Cape Town: Africa's Best City

For ocean breezes, picture perfect surf, a rich history that dates back several hundred years and a warm welcome that will give you a visit that you will never forget, there's probably no place better to go than Cape Town, South Africa. Located on the southwestern tip of South Africa, on the shore of Table Bay, Cape Town has been the scene of many of the pivotal historical events in Africa's southernmost country. The second largest city after Johannesburg and the city with the largest geographic area in the country, Cape Town has a fantastic array of cultural and historical offerings to satisfy just about any tourist.

The city's Mediterranean climate, with summer falling between November and March, is the perfect get away when snow and ice makes the northern climes inhospitable. The weather year round is similar to southern California, but Cape Town's surfing beaches, with Table Mountain as a backdrop, are far more picturesque.

Less densely populated than any of the other cities in South Africa, Cape Town nonetheless has a range of accommodations comparable to any other city on the planet; with hotels ranging from major international chains to residential apartments. The two best hotels in the city, with world class rooms and service, are the Cape Town Ritz and the Westin Grand Cape Town. Both are centrally located near the beaches, cultural sites, and the fantastic restaurants and bistros of the city. They are, however, on the pricey side, with rooms going for $200 per night and up. For the bargain traveler, there are a number of guest houses, like Villa Belladonna Guesthouse, with rooms in the $40 per night range.

Cape Town is an epicurean delight, with restaurants ranging from European to African style food, complete with entertainment. Pigalle at 57 Somerset Road, offers seafood and beef dishes with a Portuguese flavor and a live jazz band to entertain you while you dine. For the African experience, there are a large number of establishments offering traditional African foods, with drinking, dancing and drum music. Mzoli's in Langa Township is the best place to start, followed by a visit to Club Africa on Lower Main and Station Road. For a taste of South African game served safari-style, the Wild Fig Restaurant on Liesbeek Avenue on the Valkenberg Estates has Springbok fillet with whiskey and berry sauce that will absolutely melt in your mouth.

Cape Town's cultural offerings highlight the vast array of flora and fauna of the region in places like the Sanbona Wildlife Preserve, and Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. For a look at the city's past history, visit Bo-kaap (formerly the Malay Quarter), which is the center of Cape Malay culture and home to most of the city's Muslim population. Colorful houses and shops make this a treat for the first time visitor and the veteran traveler alike.

Cape Town was the scene of the Battle of Blaauwberg, fought in 1806 during the Napoleonic Wars, in which the British forces defeated the Dutch establishing British control over South Africa for the second time. Few traces of the battle are left, but the area is great for hiking, dining, wind surfing and bird watching. Located just 20 kilometers from the downtown area, it has beaches that looked like they jumped off a picture postcard.

Cape Town is also home to Robben Island, the prison in which Nelson Mandela spent many years incarcerated. The city also has statues to Mandela, Bishop Desmond Tutu and F. W. DeKlerk, the three South African winners of the Nobel Peace Prize.

The African continent has a number of cities that are worth a look, but in the ranking of the best African city, Cape Town heads the list.

References:

http://capetown.cityguidesa.com/

http://www.capetown.travel/

http://www.capetown-direct.com/