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Best
Drives to Come2CapeTown for
By
Anne Zaaijer
R
44 via Gordons Bay and Rooi Els to Hermanus.
A magnificent scenic coastal drive along the West
side of False Bay. A beautiful drive when going to
Rooi Els, Hangklip or the getaway town of Cape Town;
Hermanus.
Take the N2 out of Cape
Town to turn off at the R44, direction Strand and
drive the winding coastal road stating after the Naval
Base of Gordon's Bay, all the way to Hermanus.
On your right-hand side you'll have Fals Bay looking
all the way to Simon's Town and even Cape Point. On
your left-hand side the fynbos climbing up the mountains
to Steenbras Dam.
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Pass
Koeëlbaai (bullet bay) to encounter dolphins in
the surf. Visit the small fishing villages as you drive,
and have a nice lunch or refreshing jump in the Ocean,
perhaps Hangklip will provide for a get away weekend
spot with its immaculate feel of a world coming to a
halt.
There are several hikes
or mountain bike trails along the R44, even taking
you up to Steenbras Dam. Hermanus is a nice seaside
resort and worth a visit. Originally being the ideal
getaway for locals, it is rapidly becoming a true
tourist town in season.
Whales often come very close to shore during the Whale
season, roughly from August to November. (122 km from
Cape Town). Apart from being a personal favorite at
any time of the year, the R44 caters for a perfect
Whale Watching experience from 'Strand to end'.
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Signall Hill Drive:
Sunrise, lunch, sunset?
Head up the Kloof Nek Road from the city and take
the turn-off to the right at the top of the hill.
At this intersection you also turn off for Clifton
(also to the right) and the lower cableway station
(left) so watch carefully.
After showing you a sunset on the Atlantic from Signall
Hill will see the city turning its lights on, hugged
by a lit up Table Mountain. It is impressive to see
all those lights going many kilometres inland from
the 350m-high summit of Signal Hill.
In early day's, Signall Hill was the settlement's
lookout point, and it was from here that flags were
hoisted when a ship was spotted. Keep in mind when
taking the drive around lunch time; At twelve an old
tradition relives: the noon gun is shot every day
at twelve o'clock, making sure every one in town knows
the exact time.
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Cape
Point: Taking the 'Blue route' and the M4 to Cape Point
The first 30 minutes out of town on the M3 to Muizenberg
one drives through wealthy and lush surroundings of
the 'Southern Suburbs' of Cape Town passing the beautifull
Botanical Gardens of Kirstenbosch.
From Muizenberg, where the
M4 starts for this drive, it takes you past the colourful
beach houses of St. James, the arty streets of Kalk
bay to the dry town of Fishhoek.
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The
road brings you to Simon's Town (named after the first
governor Simon van der Stel). This city was the VOC's
official winter anchorage from 174 - it is sheltered
from the winter north-easterlies that created havoc
for ships in Table Bay.
South of it: Boulders Beach; Look out for the sign 'be
aware of penguins crossing the road'.
Boulders Beach is famous for its permanent residents
the Jackass Penguins. They are nowhere found in the
world except off the coast of Southern Africa!
After Boulders the road winds its way into a beautiful
drive alongside the mountains and the ocean with Smitswinkel
Bay as a secret and secluded bay. When you reach Cape
Point, you might think you've reached the best part
of the trip.
Wait untill you are standing next to the old light house
with the amazing view of the two oceans meeting each
other, the mountains, the light, and the mysterious
fog which creates the atmosphere of an oasis at the
end of Africa.
Although Agulgas is the southernmost part of Africa,
you might see Cape Point's Flying Dutchman….
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De Waal Drive,
start of the M3: The ultimate convertible drive on a
warm summer night
Drive your convertible out of the city up 'De Waal Drive',
which is the other name of the M3 out of town.
The steep and impressive drive nurtured by the slopes
of Table Mountain on your right hand side, the dark
yet clear blue sky above you.
