The Cape of Good Hope, close to the southernmost tip of Africa, provides a final magnificent touch to the splendour that Africa has to offer its visitors. Regarded by many as the most beautiful city in the world, Cape Town lies beneath the sandstone countenance of Table Mountain, often shrouded in a veil of white clouds (its "table cloth").

Far below its flat crest lies the harbour, with colourful sailboats returning from stunning trips to the precipitous cliffs of the Twelve Apostles, the magnificent Monte Carlo-like mansions of Clifton, the sandy white beaches of Camps Bay, Muizenburg and Fish Hoek, not to mention Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for eighteen years. The harbour comes alive with musicians: home-made and professional, and offers one of the most upmarket shopping and dining experiences South Africa has to offer.

This corner of South Africa is also renowned for its splendid wines - produced among beautiful mountains, whitewashed Cape Dutch homesteads, a patchwork of vineyards and wheat fields and lanes framed by majestic oak trees.

The towns reflecting the history of the French Huguenots are Stellenbosch, Franschoek and Paarl, all nestled beneath rugged mountains. No wonder this region is one of the most popular throughout the world.

Further along the coast lies the quaint seaside town of Hermanus, arguably one of the best places on earth to watch the Southern Right Whales from the cliff path winding from one side of town to the other, or by braving the wild waters on small boats. From June to November every year, these gentle giants use the shallow, sandy bottomed bays for mating, calving, nursing their young and resting. During mating, the waters churn with the males pushing, shoving and fighting for the attention of the females.