Cape Town is the capital of which country. Cape Town is the legislative capital of South Africa. When is the season. When is the best time to go

Patricia de Lille

Kapstad (Kapstadt)

1424.6 people/km²

Cape Town(Kapstad, Kapstad) (eng. cape town, Afrikaans Kaapstad, iKapa spit) is the second most populated city (after Johannesburg) in the Republic of South Africa. Located in the southwest of the country, on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, not far from the Cape of Good Hope. Capital of the Western Cape Province, legislative capital of South Africa. Included in the urban district of Cape Town.

According to 2007 data, the population of Cape Town is 3.5 million people. The area of ​​​​Cape Town is 2,499 km²: this is more than other cities in South Africa, and as a result, the population density in Cape Town is lower (1,425 people / km²). Cape Town is a sister city of the French city of Nice and the Russian city of St. Petersburg.

Story

Main article: History of Cape Town

There is no reliable information about when the first human settlements appeared here. The earliest archaeological finds (Pearce Cave, near Fish Hoek) date back to about 12,000 years ago. Little is known about the early history of this region. The first written evidence refers only to 1486, when the Portuguese Bartolomeu Dias visited the Cape of Good Hope.

Physical and geographical characteristics

The center of Cape Town is located on the northern edge of the Cape Peninsula. Table Mountain creates a picturesque backdrop, towering more than a thousand meters above sea level. It is surrounded by almost sheer cliffs such as Devil's Peak and Lion's Head. Sometimes a thin cloud, called a "tablecloth", forms over the mountain.

The peninsula itself is a small mountain range (more than 700 peaks are over 300 m high) and ends at Cape Point. Many of Cape Town's suburbs are located on the large Cape Flats that connects the peninsula to the mainland. Cape Flats is made up of sandy soils left over from the former shallows: earlier Table Mountain was an island.

On the eastern side of the peninsula in False Bay is the Simonstown naval base, where you can visit the South African Navy Museum.

Climate

The climate of the city is subtropical Mediterranean.

Attractions

Castle of Good Hope (Castle of Good Hope listen)) is the oldest building in South Africa. The construction was completed in 1679, and became the base of the Dutch East India Company (on the trade route to India), as well as a defensive fort for the settlers. In 1936, the fort was declared a museum and is still the regional center of the South African military forces in the Western Cape.

Population and household composition

According to the national census in South Africa for 2001, the population of Cape Town was 2,893,251 people (about 7% of the country's population). There were 759,767 households in the city, of which 87.4% were equipped with sewerage, 94.4% lived in more or less sanitary conditions with garbage collection and weekly toilet cleaning. 80.1% of households used electricity as their main source of energy. Similar statistics are collected in South Africa, where a significant part of the population, especially blacks, still lives in rather deplorable conditions (this is especially true for recent migrants from villages to cities and impoverished white farmers after the black majority came to power). 16.1% of households had one head of household, reflecting the impact of the AIDS epidemic.

Vital movement of the population

The population dynamics of Cape Town, like South Africa as a whole, are complex and contradictory, varying greatly by racial and linguistic groups. In general, the city maintains a high birth rate, especially among blacks and people of color, but it is lower than the national average. At the same time, the mortality rate is also very high. The raging AIDS epidemic, especially in urban slums, and high crime rates, with a significant number of deaths from firearms, make a particular contribution to mortality. At the same time, the city also has a significant migration increase due to black marginal migrants from the interior regions of South Africa and other African countries.

Racial composition

Cape Town is distinguished by its racially diverse population, but also by the conflicting, contradictory relations between the main racial and ethnic groups that traditionally compete with each other for the city's rather limited economic resources. As in the USA, interracial relations are characterized in the past by explicit, legislative manifestations of racism, which have now taken a latent form (discrimination, reverse discrimination, housing segregation, etc.)

colored

In racial terms, the city is relatively dominated by the so-called colored people - descendants from interracial contacts of Asians (mostly Malays imported as domestic servants and slaves), whites (Dutch, Germans and partly Portuguese) and blacks. Coloreds make up 48.13% of the population (1.393 million). Cape Town is the cultural capital of the people of color whose first language is Afrikaans.

Black

Next in number is the Negro population. The proportion of blacks in Cape Town is 31.0% (897 thousand people), which is significantly lower than in the country as a whole (79%). The bulk of blacks are recent migrants from tribal villages in the northwest of the country, as well as people from other, even less prosperous regions of Africa. After blacks came to power after 1994, one of the tasks of modern government is to increase the proportion of blacks in the city and provide them with leverage of cultural, political and economic influence.

