and wining. Luckily, the in-house
sommelier lends a hand deciphering
the manuscript of wines. Twelve
Apostles is the setting of some of
the most romantic proposals and
weddings in South Africa. I can see
why.
Sightsee from the skies
Whether you’re proposing a ring
on a finger or you’re seeking the
most magical way to explore the
Cape Peninsula, the only way is up. I
charter a helicopter for a 30-minute
ride through the skies, rising above
Table Mountain, Lion’s Head, the
entire city, Robben Island and the
rugged Cape Peninsula. Sweeping
swathes of white sand merge
seamlessly into milky aquamarine
coastlines, backed by a dramatic
indentation of mountains, including
the Twelve Apostles massif and out
to the tip of Cape Point. Soaring
high and swooping low, the helicopter views are a mesmerising
prelude to my drive of the Cape
Peninsula next day.
Unmissable Cape Town: see &
do
Back on land, the quirks and character of Cape Town can charm the
hardiest heart. Every turn, fringed
by sea and braced by mountains,
motions another gorgeous vista.
Table Mountain
Before dusk, as a golden glow
bathes the Cape, beaming through
the Twelve Apostles mountains and
surrounds, catch one of the last
cable cars up to Table Mountain. I
allow myself an hour to fully appreciate the panoramic views from the
396
plateau of this iconic mountain. But
admittedly, I could have spent half
a day. Shrouded in mystique, part of
Table Mountain remains wrapped
in a semi- permanent curtain of
cloud. Breaks in the cloud reveal
jaw-dropping views over the city
and peninsula.
Bo-Kaap
The richness of Cape Town’s culture
is all-encompassing. Head to the
epicentre of diversity in Bo-Kaap.
Instantly recognisable as a vibrant
and colourful hodgepodge of buildings, cradled in a fold at the foot of
Signal Hill, the ‘Malay Quarter,’ as
it has become known, is home to
people originating from the Indian
Ocean and the South China Sea.
They were brought here mid-17th
century by the Dutch East India
Company. It wasn’t until Britain
gained control of the Cape, in 1795,
that religious freedom and the abolition of slavery began to take shape.
Resultant inter-marriages brought
about the distinctive Cape Malay
or Cape Muslim culture of today.
Look out for streets of double-storey
buildings painted in candy and
kitsch colours; lime, lemon, electric
pink, sea blue and purple. Bo-Kaap is
home to a large Muslim community,
mosques and an uber-cool bunch
of authentic no-frills eateries and
shops. The sounds and smells of this
intriguing neighbourhood are as
varied as the people. From Bo-Kaap,
it’s a seamless stroll to Cape Quarter,
one of my preferred Cape Town
neighbourhoods. Refuel with coffee
and cake at Village Café.
V&A Waterfront
Wander from Bo Kaap to the pride of
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