Cape Town - Cidade do Cabo

Cape Town

CapeTownPanoramaFromTableMountain banner.jpg

Cape Town and Table Mountain.

THE Cape Town is the second largest city in South Africa and the largest tourist destination in the country. It is located at the confluence of the Atlantic and Indian oceans. It is the capital of the Western Cape province, as well as the legislative capital of South Africa, where the National Parliament and many government offices are located.

Understand

THE City it is an important commercial and industrial hub, having one of the main ports in the country. Its economy is based on the oil refining, automobile, food, chemical, textile and shipbuilding sectors. In 2007 the city had a population of 3.5 million inhabitants. Cape Town's area extends over 2455 square kilometers, sine larger than other South African cities, resulting in a lower population density of 1425 inhabitants/km2.

History

Located on the coast of Table Bay, Cape Town was originally developed by the Dutch East India Company as a supply station for Dutch ships sailing to East Africa, India and the Far East. Jan van Riebeeck arrived in the region on April 6, 1652 and established the first permanent European settlement in South Africa. Cape Town developed rapidly, becoming the economic and cultural hub of the Cape Colony. Until the Witwatersrand Gold Rush, which resulted in the development of Johannesburg, Cape Town was the largest city in South Africa.

To arrive

By airplane

Cape Town International Airport is the second largest in the country (after OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg). There are several daily flights to Johannesburg and Durban, as well as for other large South African cities, for some cities in the Namibia, like Windhoek, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay and to other destinations like Gaborone, Maun and Nairobi. The most used airlines for international flights between the city and the Europe, Asia and USA. are Lufthansa [1], British Airways [2], Delta Airlines [3], KLM Royal Dutch Airlines [4], Singapore Airlines [5] and Malaysian Airlines [6].

Other international flights to the city include São Paulo, Buenos Aires, doha, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Kuala Lumpur, London, New York, Istanbul, Atlanta and Singapore. In summer the number of flights from Europe increases, due to lower prices, while at Christmas and New Year, prices rise significantly.

Of boat

Most major cruise lines such as Princess Cruises [7], includes Cape Town as one of its stops, but you can try something different:

  • RMS St Helena[8] - This freight/passenger ship stops in Cape Town on its way to Saint Helena.

By train/train

The Metrorail from Muizenberg to Simon's Town, with beautiful views.

Cape Town's main train station is centrally located on Adderley Street.

A daily train departs from Kimberley and Johannesburg. From Johannesburg there are connections to Pretoria, Polokwane, Musina (near the border with the Zimbabwe) and Nelspruit (near Kruger National Park).

Weekly trains leave every Monday to Durban, Kimberley, Bloemfontein and Pietermaritzburg and every Sunday to East London.

MetroRail trains [9] are an excellent way to get between Cape Town and neighboring towns (such as Stellenbosch, Strand, Paarl, Somerset West, Malmesbury and Worcester), the southern suburbs (Claremont, Wynberg, Retreat) or the beaches of Fish Hoek, Muizenberg , Glencairn and Simon's Town. MetroRail trains are usually safe, but at night they can be dangerous, so it is advisable to choose first class (MetroPlus), with more people, and not be left alone.

Every two hours there are trains to Stellensbosch.

By bus/bus

All major bus companies have connections to major South African cities and Windhoek in Namibia. There are more than 6 buses a day to some cities.

There are some bus services that take you to the east of Africa. The general route followed is Nairobi (Kenya), Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania), Lusaka (Zambia) and Harare (Zimbabwe), getting at Johannesburg.

Tickets can be obtained through Computicket [10].

Cape Town is also on the Baz Bus route. [11].

By car

The vast majority of roads around Cape Town are in good condition and travel by car is easy. However, be careful with pedestrians on the roads. The danger is not as great as the press emphasizes, even so be careful.

Several major highways start in Cape Town:

  • N1, pass by parl, Bloemfontein and Johannesburg on its way from Cape Town to Harare in the Zimbabwe. It's also a good choice if you want to go to Kimberley.
  • N2, travels the East Coast, via the Garden Route, George, and Port Elizabeth in Cape Este, and across the Wild Coast, to Durban and the Essuatini.
  • N7, along the West Coast to the town of Springbok in the North Cape and to the Namibia. It also goes to Upington and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

Compared to Europe, renting a car is cheaper, and gasoline is also cheaper compared to Europe, but it may be more expensive than us USA..