White

The third largest racial component of Cape Town is whites, making up 18.75% of the population (542 thousand). Their proportion in the city is almost twice that of the country as a whole (10%), but whites are heterogeneous in their origin and language. In coastal areas (especially on the cape) - the bulk is of British origin and speaks English. Relatively recent migrants from Europe (including Russians, Lithuanians, Portuguese, etc.) adjoin them. Another significant part of the whites in the city are the descendants of the Dutch and German settlers of the 17th and 18th centuries (Afrikaners or Boers), who speak Afrikaans. The proportion and number of whites in the city has declined significantly over the past 40 years and especially over the past decade due to their intense emigration to the US, Australia and the UK and unwillingness to accept the loss of political power in South Africa, but Cape Town due to its geographical location and long history to a greater extent than other cities in South Africa, it maintains favorable conditions for the preservation of at least some part of the white population in the future.

Transport

In addition, there is a developed network of railways and roads for intra- and intercity communication. 3 federal highways originate in the city, a bus and taxi system is developed.

twin cities

Notes

Links

• information for tourists in Cape Town
• Cape Town Time Current time in Cape Town.
• Dmitry Sakharov's blog - About Cape Town; reviews, tips, travel photos.

General information about the city

The city is located around the Cape of Good Hope (hence the name) It serves as the center of the Western Cape and the seat of the Parliament of South Africa.

The city is located between the coast of the bay and Table Mountain. The climate is of the Mediterranean type, the average annual temperature is 21 ° C. The city is well blown by winds from the ocean. An average of 660 mm of precipitation falls annually, most of it in winter, from May to August.

The population of Cape Town at the end of 2011 was about 3.74 million people. Among the city's population, descendants of Europeans make up about 25%, Bantu Africans about 20%, and most of them are of Asian and mixed origin.

The city has a large port, airport, railway station. It has a developed industry of all leading industries, the central offices of large banks and other business organizations. There is a highly developed science, cultural and educational institutions.

Cape Town is the first European city in South Africa, founded by the Dutch East India Company in 1652. In 1781, a French garrison appeared there (which remained there). In 1806, the city was captured by Great Britain and became the center of British possessions in South Africa.

In 1840, the population of Cape Town was 20,000 and a city council was formed. After the discovery of diamonds in the interior of South Africa, a railway was built from Cape Town to the north. Until the end of the 19th century, there was an influx of people into the city and the first industrial enterprises arose. The modern industrial and transportation base developed during and after World War II.

Jews in Cape Town

First mention

Jews were among the first settlers in Cape Town in 1652. There is a record of the baptism of two Jewish men living in the Western Cape on Christmas Day 1669. According to local law, Jews were not allowed to live there.

nineteenth century

After the occupation of the Cape of Good Hope in 1806 by the British, British laws were introduced. Jewish immigration to Cape Town began from Central Europe and England, and then (more numerous) from Eastern Europe.

In 1820 there were about 20 Jews in the city.

In 1903, Hyman Lieberman, a Jew, was elected mayor for the first time in Cape Town and was also chairman of the community. Rabbi Alfred Bender came to lead the congregation in 1895 and served for 42 years.

In 1904, a Council of Jewish Representatives was created in Cape Town, similar to the English Board of Deputies. As the Jewish community grew, new synagogues sprang up. The Great Synagogue ("Garden", Gardens Shul) was opened in 1905. Jews have made a great contribution to the cultural and social life of Cape Town. Art galleries and a library (in the parliament building) were created at their expense.

Cape Town was home to the Council for Jewish Education and the United Council of Orthodox Congregations. The former was in charge of 31 Hebrew schools, including the Herzliya Day High School and Primary Day Schools, as well as a hostel.

In Cape Town, there were 12 Orthodox congregations and two reformist (with their own school), subordinate to the South African Union for Progressive Judaism, an orphanage and a nursing home, a board of trustees. A museum has been set up in the premises of the old synagogue.

In 1980, 25,650 Jews lived in Cape Town (about 3% of the population).

