Cape Town
Betty\'s Bay none none
- Country Code
- SAF
- Day Trips
- The Winelands
- You owe it to yourself to take at least a day to visit the beautiful wineries and lovely towns of the winelands, only about 45 minutes east of Cape Town. Though the region is the world's 7th largest wine-producer, the area remains relatively unspoiled. Take a train from Cape Town to Stellenbosch, one of the prettiest and most culturally rich of the wineland towns, where you can get in on one of the local wine tours. Or explore the town on foot either with a group, or using one of the Discover Stellenbosch on Foot flyers, which you can get free at the tourist information bureau at 36 Market St (www.stellenbosch.org.za.).
- You will soon discover that the winelands also boast some of South Africa's best cuisine. In Stellenbosch, try Decameron at 50 Plein St for great Italian food or Volkskombius & De Oewer for Cape cuisine.
- Local Food
- Try Cape originals such as waterblommetjiebredie, a stew made using water hyacinths.
- Gay Info
- Gay, Lesbian & Bisexual Helpline 27-(0)21/422-2500. www.gaynetcapetown.co.za
- Aids Group
- Life Line AIDS (0)800/0123-22.
- Gay Aa
- AA Cape Town 27-(0)21/418-0908, www.cape.org.za
- Gay Pride
- February. 27-(0)21/418-6095, web: capetownpride.co.za.
- Annual Events
- Sept - Out in Africa LGBT film festival 27-(0)21/461-4027, www.oia.co.za.
- July-December - Whale migrations, www.hermanus.co.za/whales.asp.
- December - Mother City Queer Project (MCPQ), www.mcqp.co.za. Huge party celebrating the beginning of summer.
- Airport
- Cape Town Int'l Airport 27-(0)21/937-1200, www.airports.co.za, is about a 30-minute cab ride from City Bowl.
- Taxi
- Hire from taxi ranks around town, or call Marine Taxi Hire 27 (0)21/ 434-0434,web: www.marinetaxis.co.za.
- Tourist Attraction
- Castle of Good Hope 27-(0)21/787-1260, www.castleofgoodhope.co.za.
- Company's Gardens.
- District Six Museum 27-(0)21/466-7200, www.districtsix.co.za.
- Greenmarket Square.
- Nelson Mandela Gateway & Robben Island Museum 27-(0)21/409-5100, www.robben-island.org.za.
- Slave Lodge 27-(0)21/460-8242, www.iziko.org.za/slavelodge.
- South African National Gallery 27-(0)21/467-4660, www.iziko.org.za/sang.
- Table Mountain.
- Tokai Forest.
- Two Oceans Aquarium 27-(0)21/418-3823, www.aquarium.co.za.
- World of Birds 27-(0)21/790-2730, www.worldofbirds.org.za.
- Visitors Bureau
- 27-(0)21/405-4500. www.tourismcapetown.co.za
- Weather
- Mediterranean-like climate with mild winters, pleasant summers. Beware the “Cape Doctor” however, the (in)famous South-Easter that cools the cape's otherwise warm and dry summers. Watch for heavy showers in winter (May-August), particularly in July and August.