Valentine's Day  Happy Valentine's Day(2008)
From 101lifeStyle.com Valentine's Day Romantic Destinations: Valentine's Day Romantic Beach Escapes:  9.Clifton Beach, Cape Town, South Africa: Clifton is a suburb of Cape Town, South Africa. Clifton is arguably the most picturesque and best known beach in the Cape. Split into 4 recognizable segments by huge granite boulders, they have been cryptically named: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th beaches. 1st is closest to town, and 4th towards Camps Bay. Clifton beach has something of a reputation with the trendy set in Cape Town and is a haven for international jetsetters. Together with its immaculate white sands and glistening water, their bronzing bodies and designer sunglasses grace Clifton’s 4th beach with sufficient glamour and eco-savvy to deserve not only the ‘see and be seen’ status it has acquired but its blue flag status as well. Things To Do / See:  A.Go Beach Hopping:
Clifton Beach is made up of 4 coves and the beaches are called 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th. When the summer south-easter blows, the Clifton beaches are usually well sheltered from the wind. All of the beaches are accessible via stairs leading down from the road above. In summer, plan to get to the beach early as parking is very limited. Generally 4th is the busiest in summer with good changing room and bathroom facilities. Kiosks on the beach sell snacks, colddrinks and ice-creams as do the many vendors that wander the beach. Deck chairs and umbrellas are also available for daily rental. If you're on a budget and plan on spending alot of time on the beach - buy your own umbrella as this will save you in the long-run. Clifton 4th is a Blue Flag beach.Blue Flag status is awarded to those beaches with high levels of water quality, facilities, cleanliness and safety. Cape Town has three Blue Flag Beaches; Clifton, Mnandi and Bikini Beach in Gordon's Bay. Further afield, there's also Grotto Beach in Hermanus.
Camps Bay is a long sandy beach accessed directly from the road. Camps Bay is generally more family friendly as it is bigger and there is more space for games and sandcastles for children, and the young at heart. Deck chairs and umbrellas are available for daily rental.
Further along the coastline you will find the picturesque Llandudno beach - by far one of the most beautiful beaches and a favourite for sundowners. Once again, parking is extremely tight in peak season and the beach is reached by a winding pathway. The sandy beach is flanked by rocks on either end - leading to smaller coves for those wanting to explore. This beach is slightly more remote with no shops and sadly poor bathroom facilities, but vendors do operate on the beach for snacks, drinks and ice-creams. Deck chairs and umbrellas are available for daily rental. There is often good surf for surfers and body-boarders.
The False Bay coastline is generally quieter and more laid-back than the trendy Atlantic beaches, but in peak-season these beaches too are very busy with holidaymakers. The water in the bay is much warmer and the shallow waters extend quite far making for safe and enjoyable swimming.
Further along the coast towards Cape Point is Fish Hoek Beach a favourite with locals and a popular family beach. The long stretch of sandy beach is ideal for walking as is the walkway at the far end of the beach that wanders past rockpools and offers long views out to sea.
For a different sea-side experience, head to Boulders Beach just past Simon's Town. The beach forms part of a conservation area that is home to the African Penguin and wooden walkways have been constructed to view the penguins in their natural habitat. Originally a small fishing village, Hout Bay is now a favourite with visitors with its traditional harbour and many restaurants and curio shops. The beach is flanked by the harbour on one end and the cliffs of Chapmans Peak on the other. It's a favourite amongst windsurfers, paddleskiers and surfers and is ideal for walking.
The scenic drive over Chapman's Peak will bring you to the long white stretch of sand at Noordhoek Beach. This beach is ideal for long walks and is also popular for horseback riding, surfing and kite flying. The popular beaches of Blouberg offer one of the most beautiful and most photographed views of Table Mountain across the sweeping bay. Slightly further a field and approximately 45 minutes outside of Cape Town are the Helderberg region beaches of Strand, Gordon's Bay and Bikini Beach. This stretch of coastline offers spectacular views across False Bay with the Peninsula in the distance.