In the 1990s after the black majority government came to power in South Africa, the sharp deterioration of the economic situation and the growth of anti-Semitism among part of the black population, the number of Jews living in Cape Town decreased. The departure of Jews is primarily due to the fact that the city has become a center for the spread of Islam in South Africa. Nationalist Islamic groups operate in Cape Town: Qibla, closely associated with the Lebanese Shiite terrorist organization Hezbollah, Pagad (People against crime and drugs), etc.

In 1997, the country's first terrorist attack against a Jewish facility was carried out in Cape Town. That same year, a firebomb was thrown at a Jewish bookstore. In July and October 1997 violent anti-Israeli demonstrations took place, the participants of the October demonstration chanted slogans about the need for a "new Hitler" to exterminate the Jews.

Since 1999, a Muslim radio station in Cape Town has repeatedly made anti-Semitic statements.

When the first European settlers decided to settle near the Cape of Good Hope, their choice fell on the shores of Table Bay. In 1652, the Dutchman Van Riebeck supervised the arrangement of the new village. The place was called Kapstadt, which literally translates as "a city on a cape."

The location of the Dutch was well chosen, and soon their settlement became an important port on the way from Europe to the Indian Ocean: ships rounding the southern tip of Africa preferred to stop at Kapstadt to stock up on fresh food, fruits and water. The prosperity of the Dutch colony was put to an end by the British, who captured the district in 1795, and although the peace treaty returned the lands near the Cape of Good Hope to the Netherlands, 11 years later the British again took them into their hands, and in 1814 this accession was approved by the Vienna Congress of European Powers.

Based: 1652
Square: 2444.97 km2
Population: 3 740 026 people (2011)
Currency: South African rand
Language: English and Afrikaans
Off.site: http://www.capetown.gov.za/

Current time in Cape Town:
(UTC+2)

Kapstadt from that time began to be called in the English manner Cape Town. The local port became the largest in all of South Africa, and when the British managed to defeat the Boers during two brutal wars and created the Union of South Africa, they made Cape Town the capital of a new dominion. And although in 1961 the president and government of the country moved to a new capital, Pretoria, the parliament and a number of other authorities remained in the same place. Now Cape Town is the second largest city in South Africa, a modern and cosmopolitan metropolis.

How to get there

A ticket for 1 day costs 150 rand, it gives the right to use both lines of sightseeing buses without restrictions - get off at stops, change, etc .; cars pass in a circle approximately every 15-20 minutes, the full cycle of the trip takes about 2 hours.

It is most reasonable to devote 2 days to excursions - on the first one to see the sights of one route, on the second - the other. A ticket for 2 days costs 250 rand. And in addition to buses, it also includes a cruise on the canals of Cape Town.

Photos of Cape Town

Sights of Cape Town

Cape Town is the second largest city in South Africa, and according to many versions, the city is recognized as the cultural capital of South Africa, so it is not surprising that there is something to see here. Using the links below, you can go to a page with detailed information about the object you are interested in, where, along with a description, you will find contact details, opening hours, methods of travel and entrance fees, as well as the location of the object on the map.

There is another interesting place, which is not a stand-alone attraction. These are the quarters of Cape Town in the Long Street area, which are considered the most prestigious and prosperous. They have long earned the fame of the place where the local bohemia prefers to live. People come here to have fun and have fun, since the area is full of bars, restaurants of ethnic cuisine, nightclubs and other entertainment venues. Even during the day, a walk along Long Street plunges the guests of Capatun into a noisy human whirlpool, and there is no need to talk about the evening. Places where noisy parties take place all night long can be counted in dozens, the most enduring youth manages to visit several establishments. After all, they are different: in one they are waiting for jazz fans, in the other they rely on heavy metal, the third attracts with the rhythms of the modern stage - truly music for all tastes.

In addition to the bohemian atmosphere, the area is interesting for tourists with its outstanding Victorian buildings. The graceful wrought iron balconies that adorn the facades look especially attractive - they are very reminiscent of buildings in American New Orleans. Antique and bookstores are also of interest, and you should definitely try out dishes of various cuisines in restaurants. South African food is available as well as Kurdish, Mozambican, Indian, Chinese and others.

Where to go in Cape Town

Attractions

Museums and galleries

Where to eat and drink

Parks and recreation areas

Transport

Private guides in Cape Town

Russian private guides will help you get acquainted with Cape Town in more detail.
Registered on the Experts.Tourister.Ru project.

Purchases

The Republic of South Africa has been known throughout the world as the largest exporter of precious stones for many years, and in the country's jewelry stores you can buy magnificent diamonds, including unique colored ones. Also in South Africa, items made of garnets, sapphires, and emeralds are sold. Jewelry prices are somewhat lower than in Europe, and most importantly, many of them are real works of art.

