COMPARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ATTRACTIONS: MODULE 3 WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE AND ITS UNIQUE FEATURES THE CAPETOWN METROPOLITIAN AREA VICORIA AND ALFRED WATERFRONT Is situated on the Atlantic shore, Table Bay Harbour, the City of Cape Town and Table Mountain. It has both residential and commercial estate. Is an iconic mixed- use destination located in the oldest working harbour in the Southern Hemisphere that offers upmarket shopping malls, arts and crafts markets, theatres and live music, museums and an oceanarium. Tourists visiting the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront can do plenty of shopping and also do fishing. Major attractions in the city include the Bo- Kaap Museum; the Castle of Good Hope; the District Six Museum and the Ratanga Junction theme park, the Houses of Parliament; the Southern Flagship Institute and the South African National Gallery. ROBBEN ISLAND Is an island in Table Bay west of the coast of Bloubergstrand, Cape Town. The island has a significant place in the history of the liberation struggle, because former president Nelson Mandela and other political activists were imprisoned there. In the year 1999 the island was declared a World Heritage Site for its importance to South Africa’s political history. The name of the island comes from the Dutch word “robben” meaning seals. Visitors to the Cape take the Ferry from the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront for conducted tours on the island and its former prison. TABLE MOUNTAIN Is a flat topped mountain forming a prominent landmark overlooking the city of Cape Town, it forms part of the Table Mountain National Park. Tourists usually ride on a cable car in order to reach the top of the mountain, they can also see the large array of mostly endemic fauna and flora. Tourists can also hike on the mountain trails; they can also do rock climbing; mountain biking and caving. KIRSTENBOSCH NATIONAL BOTANICAL GARDEN Is situated in the suburb of Newlands, the garden is one of ten National Botanical Gardens covering five of South Africa’s different biomes and administered by the South African National Biodiversity Institute. In summer, open- air concerts are held at the garden to entertain visitors. They can also see plants from a number of different regions. RHODES MEMORIAL Is situated in Rondebosch, on the slopes of Table Mountain. It is a memorial to English- born, South African politician Cecil John Rhodes. It is a popular viewpoint and picnicking spot; it is also a starting point for walking and hiking. CAPE PENINSULA NATIONAL PARK Is now known as the Table Mountain National Park, it was proclaimed on 29th May 1998 for the purpose of protecting the natural environment of the Table Mountain Chain and the fynbos vegetation. The Park is managed by South African National Parks, the property is included as part of the UNESCO Cape Floral Region World Heritage Site. The Park has many drives; walks and picnic spots including a licensed restaurant where tourists could enjoy themselves. HOUT BAY Is a suburb of Cape Town, situated in a valley on the Atlantic seaboard of Cape Peninsula. The name Hout Bay can refer to the town, the bay on which it is situated or the entire valley. There are a variety of restaurants in the village; tourists can also go fishing in the area; go on hiking trails or even do sail boats. HELDERBERG NATURE RESERVE Is located on the southern slopes of the Helderberg mountains, about 600 species of plant have been recorded on the reserve including wide range of Proteas. The reserve hosts outdoor music concerts in the summer, and has a café; picnic area; gift shop; Environmental Education Centre and museum displays for tourists. A wide range of wildlife can also be seen by tourists at the reserve. VERGELEGEN WINE FARM Is a historic wine estate in Somerset West in the Western Cape, the estate was settled in 1700 by an early Governor of the Cape, Willem Andriaan van der Stel. Vergelegen’s Cape Dutch house, gardens and winery are open to visitors to the farm. Any visit includes a trip up the mountain to the winery plant and guided walks under the vast Camphor laurels. HELDEBERG WINE ROUTE Is a sub- route of the Stellenbosch Wine Routes, the Heldeberg route is only a 15 minutes’ drive from Cape Town’s airport and near the town of Somerset West. Tourists to the location can go on wine tours; they can also explore the beauty of the area. BIG BAY Is located in Bloubergstrand on the West Coast of South Africa, it has clean beaches and great waves for tourists that love water activities. Big Bay is situated approximately 20 kilometres from Cape Town and the V& A Waterfront. Tourists to the area can be part of the annually held windsurfing events, whilst others are swimming. GARDEN ROUTE OUTENIQUA CHOO – TJOE Departs from George; is an