A holiday can change one’s life and Cape Town holidays are sure to create lifelong memories for visitors.

Cape Town has a cultural and historic appeal on top of its natural beauty and variety of exciting offerings. No wonder that Cape Town holidays are the type of holidays that memories are made of.

Cape Town has no written history before it was first mentioned in 1488 by the Portuguese explorer Bartholomeu Dias as “The Cape of Storms”. All knowledge of the previous inhabitants of the region was derived from fossil evidence and rock art in the area. The next European to write about the Cape was Vasco da Gama during his travels in 1497 in search of a route that would lead directly from Europe to Asia.

Table Mountain, which today is one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature, was given its name in 1503 by Portuguese admiral and explorer, Antonio da Saldanha, who called it Taboa da Caba (“table of the cape”). The original name given to the mountain by the first Khoi inhabitants was Hoeri ‘kwaggo (“Sea Mountain”).

A memorable experience that awaits visitors is a variety of walking trails throughout the Table Mountain National Park. Outdoor enthusiasts can choose between the overnight trails, namely Hoerikwaggo Trail and the Cape of Good Hope Hiking Trail, or a number of day walks that will be remembered for years to come. There are plenty of routes to choose from, suited to hikers from all levels of fitness. These routes all offering spectacular views of the City of Cape Town, rugged mountains and deep blue seas.

In 1580, Sir Francis Drake coined a phrase when he called the area “The Fairest Cape in all the World”. Jan van Riebeeck and other employees of the Dutch East India Company arrived on 6 April 1652 to establish a halfway station where passing ships travelling to Asia could stock up on fresh water, vegetables and meat. The Company Gardens, which used to be home to these vegetable gardens and orchards, still today offer notable walks and views to visitors.

Work on the Castle of Good Hope, the first permanent European fortification in the area, began in 1666. The new castle replaced the previous wooden fort that Van Riebeeck and his men built. Finally completed in 1679, the castle is the oldest building in South Africa and should be on visitors’ list of historical places to see.

Simon van der Stel, after whom the town of Stellenbosch was named, arrived in 1679 to replace Van Riebeeck as governor. Van der Stel brought grape vines with him on his ship and so founded the Cape wine industry. The first non-Dutch immigrants to the Cape, the Huguenots, arrived in 1688, bringing with them important experience in wine production to the Cape. Visitors to Cape Town can enjoy unforgettable wine experiences in and around Cape Town and the nearby Cape Winelands region.

Memories stay with us forever. Whether you recall your first sight of the impossibly beautiful view of Camps Bay and the Twelve Apostles as you turn the corner near the cableway or the green textures of the unique vegetation at the foot of Lion’s Head, these imprints remain in our memories forever.

Perhaps it is time that you help create happy holiday memories for your family. And Cape Town holidays offer just that – happy recollections to treasure lifelong. Contact us to find suitable accommodation in Cape Town for your vacation.