It makes no sense to buy clothes and shoes in South Africa, unlike accessories: skillfully crafted handbags and crocodile leather belts have become a kind of hallmark of the South African industry.

It is better to make expensive purchases in large shopping centers, they are in all cities of South Africa. It is also better to buy groceries in supermarkets, although private shops run by Indians are often more conveniently located in central areas.

SOUVENIRS FROM SOUTH AFRICA

Souvenirs are sold in specialized shops, but they offer mostly a standard set - magnets, plates with views, etc. asphalt near places visited by tourists. From stalls and from stretched bedspreads, Africans sell national clothes, various decorations, statuettes made with their own hands, and masks. Various crafts in the African style are popular with tourists - figurines of animals and people made of wood, embroidery, pottery with ornaments. Of interest are bone key chains and other items made from the bones of African animals. The traditions of African beading go back to the deep past, and therefore each braid attracts attention with bright colors - such a souvenir is not so expensive, especially if you bargain, and then you can bring down the price, for example, from 80 to 50 rand. Trade between a buyer and a seller is appropriate, but only in private markets - if there is a price tag, then it is pointless to bargain.

Food and drink

Communications in Cape Town

Safety

In terms of crime, South Africa, according to statistics, is on a par with disadvantaged third world countries, far behind economically developed countries. On average, 120 murders, 600 armed attacks, 900 robberies are committed per one hundred thousand people per year. For comparison, in Finland, only 4 murders and 12 attacks are recorded per 100,000 people. The number of murders in South Africa exceeds the level of European countries by 20 times, and even the level of Russia by 3 times.

However, according to local police, three-quarters of murders and other serious violent crimes occur in the same areas, covering about a quarter of the country. In other words, if crime-prone areas are avoided, the chances of falling into the hands of criminals are relatively low. Tourists who adhere to certain rules and do not leave large cities are likely not to be subjected to armed attack. It is also safe to be in national parks, small towns, and generally anywhere where there are no poor Negro neighborhoods nearby.

CCTV cameras have been installed in the central areas of Cape Town, allowing law enforcement to quickly respond to the situation. City streets are systematically patrolled. In addition to the police, security is monitored by numerous private security guards: shopping centers, hotels, large condominiums, entertainment complexes must have their own security guards. Therefore, staying and moving in large cities is quite safe, although in any case you should not carry large amounts of cash with you, and even more so show them to sellers, bank employees and other local residents - they can give a tip to familiar bandits, and then neither the police nor the video cameras will not help to avoid robbery. It is not recommended to leave things in a parked car, at least in plain sight: thefts from vehicles make up the largest percentage of all non-violent crimes in South Africa.

Rent an apartment in Cape Town, it can be convenient for some categories of tourists - families with several children who prefer to cook for themselves and so on.

Cape Town

Cape Town developed as a staging post for Dutch ships en route from Europe to East Africa, India and other parts of Asia and played a leading role in this capacity for over 200 years, until the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. Cape Town, founded on April 6, 1652 by colonists led by Jan van Riebeeck, was the first permanent European settlement in sub-Saharan Africa. Cape Town quickly became more than just a transit point, and before the rapid growth of Johannesburg and Durban, it was the largest city in the country.

According to 2007 data, the population of Cape Town is 3.5 million people. The area of ​​Cape Town is 2,499 km²: this is more than other cities in South Africa, and as a result, the population density in Cape Town is lower (1,425 people / km²). Cape Town is a sister city of the French city of Nice and the Russian city of St. Petersburg.

Story

There is no reliable information about when the first human settlements appeared here. The earliest archaeological finds (Pearce Cave, near Fish Hoek) date back to about 12,000 years ago. Little is known about the early history of this region. The first written evidence refers only to 1486, when the Portuguese Bartolomeu Dias visited the Cape of Good Hope.

Vasco da Gama also rounded the cape on November 20, 1497, but regular contact with Europeans did not begin until after Riebec's arrival in 1652. In the same year, under his leadership, Cape Town was founded as a base for supplying the ships of the Dutch East India Company with fresh food and meat. Riebeck worked for the Dutch East India Company (Dutch. Verenigde Oost-indische Companie) and had to provide parking for its ships on the way to Europe. The extremity of South Africa at that time was inhabited primarily by the Hottentots, from the east the Xhosa, a people belonging to the Bantu family, advanced.

