For a Half Day

Cape Point: This windswept peninsula, where the cold Benguela current and the warm Mozambique current converge, is the mythical meeting place of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans - the physical meeting place is actually 100km (62 miles) to the east, at Cape L'Agulhas. Cape Point (tel: (021) 780 9010; www.capepoint.co.za) is situated in what was formerly the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, now part of, and at the far tip of the enormous 25,000-hectare (61,775-acre) Table Mountain National Park (tel: (021) 701 8692; www.sanparks.org).

Located 66km (41 miles) from the city centre, along the M4 via Simon's Town, Cape Point is home to a splendid array of wildlife, including zebra, lynx, bontebok, ostrich and baboons, as well as some of the rarest plants on Earth. Visitors should beware of the baboons, however, as they can be dangerous, particularly where food is involved; there is a fine for feeding them. The Buffelsfontein Visitor Centre (tel: (021) 780 9204), which has exhibitions, audio-visual displays and information on the area's natural and cultural wealth, is open daily 0800-1700. There are three overnight self-catering cottages in the northwest of the former reserve, which must be booked through South African National Parks (tel: (012) 426 5000; www.sanparks.org). At the bottom of the peninsula, the road splits and leads to Cape Point and to the Cape of Good Hope, which lies beneath Cape Point to the southwest. There is a hiking trail on a boardwalk between the two. At Cape Point, an added bonus is the Two Oceans Restaurant (tel: (021) 780 9200; www.destinationrestaurants.co.za), which is perched on the cliff above the Atlantic Ocean, as well as curio shops. From there, a network of paths and a short funicular railway lead up the hill to the lighthouse at the top.

Constantia Wine Route: Located 17km (11 miles) or a 25-minute drive south of the city centre, the Constantia Wine Route offers a handy alternative to a longer trip to the Boland. There are over 400 wine producers in South Africa and the Constantia Valley area is home to five of the Cape's top estates: Groot Constantia, Klein Constantia, Buitenverwachting, Constantia Uitsig and Steenberg Vineyards.

Africa's oldest wine estate, Groot Constantia, off the M41 Constantia Road (tel: (021) 794 5128; www.grootconstantia.co.za), with its original manor house and wine museum (tel: (021) 795 5140; www.iziko.org.za/grootcon; open daily 1000-1700), gives a fascinating insight into early colonial life in the Cape. There is also the elegant Jonkershuis Restaurant (tel: (021) 794 6255). Tasting takes place daily.

The family-owned Klein Constantia, Klein Constantia Road (tel: (021) 794 5188; www.kleinconstantia.com), offers some choice Cape wines for tasting in extremely friendly company. Buitenverwachting, Klein Constantia Road (tel: (021) 794 5190, www.buitenverwachting.co.za), is renowned for its exclusive restaurant (see Restaurants) and pleasant picnic area. Constantia Uitsig, Spaanschemat River Road (tel: (021) 794 1810; www.constantiauitsig.co.za), translates to ‘Constantia View' and the farm offers visitors not only excellent wine but the charming Spaanschemat River Café and two superb restaurants; La Colombe is the best (see Restaurants). Finally, Steenberg Vineyards, Steenberg Road (tel: (021) 713 2211; www.steenberg-vineyards.co.za), makes up for its dubious location opposite Pollsmore Prison with an exclusive hotel, a golf course and a restaurant.

Tourist offices (see Sightseeing) can provide further information on the Constantia Wine Route. Most of the estates are open for wine tasting at least 0900-1700 (weekdays) and 0900-1300 (Saturdays).

For a Whole Day

The Boland: A tour of the Boland (‘uplands' or ‘toplands') reveals a world of dramatic mountain ranges, crystal clear rivers teeming with trout, beautiful valleys and the Western Cape's bucolic Winelands, dotted with historic wine estates. There are 17 officially designated ‘wine routes' incorporating many of the wine estates that are open to the public. Bacchanalian tourists who choose to go it alone with one of the many route maps obtainable from Cape Town Tourism (see Sightseeing) should always make sure there is a designated driver who abstains from quaffing.

Somerset West is 30 minutes from the city centre on the R44 off the N2 highway. This bustling town sits in a basin created by the towering peak of Helderberg (Clear Mountain) and the Hottentots Holland mountain range. Here, the Vergelegen wine farm, Lourensford Road (tel: (021) 847 1334; www.vergelegen.co.za), was built in 1700 and is one of the most gracious and perfectly located of all the old Cape Dutch homesteads, offering wine tasting, cellar tours, a superb restaurant and library containing rare volumes of early Africana. The Helderberg Nature Reserve (tel: (021) 851 4060; www.helderbergnaturereserve.co.za) is located just before the turn-off to Vergelegen and comprises several kilometres of hiking trails and paths with magnificent views over the Helderberg Basin.