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Cape Town Map

On foot

Public transport in Cape Town is not very good, so it is advisable to walk or rent a car.

By motorcycle

By bus/bus

There is a bus network (the Golden Arrow [12]) which offers cheap services. They mostly walk during the day.

by minibus

Minibuses (minibuses) are used a lot by locals, but tourists are discouraged from using them. They cover the entire Cape Town Metropolitan Area and are very cheap, but can get very crowded and are very dangerous due to their dangerous condition.

Some minibuses, however, provide safe and sensible driving. They are more expensive than traditional minibuses, but still very cheap. There are no guarantees that you will reach your destination directly, but they are safe and fun.

By car

You can't pay for gas with a credit card, you have to use South African money.

Cape Town also has some luxury chauffeur companies:

Look

  • Bo Kaap - The district, formerly known as "Bairro Malaio", is one of the biggest attractions in the city, with its colorful houses and mosques. The neighborhood has a Muslim majority, descended from slaves who came from Java and the Malaysia. On January 2nd there is a party that animates the neighborhood even more. Baptized with the name of Carnival of the Minstrels, the festival honors the only day off that Muslim slaves had for an entire year.
  • table mountain or table mountain - Standing out from the city's skyline, it is its symbol and most famous attraction. At 1086 meters, its flat top is 3 km long.
  • Robben Island[13] - Robben Island, or Robben Island is a world Heritage near the coast of the city. It was the prison on the island that political prisoners were held during apartheid, including Nelson Mandela and later Walter Sisulu. There are visits several times a day, seven days a week, from the Nelson Mandela Gateway at Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. Tickets can be purchased online or the day before the visit will take place.
Victoria & Albert Waterfront.
  • Victoria & Alfred Waterfront - A huge entertainment area near the port. It is very popular with tourists due to the high density of shops, restaurants and entertainment such as the Two Oceans Aquarium (see below) or the Marine Museum. Visits to Robben Island start from here, as do helicopter visits to the Cape Peninsula.
    • Two Oceans Aquarium[14] - Located on Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, this is an excellent, modern aquarium. The aquarium, one of the city's biggest tourist attractions, showcases the extraordinary marine life of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, with around 3000 live marine animals, including sharks, fish, turtles and penguins.
  • South African Parliament[15] - Cape Town is the legislative capital of South Africa, and as such, the South African Parliament Building is located in the city. Other buildings that denote the city's political life include the National Assembly, the National Council of Provinces, and the former Assembly from the time of Apartheid.
  • Good Hope Castle (Buitenkant Street) [16] - Nicknamed "The Castle" by locals, it has extensive exhibits of military objects, historical objects, an art collection and the William Fehr Collection (including antique Dutch furniture). It is the oldest existing building in South Africa, having been built between 1666 and 1679. It was planned in 1652 by Commandant Jan van Riebeeck as a maritime establishment.
  • Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden (Rhodes Drive, Newlands) [17] - See the enormous diversity of plants and flowers of the Cape flora in one of the most amazing botanical gardens in the world. Plants from all over the South Africa can be seen in this botanical garden, including some very rare specimens of Richtersveld, a baobab tree and interesting medicinal plants. Numerous paths run through the garden behind Table Mountain. There is often art on display, including large Shona sculptures from Zimbabwe. In the gardens there are also several restaurants, a gift shop and an indigenous infirmary.

museums

  • Bo-Kaap Museum (71 Wale Street) [18] - Located in a house from the 1760s, the museum portrays the cultural life of the Islamic community in the Bo Kaap district.
  • District Six Museum (Buitenkant Street) [19] - District Six is ​​an area near downtown Cape Town that has remained multiracial despite government attempts in the 1960s to declare the area a "whites only" area. Eventually the inhabitants were expelled and the buildings demolished. The area remains uninhabited to this day. The museum provides information about the area, the expulsion, the Group Areas Act, and the people who used to live here.
  • Groot Constantia (Groot Constantia Estate, Constantia) [20] - One of the oldest vineyards in South Africa.
  • Slave Lodge (Cnr Adderley Street & Wale Street) [21]- One of the oldest buildings in Cape Town.
  • South African Jewish Museum (88 Hatfield Street) [22] - An interactive museum, using different multimedia to show the main points of South African history and examine the history of the Jewish community.
  • South Africa Maritime Museum (Union Castle Building, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront) [23]
  • National Gallery of South Africa (government avenue) [24] - Situated in the gardens area of ​​Cape Town, it contains major exhibitions of South African art as well as information on the history of art censorship during apartheid.
  • Gibello Galleria (67 Rose Street) [25] - Located in the Bo Kaap district, it offers visitors photographs of life in South Africa and across the African continent.

