Located at the southwestern tip of South Africa, Cape Town is a thriving megalopolis with more than 3.5 million people packed into its denizens. The Cape region is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful regions in the world, and certainly in Africa. The city is the capital and major urban center of the Western Cape of South Africa, and its spectacular Indian Ocean setting and year-round warm climate makes it one of the favorite destinations of all tourists who visit this country. Visitors can visit world famous sights such as the Table Mountain, home to the legendary Devil's Peak and the famous Signal Hill. Overlooking the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, Cape Town really is something special. Boasting a dynamic interaction between local tribes and English, French, Dutch, German and Indonesian immigrants, Cape Town has a history built around multiculturalism and its majestic vineyards, where some of the world’s finest wines are produced. It is a unique destination, especially recommended for family holidays.
Discovering Cape Town
Besides the region of the Cape Peninsula known for its beautiful white sand beaches, resorts such as Camps Bay and Clifton offer spectacular views. Llandudno, Bantry Bay, Hout Bay and de Blouberg Centers, together with the wine regions of Constantia, Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franshhoek, are absolutely worth visiting. Marked by expanses of hillside vineyards, the landscape of Cape Town’s surrounds undergoes vivid changes with the seasons, from green in summer to a dominant red-gold in autumn.
The old city center of Cape Town itself is relatively narrow compared with the more modern suburbs, allowing to be easily explored on foot. Visitors will notice that the city is marked by a combination of two opposing architectural styles – the old Victorian style abounds in the more historical parts of the city, while glass and steel dominates the newer financial and business districts.
The Best of the Cape
The Castle of Good Hope, which originated back to the time of the Anglo-Dutch rivalry in Southern African during the 17th century, is one of the most interesting monuments in town. And, for a taste of epic colonial architecture, check out the Cape Town City Hall. Built in 1905 in the style of the Italian Renaissance, this magnificent structure overlooks the Grand Parade, which has now converted into a flea market. Characterized by mosaic floors, marble staircases, unique stained glass windows and an organ with 3,165 pipes, the Cape Town City Hall was the last great building of the Victorian period before the British left white South Africans to their own devices.
For those into more recent history, such as South African’s Apartheid era struggle, a visit to the District Six Museum comes well recommended – this place is dedicated to the history of the struggle of black South Africans against the racist white government of the day.
Cape Town is also home to the South African National Gallery, one of the biggest galleries in African, which exhibits over 6,500 works from local and foreign artists. The city is home to the oldest museum in South Africa too, the South African Museum, where you can admire a fossil of a human footprint that is over 117,000 years old, as well as numerous other highlights. For tourists interested in science, they can pay a visit to the city’s Planetarium, a very modern and accommodating center which regularly broadcasts interesting audiovisual performances.
One last thing – don’t forget to make the most of the nightlife experience in Cape Town; visitors have a choice of hundreds of different bars, cafes, clubs and casinos concentrated near the beach area. Generally, restaurants stay open until midnight, while the the clubs and bars open quite late, around 11 PM.
Main Attractions : Table Mountain, Cape of Good Hope, Waterfront, Camps Bay, Sea Point, Hout Bay, Hermanus, Kalk Bay, Cape Town Stadium, the Cape of Good Hope , Cape Town International Convention Centre, and many others.
Currency : Rand
Budget for one week : Over $1500
Taxes and gratuities : The tax is around 14%. Tipping is customary
Spoken languages : Afrikaans, English, Zulu, Tswana
Area : 2,454.72 km2 (947.8 sq mi)
Population : 3,497,097
Electricity :
- Voltage: 220-240 Volts (U.S./Canada are 110-120 Volts)
- Primary Socket Type: South African
- Multi-voltage appliances (laptops, etc.)
- 110-120V electronics: Plug adapter + step-down transformer
- Hair dryers, curling irons, etc.: Plug adapter + voltage converter
Other places to see & things to do: Clifton 4th Beach, Table Bay, Mostert's Mill, and scores of beaches and other outdoor activities.
Sanitary requirements: Normally, you should prepare yourself with an anti malarial. It is prudent to make sure you are vaccinated against hepatitis A. Tap water can be drunk.
Images courtesy: alistair.pott, Warren Rohner, Jono Hey
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