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South African Naval Museum
Principally for naval enthusiasts, this museum nonetheless has plenty of interesting exhibits, including model ships and submarines, uniforms and a life-sized ships bridge. The museum occupies the buildings of the original Dockyard Magazine (storehouse), built in the mid-18th centu
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KWV Emporium
This winery is a short walk from the train station. Its fortified wines and brandies are award-winning. Cellar tours (R40) are available and there is a range of tasting options, including chocolate and brandy, biltong and wine, and a tea and chocolate pairing for non-drinkers (R45)
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Beau Constantia
There are panoramic views from this newish winerys contemporary-styled tasting room and wine/sushi bar, although take care when driving in as the car park is a little tricky to locate. There are five wines to taste, each of which can be paired with canapes to complement the flavour
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Oudekraal
There’s an attractive picnic spot maintained by Table Mountain National Park on this clump of granite boulders jutting into the Atlantic. The protected coves teeming with marine life and the oldest-known wreck in South Africa (dating from 1670) also make this a prime diving locatio
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Montecasino
The best of the multipurpose pleasure palaces includes a faux-Tuscan village and the ever- expanding Montecasino Bird Gardens , where you can observe a variety of species at close range. The Il Grande cinema is suitably grand, and the Pieter Toerien Theatre is also housed here.
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Workers’ Museum
This important museum is in the restored Electricity Department’s compound, which was built in 1910 for 300-plus municipal workers and has been declared a national monument. There is a workers’ library, a resource centre and a display of the living conditions of migrant workers.
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Taal Monument
The somewhat phallic Taal Monument is in the Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve. The giant, needle-like edifice commemorates the language (taal is Afrikaans for ‘language’). On a clear day there are stunning views as far as Cape Town. There’s also an adjoining restaurant and curio shop.
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Second Beach
Second Beach is Port St Johnss heart and soul. Locals come to this idyllic stretch of sand to while away the hot days and party as the sun goes down. Wandering down to the shallows for a paddle and spotting Nguni cows lounging on the sand are classic Port St Johns experiences.
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San Rock Art
Of several San rock-art sites within the park, this is the only one open to tourists. You can organise a guided walk with community guides. The return trip takes about an hour, including time to rest and chat. Look for the ‘San Rock Art’ sign near the first bridge after entry.
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Orange River Cellars
Theres a vast range of well-priced wines to taste, including dessert and sparkling wines as well as a juice tasting for kids and nondrinkers. Its in an industrial area 6km northeast of town, not the most atmospheric place to sip (a new tasting room in central Upington is planned).
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Bertram House
The only surviving Georgian-style brick house in Cape Town dates from the 1840s. The interior is decorated appropriately to its era, with Regency-style furnishings and displays of 19th-century English porcelain, as well as a small exhibition upstairs on the San ethnographic archive
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Bell
South Africa’s leading art publishing company has been fostering emerging artistic talent since 2002 from both South African and abroad. Recent exhibitions range from the photography of Pulitzer prize–winning Greg Marinovich to the wood and clay creations of Venda sculptor Noria Ma
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Katse Dam Visitors Centre
On the main road is Katse Dams visitors centre, with information, displays and a dam-viewing deck. Look for the bright blue roof a few kilometres east of Katse village. Guided tours of the dam wall (M10, one hour) depart at 9am and 2pm (weekdays) and 9am and 11am (weekends).
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Fairview
This hugely popular estate off Rte 101, 6km south of Paarl, is a wonderful winery but not the place to come for a tranquil tasting. It is great value, since tastings include six wines and a wide range of cheeses. The well-respected restaurant (mains R70 to R160) is open for breakfa
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Hillcrest Estate
Theres lots going on here apart from excellent wine making, such as brewing Granite Rock craft beers and growing olives. Their historic quarry (www.thequarry.co.za), with a fish-stocked lake, is used for wakeboarding and events such as open-air Galileo Cinema screenings on Tuesday
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Centre for the Book
This grand domed Edwardian building first opened in 1913 as the headquarters of the now-defunct University of Good Hope. More recently it has become an annexe of the National Library of South Africa. Pop inside to admire its central reading room, which is also sometimes used for co
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Buitenverwachting
Meaning ‘beyond expectation’, Buitenverwachting is known for offering good working and living conditions to its employees. Order ahead to enjoy a blissful picnic lunch in front of the 1796 manor house. Theres also a casual cafe and a fancier restaurant with a sweeping view of the v
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Belvidere
Belvidere, 10km from Knysna, is so immaculate it’s positively creepy. But it’s worth a quick look for the beautiful Norman-style Belvidere church that was built in the 1850s by homesick English expats. Further on is the Featherbed Nature Reserve and, on the seaward side, Brenton-on
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Inkwenkwezi Game Reserve
Between the Chintsa East and West turnoffs, the private, upmarket Inkwenkwezi features the Big Five (although the elephants and lions are kept separately) and five biomes. In addition to wildlife drives (from R695 per person), the reserve offers guided mountain biking, hiking and c
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Koppies Dam Nature Reserve
The 40-sq-km Koppies Dam Nature Reserve, about 70km northeast of Kroonstad on the Rhenoster River, is popular with anglers. Yellowfish, barbell, mudfish and carp are all abundant. Windsurfing, sailing and water-skiing are also very popular here. Camping is available here (R100 per
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