In the initial period, the city grew slowly, as the lack of labor affected. To make up for it, the Dutch began importing slaves from Indonesia and Madagascar. Many of these slaves joined the colonial society, and the descendants of mixed marriages of Indonesians, Europeans and the local population formed several special ethnic groups called "coloreds", with the Cape coloreds standing out in a special community.

In 1795, British troops captured the city after the Battle of Meisenberg. Under the terms of the peace treaty concluded after the war in 1803, Kapstad was returned to the Dutch, but in the same year the conflict resumed, and in 1806 the British recaptured Kaap after the Battle of Blauberg. The peace treaty of 1814 made the region an integral part of the British Empire. The territory subject to the British grew, and the Cape Colony was created, with Cape Town as its capital.

The discovery of diamond deposits in West Griqualand and gold deposits on the Witwatersrand (near today's Johannesburg) in 1869 led to the beginning of the gold rush and the rapid growth of Johannesburg due to the influx of immigrants. In addition, friction began between the Boer states created during the Great Trek and experienced an influx of foreigners (Uitländer) and the British colonial administration. This conflict culminated in the Anglo-Boer War. Having defeated the Boer states (the Orange Republic and the Transvaal) and having consolidated control over the extraction of gold and diamonds, the British united the Boer republics with the Cape Colony and the British possession of Natal, creating the Union of South Africa. SA was proclaimed in 1910 and Cape Town became its legislative capital; he retained this function even after the Republic of South Africa was established in 1961.

In 1948, the National Party won the election, promising to introduce racial segregation, known as apartheid. Under the Group Areas Act, mixed suburbs were to be either cleared of "illegal" residents or demolished altogether. In connection with this campaign, the Cape Town Sixth District, which was destroyed in 1965, gained great fame. Since the area was declared a white area, over 60,000 black residents were forcibly evicted. During the apartheid era, employment in the Cape was legally given preference to people of color over blacks.

Many anti-apartheid fighters lived in Cape Town; some of them (including Nelson Mandela) were then held in a prison on Robben Island, 10 km from the Cape Town coast. On February 11, 1990, Mandela, a few hours after his release from prison, delivered his famous speech, standing on the balcony of the Cape Town Hall. After apartheid was lifted in 1994, Cape Town had to deal with many problems, including HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and drug-related crime. At the same time, the city's economy is experiencing a real boom, especially due to tourism and a booming real estate market.

Physical and geographical characteristics

The center of Cape Town is located on the northern edge of the Cape Peninsula. Table Mountain creates a picturesque backdrop, towering more than a thousand meters above sea level. It is surrounded by almost sheer cliffs such as Devil's Peak and Lion's Head. Sometimes a thin cloud, called a "tablecloth", forms over the mountain. The peninsula itself is a small mountain range (more than 700 peaks have a height of more than 300 m) and ends at Cape Point. Many of Cape Town's suburbs are located on the large Cape Flats that connects the peninsula to the mainland. The Cape Flats are composed mostly of sandy soils and were formerly shallow: formerly Table Mountain (South Africa) was an island.

Cape Town International Airport. Chemical, textile, engineering, oil refining, woodworking, food industry, diamond cutting.

Near Cape Town - Africa's first nuclear power plant.

December 3, 1967 - the first heart transplant in the history of medicine was performed at the Groot Shut Hospital, Cape Town (South Africa); it was conducted by Professor Christian Barnard, who transplanted the heart of a mortally wounded 25-year-old woman to a 55-year-old patient.

Attractions

Table Mountain (South Africa) (Table Mountain) with a height of 1087 meters is the symbol of Cape Town. For many years, its unique silhouette has met sailors from distant lands, seeking to replenish their water and food supplies in the long-awaited bay of Cape Town.

Victoria & Alfred Waterfront - Once a gloomy harbor port, with dirty and shabby port facilities, it has become a favorite place for city residents and tourists. Today, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is a giant entertainment and shopping center with more than 200 shops, galleries, cinemas, hotels, restaurants and pubs, as well as the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront.

The Two Oceans Aquarium is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. More than 300 representatives of the Atlantic and Indian oceans swim behind glass 11 meters high.

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, founded in 1913 on the eastern slope of Table Mountain to preserve and develop the flora of southern Africa, is today recognized as one of the 7 best and most famous botanical gardens in the world. The territory of the garden is 528 hectares. In the summer, classical music concerts are regularly held here.”

