So popular the Western Cape

Jo-ann Hodgson finds out why South Africa’s Western Cape is the most popular emigration destination for Brits

The southern-most region of  the African continent, the Western Cape is the most popular area for foreign visitors and increasingly British emigrants. "The Brits are here for the climate, the relaxed environment, beautiful scenery and abundance of excellent food and wine," says Ian Wason of South Africa's Bond Busters. Indeed the Western Cape's most popular attractions are among some of the country's most world-renowned destinations with names such as Cape Town, the Garden Route and the Winelands rolling off the tongue of those who have never even visited the  province.

But those that have are finding the area, which makes up around 10.5 per cent of the country's total, an increasingly attractive place to call home, and being the most
mountainous of South Africa's provinces, with flowering species rivalling the Amazon rainforest for bio-diversity, a booming tourist industry and property prices that would make any Brit's jaw drop, we can't blame them.

Cape Town
The third most populous city in South Africa, Cape Town is the provincial capital of the Western Cape, as well as the legislative capital of South Africa, where the Nation Parliament and several government offices are located. The city is the most popular South African destination among tourists due, in part, to it's defining natural landmarks; Table Mountain and Cape Point and its setting in the Cape Floral Kingdom. "Surrounded by the Atlantic and Indian Oceans and protected by the majestic Table Mountain, Cape Town is the ultimate holiday destination." says Marcus Brain at South Africa 365, a specialist destination travel company. "The city is internationally renowned for the endless and diverse attractions offered by this gorgeous cosmopolitan city and its surrounding areas." As well as its natural beauty, Cape Town is also home to trend-setting restaurants, a vibrant night-life scene and is a world-renowned shopping centre: the Victoria & Alfred
Waterfront, built on top of part of the docks of the Port of Cape Town,  encompasses several hundred shops as well as the Two Oceans Aquarium.

The city is also noted for its architectural heritage, with the highest density of Cape Dutch style buildings – combining the architectural traditions of France, the Netherlands and Germany – in the world. This style is most visible in Constantia, the old government buildings in the Central Business District, and along Long Street. Away from the urban centre, many tourists are also attracted by the city's beaches, equally enjoyed by locals.  Due to Cape Town's geography the beaches all have different settings and even different temperatures. Those located on the Atlantic Coast tend to have very cold water as the water is mostly glacial melt from Antarctica, whereas the water at False Bay beaches is often warmer by up to 10 °C. The most famous beach in Cape Town, Boulders Beach, is known for its colony of African penguins. Surfing is also popular in the city, Cape Town hosting the annual Red Bull Big Wave Africa surfing competition.

Although tourism accounts for 9.8 per cent of the Western Cape's Gross Domestic Product and employs 9.6 of the province's workforce, Cape Town's economy is diverse. The city is the Western Cape's manufacturing centre and more than half of of South Africa's exports leave through the Port of Cape Town or Cape Town International Airport. Due to the large government presence in the city many of its inhabitants are also employed in industries that serve the government.

As is the trend with many developed areas of the country, Cape Town now has a booming real estate and construction market with many South African's and foreigners buying summer homes in the city and even deciding to relocate permanently. The city's Central Business District is also under going extensive renewal under the guidance of the Cape Town Partnership, a public-private partnership with Cape Town businesses, the City Improvement District and the City of Cape Town local government. As the city and surrounding area has good high school attendance rates and an abundance of higher education institutions, the skilled workforce is also attracting foreign investors. "Due to South Africa's growth from developing to developed country there are huge opportunities in sectors such as financial services, retail, tourism and property," says Wason of Cape Town.

Twelve kilometres from the city, across the sea channel is Robben Island, the home of those that rulers  regarded as political trouble-makers, social outcasts and the unwanted of society for nearly 400 years. It was here that Nelson Mandela was incarcerated from 1964 to 1982 for plotting to overthrow the government by violence. Tours around the island and now un-inhabited prison are taken by ex-political prisoners such as guide Lionel Davis, who, in April 1964, was sentenced to six years on the Island, after being found guilty of conspiring to commit sabotage. He now lives on the Island with his family and speaks of the appalling conditions he and his fellow inmates were made to suffer in the high-security institution.

Winelands
An hour inland from Cape Town is the Cape Winelands District Municipality, home to the oldest wineries outside the Cape Peninsula. The district contains the earliest European settlements at Stellenbosch, Paarl, Franschhoek and Somerset West, each with its own wine route. The Mediterranean climate and winter rainfalls helps this area produce some of the best whites, reds, sherries, ports and brandies in the country, and arguably the world. "Tall mountains, deep valleys and endless rolling hills covered in vines characterise the Cape Winelands," says Brain. "As the most important wine-growing region in South Africa, this is a wine lover's paradise, blending a vast array of taste, culture and beauty that extends far beyond the excellent wines of the Cape Wine Route. The Route itself is dominated by the towns of Franschhoek, Stellenbosch and Paarl, all offering superb wine tasting tours and gourmet lunches that have evolved into an indulgence of the senses." Stellenbosch  was the first locality to wake up to the marketing potential of a wine route, and launched one in 1971: it is now the most toured area in the winelands. As well as its world renowned wineries, the town is also known for its beautiful street-scapes, museums and its university.

