Simon's
Town is a village and a naval base in South Africa, near Cape Town.
It is located on the shores of False Bay, on the eastern side of the Cape
Peninsula. For more than two centuries it has been an important naval base
and harbour (first for the Royal Navy and now the South African Navy).
False Bay is located to the southeast of Cape Town but to the west of Cape
Agulhas and Simon's Town is consequently located roughly on the border
between the Atlantic and the Indian oceans. The town is named after Simon
van der Stel, an early governor of the Cape Colony. The land rises steeply
from near the water's edge and the picturesque village is boxed in along
the shoreline by the heights above. The small harbour itself is not a particularly
good natural harbour and is protected from swells by a breakwater that
was built with thousands of huge blocks of sandstone quarried out of the
face of the mountain above. Simon's Town is now in effect a suburb of greater
Cape Town. It is the terminus of a railway line that runs south from the
central business district of Cape Town. In places the railway line hugs
the steep eastern shore of False Bay quite spectacularly and in bad weather
foam from some heavy swells will fly up and wet the trains! One of
the best beaches on the Cape Peninsula, Boulders Beach, is located a few
kilometres to the south of Simon's Town. Here small, secluded coves with
white sandy beaches and calm, safe, warm, shallow waters are interspersed
between huge rounded boulders of Cape granite that form low cliffs and
small caves. There has been a colony of African penguins at Boulders Beach
since 1985. There is no record of the birds having lived here prior to
that date, so their decision to settle in an area already well-utilized
by humans is remarkable. There are only three penguin populations on the
mainland in southern Africa. (The others are on islands). |
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map of Simon's Town
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AHA
Simon's Town Quayside Hotel, Conference & Waterfront Centre, SIMON'S
TOWN
Set
on the water’s edge of the Simon’s Town yacht basin, Simon’s Town Quayside
Hotel is a superior four star hotel and conference centre. With breathtaking
views over False Bay and the majestic Simon’s Kloof mountains, the Quayside
waterfront offers a unique accommodation, conferencing, shopping and dining
experience for business and leisure travellers alike. All tastes
are catered for in a variety of restaurants offering a wide selection of
culinary delights. Enjoy a romantic candlelit dinner for two complemented
by a bottle of the finest Cape wines. Each luxury bedroom has magnificent
views of either False Bay and the Simon’s Town yacht basin or the majestic
Simon’s Kloof mountains. Comfortably furnished for ultimate relaxation,
all rooms have en-suite bathrooms with separate bath and shower. Enjoy
a spectacular sunrise from the private balcony of your room and absorb
the breathtaking views across the bay. |
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Whale
View Manor Guesthouse & Spa, SIMON'S TOWN
Overlooking
a secluded beach, our guesthouse lies on the outskirts of historic Simon’s
Town, between Cape Town and Cape Point, on the False Bay Coastline. Take
a warm hospitality of our eclectic reception areas and enjoy our gorgeous
breakfasts in the quiet serenity of our dining room which has an outstanding
vantage point to watch the calving whales and the penguin colonies. Gourmet
three course dinners are available on request. At Whale View Manor
we offer you a dream within a dream, where the influences and nuances of
our world culminate under the African skies. As our lives become more turbulent
there is a natural desire to dive into a world of fantasy where we can
escape, if just for a while. Let the magic of uninterrupted sea views infuse
and invigorate, while the sightings of a whale, dolphin, penguin, or seal,
stimulate. |
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Simon's Town Accommodation
Somerset
West (Afrikaans Somerset-Wes) is a town in the Western Cape province of
South Africa. It is situated in the Helderberg area (formerly called Hottentots
Holland), about 50 km (30 mi) east of Cape Town and 10 km from Strand.
The town is overlooked by the imposing Helderberg (meaning "clear mountain"),
a part of the Hottentots-Holland range of mountains.
Somerset West has a fairly
decorative display of Christmas lights erected atop the street lights of
the Main Road. The Helderberg Lights Festival (aka the Strawberry Festival),
a flea market and parade, normally complements these lights. The
area also has its own community radio station, Radio Helderberg, broadcasting
community notices and playing adult orientated pop music. |
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map of Somerset West
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The Helderberg
Nature Reserve, a 363 hectare natural wildlife preserve opened in 1964,
contains a wide variety of smaller fauna (buck, tortoises and other reptiles)
and outstanding specimens of indigenous flora such as protea and fynbos.
