It isn’t every day that one travels “One & Only.” In Cape Town, the One&Only Resort stands out like a romantic sentinel standing picturesquely against the background of the spectacular Table Mountain with postcard-perfect views of the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. This über-chic six-star resort has 131 keys, each room offering a spectacular view of one of the most visited places in South Africa. Voted as one of the most popular cities in the world, Cape Town combines high sophistication with rugged charm, nature’s finest landscapes, epicurean cuisine, and sprawling vineyards. The result is an irresistible mix of style, cosmopolitan energy, and boundless opportunity. With the country enjoying a climate of almost 300 days of sunshine a year, attractive suburbs within easy reach of the city center, and a currency that buys luxury, space, and excellent infrastructure, it is no wonder that so many are flocking to this slice of heaven on earth. With its typical Mediterranean weather, Cape Town has long summers, mild winters, and a perennial green season. This impressive city, influenced by British colonial architecture and stunning views, is now part of the world’s iconic cities.

The gracious marketing communications manager Umme- Ayman Khan toured me around the luxurious One&Only Cape Town, which opened in April of 2009 with celebrities like Sharon Stone, Mariah Carey, and Clint Eastwood on hand to grace the magical evening. She shared that the One&Only is the luxury resort brand of Kerzner International, a reading developer and operator of destination resorts, hotels, and casinos. The One&Only name is a promise that each of its resorts will provide a distinctive and unique experience, underpinned by the owner’s passion for quality, fun, and luxury. BBC’s bucket list of the top “50 places to visit before you die.” The New World Atlas states that Cape Town is “affectionately known as the ‘Mother City,’ the first European settlement in sub-Saharan Africa established in the late 17th century where colonial legacy is still apparent in its opulent Victorian buildings and attractive terraced cafes.” Sprawled in a magnificent harbor and dominated by the curiously flattened silhouette of Table Mountain, the captivating city unfolds magically except when the notorious mist known as “The Tablecloth” descends. One thing you ought to do is come up here with your picnic hampers and a bottle of wine from one of the celebrated vineyards nearby and just watch the dreamy sunset.

On the dining front, innovative chef Nobu Matsuhisa brings one of the most celebrated global restaurant brands featuring his signature Japanese-inspired menu, with a few South African twists, to Cape Town—the first Nobu in Africa. Another unique treat can be experienced at the Vista Bar & Lounge at the hotel
lobby, which, as its name suggests, features jaw-dropping panoramic views of Table Mountain. As evening falls, Vista Bar & Lounge unveils itself as a sophisticated cocktail lounge. From the posh hotel, take a two- hour drive to Gansbaai to engage in a life-changing activity—swimming with the great white sharks. From the fishing boat, huge chunks of bloodied meat are lowered into the shark-infested waters. With “baited” breath, catch sight of the first dorsal fin slicing the watery landscape as the ferocious shark magnificently flips over, exposing its creamy white belly before it surfaces. In Cape Town, visitors are cautioned about its magnetizing siren- like call that lures you to its shores. It may become too difficult to resist. You may just be seduced enough to make it your permanent home. Be captivated by Cape Town, where it is said that people work to play. As Jean-Jacques Rousseau once wrote: “The person who has lived the most is not the one who has lived the longest but the one who has lived the richest experiences.” This is the magic of life and the adventure of travel. Be enticed by its power and blessedness. Who knows? You just might find your one and only,just as I did.