Knife

Events

  • Cape Town Flower and Garden Show - Lourensford Wine Estate, Somerset West, 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th October 2007.
  • Cape Argus Cycling Trip - Every year in March. The 109 kilometer route starts downtown and goes through the eastern part of the peninsula, through Simon's Town, and back through the western part of the peninsula.
  • Two Oceans Marathon[26] - On Easter Saturday every year. It includes an ultra-marathon (56km), a half-marathon (21km), and a number of fun runs such as the nappy dash (56 m) or an 8 kilometer walk.
  • Cape Town Jazz Festival (Cape Town International Convention Center) - March.
  • Canarval of the Minstrels - City-wide marches ending at Green Point Stadium. It is usually the New Year and a few days later, in January. Also known as Kaapse Klopse, dancers and singers spend months preparing for the annual event.
  • Kirstenbosch Sunset Summer Concerts (Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens) [27]
  • Mother City Queer Project[28] - December every year. The biggest gay and lesbian party of the year.
  • Spiers Summer Arts Festival - From October to March.
  • City Harvest Festival - April 20th. With Cape Town's finest wines, wonderful food and fantastic entertainment, it's one of the city's biggest celebrations.

Activities

  • Cable car to the top of Table Mountain (Tafelberg Road) [29] - (Open from 8:00 to 22:00; last cable car down at 21:00) If you are going up the mountain always bring something warm to wear, whatever the conditions at the base of the mountain. If you want, you can climb the mountain, via the easiest route, Platteklip George. Bring water, sunscreen, a hat and a jacket.
  • Cape Peninsula - Go to Cape of Good Hope via Simon's Town and the African penguin colony in Boulders. See Cape Point in Table Mountain National Park and hike in a quieter part of the park. Then follow Chapman's Peak Drive [30] via Hout Bay and via Llandudno and Camps Bay, before stopping at one of Clifton's famous beaches.
  • Ratanga Junction[31] - (Open from 10:00 to 17:00, but only during Summer, Easter and Winter Holidays) The most famous theme park in the city.
  • Swim - Warmer beaches on False Bay are more famous for swimming for obvious reasons. Some of the most famous beaches are at Muizenberg, Kalk Bay, Clovelly and Fish Hoek. If you prefer a nudist beach, try Sandy Bay. Also a great attraction for gay tourists.
  • surf - Cape Town is one of the most famous places for surfing. Muizenberg is a good place to start learning to surf. If you are an experienced surfer try Kalk Bay, Outer Kom or Misty Cliffs. Other Surf beaches include Milnerton, Table View or Big Bay, although Big Bay is almost completely occupied by kite surfers.
  • Wine Lands - Visit the vineyards of the Constantia Valley, including Groot Constantia [32] , Buitenverwagting, Klein Constantia and Constantia Uitsig, before visiting the Cape Winelands around Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek. Furthermore, Stellenbosch is a historic university town and Franschhoek, the gastronomic capital of the Cape, has the top ten restaurants in the country.

Deep Sea Fishing

hiking

There are many hiking trails around the city:

  • , Cape Town, email: . R88. 
  • , Cape Town, email: . R635 per day. 
  • , Cape Town, email: . R420. 
  • (It starts 1.5 km after the lower cable car station on Tafelberg Road). Free of charge. 
  • . 
  • Paradise Touring, 021-7131020, [33]. For walks guided by a botanical guide
  • Cape Eco-Tours, 082-4604847, [34].

Up in the air

Kayaking

  • . It carries out kayaking sessions on the rivers around Cape Town. 
  • , email: . 

Dive

  • , The Great White House, Perlemoen Street, Kleinbaai, email: . Dive in a cage off the back of Dyer Island. R1100. 
  • , Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, email: . From R1375. 
  • , email: . 9:00 am, 11:00 am and 1:00 pm each day. You need to have a valid diving license (PADI, CMAS, BASC). Swim alongside sharks, bull rays, and a turtle. Diving time is about 30 minutes. R400 including the R70 needed to enter the aquarium. 

