Simply Abu Dhabi Magazine XXI

2 7 3 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I A s the sun dips into the inky expanse of the ocean and the rocky summit slips into muted shade, the view over Cape Town from the epic Table Mountain takes on an ambience all of its own. At eight million years old, this is one of the oldest mountains on the planet and it’s an entrancing place. This windy perch has beguiled a great many earlier visitors, as confirmed by Sir Francis Drake when he said in 1580, “This cape is the most stately thing and the fairest cape we saw in the whole circumference of the earth.” This viewpoint gives visitors to South Africa’s southwest coast a genuine sense of scale. The vast scale of the land and the immensity of the ocean are arresting. And there’s a restaurant, café and bar at the top as well, so you can savour the moment over food and refreshments. The benefits of progress, one might say. When it’s time to descend via the cable cars, coasting through the clouds and marvelling at Lion’s Head Mountain as it drifts past, it’s another distinct pleasure to know that the One&Only Cape Town is the next destination. A visit to Cape Town is an absolute essential on any passionate traveller’s life list, and the One&Only is the ideal hotel to be based at. From the One&Only Royal Mirage and The Palm in Dubai, through to the Reethi Rah in the Maldives or the Emirates Wolgan Valley in Australia, One&Only properties, wherever they are, promise an ultra- luxurious experience. The resorts are really destinations in themselves and guests can rely on stunning, carefully selected locations, character and style that has been meticulously curated with a strong influence from the local culture, and a warm approach to hospitality which feels effortless and genuinely welcoming. At the heart of the Victoria & AlfredWaterfront, the One&Only Cape Town is in a prime position for exploring the city. However, anyone visiting this hotel would be wise to leave plenty of time to just enjoy the property when not busy seeing the sights and attractions of the city. The hotel has countless amenities and plenty of entertainment is on hand. As is to be expected, the 131 rooms and suites are impeccably styled and include comforts such as free WiFi, modern TV and DVD