Camps Bay

Tucked at the foot of Table Mountain and overlooked by the majestic Twelve Apostles, the impossibly trendy Camps Bay is Cape Town's most exclusive resort. It has some of the most sought-after, and expensive real-estate in Africa, and regularly attracts celebrities and film shoots. Luxurious houses with glistening swimming pools climb up the mountainside, while the hip and happening beachfront road is lined with palm trees, pavement cafés, nightclubs and gourmet restaurants. Rocky crops of boulders jut out into the ocean, and the stunning swath of white-sand beach is considered to be one of South Africa's finest. It's a favourite for beach babes and surf rats on summer weekends and it's no secret that Camps Bay is home to ‘the beautiful people'.

Over summer from December to February, Camps Bay is packed with European tourists and local visitors during the local long school holidays. It attracts affluent people looking for luxury in a beautiful setting. The beach is perfect for families, but during winter, it's often windswept and chilly. The nightlife draws a healthy contingent of young people.

Camps Bay lies to the southwest of Cape Town on the Atlantic Seaboard of the Cape Peninsular. It's a 5km (3 mile) or 20 minute drive from the city centre and is about 27km (17 miles) west of Cape Town International Airport. The resort overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and is backed by the rugged mountains of Table Mountain National Park. Victoria Road, next to the beach, is the main drag, which is part of the coastal road that runs south along the Cape Peninsular.

Spotlessly clean with fine white sand and flanked by a tidal pool, Camps Bay beach has been granted Blue Flag status, and is the place to do a spot of people-watching. Volleyball and frisbee throwing are popular and the grass verge along Victoria Road offers shady, wind-free barbecue and picnic spots. The icy Atlantic however, can be too cold for swimming, so while the beach gets packed with sunbathers, only a few brave souls make it into the sea.

The dramatic coastline to the south of Camps Bay is ruggedly beautiful and as part of the Table Mountain National Park, it's largely undeveloped. The road goes past the brooding Twelve Apostles on the left, the spine of mountains that run down to Cape Point, while on the right, the ocean pounds on the rocks below. In season, between July and November you may spot whales.

Children can have plenty of seaside fun building sandcastles on the beach and paddling in the tidal pool. The current is too strong however for them to swim in the sea and there are no life guards. Most hotels can accommodate children, and many provide extra beds in parents' rooms. Some also provide baby-sitting services too. Most restaurants along the ‘strip' are family orientated.

Along Victoria Road are a couple of surf shops that sell swimwear, towels and other beach paraphernalia, and a few stalls selling jewellery, sarongs and hand crafted wire and beaded items such as key and napkin rings. A few minutes drive south along the coast road in a lay-by, a large roadside African curio market sells wooden carvings, batiks and baskets.

After dark Victoria Road's bars and restaurants become a strip of blazing neon that buzz well into the night, particularly on Fridays and Saturdays. The pavement acts as a catwalk for the ‘beautiful people', tables spill out on to the street and balconies are packed to the gills with glamorous revellers. In summer, start with a cocktail at La Med (website: www.lamed.co.za) to watch the sun sink over the ocean from the wooden boardwalk. Move on to one of the many restaurants before heading to a sophisticated late night lounge; Ignite is currently the trendiest, but you'd better be dressed to kill. The Theatre on the Bay (website: www.theatreonthebay.co.za) regularly hosts cabaret and light entertainment.

Thanks to stiff competition, you can be assured of gourmet food, fine wines and first class service in Camps Bay's restaurants. Just about every type of cuisine is on offer, but if seafood is your thing, head to the Codfather (tel: (021) 438 0782) or Cape Town Fish Market (website: www.ctfm.co.za), where the freshest catches of the day and every known type of seafood are laid out in huge fridges managed by fishmongers waiting to help customers create their own seafood platter. Wash it down with a crisp and icy South African white - maybe a chardonnay or sauvignon blanc.

Camps Bay is easily negotiable on foot. To get there from Cape Town, a regular bus service runs from the city centre and local minibuses that are flagged down at the side of the road follow the same route. Metered taxis are advised after dark. Hiring a car gives the greatest flexibility to explore the rest of the Cape Peninsular.

To see Camps Bay from a different angle, ride the cable car or hike to the top of Table Mountain (website: www.tablemountain.net) for the panoramic views. There's plenty to do in central Cape Town. Visit the shops and restaurants at the V&A Waterfront (website: www.waterfront.co.za) where there's fascinating marine life to see at the Two Oceans Aquarium (website: www.aquarium.co.za). The former prison home of Nelson Mandela on Robben Island (website: www.robben-island.org.za) can be visited by ferry, or enjoy the tranquil beauty of Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens (website: www.sanbi.org).

Enjoy mesmerising views over the ocean and a sumptuous five-course dinner at the award-winning Azure restaurant in the Twelve Apostles Hotel (website: www.12apostleshotel.com). The chef uses organic, locally grown, indigenous ingredients to create a uniquely South African taste. Follow dinner with a classic movie in the hotel's private 16-seater cinema.

Cape Town International Airport (CPT)