Western Cape Tourism

The Western Cape is one of the domestic travel destinations in South Africa preferred by foreign tourists. With several local attractions and venues, the city of Cape Town received 2.6 million international visitors in 2018 with a growth of 11.5% in international arrivals at Cape Town International Airport.

International tourists aren’t the only ones discovering the beauty of the Western Cape. The choice of activities for domestic tourists is endless. That’s why we have seen an increase in day trips undertaken in the province in 2018. According to Wesgro, the official tourism, trade and investment promotion agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape, Cape Town (R1 147.31) and the Western Cape (R1 029.19) as a whole achieved the highest revenue among all provinces and top cities in 2018. 

The increase in domestic tourism to tourist destinations in the Western Cape, is a clear indication that South Africans are discovering the beauty and friendliness of the Western Cape. Even people living in the Western Cape are traveling more in their own province. They are clearly enjoying the diversity of travel destinations to be found here.

The Western Cape is a world in one province. We have the longest coastline of the four coastal provinces. The Western Cape coastline stretches over 1 000 km. It runs from the Olifants River in the north, to the mouth of the Blaaukrantz River on the southeast coast. The coastline includes sandy beaches with rocky to steep and mountainous features in places.

The Western Cape has achieved the highest number of Blue flag sites in 2017. Twenty-eight of the 44 beaches in South Africa that have received this international accreditation, are in the Western Cape.

The Cape Winelands are some of the most beautiful in the world. You can find 99% of South Africa’s Wine Routes in the Western Cape, stretching from the coast to the plains of the Little Karoo. There are four main regions namely, The Breede River Valley, The Little Karoo, Coastal and Olifants River.

We might be famous for our wines, but the Western Cape also has an abundance of wildlife sanctuaries, nature reserves and national parks. You can view game at our affordable National Parks and several luxury game lodges which are spread over the province.

The Western Cape is well known for its scenic beauty and a wealth of flora and fauna. With an abundance of hiking trails you have a choice between coastal or mountain hikes. There is a choice of easy trails for beginners or more adventurous trails for the seasoned hiker.

Take some time to discover the world on your doorstep.  You can view the big 5, San rock art, whales, unique architecture and endless fields of flowers in season. Take a drive through breathtakingly beautiful mountain passes with incredible rock formations, a lake district, historical seaside fishing villages, fields of rolling wheat and indigenous forests.

Visit the Western Cape

In the Western Cape we have a choice of 6 very diverse regions, each offering a unique experience: 

• Cape Winelands
  
  The Cape Winelands is known for some of the best wine in the world. It includes the towns of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Worcester, Robertson and Ceres.
   
• Central Karoo
  
  The Central Karoo features a semi-desert landscape in the centre of the province. It includes the towns of Prince Albert, Beaufort West, and Matjiesfontein; a town that’s a national monument due to the preservation of its Victorian Buildings.
   
• City of Cape Town Metropolitan area
  
  The City of Cape Town is best known as the Mother City and it’s the provincial capital and main city of the province.
   
• Garden Route
  
  The Garden Route stretches along the southern coast of the Western Cape. It includes Tsitsikamma National Park, Nature’s Valley, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay and Oudtshoorn.
   
• Overberg
  
  The Overberg is one of the best places in Africa to watch the southern right whale, one of South Africa’s marine big 5. The towns in this region include Hermanus, Cape Agulhas and Bredasdorp.  
   
• West Coast
  
  The West Coast stretches along the Atlantic coast of the Western Cape. The West Coast is where you will find the Cederberg Wilderness Area. Towns in the area include Clanwilliam, Langebaan and Citrusdal