Somerset West contains a number of sporting facilities including several
golf courses. The historic town of Stellenbosch is reachable via
the R44 motorway. The area between Somerset West and Stellenbosch also
encompasses a number of wine farms, where visitors can sample and purchase
wine. See
more accommodation in Somerset West |
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NH
Cape Town The Lord Charles, SOMERSET WEST
Nestled
amid the breathtaking surroundings of the famous Cape Winelands, NH The
Lord Charles is situated conveniently a mere 30 minutes from Cape Town
International Airport. Guests are able to enjoy all the attractions of
city life, such as the best shopping and variety of restaurants, without
losing the appeal and peacefulness of the countryside. Our property
boasts 188 air-conditioned rooms and 9 luxurious suites, all tastefully
decorated in a harmonious setting for relaxation or business. A large number
of rooms have their own private terrace, leading out onto our splendid
9-hectare estate. All rooms have a magnificent view of our manicured gardens,
majestic Helderberg Mountains or a panoramic sea view over False Bay. |
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RECOMMENDED
BY OUR TRAVEL PARTNER:
Erinvale
Estate Hotel & Spa, SOMERSET WEST
Steeped
in history, surrounded by the majestic Hottentots Holland Mountains and
neighbouring the magnificent Erinvale Golf Course, the Erinvale Estate
Hotel & Spa promises a peaceful and memorable stay. The property, which
is elegantly set amongst private gardens, cobbled walkways and beautiful
oak trees, is only 40 minutes from Cape Town and 20 minutes from the historic
town of Stellenbosch. Guests who stay at the Erinvale Estate Hotel &
Spa are a stone’s throw away from a world of outdoor and leisure activities
and have preferential access to golf, spa treatments, wine, chocolate and
olive tasting at famous estates, mountain biking and much more in the ‘Heart
of the Helderberg’. |
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Somerset West Accommodation
Stellenbosch
is South Africa’s second oldest town, after Cape Town and is the sentimental
heart of the Winelands. Lined with shady oaks and beautiful gabled, white-washed
buildings the streets of Stellenbosch still have small irrigation channels
on either side of the older roads. In the past, these were used to water
gardens, as each householder had a time slot in which to divert the town’s
irrigation into their plot.
It
is very cultural and somewhat venerable, while also displaying a decidedly
young and vibrant air. |
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map of Stellenbosch
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There
are some interesting museums and many of the buildings, including some
of the hotels and restaurants, are national monuments and deserve a second
look. There is good mountain biking just outside the town, and there are
golf courses aplenty, but Stellenbosch is really all about wine.
The town is virtually surrounded by fabulous cellars where you can do a
tasting, join a cellar tour, stock up your own personal cellar, and perhaps
enjoy a lovely leisurely lunch in the shade of some typical Stellenbosch
oaks. Some of the wine farms have become multi-purpose resorts with theatres,
restaurants, equestrian centres and much much more. Stellenbosch
is close to Cape Town so it can be visited on a day trip, or you could
do a day trip to Cape Town or the Overberg from
Stellenbosch. The nearest beach is at Strand. |
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Batavia
Boutique Hotel, STELLENBOSCH
Situated
off Dorp Street (historical main street and village center of Stellenbosch).
Explore Stellenbosch on foot from here. Intimate 6 bedroom boutique hotel
with first class service and great food. Close to Cape Town (40 min), Franschhoek
(20 min), Paarl (20 min) Somerset West/ Strand (20 min) and Hermanus (55
min). Batavia, as well as the Cape of Good Hope, was a place of rendezvous,
a meeting place for ships and travellers, a place to gain access to fresh
produce and lastly, a place of restoration. Experience the Batavia
- reminiscent of the comfortable villas that hosted discerning travellers
and lordly merchants in the bygone days of the Dutch East India Company.
This boutique hotel is conveniently situated just off Dorp Street, the
historic heart of Stellenbosch. |
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The
Devon Valley Hotel, STELLENBOSCH
Hidden
away in a shady, green and peaceful corner of the Stellenbosch Winelands
lies the Devon Valley Hotel situated in its own SylvanVale Vineyards. We
offer authentic, Contemporary Cape Cuisine with spectacular valley views
from the popular Vineyard Terrace and elegant evening dining in Flavours.
