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Cape Town

Cape Town is one of the most important and beautiful historic places in South Africa. It was here when European colonists entered South Africa many years ago. There are such places which make Cape Town special:

Table mountain rose from the sea. Table Mountain wasn’t a mountain about 300 million years ago. The mountain was at sea level. Because of tectonic plates moving, the continents tore apart and collided. For now, this is a 1km tall mountain overlooking the bay.

The original Capetonians. Native Africans lived in the city //Hui !Gaeb which is close to Table Mountain before European colonists came there. Native Africans were hard-working and friendly people. They gave the name to Table Mountain – Hoerikwaggo.

Up-Up-Up the mountain. The cableway to Table Mountain is more than a hundred years old! Only brave people could up to the mountain before the Cableway was built (On 4 October 1929).

European Settlement. Jan van Riebeeck was the first European who came to this land in 1652. He was sent by the Dutch East India Company (VOC) to build and organize a supply station for ships that moved from Europe to India.

The Slave trade. Once the supply station was built and established by Jan van Riebeeck, VOC brought slaves to work farm to serve passing ships there. The majority of qualified workers worked at the supply station. Slaves were brought from Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

Colonial Ping Pong. When Cape Town was colonized, two states wanted it to belong to them: Dutch and Britain. Britain was the first colonist of Cape town in 1795. Then in 1803 Dutch took this colony. Three years later British took Cape Town back. South Africa got its Independence in the early 1900s. 

The Noon Gun. Every day at midday all the tourists are impressed with one of the oldest traditions in Cape Town. The old gun is fired which makes a huge noize all around the area. This gun is located at the top of Signal Hill. This gun was meant to notify local people about coming trading ships. 

  • Cape Town was founded in 1652.
  • The Castle of Good Hope is the oldest building in South Africa.
  • The Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden has been around for more than 100 years.
  • Table Mountain is the biggest tourist attraction in Africa.
  • Robben Island wasn’t always used as a prison.
  • It took 9 years to complete the construction of the Houses of Parliament.
  • The Castle of Good Hope once had a sea view.
  • The Mother City is host to the mother of all queer parties.
  • The Cape Floral Kingdom claims nearly 7000 plants found nowhere else in the world.
  • Cape Town nearly followed in Australia’s footsteps.
  • The winter storms of 1858 wrecked more than 30 ships in Cape Town.
  • Cape Town was the first non-European city to receive Blue Flag status.
  • Robben Island was used as a training station during WW2.
  • Cape Town is the most equal city in South Africa.

Table mountain. Table Mountain is a symbol of Cape Town and one of Cape Town’s top attractions, and it’s no surprise that there is a steady stream of tourists heading towards Table Mountain. Table Mountain is located in South Africa National Park. Reaching the summit of Table Mountain, you will be amazed by a phenomenal bird’s eye view of Cape Town, Robben Island to the north and the Atlantic coast to the west and south. Table Mountain is 1086 meters high and can be easily reached by cable car or by bus.

Robben island. Robben Island is famos for the fact that the anti-apartheid fighter, Nelson Mandela, spent almost a quarter of a century here. The island is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is located just off the coast of Cape Town. For three centuries, Robben Island was used as a military base, a hospital for lepers and a prison for political prisoners. Its most famous prisoner was undoubtedly Nelson Mandela, who was imprisoned for 18 years after his release. Then he became President of South Africa. Today, Robben Island is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Cape Town. You can get to the island by ferry, but don’t forget to bring your motion sickness pills.

Boulders Beach Penguin Colony. There are not too many places in the world where you can go to the beach, sunbathe or swim with penguins as neighbors, but Boulder Beach is one of them. Two penguins settled on this beach, an hour’s drive from Cape Town in 1982. Currently, over 2,000 penguins consider this beach their home. Boulders Beach is part of the Table Mountain National Park. The V&A Waterfront is considered one of the most popular attractions in Cape Town and South Africa, with stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean, Bay and Table Mountain. Named for Queen Victoria of England and her youngest son Alfred, who fought off the first break stones in the 1860s.

The historic promenade today has many shops, restaurants and nightlife. The waterfront is also home to art galleries, an aquarium, an amphitheater with live music and a ship museum, among other attractions.

Bo-kaap. Bo Kap, also known as the Malay Quarter, is a colorful neighborhood not far from Cape Town’s city center. Its brightly colored, stylish homes, early 18th century buildings and cobbled streets make for wonderful tourist photos. Bo Kap is a cosmopolitan area with Muslim mosques, and Bo Kap is a museum that showcases the life of Cape Town’s early Muslims. It is here that the Nurul Islam Mosque, founded in 1844, is located. The museum also has 19th century furniture found in houses from that era.

Clifton beach. This exclusive residential area and Cape Town landmark is home to some of South Africa’s most expensive real estate properties, with cliff-top homes offering stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean

And here one of the best urban beaches in the world is located. Among all the beaches in Cape Town, Clifton Beach is certainly the trendiest one. It is located on the western side of the Atlantic just ten minutes from the city center. Clifton is actually a series of four beaches separated by granite boulders. All beaches have clean white sand and offer great views and sunsets. Unfortunately, although the water looks blue and inviting. But itis very cold with an average temperature of about 12 to 16 ° C, and you can swim only on a hot summer day.

Cape point. The spectacular landscape is a good excuse to visit Cape Point, located at the very end of the Cape Peninsula. Less than 65 km (40 mi) from Cape Town, Cape Point is extremely scenic with tall boulders and stunning ocean views. Part of Table Mountain National Park, Cape Point is home to 250 species of birds, as well as baboons and zebras. The sheer variety of plant life makes Cape Point a photographer’s paradise. Visitors have the choice to walk along a steep path or take a funicular to the lighthouse. The famous Cape of Good Hope is located a kilometer from Cape Point. Both capes are clearly visible in the picture.

Kirstenbosch. Kirstenbosch is a national botanical garden. Founded in 1913, it is one of the world’s great botanical gardens, the first in the country. Kirstenbosch includes not only plants from the Cape area, but also flora from all over southern Africa. The garden is set against the backdrop of Table Mountain, which implies stunning views. Hikers can enjoy a walk along the trail that starts in the garden and leads to the summit of Table Mountain. Kirstenbosch is the most famous of the nine national botanical gardens in South Africa.

Castle of good hope. The Castle of Good Hope, shaped like a pentagon, is the oldest colonial-style building in South Africa. The Dutch East India Company began construction in 1666 to resupply and protect their ships. Eventually, the fortifications were completed and the castle quickly became the center of Dutch resistance to the expanding British Empire. The gate design includes the coats of arms of several Dutch cities.

In 1936, the castle as the oldest building in South Africa was recognized as a national monument and the War Museum was opened there.

Muizenberg Beach. It is considered the birthplace of surfing in South Africa and is currently home to the surfing community. In addition to the waves, in a positive direction from the rest of Cape Town’s beaches, this beach is distinguished by warmer water.

 
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