Stunning Cape Town

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by: bythesea
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Word Count: 465
Date: Thu, 15 Jul 2010 Time: 2:27 PM
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Stunning, social, active and fun loving, that's Cape Town sitting on the iconic mountain backdrop of table mountain while it is fronted by a beautiful coastline, no wonder they call this the mother city whose spiritual lives evolved around the mountains and the power of the sea. This picturesque backdrop was recognised by the South African government who protected it by turning 75% of the area surrounding this city into a National Park. This national park is a great place to visit given the numerous trails that visitors can hike around and enjoy all that this park has to offer.

The city of Cape Town itself is pristine with architectural delights stemming from the colonial days and the modern African design with the Afro chic design of the many restaurants, hotels and bars. For art lovers there is a lot to enjoy with museums and shops which display local art and craftwork. The multi-ethnic mix of locals adds to this creativity and the fact it is fondly referred to as the home of rainbow nation clearly illustrates this. Coupled with its tumultuous past and the violence and hatred which pre-emanated the birth of modern South Africa, the scars of the Apartheid era are still evident today. Most Capetonians are very pleasant and friendly notably to visitors to South Africa, however amongst themselves a level of suspicion and mistrust still exists to this day. Make sure to take a trip to the townships which still to this day have not been visited by many of the local populace. A visit to the shanty towns may upset many but it should be included in the itinerary as its helps one understand the fight for survival for many and gives an insight into humanity struggling to survive against a backdrop of shocking crime, HIV and social tension.

Cape Town's social scene is lively and entertaining with a huge variety of live music venues which exist throughout the city. This capital of the Western Cape promises all those who visit an eclectic mix of history, culture and culinary delights; where local businesses are booming, crime is under control and shopping is a joy. There is plenty to do and see in this city.

If you are looking for a good focal point to view the gaming attractions of South Africa, Cape Town is a good place to start with a few excellent wildlife spotting opportunities which offer a great variety of alternative game attractions from Shark Diving, to penguin spotting to the elephants, rhino and other wild game attractions on offer at Solole Game Park reserve. Coupled with the stunning mountains to be explored, the golden sandy beaches and the vineyards that dot the Garden Route this city is one "never to forget".

About the Author

Sarah Maple writes for Gohop.ie who offer last minute holidays and American holidays.