The Hotel has a 4-star grading and offers 38 tastefully decorated and newly
refurbished en-suite rooms. There are 3 Conference / Function venues available,
configurable to almost any seating requirement, and additional facilities
such as a Jacuzzi, 2 swimming pools, a communications centre with free
internet connectivity and wineless internet connectivity. The Devon
Valley Hotel’s signature restaurant, ‘Flavours’, has a gentle, homely ambience
and promises to offer guests and visitors authentic, contemporary Cape
cuisine in a picturesque setting. |
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Protea
Hotel STELLENBOSCH
Situated
in the heart of the Winelands, in one of the most beautiful and heritage
conscious towns. With its temperate climate, scenic environment and well
maintained facilities, Stellenbosch is the second-oldest town in South
Africa and affectionately referred to as the "Eikestad". Whether it's the
magnificent backdrop of mountain ranges you seek, perhaps just a scenic
drive or wine tasting at the many surrounding wine farms, you will never
run out of things to see and do. Nestled between two international
golf courses, this 180-bedroom hotel offers all GUESTS the best of the
Winelands. Accommodation is available in Executive, Deluxe and Standard
Twin rooms, where Deluxe and Standard rooms configure to a two-bedroom
apartment ideal for families and groups. Executive rooms are fitted with
plasma screen television and mini kitchenette designed with the Executive
traveller in mind. |
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River
Manor Boutique Hotel and Spa, STELLENBOSCH
River
Manor Boutique Hotel & Spa is a graciously restored retreat at the
leafy heart of historic Stellenbosch in the Cape Winelands. 18 rooms, B&B.
River Manor nestles quietly under Stellenbosch’s ancient oaks beside a
river, just 2 mins walk from the town’s historic centre. South Africa’s
second oldest settlement, it is an ideal base for exploring the Western
Cape and its renowned winelands. Just 30 mins from Cape Town, its calm
ambience will lull you – as will River Manor’s pampering spa. For
the more active, mountains, vineyards, golf & cheetahs await. Breathtaking
golf and hiking are just 10 mins drive away – as are Stellenbosch’s 100
or so wine farms. |
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Spier
Hotel, Accommodation on a Wine Estate, STELLENBOSCH
An
escape for body, mind and soul, Spier offers a combination of sybaritic
experiences - fine food, wine, music, art... a destination of great variety
that needs time to explore. Starting as a wine farm in 1692 in the
shadow of the Helderberg mountains near Stellenbosch, it has a cultural
heritage which it proudly preserves. The Village has been built in
Cape Malay style with 'homes' clustered around courtyards, swimming pools,
gardens and waterways. The 155 rooms are decorated in an unassuming
manner but furnished in luxury and providing a peaceful environment. |
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Stellenbosch Accommodation
-
In the Bloubergstrand area with
its famous endless, sandy beaches and views
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Amazing views of Table Mountain
-
15 minutes from the V&A
Waterfront
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Fresh water wetland and bird
sanctuary less than 1km from the sea where flamingoes, pelicans and many
other bird species frequent.
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map of Table View
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RECOMMENDED
BY OUR TRAVEL PARTNER:
Island
Club Hotel & Apartments, Century City near TABLE VIEW
Neighbouring
the Canal Walk Shopping Centre, Island Club Hotel & Apartments is located
in Century City and features a manicured lush garden with palm trees. It
has an indoor and outdoor pool. The spacious and air-conditioned units
feature contemporary décor and offer a flat-screen satellite TV,
laptop safe and a desk. Some rooms offer a seating area and private balcony.
Each unit has an en suite bathroom with a bath, shower and free toiletries.
At Island Club Hotel & Apartments there is a buffet restaurant and
packed lunches are available upon request. There is a fitness centre, 24-hour
front desk and an airport shuttle can be arranged at a charge. Free WiFi
is available at the hotel. The Cape Town city centre is within 13 km and
Cape Town International Airport is 22 km away. |
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Dolphin
Beach Hotel, Self-Catering Apartment Hotel, Blouberg near TABLE VIEW
Perched
on an endless stretch of powdery white beach, the Dolphin Beach Hotel faces
the sun-dappled sea and magnificent Table Mountain across the bay. With
the ocean in front and a beautiful wetland vlei behind, the Dolphin Beach
offers the serene atmosphere of an exclusive resort, where you can also
be assured of safe parking, 24-hour security and Wireless Internet access
throughout the hotel. Suites and apartments offer full service or self-catering
facilities, each with a magnificent view. Only 15 minutes from Cape
Town, moments away from a wide selection of restaurants and a major shopping
and cinemas complex, this is truly a paradise within reach. The new
restaurant at the hotel, Blowfish is operated by the Codfather Seafood
Emporium. |
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Table View Accommodation - Century
City Accommodation
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