Cape Town
Situated at the south-western tip of South Africa and the African continent, it’s the city of Table Mountain, of Robben Island, of the beautiful Kirstenbosch Gardens, and the spectacular Cape Point... But aside from its natural assets, it’s home to colourful characters from a cross-section of cultures and it has a fascinating history.
A national park within city limits. Two World Heritage Sites. Enough said.Cape Town has one of the widest ranges of attractions in the world. This includes a diverse mix of cultural and heritage sites, outdoor and adventure activities, health and wellness options, entertainment, nature and environment, and wining and dining.
Cape Town is about 1 400km (870mi) from Johannesburg by road and 1 600km (994mi) from Durban (both about a two-hour flight away).
Cape Town is set in one of the most beautiful locations in the world. It is dominated by the mood-setting Table Mountain, which cradles the busy commercial hub of the city between itself and the Atlantic Ocean. It is a key tourist destination because of diverse scenery that includes beaches, forests, mountains and wildlife, but at the same time offers the international visitor world-class service in some of the best hotels, restaurants, tourist attractions and shopping malls in the world.
The city is known for its good weather and outdoor lifestyle. Visitors can enjoy a range of activities from skydiving off Lion’s Head onto the world-renowned Camps Bay beach, to sitting at one of the many outdoor cafés enjoying the mix of local flavours and people. There are fun activities for the whole family, romantic destinations for couples, and an exciting nightlife for all ages.
Walk the streets of Cape Town, meet its people and fall in love with a city of hope, creative freedom and incredible spirit.
At its heart is the central business district, a relatively small area which, with a good pair of shoes and general sense of direction, can be comfortably done on foot! The City Centre has the Museum Mile, the Company Gardens, Greenmarket Square, St George's Mall and much more.
Numerous excellent hotels, loft apartments, trendy restaurants and bars can be found in the heart of the city.
Sidewalk cafes and markets (look out for Adderley Street's famous fresh flower market), give the area a colourful and vibrant flavour and the city's workers enjoy nothing more than strolling and shopping during their lunch breaks.
The noon day gun, fired from Signal Hill at 12 noon, has become a much loved tradition and reverberates through the city's streets.
Bo Kaap has a rich cultural, religious and architectural heritage and is a mixed and cosmopolitan neighbourhood with strong links to Muslim traditions and culture.
Situated above the central business district of Cape Town, it is easily accessibly on foot and walking tours are popular. In the 1800s residents of the Bo Kaap comprised of musicians, builders, tailors, dressmakers, cooks, artisans and labourers who played a major role in building Cape Town and its urban cultural life.
Today, there are still family businesses that date back generations, for example, Rose Corner Café, Atlas Trading Centre, Rocksole and Latief Café. No visit to the Bo Kaap is complete without savouring delicious Cape Malay cuisine, so stop for a mouthwatering meal at Biesmiellah Restaurant. Try some denningvleis, a tamarind-spiked lamb stew, and afterwards, pop by Atlas Trading Centre for some spices so you can recreate the delectable flavours of Cape Malay cooking at home.
The Bo Kaap is also home to the oldest mosque in South Africa, the Auwal Mosque, established in 1798. It is also home to the oldest Muslim cemetery, the Tana Baru where two revered Islamic leaders – Tuan Guru and Tuan Said Aloewie – are buried. Tuan Guru was the first imam at the Auwal Mosque and established the first madrassah (school for Islamic instruction) in the Cape. More about the Bo Kaap’s fascinating Islamic heritage can be explored at the Bo Kaap Museum.
While you’re in the area you might hear the deafening boom of the Noon Gun. The Bo Kaap is nestled right under Signal Hill, where the Noon Gun has been fired daily at 12pm everyday from Monday to Saturday since 1902! The original guns, which are 18-pounder muzzle-loaders, are still in use today. The ritual represents one of Cape Town's oldest living traditions and these are the oldest guns in daily use in the world. Witness the firing of the Noon Gun and take in the surrounding views of Table Bay Harbour, Robben Islandand Cape Town Stadium
15 Free things to do in Cape Town
Here are 15 ways to enjoy Cape Town and the Western Cape without having to pay an entrance fee:
1. Hike up Table Mountain and enjoy awesome views of the city and its new world-class stadium where eight of the official 2010 FIFA World Cup™ matches were played.
2. Get your picture taken at Cape Agulhas at the southernmost tip of Africa - the official meeting place of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans .
3. Visit a food market – Stellenbosch’s Slow Food market, Woodstock’s Biscuit Mill and Tokai’s Porter Estate are as good – and different – as they get.
4. Cycle through the Cape Winelands and picnic on wine farms along the way.
5. Kayak around Cape Point.
6. Grab your camera or sketch pad and wander around the beautifully restored Victorian village of Matjiesfontein (in the arid Karoo), a national monument.
7. Stand quietly at the kramat (‘a holy Muslim site’) on Signal Hill.
8. Follow a penguin on Boulders Beach or Stony Point.
9. Play in the waves at beautiful, quaint Victoria Bay or dissappear into another world as you wander along seaside castles at nearby Noetzie.
10. Snap your fingers to the Cape Minstrels or listen to the colourful stories of the Adderley Street flower sellers.
11. Stargaze in the Cape Karoo.
12. Follow the historic Cape West Coast Mission Station Route from Mamre to Vredendal.
13. Walk through the unique Cape Floral Kingdom – the smallest yet most diverse of only six in the world.
14. Block your ears on Signal Hill as the noon gun marks midday for the past 200 years. Then take a walking tour of Bo-Kaap, a colourful, culturally distinct area founded by slaves in the 17th century and inhabited largely by their descendents.
15. Take a stroll down the Sea Point Promenade and be dazzled by one of Africa’s the most amazing sunsets
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