The Western Cape is perhaps the most diverse of South Africa’s nine provinces, and offers its explorers breathtaking mountainscapes, historical vineyards, mile upon mile of unspoilt beaches, swathes of conserved land that make up one of the world’s seven floral kingdoms, and a history as interesting as it is chequered. Forty-five minutes from the Marina lie the winelands of Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek, which have been producing wine since the mid 1600s. An hour and a half from the Waterfront is the village of Hermanus, regarded as the home of the best land-based whale-watching in the world. A forty minute drive to the tip of the Cape Peninsula reveals the drama and power of the Cape of Storms, where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet amongst the cliffs of Cape Point. A little further afield, prime game lodges accommodate guests intent on viewing Africa’s Big Five, only recently reintroduced to the Cape, in their natural habitats. And beyond the pine forests, the oak-lined village streets and awe-inspiring mountain passes, the endless plains of the Karoo desert provide peace, solitude and a silence rare in the modern world. For more information about the Western Cape, please visit: www.capetourism.co.za www.satour.co.za