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by Gerald
Crawford
The Atlantic
coast suburbs stretch from Green Point on the city's doorstep,
through Sea Point, Bantry Bay, Clifton, Camps Bay and onwards
through Llandudno and Hout Bay to Kommetjie and Scarborough. This
coastline includes some of the most expensive real estate in
Africa through to remote seaside villages, much loved by the
surfing set.
Green Point, a once neglected area of high rise apartment blocks,
restored townhouses and converted warehouses is now one of Cape
Town's most colourful communities. The suburb is on the edge of the
city and has a vibrant nightlife. Green Point is a popular evening
destination and is well served by a large selection of coffee shops,
trendy restaurants, night clubs and shows popular among the gay
community. It is within walking distance of the V&A Waterfront.
Sea Point like a city within a city. Sea Point, with its innumerable
restaurants, bars and pubs bustles 24 hours a day. This is a truly
cosmopolitan suburb that never sleeps. From the wide seafront
promenade, busy main road, high rise apartment blocks and
mountainside villa's, Sea Point has it all.
Bantry Bay is located on the coastal road between Sea Point and
Clifton, centrally located for easy access to entertainment venues,
world class shopping centres and restaurants. The homes in this
suburb offer spectacular views over the Atlantic Ocean and Robben
Island. Bantry Bay is the start of the stretch of the
Atlantic Coastline favoured by the mega wealthy.
Clifton is probably one of the most desirable residential areas in
Africa, with apartments and houses with multi million dollar price
tags. The view, however, makes it all worthwhile and the wind free
beaches which enjoy more protection from the prevailing
south-easterly winds and longer sunshine than the False Bay Coast
are popular with locals and visitors alike. The four adjoining
beaches where you wind down stairways between the bungalows to white
sands are breathtakingly beautiful.
Camps Bay and Bakoven lies behind Table Mountain, nestled beneath
Lions Head and the majestic Twelve Apostles, and boasts a
magnificent palm fringed, sandy beach. The cosmopolitan beachfront
is vibrant throughout the year and people throng the pavement cafes
and restaurants enjoying the ambience. Not too many years ago this
was a tiny seaside village, today Camps Bay is a playground of the
wealthy with property prices to match.
Llandudno is the millionaires row along the rocky coast with a long
stretch of undeveloped coastline. The village has a stunningly
beautiful beach, much favoured by surfers, real estate in the
village is likely to be beyond all but the most well heeled
however. Some of Cape Town's most exciting homes have been built in
Llandudno with talented architects having incorporated huge granite
boulders and glass walled swimming pools overlooking the bay into
their designs.
Hout Bay not far from Llandudno, just over the rise called the
Suikerbosie (sugar bush) Hill is Hout Bay, one of the fastest
growing areas in Cape Town which has a thriving town centre and its
own waterfront development, which predates the better-known V&A
Waterfront in the city by several years. Hout Bay offers much for
the visitor with boat cruises from the harbour, the World of Birds
and a variety of restaurants to choose from.
Chapman's Peak Drive from Hout Bay, what must surely be one of the
most beautiful scenic drives in the world winds along Chapman's Peak
drive to Noordhoek. There are wonderful picnic spots and look-out
points along the way and the view across to the Sentinel, guarding
the entrance to Hout Bay, is unforgettable. A miracle of civil
engineering even by today's standards, the road is cut into an
almost vertical cliff face, it is an unforgettable experience to
drive the winding road and watch the waves crashing on the rocks
below.
Note: Toll road - passenger vehicles is R20 per trip.
Beyond the green Noordhoek valley, the villages of Kommetjie and
Scarborough are among the more isolated areas close to the Cape
Point Nature Reserve. At Kommetjie, Long Beach is renowned among
surfers as one of the worlds prime surf spots. Outer Kom (200 metres
off the lighthouse) with waves up to five metres and Sunset Reef
(approximately a kilometre of Long Beach) where waves of eight
metres have been ridden are not for the faint hearted.
Come for a visit.
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About the author:
Gerald Crawford was born
in South Africa, studied electronics, telecommunication, eco-travel
and african travel concepts. He taught responsible tourism in South
Africa.
If you have any questions or comments please e-mail me on. E-mail
Address:
southafricantravelarticles@12234455.co.za Website Address:
http://www.12234455.co.za
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