The Castle of Good Hope is the oldest building in South Africa. The construction was completed in 1679, and became the base of the Dutch East India Company (on the trade route to India), as well as a defensive fort for the settlers. In 1936, the fort was declared a museum and is still the regional center of the South African military forces in the Western Cape.

Population and household composition

According to the national census in South Africa for 2001, the population of Cape Town was 2,893,251 people (about 7% of the country's population). There were 759,767 households in the city, of which 87.4% were equipped with sewerage, 94.4% lived in more or less sanitary conditions with garbage collection and weekly cleaning of the toilet. 80.1% of households used electricity as their main source of energy. Similar statistics are collected in South Africa, where a significant part of the population, especially blacks, still lives in rather deplorable conditions (this is especially true for recent migrants from villages to cities and impoverished white farmers after the black majority came to power). 16.1% of households had one head of household, reflecting the impact of the AIDS epidemic.

Vital movement of the population

The population dynamics of Cape Town, like South Africa as a whole, are complex and contradictory, varying greatly by racial and linguistic groups. In general, the city maintains a high birth rate, especially among blacks and people of color, but it is lower than the national average. At the same time, the mortality rate is also very high. The raging AIDS epidemic, especially in urban slums, and high crime rates, with a significant number of deaths from firearms, make a particular contribution to mortality. At the same time, the city also has a significant migration increase due to black marginal migrants from the interior regions of South Africa and other African countries.

Racial composition

Cape Town is distinguished by its racially diverse population, but also by the conflicting, contradictory relations between the main racial and ethnic groups that traditionally compete with each other for the city's rather limited economic resources. As in the United States, interracial relations are characterized in the past by explicit, legislative manifestations of racism, which have now taken a latent form (discrimination, reverse discrimination, housing segregation, etc.)

colored

In racial terms, the city is relatively dominated by the so-called colored people - descendants from interracial contacts of Asians (mostly Malays imported as domestic servants and slaves), whites (Dutch, Germans and partly Portuguese) and blacks. Coloreds make up 48.13% of the population (1.393 million). Cape Town is the cultural capital of the people of color, whose native language is Afrikaans.

Black

Next in number is the Negro population. The proportion of blacks in Cape Town is 31.0% (897 thousand people), which is significantly lower than in the country as a whole (79%). The bulk of blacks are recent migrants from tribal villages in the northwest of the country, as well as people from other, even less prosperous regions of Africa. After blacks came to power after 1994, one of the tasks of modern government is to increase the proportion of blacks in the city and provide them with leverage of cultural, political and economic influence.

White

The third largest racial component of Cape Town is whites, making up 18.75% of the population (542 thousand). Their share in the city is almost twice as high as in the country as a whole (10%), however, whites are heterogeneous in their origin and language. In coastal areas (especially on the cape) - the bulk is of British origin and speaks English. They are joined by relatively recent migrants from Europe (including Russians, Lithuanians, Portuguese, etc.). Another significant part of the whites in the city are the descendants of the Dutch and German settlers of the 17th and 18th centuries (Afrikaners or Boers), who speak Afrikaans. The proportion and number of whites in the city has declined significantly over the past 40 years and especially over the past decade due to their intensive emigration to the USA, Australia and the UK and the unwillingness to accept the loss of political power in South Africa, but Cape Town, due to its geographical location and long history to a greater extent than other cities in South Africa, it maintains favorable conditions for the preservation of at least some part of the white population in the future.

Interesting Facts

The sixth district of Cape Town was officially declared a "white zone" in 1966, under the Group Areas Act, adopted in 1950, and [was] demolished only in 1982. Up until the demolition, about 66,000 representatives of various groups lived in this district: freedmen, artisans, shopkeepers and workers. After the demolition, a former resident left a sarcastic graffiti on one of the walls: "You are now in Fairyland" (eng. "Welcome to Fairyland", literally "You are now in Fairyland").

The capital of South Africa, Cape Town is a distant, exotic city, at the very end of Africa, which can be considered the real end of the African continent, because only Antarctica is further away.

Cape Town combines both African flavor and the development of civilization. In the capital, everyone will find entertainment and recreation to their liking.

