomed because of a strong demand for alternative ways of experiencing the Cape Peninsula. We strongly recommend such tours, but when booking them, insist on proof that the guides are registered with a respected tour association (such as the Southern African Rivers Association). This is your best insurance against being ripped off, and it will also increase your chances of finding a safe, responsible tour operator. You may find it worth your while to arrange a tour in advance through your travel agent. Alternatively, you may visit the Cape Town Tourism Information Bureau or the Victoria & Alfred Gateway Center for advice and on-the-spot bookings.
