With views of Robben Island and Table Mountain, the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is one of South Africa’s hottest tourist destinations, attracting over 20 million local and international visitors each year.
Built around the older wharves of scenic Cape Town harbour, the V&A Waterfront is a popular place for dining and strolling. Part of its charm comes from the seagulls that hover around the fishing boats and the Cape fur seals basking on old tyres lining the quayside.
Then there is the dazzling choice of activities. For history buffs there are buildings of historical importance and a nautical museum to explore; for shoppers the place is a paradise of quality stores with merchandise to suit any budget or taste; and for diners there are numerous restaurants, many with spectacularviews.
How it started
The harbour where the V&A stands was constructed in the later part of the 19th century to cater for increased traffic after the discovery of gold and diamonds in the interior. Iconic parts of the original structures have been retained in the architecture.
Among these is the Victorian gothic-style Clock Tower situated near the originalBertie's Landing Restaurant. Dating back to 1892, this was the Port Captain’s Office. Other historic V&A sites include Breakwater Prison and the Ferryman’sFreehouse.
Maritime matters
The V&A is home to the South African Maritime Museum, which features the history of Table Bay and the largest collection of model ships in the country. There are also floating exhibits in the Victoria and Alfred Basins, including the SAS Somerset and the Alwyn Vincent.
Next to the harbour engineer’s former residence The Dock House, is the Time Ball Tower constructed in 1894. This housed the signalling device used by docked ships to test their chronometers. A 100-year-old dragon tree fromthe Canary Islands grows alongside.
Let’s go shopping
The V&A’s unique blend of African culture, Victorian architecture, maritime tradition and cosmopolitan mix of visitors, give it a lively multi-cultural atmosphere. There are over 400 stores catering for a variety of tastes and budgets.
The Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre houses most of the retail shops. Here you can find exclusive local boutiques alongside national chains, and superb selection of popular eateries and coffee shops.
Adjoining the Wharf is the Red Shed Craft Market which sells ethnic mementos, handmade curios and a selection of popular craft. At the other end of the spectrum is the Alfred Mall, situated within the historic Pier head, which specialises in quality artefacts, jewellery, African curios and art with a nautical flavour.
A window on the oceans
The Two Oceans Aquarium features over 3000, mostly endemic sea creatures including sharks, turtles, penguins and seals. The aquarium offers shark and copper hat diving.
Images © Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
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