General information

Cape Town is located in the southwest of the country and is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, next to the Cape of Good Hope. The city is considered one of the largest in terms of population in the Republic of South Africa (more than 3.5 million people, about 7% of the population of South Africa)
The history of Cape Town is the history of the whole country, because it is from the day of the founding of the capital - Cape Town by the Dutch navigator Jan van Riebeck, that the chronology and the formation of South Africa begins.

Weather in Cape Town

Cape Town has a temperate Mediterranean climate. The hottest and driest months are from December to April. The temperature during the day reaches +25…+27 °C, and at night it drops below +15…+19 °C. This period is considered not the best for traveling to the country, but nevertheless, a large number of tourists tend to visit South Africa for the New Year holidays, so it is not surprising that this particular season is considered “high”.
From June to July, the city is captivated by rains, at night on such days the temperature can drop to +6 °C, and during the day it is approximately +18 °C.
The best season to visit Cape Town can be called the autumn and spring months, during this period hotels offer good discounts, and the climate is considered the mildest.

Cape Town Transport

Cape Town Airport is the second largest in South Africa. Most likely, you will not have to make transfers, as there are a huge number of direct flights. Also by plane you can get to any other major city in South or East Africa.
The city center is usually reached by MetroRail local trains, the route of such a train is laid along a scenic road along the ocean shore, so during the trip you can admire one of the most beautiful views of Cape Town

Also, a special tourist bus will take you to the center directly from the airport, the trip on which will cost approximately 7 USD. A taxi will be much more expensive, approximately 10-15 USD, but will take you to any corner of the city .

Districts of Cape Town

Cape Town is a city of conflicts, primarily conflicts between racial and ethnic groups. All areas of the city are divided into "black" and "white". “Blacks for the most part are small, very often dirty and poor areas, dangerous to visit, since the crime rate here is very high. "White" areas are more reminiscent of European quarters, with small snow-white houses, entertainment centers and skyscrapers, as these are mainly areas aimed at tourism. There is a border between these regions, so in ordinary life “blacks and whites” almost do not communicate without conflict.

Almost all coastal areas are built up with shopping centers, expensive luxury hotels and hotels.

Sights of Cape Town

Cape of Good Hope- the most visited attraction of Cape Town. In addition to being the most southwestern point of Africa, it is also one of the most picturesque and romantic places in all of South Africa. The ships of the great navigators Bartolomeu Dias and Vasco de Gama stopped here, who rounded this cape and paved the sea route to the Indian coast. To climb the cape, you need to take the funicular, which offers a unique view (the ascent costs 6 USD round trip).

It is a mistake to believe that cute penguin creatures live only in Antarctica, but surprisingly, you can also meet them in Africa, namely in Cape Town. The coast is washed by the cold Bengal current, and it is thanks to this that penguins and even fur seals have chosen these lands for themselves. Special excursions include visits to bays where you can see entire colonies of penguins. It is forbidden to touch penguins, but you can come very close, and they are used to a large number of guests, they do not even pay attention to people.

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens recognized not only as the best in Africa, but also among the best in the world. Picturesque gardens with rare species of trees and flowers are located on the slope of Cape Town's visiting card - Table Mountain. Every year, in the summer, open-air classical music concerts are held in the gardens.

Aquarium of two oceans- the largest aquarium in South Africa - got its name due to the fact that it is located near the famous Cape of Good Hope, where the waters of two oceans meet, the Atlantic and Indian. More than 300 representatives of both oceans live in the aquarium. Open Ocean is a unique aquarium that reflects the fauna of the entire coast of the ocean, and you can also see sharks and rays in it.

South African National Gallery- art gallery of South Africa. Now the collection includes a huge number of works by Dutch, British and French artists, as well as the work of African communities and national costumes.

Victoria and Alfred Waterfront- this is the most beautiful embankment of the city. There is also a shopping center of the same name, which includes not only various attractions and galleries, but also cinema halls, restaurants and more than 200 shops, boutiques and galleries.

Long Street - this graceful street with well-groomed courtyards, snow-white houses, wrought-iron balconies and unique moldings, is the main street of the capital. Ethnic cafes and restaurants, antique shops, souvenir shops and used bookshops can all be found here.
The Castle of Good Hope is one of the oldest buildings in South Africa. The castle was built on the site of an old fort, which was built by the founder of the city. Initially, the castle was the base of the Dutch, then a warehouse and even a prison, and since 1936, after a large-scale reconstruction, it became a museum.

