Featured Destination: Cape Town and the Western Cape

How do you get every single thing you could possibly want from a holiday, in one holiday? The answer is visit Cape Town and the Western Cape, where I've just come back from - and I have to honestly say, it's one of the best holidays I've ever had. Shall I tell you why?

South Africa first of all is a great destination – no jet lag, a place you can visit all year round, easy to get to, easy to drive around, and great value for money. As a South Africa Specialist – I can sing the country's praises until the buffalo come home, but I'll try and keep this to Cape Town and the rest of the Western Cape.

Cape Town city is rich in history and from Robben Island to the District Six Museum, you will find incredible stories of how people lived and survived through the country's apartheid period to be the place it is today. Drive around Bo Kaap (or do a walking tour) to see the brightly coloured houses, wander through the V&A Waterfront for shopping and wonderful restaurants, hit Long Street for bars and nightlife, and do not miss riding the cable car to the top of Table Mountain.

You will find gorgeous beach suburbs surrounding Cape Town such as Camps Bay, and a drive or tour down to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope should not be missed – where as well as the stunning scenery and views, you also see ostriches and baboons freely roaming as wild animals (just take care to keep your car doors locked – we had a baboon get in our car!).

Exploring with a driving itinerary, as I did with my friend, is an excellent way to see the rest of the Western Cape. We took the coastal route heading out to towns like Hermanus - where in peak whale spotting season as we were, we saw a number of Southern Rights frolicking in the waters!

Highly recommended is a boat trip to spot whales – and Hermanus is not the only place to do this. We did ours from Mossel Bay, which is known as the gateway to the Garden Route, and from where you can also visit Seal Island – where a colony of protected fur seals live.

Driving over the Robertson Pass we headed to Oudtshoorn where the Cango Caves can be toured and where (if you're under 75 kilos in weight!) you can also ride an ostrich in one of the farms! I have to say, I found this a bit of unnerving experience – though I would not have left Oudsthoorn without trying it (oh, and without eating ostrich lasagne).

We all did some off-the-beaten track exploring, such as driving through the Swartberg Pass – considered to be one of the most spectacular mountain passes in the world and not one to be driven by the faint-hearted!

Driving back towards the Cape Winelands along Route 62 with an overnight in Montagu (we stayed at Montagu Country Hotel) makes for a wonderful restful stopover, as you can visit the hot springs here or eat at the very excellent Jessica's.

But do include a couple of nights to stay in the Winelands, rather than do a day tour out from Cape Town itself – Stellenbosch and Franschhoek are both wonderful towns to explore and stay in, and offer excellent wineries to explore as well as wonderful places to eat and drink. If you stay at a spa hotel in particular (such as the Protea Dorpshuis & Spa in Stellenbosch), you can combine spa and wine – the perfect way to end an incredible Western Cape holiday.

When to go

Really, you can visit Cape Town year round, though it does have a more temperate climate than the rest of South Africa so you might find the winter months of June to August a bit chillier along the coastal side (it tends to stay warm over the mountains in the Little Karoo though).

Shoulder season months of April or September are good because prices are lower and there are far less visitors, though you might experience rain and chilly winds, or you might not – you just never know! December to February is peak season – very hot and many more people, with peak prices.

Holidays to Cape Town and the Western Cape

As a South Africa specialist, Wren Elite Travel can help you plan the perfect holiday to Cape Town and the Western Cape. Whether you want a tailor-made self-drive itinerary putting together, or whether you'd prefer a quality escorted tour, we can help with choosing the right one for you.

Get in touch and we can advise on all aspects of your holiday to South Africa and Cape Town.

To enquire about tours and holidays to Cape Town and the Western Cape, contact Andrea on 0845 475 0342 or email enquiries@wrenelitetravel.co.uk