With one of the world's most eye-catching settings, Cape Town stands on the Atlantic Ocean overlooked by the iconic bulk of Table Mountain, which rises from the heart of South Africa's second largest city, often draped with a mantle of cloud. Take the cable car - or walk - to the summit for unforgettable views over the mountainous beach-lined peninsula that ends at wave-lashed Cape Point. Look down over the harbour, with the lively Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, a sophisticated complex of restaurants and shops, and Robben Island where Nelson Mandela, principal architect of the Rainbow Nation, was imprisoned. Nearby you can visit the African Penguin colony at Boulders, the landmark beaches of Clifton and Camps Bay or the lovely Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. This romantic city is the jumping off point for exploring the Western Cape and the historic Winelands towns of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek - and makes the perfect end (or beginning) to any trip to South Africa.