The city is blessed with unrivalled gifts of nature. The mighty kilometer high flat top Table Mountain dwarfs even most ambitious skyscrapers in business district. The city is surrounded by glorious landscapes, stunning beaches and a bounty of unique vegetation. Where else do you have a choice of cool Atlantic Ocean and warmer Indian Ocean?

But Cape Town offers much more. It is reputed to be most open-minded and relaxed city in South Africa and is one of safest cities in Africa for visitors. Action hero Jean-Claude Van Damme visited city in 2003 to shoot an action thriller and declared: "I love waking up in this city with sea around me and fresh air. The people are young with fresh and warm personalities and are friendly and it's a country full of hope."

The movie was shot in city and around harbour and some local funs got to see Van Damme at waterfront. This is same country that has produced some of most inspiring people of our times. Desmond Tutu - Nobel Peace Prize winner and past leader of Anglican flock in Cape Town, for example. And of course Nelson Mandela.

Take a boat trip to Robben Island, one of hottest destinations for overseas visitors. This is where Nelson Mandela nearly lost his sight quarrying lime during his long imprisonment. Make sure to get to summit of Table Mountain by cable where you will enjoy some unforgettable views.

Northwards of city center is Victoria and Albert waterfront- a trendy shopping and entertainment complex. It is packed with art galleries, art and craft shops, restaurants, taverns, cinemas, theatres and an aquarium. It is easy to see why many beautiful people converge here. It is when in Cape Town that you will understand why Desmond Tutu named country as "Rainbow Nation". The peoples here have roots in four corners of planet and together give city its vivid colours.

Cape Town is well connected to one of most popular travel destinations in South Africa: Garden Route. The Garden Route is southern coastal area starting west of Cape Town at Swellendam and ending at Humansdorp just before Port Elizabeth. The Garden Route is probably most scenic journey you will ever make. You encounter soaring cliffs, wide beaches, semi desert, rocky coves, rain forests, tranquil lakes and rugged mountains.

It is peace and quiet that attracted writer Somerset Maugham when he sought to work on a novel without interruption. Most visitors do not however come here to work. The main draw of islands has always been beaches, snorkeling and diving. The attractions of natural world particularly birdlife, tropical fish and unique physical environment are a bonus.

After your Seychelles holiday you may want to impress your friends by these two facts. The islands are only mid ocean island group in world with a granite rock formation. And that Aldabra, a UNESCO designated World Heritage Site is largest coral atoll in world. Some will of course not understand what you are talking about but point will be clear that you have traveled to a place of distinction.

Jacques Costeau whose part of documentary, The Silent World was shot in Seychelles said that he had never been anywhere else with such clarity of water or diversity of reef life.