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Guide to Cape Town, South Africa
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Cape Town
With Table Mountain in the background and the ocean spreading out in front, Cape Town is thought to be one of the worlds most geographically perfect cities. A mix of historic and modern buildings, a booming economy and buzzing culture make this unique city unforgettable.
How To Get There
Lots of flights go directly to Cape Town International Airport, though some stop over in Johannesburg. When you arrive at the airport there are shuttle buses that will take you to the city.
Travelling Around
The easiest and most convenient ways to get around Cape Town are buses and taxis. If you rent a car, parking is easy to find in the city but its easier and cheaper to use buses during the day (they dont run after dark) and taxis at night.
When To Go
Cape Town weather is famous for the Cape Doctor winds which sweep in off the sea and cleanse the air. The climate is Mediterannean - warm summers and chilly, rainy winters. Autumn runs from March to May and is a good time to visit weatherwise.
What To See
Cape Town is home to probably the most beautiful botanical gardens in the world - Kirstenbosch. They cover over 500 hectares of Table Mountain and feature 9000 of Southern Africa's 22,000 plant species. Highlights are the elevated fragrance garden, a Braille Trail and a sculpture garden. Following the outdoor theme, pay a visit to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Preserve. It can be seen either on foot or as part of a vehicle tour. To appreciate Cape Towns incredible setting, hop on a cable car up to the summit of Table Mountain.
Another beautiful site to visit is the Castle of Good Hope. It was built over 350 years ago as a defence post for Cape Town, but never saw a day of battle. It is home to the William Feur Collection of historical pieces such as a table capable of seating one hundred people.
If politics are your thing, schedule a visit to the Houses of Parliament where you can witness Cape Towns government at work. Tours encompass many of the important aspects of government and give an insight into how the country is run.
South Africas oldest museum, the Museum & Planetarium, has a fossilised human footprint among its exhibits, thought to be 115,000 years old. The South African National Gallery has some great portraits including a superb one of Desmond Tutu. Some lesser known museums that are worth mentioning include the District Six Museum and the Cape Medical Museum with its tribute to the famous Dr. James Barne who disguised herself as a man to escape prejudice in the early days of South African medicine.
Hotspot
Robben Island is where Nelson Mandela spent his years in prison. It was declared a UN World Heritage Site in 1999, and has become a hugely popular attraction. The guided tours are led by former inmates so youre guaranteed to find out exactly what life was like for prisoners. Visitors are guided through the old prison then taken on a 45 minute bus ride around the island to see notable sites including the prison house of Pan-African Congress leader Robert Sobukwe and the lime quarry where Mandela laboured. Be prepared to learn about some of the harsher aspects of South Africas history in what is sure to be an unforgettable trip. Make sure you book your tour in advance.
Night Life
Cape Town has a great party atmosphere. Most clubs only start filling up at 11pm and are open all night seven nights a week, making for a non-stop party schedule. Watch the sun set over the Atlantic at a bar in Green Point or Kloof Street, then head to Long Street which is home to a myriad of lively bars. See Cape Town Travel for full details.
fast facts
Cape Town is twinned with Nice in France and Haifa in Israel- it is the third most populous city in South Africa
- Cape Town is one of South Africas three capital cities, along with Pretoria (administrative capital) and Bloemfontein (judicial capital)
Quick HistoryNot much is known about the history of the Cape Town region before European explorers began to document it in the late 1400s. The area didnt have much contact with Europe until 1652, when employees of the Dutch East India Company were sent to the Cape of Good Hope to set up a station for ships travelling to the Dutch East Indies. Shortage of labour to establish the growing city led to the importing of slaves from Indonesia and Madagascar. Cape Town was seized by the British in the 1795 Battle of Muizenberg, but control switched over to the Dutch on several occasions until being incorporated into the British Empire. Tensions between Dutch and British settlers led to the two Boer Wars. After their victory, the British took control of the flourishing gold and diamond industries, and formed the Union of South Africa in 1910. In 1948, the National Party began a regime of segregation called apartheid which forced black people and white people to live in separate areas. Cape Town was a centre for anti-apartheid politics. Nelson Mandela made his first public speech hours after being released from prison in 1990 from the balcony of Cape Town City Hall. Since South Africas first democratic election in 1994, Cape Town has worked hard to overcome health and crime issues, and the economy and spirit has been boosted by tourism and real estate booms.
Lingo
South Africa has eight official languages, including Xhosa, Zulu and Afrikaans and English.
Money
One South African Rand is worth around 75p. Up-to-date exchange rates can be found on a currency converter.
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