 B.Beach Activities:
You can rent deck chairs and umbrellas and buy light snacks from vendors that wander up and down the beach. Swimming in the icy cold Atlantic at Clifton during summer is the most exhilarating and rejuvenating experience not to be missed. Every Monday night during the warm summer months, Clifton's 2nd beach is taken over by African drum enthusiasts, capoiera players, fire - dancers’, belly dancers and those who want to picnic, relax and take in the action. Take warm clothes, candles for after sunset and lots of goodies to snack on. Enjoy a perfect beach day with a bucket and spade, a kite (of the surfing kind), a towel and a skimpy bikini or a gallop through the surf at Clifton’s 4th beach. Get to Boulders Beach early on a summer's day and not only will you get to watch the penguins from the boardwalks, but you'll get to build sandcastles with them too. Have a sunset picnic on Clifton's First beach; Go for a stroll along Clifton's Second Beach; People watch on Clifton's Third Beach; Laze in a deck chair on Clifton's Fourth beach; Jet ski around the coastline; Play Frisbee and volleyball on the beach; Tan topless.  C.Whale Watching:
Approximately an hour and a half away from Cape Town is the seaside town of Hermanus. A popular holiday destination for tourists and locals alike, Hermanus is hailed as offering the best land based whale watching in the world. From May onwards Southern Right Whales pay homage to these warm, shallow waters in order to calf their young and to mate. The best time for whale watching is between August and November and at this time the bay is dotted with whales. More often than not, they're more than happy to put on a performance.
Other good whale watching spots are Arniston (about 3-hours from CT) as well as Betty's Bay. Whales can also be seen along the False Bay coastline.  D.Wine Tasting, Cape town:
Wine lover or not, a visit to the Cape Winelands is an absolute must as the region is one of breathtaking vistas and majestic mountain backdrops while being steeped in rich culture and history. Rolling vineyards and quaint Cape Dutch homesteads await you, as well as award-wining wine farms offering some of the country's best wines. The winelands are divided into various different regions, each offering their own 'wine route'. The most popular and well-known are Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Wellington and Paarl. Not to be forgotten are the highly acclaimed wine estates in the Constantia Valley. Also located in beautiful surroundings with stunning mountain backdrops, the Constantia Valley boasts some of the oldest estates and homesteads along with award winning wines.  E.Day Trips And Tours:
There are many tour guides and tour companies that operate in Cape Town and tours vary from scenic peninsula tours and trips to the winelands, to more specialised trips such as botanical tours and historical tours to adventure trips including mountain biking, horseback safaris and kloofing. Most tours accommodate medium sized groups while others offer a more personal service with a guide accommpanying a group of two or three people. Join a tour for a hassle-free day where you can sit back and relax and enjoy the commentary and insight of an experienced guide. Entrance fees to attractions are usually included in the price of the tour - lunch and beverages are generally excluded. There are a variety of tours to choose from such as African Eagle Day Tours, Boat Tours, Township Tours, Scenic Tours.  F.Cape Town Sightseeing:
Guided tours are always a convenient way of exploring a city and its surrounds although Cape Town is really easy and accessible enough for you to do it on your own .Cape Town's most popular attractions are Table Mountain, Robben Island, Cape Winelands and Cape Point. The V&A Waterfront with its many shops, buskers, restaurants and breweries is always a vibrant, happening place. Within the complex it also has the Two Oceans Aquarium and the ferry station for Robben Island.
A township tour is a great opportunity to get to know more about Xhosa culture Apart from picturesque attractions Cape Town is a cultural melting pot offering from traditional African dance to jazz, stand-up comedy, ballet and theatre. Artscape Theatre Complex, Baxter Theatre Complex, On Broadway, Maynardville Open-Air Theatre, Spier Amphitheatre, Theatre on the Bay and Armchair Theatre are some of the most popular cultural must visits.