South Africa's second oldest town, Stellenbosch, produces a third of all the wine in the Cape and also boasts the longest wine route in the world with over 200 wine estates. Named after the Dutch governor, Simon van der Stel, this university town is one of the best preserved of all South African settlements. The Stellenbosch Village Museum, 18 Ryneveld Street (tel: (021) 887 2948), tells the story and consists of four carefully restored and furnished buildings built between 1709 and 1850; the museum is open Monday-Saturday 0930-1700 and Sunday 1400-1700 (admission charge). Stellenbosch is located on the R310 off the N2 highway.

South Africa's ‘French quarter', Franschhoek, was named after the French Huguenots who fled Catholic persecution and began arriving at the Cape in 1688. Today, the valley is famous for its wine and good food. Located off the N1, the area is key to much of South Africa's distant and recent history. The Huguenot Memorial Museum, Lambrecht Street (tel: (021) 876 2532; www.museum.co.za), traces the history of the Huguenots, open Monday-Saturday 0900-1700 and Sunday 1400-1700 (admission charge). While to the west, on the R303, is the Victor Verster Prison, from where Nelson Mandela walked to freedom on 11 February 1990. Today Franschhoek is renowned as boasting some of the finest restaurants in Africa, making it something of a gastronomic destination, something the local tourist office is trying to heavily promote in an effort to bring in high end tourists.

Overberg: Over Sir Lowry's pass and beyond South Africa's oldest inn, the Houwhoek Inn, the Western Cape landscape transforms into the harsh beauty of the Overberg, approximately 170km (106 miles) east from Cape Town at its central point. This region is the gateway to Africa's southernmost tip, Cape Agulhas - located a three-hour drive southeast of Cape Town, accessible off the N2. Here, the two oceans meet in a spectacular show of natural beauty. The L'Agulhas Lighthouse (tel: (028) 435 7506) and Zuidste Kaap (tel: (028) 435 6034) restaurants both provide a unique location in which to dine out - the fully operational lighthouse, which is over 150 years old, also doubles as a museum and curio shop, open daily 0900-1630. The southernmost point is located 1km (0.6 miles) from the lighthouse and is marked with a sign. It is part of the Cape Aghulhas National Park but there is no gate or entry fee. Visitors should take note, however, not to book any tours that involve 4-wheel driving on the beaches and dunes as this is not only incredibly harmful to the delicate seafront wildlife (some of which are endangered species) but is also illegal.

Nearby, the 14km (9 miles) of continuous white sand beach (the longest in the southern hemisphere) of Struuisbaai offers stunning bathing. Further afield, the virtually untouched charm of Arniston delights visitors with a traditional fishing village, Kassiesbaai, which has been declared, in its entirety, a national monument. Gansbaai is a prosperous fishing harbour, and off shore is Dyer Island, which is home to a breeding colony of African penguins, and Geyser Island, which is home to seals. Thanks to the lure of food, the channel between the islands is inhabited by great white sharks and is commonly known as ‘Shark Alley'. Cage diving to see the sharks can be arranged with Shark Diving Unlimited (tel: (082) 441 4555; www.sharkdivingunlimited.com). Hermanus, another coastal town in the Overberg region, dubbed ‘the Riviera of the Overberg' for its wealthy stature, is the principal whale-spotting location, one of the best land-based whale watching destinations in the world, with an annual 10-day whale watching festival in September/October (www.whalefestival.co.za). The sleepy town of Greyton is renowned for its arty locals and this is particularly evident during the winter months, when the Greyton Winter Festival takes place in June (www.overberginfo.com/greytonfestivals). It includes a moonlight market among other rustic delights. Many other towns are worth visiting, such as the fruit farming paradise of Grabouw and the austere charm of Napier.

Southern Touring Company (tel: (021) 419 8301) offers whale-watching tours. For those who wish to spend more than just one day exploring this wonderful region, Cape Quest (tel: (028) 314 0006; www.capequest.co.za) has a number of tour options with bed and breakfast accommodation in the Overberg. The Overberg Tourism Office (tel: (028) 214 1466; www.tourismcapeoverberg.co.za) provides further information on destinations within the Overberg.