Bo-cap - the colorful quarter of the city can become a particularly interesting attraction of Cape Town. This area is inhabited by immigrants from the Eastern countries and was once the most gray and inconspicuous part of the city. Now no one knows who was the first to decide to paint their house in a bright color, but this idea was quickly picked up by most residents. Since then, all the houses here have been painted in different colors of the rainbow, which attracts a huge number of tourists, so Bo-cap is considered a full-fledged attraction.

Cape Town beaches

On the coast of Cape Town in the summer (December, January, February) the water warms up to +18...+20 °C. The beaches look more like pictures from magazines or movies: white sand, clear azure water, soft sun and green palm trees.

There are two types of recreation on the beaches of the city: daytime for those who prefer sunbathing, refreshing themselves in the water or doing water sports, as well as evening with noisy parties right on the ocean.

The most popular city beaches in Cape Town are Clifton and Kemps Bay. Clifton especially attracts guests with the fact that, on the east side, the beach is surrounded by Table Mountain and rocky peaks.

All the main beaches of Cape Town have the status of "blue flag", which is granted to the most equipped, clean and beautiful beaches in the world.
Swimmers should be careful, because in the coastal waters of Cape Town there is a strong current that can carry vacationers to the rocks, which can hurt you.

Holidays in Cape Town

In January, the annual Minstrel Festival takes place in Cape Town. Thousands of performers come from all over the world. Today, this festival is of great importance - it shows how attitudes towards black people have changed over the decades, how culture and minstrel songs have captured the whole world. During the days of the festival, music sounds everywhere on the streets of the city and the atmosphere of a real holiday reigns.

In May, the capital hosts the Gourmet Festival, where famous and titled chefs come from all over the world to demonstrate their talents and offer culinary masterpieces to the attention of guests.

The festival, which takes place in the Good Hope Center in the second half of July, introduces everyone to the very best that is in South Africa: national music, dance, cinema, art. During this festival, most museums open free special exhibitions and displays.

Cape Town Restaurants

Cape Town is located between two oceans, so the basis of all national cuisine is seafood and fish.

There are two main restaurant areas in the capital: on the coast there are the most expensive and fashionable restaurants of the city, and on the main street Long Street, simpler and cheaper, but with no less delicious cuisine.

As delicacies, they will offer Cape Town salmon, yellowtail or lobster. During the oyster season, a huge number of amazing and unusual dishes will be prepared with this ingredient. From drinks it is worth paying attention to wines from nearby regions, which are famous far beyond the borders of South Africa.

Especially popular is the expensive and fashionable restaurant of the Ritz Hotel, which has a feature that it constantly rotates, which opens up new, more and more beautiful views.

Things to Do in Cape Town

In addition to a huge number of restaurants, cafes and clubs, Cape Town offers a lot of entertainment for every taste. These are hiking in mountainous areas, and various water sports. Cape Town is rightly called one of the best places in the world for surfing. For beginner surfers, they offer coaching services and board rentals. For professionals in this business, they offer to visit coral bays and other places where the waves are already much stronger and sometimes more dangerous.

Another no less extreme entertainment is offered in Falls Bay - diving in a special iron cage into the waters of the ocean near this bay, which is teeming with white sharks. The cage is covered with a special solution, which is what attracts these dangerous inhabitants of the ocean and makes them swim very close to the cage in search of food. Such entertainment will give an indescribable feeling.

Shopping in Cape Town

V & A Waterfront - is considered one of the best places in the city to buy souvenirs, but at a fairly high price. Cheaper but no less interesting souvenirs can be found at the Green Point Stadium open market. Bargaining is already appropriate here and there is much more choice.

The most common of the souvenirs are masks, which are painted by hand and betray the flavor of Africa. However, you should buy them carefully and carefully choose a mask with a more friendly expression, as there is an opinion that African masks can attract evil spirits, but this is only for those who believe in legends and such stories.

Local jewelry stores will also surprise you with a huge variety and prices that will be lower than usual. In special shops, you can buy beautifully packaged bottles of local South African wines as a souvenir from this country.

Cape Town is a city of contrasts, contrary to beliefs, here you can see that the city can be divided into "black and white", that in Africa all cities are one dirt and poverty, on the other hand, Cape Town is more like a fashionable resort and even a European city. In Cape Town, everyone will find entertainment that suits them best, from the most extreme to simple and relaxing types of recreation. Cape Town will truly amaze and surprise you with its unique nature and picturesque views of the mighty ocean.