| Read all about it ...
The Atlantic Seaboard
is the trendiest and most expensive of Cape Town’s seaside real estate,
curving west from the Waterfront to the southern
tip of the peninsula. Posh suburbs are perched on the steep slopes of Table
Mountain with dazzling views of the ocean.
The sea water is icy, cooler
by a few degrees than on the False Bay side. Plunging in is a great
shock to the system but the beaches are gorgeous, perfect for catching
a tan, picnicking or sundowners – the sun sets over the ocean on this side,
setting it ablaze with colour. The rugged crags of the Twelve Apostles
loom above the bays and coastal road which runs from Mouille Point
all the way to Llandudno.
On the western side of the
Waterfront the coastal road leads to the suburbs of Mouille Point and
Green
Point. Originally a dodgy red-light district, the recent access to
the Waterfront has turned them into a flourishing area of restaurants,
clubs and accommodation. When the sea mists roll in don’t be alarmed by
the foghorn from Green Point lighthouse – it’s incredibly loud. This chubby
Victorian beacon is rather cute and looks like it comes straight out of
a children’s book - painted with diagonal red and white stripes. |
View
Map of the Atlantic Seaboard
|
Sea Point merges with
Green
Point and has a well earned reputation for good eating places. High
rise apartments compete for ocean views and along the promenade there’s
a cosmopolitan blend of yuppies, retired folk with pooches, moms pushing
prams, street kids and vagrants. This slight shabbiness dissolves as you
head into Bantry Bay, flush with upmarket resort hotels and self-catering
apartments – all within easy walking distance of the restaurants.
Just around the corner one
heads into heavyweight real estate turf. Sheltered by Lion’s Head, Clifton
is awash with stunning apartments edging four amazing beaches that are
packed with gorgeous bodies in summer.
The
palm-fringed white beach and jet set crowd of Camps Bay has earned
it the reputation of being the 'Cape Riviera'. It’s crammed with beachfront
bistros, restaurants and cocktail venues and even has its own Theatre on
the Bay.
Llandudno is an isolated
upmarket seaside suburb that has a laid back beach flanked by enormous
boulders. It’s a good surfing spot and gets hectically busy on weekends.
Hout Bay is conveniently
situated with two routes into the city. You can either travel along Victoria
Road towards Camps Bay or travel inland via
Constantia. Accommodation
is plentiful and the town is family friendly with a large fishing harbour,
shopping centres and a great beach. Scrutinize curious species at the World
of Birds, check out spazas, shebeens and a local witchdoctor on a township
tour or take a scenic boat trip to Seal Island.
Chapman’s
Peak Drive is an exhilarating 10 km road cut into the mountainside
with cliffs dropping into the sea. The viewpoints allow you to stop and
gaze at the breathtaking vista of Hout
Bay and the Sentinel. If the weather is dodgy it could dangerous
so phone before making the trip as it could be closed.
Noordhoek
is a rather sleepy, horsy settlement lying at the foot of Chapman’s
Peak. Closest to the beach is the Red herring restaurant and Fingo
Cafe and on the main road is the Noordhoek Farm Village, a good place to
stop on family outings. You can stock up on locally grown fresh produce
or have a casual al fresco lunch under the trees.
Kommetjie
is just a 3km walk along the beach but a 15km drive inland. It has a famous
surf spot and attracts lots of surfer types. Slangkop lighthouse illuminates
the village at night and is the tallest cast-iron lighthouse on South Africa’s
coast.
From here it’s a 10km drive
to Misty Cliffs and Scarborough,
the most remote suburbs along the peninsula.
Bordering Cape Point, these
far flung villages are frequented by troops of wild baboon who sometimes
wreck havoc if they manage to gain access into the houses. You can often
spot them frolicking along the road from Kommetjie.
©
Safarinow.com
Top
|