The town became known as the 'City of Oaks' due to the large number of Oak trees that were planted by the founder to grace the streets and homesteads and is now characterised by the three-century-old oak trees that dapple the avenues. The Stellenbosch University is one of South Africa's most prestigious higher education institutions and has a rich history dating back to 1863. The town is said to be the heart of Afrikanerdom due to the large number of academics and students who have lived and studied at the university. It is also the primary location for  viticulture research, the study of grapes and wine-making, with Professor Perold being the first Professor of Viticulture at Stellenbosch University.

Although the town is the home of many prestigious academics, it was also the intellectual engine room for the apartheid and fostered Dr H.F. Verwoerd, the Prime Minister who dreamt up the idea of the Grand Apartheid. Set at the head of a narrow valley, Franschhoek is also renowned for its wines. Once a sleepy country retreat, the village began experiencing a boom in the 1990s, and property prices have since sharply increased. The warm summer weather, snowy winter peaks  and proximity to Cape Town have turned the village into one of South Africa's most sought after residential addresses and the construction of the new private Bridge House School outside Franschhoek has also attracted many urban dwellers as well as foreign emigrants to the area. Leading the way in wine tourism, the Franschhoek valley has also launched Programme Umdiliya (the Xhosa word for Grapes) Empower, the valley's on-job training aimed at teaching local interns skills relating to all aspects of tourism.

Other attractions in the village, often referred to as the 'food and wine capital' of South Africa, are, well, it's food and wine. The village is notable for having eight of the country's top 100 restaurants within its quiet borders. The valley is also an attractive setting for walking trails, hiking,cycling, horse-riding, fly-fishing and golf. Paarl, meaning Pearl in Dutch, is situated across the river Berg from Franschoek and is the third oldest European settlement in the Republic of South Africa after Cape Town and Stellenbosch. A prosperous farming centre, with its grain silos, canneries and flour mills in the north and red grapes, guavas, olive, oranges and maize on the surrounding farms Paarl is the largest municipality in the Winelands and also has the largest population of all the wineland towns. "There is now a perception that towns like Paarl offer the best of both worlds:  a cultural life that is equal to that of the big cities, but a lifestyle that is infinitely more gracious and 'sensible'," says Bill Rawson from Rawson's Properties "We ourselves sometimes cannot credit the way in which demand for Paarl homes is escalating month-by-month. The overall picture is that the Western Cape's country districts, particularly those in beautiful surroundings, are now more popular than ever before - and offer investors an exceptionally safe haven."

The district is well known for its Pearl Mountain or 'Paarl Rock', a huge granite rock formed by three rounded outcrops that make up the mountain, very popular with rock climbers challenged by its smooth surface. Like many of the Wineland's towns, Paarl is a prosperous community, with many attractive historic Cape Dutch houses, beautiful gardens and old oak-lined streets. With a strong Afrikaan history, typical of the Winelands, Paarl played host to the founding of the Afrikaans language. The 'Afrikaanse Taalmonument' or 'monument to the Afrikaans language' is situated on the slopes of Paarl Mountain, and the Language Museum and the Afrikaans Language Route through Dal Josaphat also attract  tourists from around the globe.  The headquarters of South Africa's wine industry are also situated in Paarl. The famous 'Co-operative Wine Growers' Association', is known by its Afrikaans initials KWV. The co-operative is a South African institution that has acquired an international reputation based on its achievements and its imprint of quality on the local wine industry.

Further east of this cluster of Winelands gems is the Breede River Valley, home to Greyton and McGregor, favourite weekend retreats for Capetonians. Belived to be one of the few places in the world to lie directly on ley lines, McGregor is considered a sacred site of natural energy and has attracted a bohemian community including many artists and healers.  However, the town, named after one of the oldest Scottish clans, has managed to retain the feeling of  a traditional 19th-century hamlet with whitewashed houses and old stone irrigation channels. Lying in a valley, the town is a popular base for walkers and hikers lured also by the mild year-round weather.

Greyton, a pretty tree-shaded village in the shadow of the Riviersonderend 'river without end' Mountain Range, and the surrounding area is also well-known for its hiking trails, and the route from McGregor punctuated by nine waterfalls and displays of vibrant spring wild flowers and fields of wheat and barley oat. The hamlet is named after Sir George Grey, twice Governor of the Cape, and like McGregor is a picture of it's idyllic past with thatched-roof cottages, restored buildings  and weekend craft-markets.

