drives around cape town
PENINSULA LOOP
A drive around the entire Cape Peninsula coastline is an unforgettable experience. This daylong excursion will offer insight into the diverse wealth of things to do, see and enjoy in and around the city.
From the Villa Zest, head through Sea Point towards Clifton - the playground of the rich and famous thanks to its four-picture-postcard beaches. Continue through Camps Bay, Bakoven and Llandudno to Hout Bay, where you'll find a working harbour, boat excursions to Seal Island and the World of Birds - home to over 3000 birds in natural surroundings.
From Hout Bay, head south along Chapman's Peak Drive to Noordhoek, and perhaps stop for a stroll on the eight-kilometre `Long Beach'. Continue through Sun Valley to Kommetjie, one of the peninsula's most popular surf beaches. Next up on your coastal meander is the beautiful seaside village of Scarborough, followed by the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, the southernmost tip of the Cape Peninsula. Here, the pristine indigenous fynbos and wild animals (such as baboons and small buck) offer a taste of the unspoilt surrounds. A viewing platform above the cliffs is ideal for taking photographs.
On leaving the reserve, continue on to the other side of the Cape Peninsula stopping to visit Boulders beach - home to a thriving colony of African penguins, the quaint villages of Simons Town and Kalk Bay and the surfer-friendly waters of Muizenberg. Try to leave some time for a walk in the beautiful Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens on your return!
WINELANDS WANDERINGS
Wine lovers shouldn't miss out on a trip to the beautiful historical valley of the Constantia Winelands, the birthplace of the wine farming industry in the Cape. There are five world-class vineyards to visit - Steenberg, Constantia Uitsig, Klein Constantia and Groot Constantia. Take the scenic route via Kirstenbosch and Cecelia Forest.
NORTHERN EXPOSURE
If you don't want to go home without the classic photo of Table Mountain, take a drive North towards Bloubergstrand. There you'll be able to enjoy uninterrupted views of Table Bay, Robben Island and Table Mountain. If you're a kite surfer, this is the place to do it. Next, you can head for Durbanville Hills Winery for some wine tasting and lunch, and finish the trip off with some retail therapy at the designer Willowbridge Lifestyle CentrE.
TOWNSHIP TOURS
Book a tour to one of Cape Town's local townships and experience the vibrant and warm heart of Cape Town. Tours are co-led by a community member, with visitors getting up close and personal with the daily activities of the area. Mingle with local residents, watch children at play, taste local delicacies at the sizzling roadside barbecues and engage in conversations about life here. Enjoy traditional African cuisine at one of Khayelitsha's leading restaurants, and visit a township bar, or 'shebeen'.
day trips around the cape
The following regions and towns are the perfect destinations for an outing by car:
STELLENBOSCH, PAARL AND FRANSCHHOEK IN THE CAPE WINELANDS
If you enjoy wine, make sure that you include a visit to Franschhoek and Stellenbosch into your agenda. Both towns lie approximately 45 minutes away from Villa Zest. The small town of Paarl lies only 40 minutes outside Cape Town, and is easy to spot, with its signature granite outcrop (the second largest in the world). Stellenbosch has the oldest and most famous wine route in the country, representing over 300 wineries. Franschhoek is without a doubt the food and wine capital of South Africa, making it a superb place to linger for lunch.
HERMANUS, STANFORD AND CAPE AGULHAS IN THE CAPE OVERBERG
The town of Hermanus offers the best land-based whale watching in the world. A good time to go is around September and October, when you are almost guaranteed to see a large number of whales frolicking off the shore. The charming rural village of Stanford is a mere fifteen minutes drive from Hermanus while a little further along lies Cape Agulhas, the official southernmost point of Africa.
DARLING, PATERNOSTER AND LANGEBAAN UP THE CAPE WEST COAST
Less than an hour away from Cape Town lies the quirky town of Darling, which offers a wine and art route, and an unforgettable display of flowers between July and early October, when the entire region bursts into bloom.
Continue up the west coast to Paternoster, a quaint fishing village, with a beautiful beach, a number of excellent eateries and plenty of bird watching opportunities.
Take the coastal route back to Cape Town, making sure to visit the West Coast National Park and the picturesque Langebaan Lagoon on your way. Here you can swim in calm turquoise waters, hunt for fossils, do some bird watching or try your hand at fishing.
TULBAGH
Outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers will enjoy a visit to Tulbagh, a small country town nestled in a picturesque valley. It offers hiking, bird watching, fishing and mountain biking, and produces some of the country's best wines, olive oil, pears - as well as 70% of the country's plums. A number of eateries and an excellent deli make this a good lunchtime or afternoon tea stop.
