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Centred
around Cape Town, one of the world's loveliest cities,
the Western Cape is South Africa's most visited province.
Its scenic splendours include majestic mountain ranges,
a rugged coastline, sparkling beaches, elegant vineyards,
tiny fishing villages and rare flora and fauna. This
is where Europe and Africa met 350 years ago - and modern
South Africa had its beginnings.
129,370
sq kms
4.2 million
- Dominated by her world
famous landmark Table Mountain and blessed with a
spectacular coastline and a Mediterrenean-type climate,
Cape Town is the country's most popular tourist destination.
-
-Towering mountains, stately oaks, fertile vineyards
and whitewashed Cape Dutch architecture are the most
distinctive features of this beautiful region
- - The continent's most southerly region stretches
from mountains through verdant wheatfields and vineyards
to the Indian Ocean.
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- The picturesque West Coast offers a shoreline dotted
with harbours and fishing villages, set amid fields
of wildflowers.
- - Worcester is the principal town
of this rich grape and fruit growing region
- - Stretching from Heidelberg in the west
to the Tsitsikamma Forest in the east, the Garden
Route is a necklace of cliffs, bays, beaches and towns
strung along a beautiful coastline.
- - The home of the ostrich industry and
the famous Cango Caves
The province has a Mediterranean-type climate - hot,
dry summers and cold, wet winters. The best months are
in Spring (Sept-Oct) and Autumn (March- April) and those
in-between.
International airlines flying into Cape Town International
airport include South African Airways, British Airways,
Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines and
Swissair. Domestic airlines serving Cape Town are
SAA, SA Airlink, BA/Comair, Nationwide and Intensive
Air. There are daily flights to Cape Town from Johannesburg,
Durban, Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein and other cities
and large towns.
Mainline passenger services to Cape Town from Pretoria/Johannesburg
daily and from Durban (via Kimberley) and Port Elizabeth
(via Oudshoorn (weekly). The luxury Blue Train runs
regularly, but less frequently (tel 021 449 2672 for
info)
Greyhound (021 418 4310), Translux (021 449 333) and
Intercape Mainliner (021 386 4400) operate between
Cape Town's railway station and the major cities and
bigger towns. The Baz Bus (021 439 2323) is a cheaper,
less frequent alternative with an around the country
itinerary.
along the N1 highway from Johannesburg, via Bloemfontein.
(app. 15 hrs)
along the N2 highway from Port Elizabeth (the Garden
Route) (app 8 hrs)
The Western Cape, outside of Cape Town and surrounds,
is best visited by car. If you don't have a car, then
train, bus or organised tours are your alternatives
Cape Metro runs trains to Stellenbosch and Paarl.
Greyhound, Translux and Intercape Mainliner run buses
run along the N2 and Garden Route via Bellville, Paarl
and Stellenbosch to Knysna, Plettenberg Bay and Port
Elizabeth. Intercape Mainliner also services West
Coast and Breede River Valley towns.
Western Cape Tourism Board 021 426 5639/47
web: wwwcaptourism.org
Cape Tourism Gateway 021 487 2718
Winelands Regional Tourism Office 021 872 0534
West Coast Regional Tourism 022 433 2380
Overberg Tourism 028 214 1460
Breede River Valley Tourism Bureau 023 347 6411
Klein Karoo Kannaland Regional Tourism Office 044
272 2241
Central Karoo Regional Tourism Office 023 415 1160
Garden Route Tourism Marketing 044 873 6355
Cape Town International Airport 021 934 0407/8 (for
information)
Cape Sand Airport Transfers 021 558 7866
City Hopper Shuttle Service 021 934 4440/6
Airport Taxi Service 021 919 2834
Emergencies and general advice 021 408 1022
Tourist safety Unit 021 421 5115
Medical Emergencies (City Park Hospital) 021 480 6111
Weather Office 021 919 2834
Sea Rescue 021 405 3500
Lifeline/Childline 021 461 1111
Fire 021 535 1100
Links to Useful Sites
www.capetourism.org
Eastern
Cape | Free
State | Gauteng
| KwaZulu
Natal | Limpopo
Northern
Cape | North
West | Mpumalanga
| Western
Cape
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