For art of a different kind, visit the South African National Gallery in the Company's Gardens in the city centre for a display of local art from paintings to sculpture. The Gold of Africa musuem in Strand Street showcases a large collection of gold artefacts and offers a working studio and gold boutique.  G.Explore The Garden Route Region:
No visit to the Western Cape is complete without at least a few days spent in the beautiful Garden Route region. Incorporating the picturesque stretch of coastline between Mossel Bay and Nature's Valley, the Garden Route is aptly named for its lush greenery and the vast Tsitsikamma Forest. The coastal route includes the towns of Mossel Bay, George, Wilderness, Sedgefield, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay and Nature's Valley- each with their own charm and attractions. Dine on fresh seafood and oysters and take a boat trip on the lagoon in Knysna or, soak up the sun on long stretches of white sandy beaches in Plettenberg Bay.  H.Get Pampered With A Lavish Spa:
Most of the luxury hotels in Cape Town offer their own in-house spa's and many other hotels offer beauty salons on their premises. AltiraSpa at the ArabellaSheraton Grand Hotel has panoramic views from its prime location on the 19th floor and offers a variety of skincare and body treatments. Stillness Manor & Spa, Tokai. The newly re-opened Stillness Manor & Spa is positioned on the slopes of the Steenberg Mountains - offering panoramic views of the vineyards below. The Spa offers a variety of treatments from Touch Therapy and Spa Body Therapy to Hot Spa Baths and Ginkgo Treatments. Chelsea Health & Beauty Spa in Wynberg offers a comprehensive range of beauty and body treatments and makes use of a wide selection of international beauty products. The Angsana Spa at the Vineyard Hotel in Claremont is set within the beautiful gardens of the hotel and aims to refresh and rejunvenate physically and spiritually.  I.Romantic Dinner:
Cape Town is home to a wide variety of excellent restaurants presenting a range of cuisine from fresh Mediterranean flavours to exotic Asian spices, local Cape Malay dishes and traditional African meals. Restaurants in Cape Town are generally well-priced and are often run by top internationally trained chefs. In addition you'll generally find excellent wine lists offering a wide selection of top local wines and, more often than not the location itself will offer superb views and a memorable ambience. Being a seaside town, there are many beachfront and waterside restaurants to choose from and, in the city bowl Table Mountain often forms a spectacular backdrop. You could also dine at Camps Bay with its hip restaurants - try Blues or The Codfather for the freshest seafood it is the next beach along from Clifton. The Clifton Beach House serves simple food and sundowners, but if you're in search of nightlife you have to go to Camps Bay for its bars and restaurants, or back into the city where the Waterkant district is the place to find the happening restaurants, bars and clubs.  J.Nearby Towns Sightseeing:
While Cape Town is an excellent base to start from, there are also many small towns in the surrounding regions that have plenty to offer and are even worth staying a night or two. From arts, crafts and culture, to hiking and outdoors, winetasting or history there are a host of towns all within 1-2 hours drive from Cape Town that are well worth a visit. The Breede River Valley towns are set amongst majestic mountains, vineyards and the winding Breede River while the Overberg Region stretches from mountains through orchards and wheatlands and as far as the coast. On the West Coast a more rustic coastline dotted with fishing communities and small holiday towns offers a host of water activities, excellent birdwatching and the freshest of sea fare.  K.Shopping:
Cape Town is an affordable shopping destination with a wide variety of goods on offer. From hand-crafted jewellery, intricate beadwork and traditional African art to designer labels, diamonds and precious stones, Cape Town has a shopping experience for everyone. Visit one of the trendy shopping malls or scour the local flea markets and streetside stalls for gifts, souveniers and a piece of Cape Town to take home.  L.Nature Parks And Eco Tours:
Nature and outdoor lovers are sure to find Cape Town and surrounds of great interest with its rich flora and fauna, its unique fynbos and the variety of animal and birdlife which can be seen and enjoyed. There are a number of parks and nature reserves in and around Cape Town each displaying a different aspect of the Cape's biodiversity such as Table Mountain National Park-At the tip of the peninsula is Cape Point., Rondevlei Nature Reserve - located in the False Bay area, Rietvlei Nature Reserve - located in the Blaauwberg area this reserve is one of the largest coastal wetlands in South Africa. Table Mountain, Devils Peak and Lions Head all provide fairly easy hiking and are within easy reach of the city centre. There are various other routes which lead to the top of Table Mountain, some start in Kirstenbosch Gardens as well as at Constantia Nek. There is also easy walking in both Newlands and Tokai forests, or visit Silvermine Nature Reserve at the top of Ou Kaapse Weg for trails leading to Elephants Eye.  M.Watching Sunset:
Watching the spectacular sunset from a marvellous yacht, is one of those exhilarating moments in life that one remembers forever. Here in Cape Town, there is no better place to watch the African sunset, than Clifton beach. Clifton’s four amazing beaches form part of Cape Town’s Golden Mile and are probably among the most beautiful beaches in the whole world. Only massive granite boulders and natural rocks separate them, and with the mesmerizing Twelve Apostles as their background, this is a truly Mediterranean beach paradise in the heart of Southern Africa. What makes it greater is that they are sheltered and within a short driving distance from the city centre. So if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and even the crowds on the beach, these luxury sunset yacht cruises offer a haven and a totally different perspective of the Cape Town coastline and the whole city in general. Camps Bay, Sea Point, Mouille Point, Signal Hill, Lion’s Head, Table Mountain and Robben Island are only some of the sights that you will be able to enjoy from the comfort of these first class yachts.  N.Water Activities:
Town's beaches are ideal for any number of watersports including surfing, windsurfing, kayaking and kite-surfing. Scuba diving is also popular and the reefs, caves and many shipwrecks that line the coastline make for some excellent dives. There is excellent game fishing off the Cape Point coast and for the more adventurous, why not try shark cage diving. How To Get To Clifton Beach, Cape Town:  By Air:
The newly refurbished and renovated Cape Town International Airport is located on the N2 highway about 20 minutes (22km)from the city centre. Although Johannesburg International Airport is the main hub for flights into and out of South Africa, Cape Town International is nevertheless a busy airport with many of the major airlines flying direct to Cape Town.
