"SOUTH OF AFRICA." a South Africa Travel Page by PEE-WEE

Sir Francis Drake wrote in his journal after rounding the Cape of Good Hope in 1580:"This Cape is the most stately thing and the fairest Cape we saw in the whole circumference of the earth." Yet from the Golden Hind, Drake could see only a tiny fraction of the splendours of Cape Province.
It is the largest province of South Africa and the region with the longest coastline and the greatest variety of scenery.

From the deserts in the west to the beautiful high forest of the east,it is an area of vast contrasts in climate,geography and animal and plant life.
Groves of date palms grow in the west , in the east , grassy downlands roll to meet the forests that fringe the coast.
On the central plateau lies the semi - arid Karoo, with its vast sheep runs,wind-pumps and flat - topped hillocks - the famous koppies which provide South Africa with its most characteristic and scenic emblem.

In the far south- west of the province,the continent of Africa ends almost exactly as it begins thousands of kilometres to the north, with a Mediterranean climate of winter rain and dry summers,and folded snow - tipped mountains strangely reminiscent of the Atlas range in the north.

Cape Province offers excellent roads and freedom from the African blights of malarial mosquitoes,Tsetse flies and bilharzia.
There are superlative beaches,ranging from the sweeping shores of Muizenberg,Plettenberg, St Francis and Algoa, to the beautiful intimate coast around East London, with its warm ,safe water, lazy lagoons, rivers and green forests crowding close to the edge of the sea.

The province is a happy hunting ground for the enthusiast - the collector of shells or semi - precious stones, the observer of wild life, the botanist.For the historian there are the artifacts and rock art of the Bushmen.
For the connoisseur there are wines, fruit and intriguing local dishes.For the climber and walker there are the mountains - the wilderness trails, crystal pools, caves and balancing rocks of the Cedarberg range; the dramatic views of Cape Town and Table Bay from Table Mountain; the wild - flower paradise of the Hottentots - Holland Mountains.
The Hex River Mountains, Du Toit's Kloof, Jonkershoek,Langberg,Tsitsikama, Baviaanskloof and the massive, little - visited southern extensions of the Drakensberg all offer endless possibilities for adventure and exploration.

Anglers can fish for big game off the Cape of Good Hope or the teeming yellowtail in False Bay.
Surfers will find majestic breakers at Cape St Francis and supertubes in Jeffreys Bay.
For many people , the Cape Province is a special "Heaven",a place of spectacular beauty and excitement.