Where to go for your autumn adventure
Autumn travel is for colour, culture and smaller crowds – as these six destinations prove. When Britain’s summertime ebbs away to autumn,
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Cosmopolitan yet relaxed, with a comfortable Mediterranean climate, Cape Town is the ideal gateway into Africa. Sandwiched between Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean, the city enjoys one of the world’s most spectacular locations. Take a cable car to the summit of Table Mountain for superb views over Cape Town to the beaches beyond; visit Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for three decades, or stroll along the attractive Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in the city’s old port area, full of vibrant restaurants, shops and cafes.
Other excursions delve deeper into South Africa’s political past and open doors to communities not always visible in the city itself. The colourful Bo-Kaap area is one of the oldest residential areas in the city, and home to the Malay community. A closer look at one of South Africa’s townships, areas created for black residents under the Apartheid regime, can be an eye-opening experience, while a visit to a successful Uthando project, one of our chosen charities in South Africa, shows some of the work being done to help the disadvantaged in the area. Extending south of the city are many chic and leafy suburbs. Camps Bay is well known for its beachfront sidewalk and lively restaurant and café culture. The prestigious Upper Claremont district is close to the magnificent Kirstenbosch Gardens, from where hiking enthusiasts can climb Table Mountain.
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Cape Town is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world, offering a magnificent natural setting, great shopping, excellent restaurants, delightful wine estates and superb beaches. Known as the "Mother City", Cape Town is the oldest city in South Africa and has a cultural heritage spanning more than 300 years.
Beautiful Cape Dutch homesteads, the buzzing Victoria & Alfred dock area, Cape Malay cooking and the taste of world-class wine, all contribute to the pleasure and excitement of any stay in Cape Town. No visit to the city would be complete without a trip to Table Mountain. Simply ride the cable car to the top for some of South Africa's most breathtaking views. Alternatively, visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Robben Island, where former inmates take you on an insightful tour of the prison grounds where Nelson Mandela and his comrades were imprisoned for decades during the Apartheid era. Travel through Table Mountain National Park famed for its unique floral kingdom and wild coastal scenery to the Cape of Good Hope.
There are plenty of live music events, art exhibitions, museums, plays and even opera, ballet or symphony concerts on all year round, so there's always a cultural buss about the city. Cape Town prides itself on its warm and friendly hospitality and over the past few years a number of small boutique hotels have really made their mark.
It also considers itself to be the 'foodie' capital South Africa and the surrounding winelands in particular offer gorgeous restaurants in spectacular settings, whilst in the city centre there are countless eateries of the finest quality offering a full range of cuisines.
The Cederberg Wilderness Area - close to Citrusdal and Clanwilliam - is renowned for its unique rock formations, bushman paintings, fynbos, birds, game and magnificent nature and views. It also affords excellent hiking and mountain biking. Animal life is diverse in species but not high in numbers, as a result of the low breeding rate, the reasons for which are not yet clear. Mammals commonly seen include baboon, dassie, grey rhebok and klipspringer. Bird diversity is not great (81 species) but the fynbos specials - sugar birds, orange breasted sun birds, ground woodpeckers, Cape rock jumpers, and others - are present, in addition to the frequently sighted black eagles, rock kestrels and jackal buzzards. Geckos, lizards and agamas are commonly seen on the rocks. Hundreds of rocky overhangs and caves safeguard fine examples of rock art paintings that may be anything from 300 to 6,000 years old, and form an integral part of the wilderness area's fascination.
Haga Haga is a small holiday resort town 45km from East London on the Wild Coast. Haga Haga is surrounded by lush green hills, cliffs and secluded bays and white sandy beaches. Whales and dolphins are frequently seen in the bay between July and November.
Situated on the sheltered waters of Langebaan Lagoon, Langebaan was originally a small fishing village, which has since prospered and boasts an array of restaurants. This area is widely considered to offer the best sailing on the West Coast and is a centre for water sports. The nearby West Coast National Park has a fascinating diversity of vegetation and many lagoons, which support huge migrant bird populations.
Sanbona Wildlife Reserve is situated in the heart of the Little Karoo, between Montagu and Barrydale on the famous Route 62. The reserve is 54,000 hectares of undulating mountains and plains, indigenous fauna and flora, rock formations and rock art. The name Sanbona is a combination of the "San" people who roamed this area for thousands of years and "bona" which represents their vision in order to position this portion of the Little Karoo. The historic predator release means that for the first time in over 200 years, lion and cheetah can once again be seen in the Klein Karoo, making Sanbona the first private game reserve in the Western Cape to play host to free-roaming big cats Despite other sites on the reserve, Sanbona has seven recorded San rock-art sites that date back more than 3,500 years. Such sites are linked to the San people of Africa who roamed the area for thousands of years until 100 years ago. Depictions on the rocks include the spiritual beliefs and lives of these fascinating people including their rhythmic dancing, singing, clapping or visions. Materials used for such paintings included animal blood, urine, plant sap, egg and water, the protein from blood or egg has helped preserve the art. There will be opportunities to see these ancient paintings for those who are specifically interested in the rock art.
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