Having conquered the highest poin the beauty of the
sleeping, but illuminated city beneath you stretching
out over the plains to the Helderbergs of Stellenbosch
to Gordons Bay.
The satisfaction this stunning drive gives you is something
best to share..
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R310:
The best route to the Winelands:
Jan Van Riebeeck (VOC) planted the first vines in
1655 in the Winelands of the Western Cape and encouraged
reluctant farmers to follow suit, creating a start
for this lush drive for bourgondian pleasure.
Completely different, yet close to the southern part
of the R44, this drive is synonymous to all the diversity
and best the Cape has to offer.
A 20 minute drive out of Cape
Town on the N2 the R310 (Baden Powell Drive) invites
you into the Winelands passing Meerlust, Welmoed and
Spier, to name a few and not the least, on your way
to Stellenbosch.
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Here
splendid mountains form a dramatic backdrop to lush
vineyards and historic Cape Dutch homesteads.
Stellenbosch is the second
oldest town in South Africa. Since the founding of
Stellenbosch in 1679, it has become synonymous with
high quality award winning table wines. The cellars
of the Wine Route are situated along the main roads,
namely the R44, the R310, the R304, leading to Stellenbosch,
Paarl, Franschhoek and provide the frame work for
all of its surroundings. Indulge..
At the other side the
R310 takes you out The Pniel Road (= R310) between
Stellenbosch, Pniel and Franschhoek.
One of the 'few' beautiful routes, never to have to
admit to not have driven..
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N7
Westcoast: Next Stop: Namibia?
Discover the beauty of the Wescoast! From Cape Town
you take the N7 and after 15 kilometres you can choose
to turn off to the R27 (the coastroute) or continue
the N7 and drive through the inlands of the Western
Cape.
When you choose to continue
along the N7, you''ll come across true farmstalls,
selling citrus, dryed fruit and local souvenirs. The
owners of the shops are sincerely friendly and can
give you detailed information for your trip.
The Westcoast region offers you flourishing winelands,
extensive grainfields, many enjoyable fish villages
with old harbours and fresh lobster, linefish and
mussels. The citrus and rooibos in Olifansrivervalley,
in the Cederberge, Groot Windhoekberge, Mamakwaland
and the Knersvlakte is worth your drive! Remember
though, if you keep on driving, Namibie might just
be the next stop…
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M6
Chapman's Peak Drive: One of the world's best drives
"Be the starr in your own car commercial",
that must be the experience driving Chapman's Peak
Drive. Like Australia's Great Ocean Road this drive
is one of the most amazing in the world.
Opening again at the end of this year (hopefully)
this drive deserves its spot in the 7 best drives.
Falling rocks will not be a part of driving it anymore
after safety measures have been implemented. Chapman's
Peak is about a 600 meter above sea level built around
1919.
Starting from the leopard
statue in Hout Bay it provides magnificent views of
the Sentinel, Hout Bay itself. Kommetjie presents
itself with the most amazing views around one of the
many corners of this winding road. In short: be patient,
it will be worth it.
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Driving
Public roads are well developed and well sign-posted
in South Africa with driving being done on the left
hand side of the road.
Visiting drivers -to be on the safe side- must have
an international driver's license and a minimum of 5
years' experience. It is wise to drive defensively as
in South Africa (perhaps just like in Rome or Paris)
it is not about how well you drive, but how well you
can anticipate the driving of others.
Overtaking
With overtaking one can experience a true South African
phenomenon, probably originated from the many small
roads.
When driving behind a car and wanting to overtake
the car in front of you, he will most likely allow
for space for you to overtake him by moving over to
the side of the road. He therefore allows for space
to overtake while still driving (mostly) on the lefthand
side of the road.
As an appropriate 'thank you' for this you can briefly
flash your alarm lights. A possible 'no thanks' one
can receive watching your rear view mirror is a short
flashing of the front lights of the car you just overtook.
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