Clifton is only a short drive from central Cape Town. The only other sensible way to come here - presuming you haven't got a yacht - is by taxi. And if you do come by car be prepared to do some perilous parking on the busy cliff-edge road. Then it's down steep stairs to the beach.
Clifton Beach, Cape Town Hotels:  A.Clifton Blue Villas: Clifton Blue villas are approximately 150m from all four of Clifton beaches, awesome views of the Atlantic oceans and the Twelve Apostles, sleeps 6. It is just ten minute’s drive away from Cape Town's city centre and the Waterfront, as well as less than 1 hour to the Winelands. These luxury villas are self-catering with all the modern and luxury amenities available.
B.Clifton Beach Bungalows:Located on the most glamorous stretch of Cape Town coastline ‘Millionaire Row’, pure north facing, this beautiful beach bungalow provides the perfect setting for an idyllic holiday experience. Overlooking the famous Clifton Beaches, one has the incredible advantage of breathtaking views of the crystal blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the therapeutic sound of the waves, while suntanning or bathing in your own, heated swimming pool. The bungalow consists of 4 bedrooms (2 en-suite), 3 bathrooms, private garden with 8-seater table and 2 BBQs. There is a private garden, solar heated, salt water pool and remote, tandem garage for 2 cars. A 2 minute walk takes you to the popular pub and restaurant “La Med” and a very short drive to trendy bars and restaurants in Camps Bay.
C.Clifton Sunsets: Clifton Sunsets is situated on the beach and is a stunning 2 bedroom apartment with en-suite bathroom and a second full bathroom. The gorgeous picture perfect bedrooms are stylishly furnished and decorated with designer linen and bed coverings and soothing tones reflecting the peaceful ambiance of the ocean. The spacious master bedroom feature a queen bed, lavish en-suite with overhead shower in bath, and large sliding doors leading onto a splendid private balcony from where to relish the amazing panoramic sea vistas. Equally beautifully decorated, the second bedroom is cosy, has twin beds, and shares the main bathroom. Clifton Sunsets is a stunning apartment within a picturesque setting, an exceptional venue for enjoying an extraordinary luxurious vacation.
D.Dunmore Views:Dunmore Views is a stunning 2 bedroom and 2 bathroom apartment with unsurpassed ocean views. The soft colour palette infuses a sense of calm in the bedrooms enhanced by the special decorative details subtlety suggesting an African influence. The master bedroom features a lavish en-suite bathroom and flat screen television, whilst the second bedroom shares the additional full bathroom and is equally beautifully decorated. Both the rooms have access to a balcony from where to relish the panoramic visas of the gleaming Atlantic Ocean. The open-plan lounge / dining room is decorated and furnished in a contemporary Bauhaus style, based on the “less is more” concept, with exquisite decorative pieces complimenting the look. Watch a movie on the big screen television, listen to music on the DVD-player, or just relax and enjoy the soothing views. Prepare gourmet meals in the gorgeous fitted kitchen equipped with top of range stainless steel appliances which includes a microwave for added convenience. The furnished balcony with retractable awnings is accessed through large sliding doors leading from the lounge area and is a marvellous spot to relax and have a glass of select Cape wines, to entertain, or from where to cherish the awe-inspiring sunsets and incredible sea views.
E.Clifton Heights: Architecturally designed in a classic Tuscan style, this imposing villa is nestled at the foot of Lion's Head and backs onto a nature reserve. Set in a quiet cul-de-sac fairly high on the mountainside, the house offers phenomenal sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean. Designed for versatile entertaining, the villa features a huge dining table, indoor and outdoor bar, luxurious formal lounge, large kitchen open to the dining area, an elegant flow between living areas and spacious outdoor areas. Exceptional features are a well equipped gym located close to the pool and a home cinema with surround sound so you can have an invigorating workout and watch your favourite films when you need a break from the crowded beaches and tourist activities. The villa is within easy walking distance of the famous beaches of Clifton and a few minutes drive to Camps Bay with its selection of promenade restaurants and cafes. For the sporty there are 3 sets of tennis courts within 1 kilometre. The night-life of the City Bowl is a 5 minute drive over the mountain, making this a superb location for an unforgettable Cape Town experience.
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