Kadence Buchanan asked:


Table Mountain National Park is situated along the Southwestern tip of Africa. The park begins at scenic Signal Hill and stretches all the way down to Cape Point, covering a distance of approximately 60 km. The Park comprises part of the Cape Floristic Region World Heritage Site. From an aerial view, Table Mountain National Park resembles a narrow finger, featuring a variety of spectacular beaches, bays and valleys. The Park is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the west and False Bay on the east. Two of the most beautiful landmarks in the country can be found inside the park, the Cape of Good Hope and Table Mountain.

Table Mountain Park is unique in that visitors will not be able to find such a vibrant bio-diversity or fabulous beauty anywhere else in the world, particularly in an area that is largely metropolitan and includes the sophisticated city of Cape Town.

Visitors can enjoy gorgeous natural beauty during a variety of scenic drives throughout the park, including Chapman’s Peak Drive, Boyes Drive, Victoria Road, the path from Simon’s Town to Smitswinkel Bay and the drive that runs from Kommetjie to Scarborough. Be sure to bring a packed lunch along with you because you will find plenty of opportunities to stop and have a picnic. Some of the most popular spots include The Glen, Signal Hill lookout, Kirtenbosch Botanical Gardens, Newlands Forest, Constantia Nek, Miller’s Point and Buffels Bay.

Technically, there are not any accommodation options operated by the park within the park; however, you will find a variety of different accommodations which are privately operated near the edge of the metropolitan area around Cape Town.

Once you have arrived in the area, there are a variety of different outdoor activities from which to choose. If you are looking for an adventure of a lifetime, you might consider taking the 3-day Hoerikwaggo Table Mountain Trail tour. This tour is comprised of a three day, guided hiking experience that bridges the cultural history of the Cape Town area with the national heritage that is associated with Table Mountain.

Other activities include mountain biking, mountain climbing, hiking trails, hang gliding and paragliding. Inside the park a number of mountain biking trails are in operation along with several climbing routes that have been approved. Hang gliding and paragliding sites are located at Silvermine and Lion’s Head. If water based activities are more to your liking, there are also numerous reefs and beaches that encircle the Peninsula, offering the opportunity to surf year around. Excellent snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities can also be enjoyed in the clear waters as well.

For something a bit more relaxing, consider one of the many tidal swimming pools located around Buffels Bay, Bordjiesrif and Oudekraal. Angling is a popular activity in the area as well, although you should be aware that area and seasonal restrictions dictate where and which types of marine life may be caught. You can find out more about local restrictions as well as other activities in the area by visiting one of the information centres located at Table Mountain cableway station, Boulders or Silvermine.



Lonnie

Kadence Buchanan asked:


Table Mountain National Park is situated along the Southwestern tip of Africa. The park begins at scenic Signal Hill and stretches all the way down to Cape Point, covering a distance of approximately 60 km. The Park comprises part of the Cape Floristic Region World Heritage Site. From an aerial view, Table Mountain National Park resembles a narrow finger, featuring a variety of spectacular beaches, bays and valleys. The Park is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the west and False Bay on the east. Two of the most beautiful landmarks in the country can be found inside the park, the Cape of Good Hope and Table Mountain.

Table Mountain Park is unique in that visitors will not be able to find such a vibrant bio-diversity or fabulous beauty anywhere else in the world, particularly in an area that is largely metropolitan and includes the sophisticated city of Cape Town.

Visitors can enjoy gorgeous natural beauty during a variety of scenic drives throughout the park, including Chapman’s Peak Drive, Boyes Drive, Victoria Road, the path from Simon’s Town to Smitswinkel Bay and the drive that runs from Kommetjie to Scarborough. Be sure to bring a packed lunch along with you because you will find plenty of opportunities to stop and have a picnic. Some of the most popular spots include The Glen, Signal Hill lookout, Kirtenbosch Botanical Gardens, Newlands Forest, Constantia Nek, Miller’s Point and Buffels Bay.

Technically, there are not any accommodation options operated by the park within the park; however, you will find a variety of different accommodations which are privately operated near the edge of the metropolitan area around Cape Town.

Once you have arrived in the area, there are a variety of different outdoor activities from which to choose. If you are looking for an adventure of a lifetime, you might consider taking the 3-day Hoerikwaggo Table Mountain Trail tour. This tour is comprised of a three day, guided hiking experience that bridges the cultural history of the Cape Town area with the national heritage that is associated with Table Mountain.

Other activities include mountain biking, mountain climbing, hiking trails, hang gliding and paragliding. Inside the park a number of mountain biking trails are in operation along with several climbing routes that have been approved. Hang gliding and paragliding sites are located at Silvermine and Lion’s Head. If water based activities are more to your liking, there are also numerous reefs and beaches that encircle the Peninsula, offering the opportunity to surf year around. Excellent snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities can also be enjoyed in the clear waters as well. For something a bit more relaxing, consider one of the many tidal swimming pools located around Buffels Bay, Bordjiesrif and Oudekraal. Angling is a popular activity in the area as well, although you should be aware that area and seasonal restrictions dictate where and which types of marine life may be caught. You can find out more about local restrictions as well as other activities in the area by visiting one of the information centres located at Table Mountain cableway station, Boulders or Silvermine.



William

Kadence Buchanan asked:


While Cape Town is most certainly known for its close proximity to numerous wine estates and routes, there are also numerous beaches in the local area that are ideal if you are a beach fan. On these gorgeous beaches you can fly a kite, ride a horse, surf the waves, snorkel in the shallow waters, watch the penguins, sail on a hobie-cat, explore an historical shipwreck or just simply soak up the warm sunshine.

Big Bay and Little Bay is the perfect location if you want to take a family outing, fly a kite, go windsurfing or enjoy views of Table Mountain. These beaches stretch about 20 kilometers north of Cape Town and offer absolutely spectacular views of Table Mountain. The strong south-easterly winds provides the perfect opportunity for kitesurfing and even sailing hobie cats.

Boulders Beach in Simons Town is the ideal location for snorkeling, sheltered swimming and penguin watching. If you are looking for a laid-back beach destination, this is definitely it. You will find Simons town to be a quaint beach town that is a former navy seaport. This is the last town you will reach before arriving at Cape Point Nature Reserve. Boulders Beach is situated just a few kilometers away. The giant boulders located along the beach provide seclusion and protection from the wind. Be sure to be on the lookout for the hundreds of ******* Penguins that make their home in the local area. Listen to them just once and you’ll quickly understand how they gained their name.

Camps Bay is the perfect beach for sunbathing, surfing, diving, windsurfing and beach volleyball. The fine sand and palms that dot the beach are the ideal backdrop for a family picnic while the restaurants and shops provide ample opportunity to escape from the midday sun.

Clifton Beach is the place to see and be seen. It is also a great location for watching paragliders as they come in for a landing. Of course, if you simply want to sunbathe, it’s great for that too. Relax on the beach and watch the yachts as they rest in the shallows or grab a favorite book and catch up on your reading. Just do not be surprised by the veritable rainbow of paragliders as they come sailing down from Lions Head in order to catch the updrafts before landing on Clifton Beach.

Fish Hoek Beach is known for boogie boarding, sailing, safe swimming and pure family fun. The warm waters here offer the perfect location for swimming. If sailing is on your agenda, this beach is also ideal for taking out a nimble hobie-cat for a quick spin through the local waters. There is also a children’s playground as well as a café. The other end of the beach is suitable for boogie boarding as well as soaking up the sun.

Whether you want to sunbathe, sail, dive or fly a kite, you will find there are plenty of beaches around Cape Town that will offer ample opportunities to do it all.



Allison