Cape Town - Queen of the Rainbow Nation
If South Africa is the world’s “rainbow nation”, then the Mother City is its reigning queen!
Rest assured that Cape Town is without reserve a Gay Friendly City, home to a thriving community network and host to a range of dazzling events glam enough to have put us firmly on the international Gay Culture Map.
The beach life is of course one of the most important aspects of Cape Town when it comes to booking a holiday there. The weather gets very hot and the beaches packed with boys. Its like you are a kid loose in a sweet shop and compared to some European destinations the average age seems younger. Clifton Beach (Camps Bay) is where it all happens, just a 20-minute drive from the city. It is split into four sections by large boulders. Beaches 1 and 2 are quieter for couples and families, Beach 3 where everyone who is anyone goes to tan at Clifton. All the Gym boys draped in designer swim wear, speedo’s and body hugging shorts. Some girls topless. One of the few beaches in the Cape Town area completely sheltered from the wind. Favorite boys beach is Clifton 3rd… and the fourth is most popular with the young straight crowd. It is also home to the lifeguard station with many pumped muscle boys hanging out there. Sandy Bay The only Nudist Beach in the Cape. Sandy Bay lies about 18 kilometers from the center of Cape Town and can be reached by a winding, scenic road that follows the Cape Peninsula mountains through a number of upmarket coastal suburbs that cling to the side of the mountain and run down to the soft, white, sandy beach below. Once beyond the fancy houses and Hotels that crowd this sought-after portion of Cape Town, one opens out into a magnificent vista that takes in the wooded slopes of Table Mountain on the one side and the wide expanse of the Atlantic Ocean on the other.
Anyone who visits Cape Town returns with that gleam in their eyes, indicating they have transcended the joy of travel on a level we won’t understand unless we experience the same. After all, Cape Town is unlike any other city in South Africa, maybe even the rest of the world.
The oldest South African city is unarguably the most beautiful with its endless features: the commanding Table Mountain as a backdrop from virtually any standing point with its cloud of ‘tablecloth’ hovering just above; gorgeous beaches that offer romantic sunsets; tranquil waterfront; enchanting vineyards; not to mention the Cape Town locals aren’t the ugliest bunch you’ll see.
In addition to its culinary flair, notoriously wild nightlife and reputation for hospitality, the natural setting entices travelers - and, of course, the wildlife. It’s not rare to see a sign telling you to not feed an animal group, or to drive out to the winelands and see zebra and ostrich grazing in the same farm. Cape Town is a base for hundreds of safaris just outside its city limits.
Though incomparable to its neighboring cities on an aesthetic level, Cape Town unfortunately shares the same history of racism and hardships, and traces remain. Just outside the airport, you’ll pass squatter towns (widely exposed from last year’s Foreign Film Oscar Winner Tsotsi). It’s this, as well as the area known as Cape Flats - the neighborhood where blacks were forced to live during the Apartheid era - that reminds us Cape Town still hasn’t fully overcome its past. Nevertheless, the spirit in the streets remains optimistic as the days of Apartheid are now just history lessons learned.
South Africans here (all 4.2 million in Cape Town, comprising 20 different ethnic groups and speaking 11 languages) are proud of their city. Ask any one what their favorite city is, and the answer won’t surprise you. With a visit to Cape Town, you’ll learn why it’s the most visited, most eclectic and most beautiful, seemingly giving the whole of South Africa a good name in the travel industry.
Cape Town lies on the slopes of Table Mountain at the south-western tip of Africa.
This beautiful city, set in breathtaking scenery, is the product of diverse cultures and has become a unique center of style, adventure and hospitality. Regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in the world:- ‘heaven at the tip of Africa’ and voted as one of the top 5 Gay travel destinations, Cape Town is a cosmopolitan city with beautiful people, breathtaking scenery and far too much to see and do in just one visit.
Beaches are plentiful and stunning, both in themselves and in their users! The main beaches are at Clifton and are numbered 1,2,3 and 4, with 3 and 4 being the most popular. For the more adventurous there is also Sandy Bay where you can go nude though don’t go on a windy day or you’ll get whip lashed. Be warned, the sea on the Atlantic side will give all but the most thick skinned “blue balls” - it’s freezing.
Cape Town is one of the world’s most beautiful cities and is filled with many reminders of its historical importance on the trade route from Europe to Asia. Three hundred years have left their mark in the impressive architecture and layout of the city. In the surrounding area are many superb vineyards, originally established by the early settlers, producing some of the country’s most exquisite wines. A cruise around the harbor allows visitors to experience the Cape as seen by its early settlers, of mountains dissolving into clear blue ocean or golden sand with the stunning spectacle of Table Mountain in the distance.
The city center is surprisingly small and is best explored on foot. Walk up St George’s Mall from Thibault Square. Stop at Greenmarket Square, the colorful heart of the City, which overflows with African crafts, funky clothes, eccentric characters and good vibes.
At the top of the Mall visit the Cathedral and continue up the tree-lined Government Avenue, past the Houses of Parliament, S.A. National Gallery and the peaceful Company Gardens. These beautiful gardens are the oldest in South Africa and house the S.A. Museum and Planetarium, as well as a large number of friendly squirrels. Return down Long Street, the liveliest street in town, which is lined with restaurants, bars and cafes.
Other areas of interest include the Grand Parade, bordered by The Castle and City Hall as well as the suburb of Bo-Kaap, with its steep cobbled streets and brightly colored homes.
A few minutes from town is the lively suburb of Sea Point. The suburb’s bustling nerve center - main road - is lined with a great array of cafes, restaurants and shops. The seaside park and promenade, popular with dog walkers, roller blades and joggers, are ideal for a pleasant sunset stroll.
The Atlantic Seaboard boasts a spectacular selection of unspoiled beaches. Take a drive along Victoria Road, the beautiful coastal road set against steep mountain slopes, and enjoy the white sands of Clifton, Camps Bay, Llundudno and Hout Bay. The picturesque Hout Bay valley has a busy fishing harbor and Mariner’s Wharf where fish are sold fresh from the boats. Kids and adults will love the boat trip to Duiker Island to see the seals. Other places worth visiting include the World of Birds and the spectacular, cliff hugging Chapman’s Peak Drive (currently closed for reconstruction).
There are some great beaches along the South Peninsula including Noordhoek Beach and a magnificent coastal drive via Scarborough. The Cape Point Nature Reserve has a wide variety of indigenous flora and fauna including baboon, springbok and ostrich. The views from the high sea cliffs at the tip of the reserve are breathtaking.
Don’t miss the colony of penguins at Boulders Beach, or the interesting coastal towns of Simonstown and Kalk Bay. There are magnificent views over Muizenberg beach from Boyes Drive.
The lush Constantia Valley is home to the most historic wine farm in South Africa, Groot Constantia, as well as other award-winning estates such as Klein Constantia and Buitenverwachting. The forested mountain slopes have extensive hiking and horse riding trails.
Kirstenbosch Gardens boasts a dazzling diversity of Cape flora, set amongst rolling green lawns. There is also an impressive collection of sculptures. Definitely worth a long, leisurely visit.
If you are gay or lesbian and wish to travel to Africa it is wise to do a little research before you plan your trip. Homosexuality is illegal in almost every African country except for Cape Town and South Africa and is considered a criminal offense in several top tourist destinations like Egypt, Morocco and Kenya.