Route 62 and the garden route
The Winelands and Breede River Valley can be toured on Route 62, the Western Cape's main tourist route which meanders between Cape Town and Oudtshoom, the Garden Route and Port Elizabeth. The route is a shorter and more scenic alternative to the N2 highway, the main coastal highway of South Africa that runs from Ermelo in Mpumalanga, down towards the south coast through KwaZulu Natal and the Eastern Cape, before terminating in Cape Town. Drivers on the route can take in imposing cliffs, clear streams and a plethora of trees and indigenous trees and flora whilst hopping between wine-estates such as those in Wellington, Wochester, Robertson, Montagu and Ladismith. Route 62 is said to be the longest wine route in the world and as well as sampling the days away, locals and tourists alike can enjoy the game reserves, museums, hiking, climbing and caving opportunities  and hot-springs  along the way.

Golf is another activity that brings people to the area, the Bonnivale Golf Course known for being well-maintained and with a relaxed environment. Breede River Boat Trips also allow those on-board to swim in the River Goose and enjoy a spot of Bass fishing with larger wildlife to be spotted at Leopard trails and Ostrich farms along the route. South Africa's array of rare and indigenous flora can also be enjoyed on botanical trails such as that at De Must and the crops of wealthy farming communities investigated at orchards such as those at the Ceres Cherry farm.

Along Route 62 is the most popular and scenic stretch of South Africa's southern coast: the Garden Route. The route stretches from Mossel Bay to Storms River, which is crossed along the N2 coastal highway over the Paul Sauer Bridge in the eastern reach of the Western Cape and passes the popular destinations of George, Knysna, Oudtshoom, Plettenberg Bay and Nature's Valley. The Garden Route is known for its hot summer and mild winter climate and has the richest all-year-round rainfall areas in South Africa with most of the rain falling in the winter months, brought by the humid sea-winds from the Indian Ocean. Sandwiched between the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma mountains and the Indian Ocean, the Garden Route is home to indigenous forests with a unique mix of Cape Fynbos, a collection of plants that are mainly shrubs and is comprised of species belonging to South Africa's southwestern and southern Cape. Fynbos makes up four-fifths of the Cape Floral Kingdom, which hosts 8,600 plant species; Table Mountain alone has almost 1,500 species in 57 square kilometres. The Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma mountains also support temperate forests, home to over 300 species of bird and ten nature reserves along the route embrace varied eco-systems and marine reserves area also home to coral reefs, dolphins and seals with bays acting as nurseries for endangered Southern Right Whales, who calve in the winter and spring.

Although many choose to explore the route via car and private transport, the last remaining passenger stream train, the Outeniqua Choo Tjoe operates along the coast. Marcus Brain recommends the most popular town along the route with Brits. "Swellendam is a quaint and small rural town about 225 kilometres from Cape Town," he says. "It has a country feel and a slow pace of life. There are farming communities nearby, great access into the mountains for walks and it is about 50 kilometres from the sea. It would suit people looking for a real retreat." Brain also suggests George, a large town that is accessible by flights from Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban and is famous for its numerous golf courses and estates. Knysna, a town primarily built on the northern shore of a large warm-water estuary fed by the Knysna Rivers, is also extremely popular with Brits. The estuary opens to the ocean after passing between two large headlands popularly known as the 'Knysna Heads'. These have become infamous due to the loss of boats and fishermen passing through their unpredictable waters. Near the heads are geological formations, known as 'The Map Stones'.

To the north of Knysna, Afro-Montane (temperate rainforest) covers the hilly terrain for 20 kilometres until changing to fynbos or macchia high up in the Outeniqua Mountains. The town is a populardestination for both tourists and retirees, especially among British expats, due to its year-round warm climate. The town has also become a preferred destination among golfers, as the town boasts many world class golf courses, and a favourite haunt of artists, food-lovers (the town is famous for its oysters) and hippies. "This town has seen significant growth over the last five years and is large enough to have an established expat community and commerce," Brain says. He also recommends Plettenberg Bay or 'Plett' along the route; "it's blessed with its own micro-climate and possibly the best weather is South Africa – some say over 300 days of sunshine a year. The beaches in Plett are golden a nd immaculate and its only 49 kilometres from Knysna (approximately 520 kilometres from Cape Town). Plett receives a large influx of Jo'burgers in December and Capetonians in June and July."

Now we're all completely entranced by this most-popular of South African provinces, how practical is it to buy our own little piece of the Western Cape? "According to the Residential Property Price Ranger, the average sales price of properties in the Western Cape is ZAR1, 5 million, and it hasn't changed much over the past year." says Rawson
"What we are experiencing now is the long-awaited stabilising of property prices in South Africa. Over the past few years, we have experienced a boom in this country, with prices catching up to our international counterparts.  The more realistic prices has led to increased buyers interest, with well-informed buyers intent on finding reasonable prices that they believe are once again possible." 

With afforable property prices and a booming tourist industry, the awe-inspiring Western Cape has now firmly secured its name on the map of desirable holiday, second-home and emigration destinations. 

For further information:
South Africa 365  
Immigration 365 
Bondbusters 
Rawson

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16 May 2007