old-fashioned steam train, was the last remaining continually-operated passenger steam train in South Africa ending operation in June 2009. It was declared an officially preserved railway in 1992; carrying about 40 000 passengers per year at the time. It was declared the Heritage Railway that while there is ongoing discussion between Transnet and a private enterprise called “Classic Rail”. MONTAGU PASS It is situated in the Western Cape on the unsigned road between Herold and George; it was named after John Montagu, Colonial Secretary of the Cape in the 1840s. Tourists can go on hiking; mountain biking and leisure trails on the Montagu Pass. LANGVLEI AND RONDEVLEI They form part of the Touw River that connects the three lakes Eilandvlei; Langvlei and Rondevlei which host a variety of aquatic species and have been designated as a Ramsar site(wetlands of international importance). Tourists can go do bird- watching and other water related activities. WILDERNESS NATIONAL PARK Is located around the seaside town of Wilderness between the larger towns of George and Knysna, in the Western Cape. It is a protected area of South Africa forming part of the Garden Route National Park. Sports within the Park includes canoeing; bicycling; abseiling; kloofing; paragliding; boating; fishing and hiking for tourists. KNYSNA Is a town situated in the Western Cape, and is part of the Garden Route it is 55 km east from the city of George on the N2 highway. Tourists visiting this area can go hiking; biking; horse-riding; scenic drives; picnic spots and abundant fauna and flora. TSITSIKAMMA NATIONAL PARK Is a protected area on the Garden Route, Western Cape and Eastern Cape. It is a coastal reserve well known for its indigenous forests, dramatic coastline and the Otter Trail. Tourists visiting the Park can go on scenic walks and trails; including the world- famous Otter Trail. BLOUKRANS RIVER BRIDGE Is an arch bridge located near Nature’s Valley, Western Cape. It was constructed by Concor between February 1980 and June 1983; the bridge stands at a height of 216m above the Bloukrans River. Is the site of the world’s highest commercial bridge bungee jumping; tourists to the Bloukrans River Bridge can do bungee jumping. GOURITS RIVER GORGE It flows from the confluence of the Gamka River and Olifants River and is joined by the Groot River; before flowing through the Langeberg Mountains and coastal plan. Tourists visiting this area can do bungee jumping and fishing. MOSSEL BAY Is a harbour city on the Southern Cape of South Africa. It is in an important tourism and farming region of the Western Cape Province. It is situated exactly halfway between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. Tourists can go surfing and watch the whales and dolphins. MOSSGAS INFORMATION CENTRE The harbour at Mossel Bay is one of the most modern commercial and recreational harbours on the southern Cape coastline. Visitors to the Mossgas Information Centre can find out how synthetic fuels are produced from offshore gas deposits. KEURBOOMS RIVER NATURE RESERVE Is named after the Western keurboom tree; the reserve is a sanctuary for indigenous trees including the Cape beech; glant stinkwoods and the beautiful Outeniqua yellowwoods. Tourists can do the following activities angling; swimming; picnicking; kayaking and canoeing; boating and bird-watching. ROBBERG NATURE RESERVE Situated 8km south of Plettenberg Bay on the Garden Route; it is a treasure-trove of marine, geological and archaeological marvels. Tourists can do hiking trails in this area as it is one of the most popular and well known trails in the area and one of the most scenic. WINELANDS MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATE Or dry summer climate is characterized by dry summers and mild; wet winters. The climate received its name from the Mediterranean Basin; where this climate type is common. The resulting vegetation of Mediterranean climates are garrigue in the Mediterranean Basin; the fynbos in South Africa and the chaparall in California. WINE ESTATES The most popular way to discover the joys of South African wine is on a day trip from Cape Town. Tourists can go on wine tours an also do wine tasting. SOME WELL-KNOWN WINELANDS TOWNS HUGUENOT MONUMENT Is situated in Franschhoek Western Cape, dedicated to the cultural influences the Huguenots have brought to the Cape Colony after their immigration during the 17th and 18th centuries. On the site there are wine cellars joined by a colonnade that tourists to the destination can explore when they are visiting in and around the monument. FRANSCHHOEK WINE ROUTE Is a small town in the Western Cape and one of the oldest towns of the South Africa. Franschhoek’s original inhabitants are the Khoisan people. Settlers from Dutch established farms and named them after the areas in France; these farms have grown into renowned wineries.