Sunset Cruises

  • , Quay 4, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, email: . Take a sunset cruise. from one to half an hour. From R90 to R190. 
  • , email: . From R180 to R720 per person depending on cruise.. 

Wild life

There are some small nature reserves around Cape Town:

  • . The 3000 hectares around the nuclear station were converted into a nature reserve with bonteboks, genets, antelope, among other animals. 
  • , email: . Part of the Cape Floral Region, Table Mountain National Park, is a World Heritage Site. The park covers a large area of ​​the cape. In most parts of the park you don't have to pay, but in the areas of Cape of Good Hope, Silvermine and Boulders you do have to pay. 

whale watching

  • , 5 Quay, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront Store, email: . 3 to 4 hour cruise in the bay and whale watching is almost guaranteed. R350. 
  • , Gansbah, email: . R450 to R720. 

Learn

learn to sail

Cape Town is a great place to learn to sail, with internationally recognized courses, and the costs are much lower than in developed countries.

Buy

Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is Cape Town's premier shopping tourist destination, ideal for souvenir shopping. Another shopping point is the Green Point Market on Sunday, within walking distance of the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. If you want to buy authentic artifacts, go to Church Street, with some stores in that branch.

Wine

  • , Dock Road, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, email: . 
  • , Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. 
  • , Cardiff Castle Building, Cnr Main Street & Kildare Road, Newlands (Southern Suburbs), email: . 
  • . 
  • Cape Fusion Tours, Tel 27-21-4612437, [35].

Comercial centers

  • , Cnr Constantia Main & Spaanscheacht River Roads, Constantia, email: . 
  • , Cnr Doncaster and Chichester Roads, Kenilworth. 
  • , Cnr Main and Wetton Roads, Wynberg. 
  • , Cnr Main Road and Pricess Beach, Hout Bay. 
  • , Louwtjie Rothman Drive, Goodwood. 
  • , Cnr Bill Bezuidenhout Avenue & Willie van Schoor Avenue, Bellville. 
  • , Breakwater Road, Cape Town. 

With the

Economic

  • , At the top of Table Mountain, near the Upper Cable Car Station. From R20 for a simple breakfast. 
  • unnamed restaurant, Company's Garden.
  • , 137 Waterkant Street De Waterkant. From R35 for an English breakfast. 

Medium

Revolving Restaurant at the Hotel Ritz.
  • , 178 Long Street, ☎ 27 (0)21 426-1017. 
  • , Mainstream Centre, Main Road, Hout Bay (next to the Post Office), ☎ 27 (0)21 790-7202. 
  • , Rhodes Memorial, ☎ 27 (0)21 689-9151, email: . 
  • , Cr. Camberwell Road & Main Road, Sea Point, ☎ 27 (0)21 439-6010. There is a rotating restaurant at the top of the hotel. 
  • , 111 Long Street. 
  • , Victoria Wharf, Store 154, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. A very good Portuguese restaurant. 
  • , Link Road Parklands, 10, Parklands Center. 
  • , Victoria Wharf, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. 

waste

  • , 69 Victoria Road, Camps Bay, Cape Town, ☎ 27 021 437 9701, fax: 27 (0) 21 438 4433, email: . 
  • , Torquay Avenue, 1, Upper Claremont, ☎021-761-1792. 
  • , 102 New Church Street, Tamboerskloof 8001, ☎021-423-3624. 

drink and go out

Long Street is famous for its bars, restaurants, and clubs. It is also one of the few truly multi-ethnic and multi-racial places in the city. A popular destination with locals is Camps Bay, with a vibrant nightlife and many bars, restaurants and clubs.

  • , 43 Somerset Road, Greenpoint. 
  • , 92 Bree Street, Heritage Square, email: . 
  • , 72 Waterkant Street, Green Point, email: . 
  • , Store 102, Clock Tower Centre, Clock Tower Precinct, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, email: . A popular Jazz cafe, with the distinctive Cape Jazz. 
  • , 30 Georgia Street. 
  • , Store 2A, Alfred Mall, Pierhead, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, email: . 
  • , 15 Rose Street, Bo Kaap. A very popular gay bar. 
  • , 69 Victoria Road, Camps Bay, Cape Town, email: . 
  • , 72 Waterkant Street, Green Point, email: . 

sleep

Economic

Medium

waste

Stay in touch

mobile phone

If you have a phone, get one of the cheap prepaid SIM cards from Vodacom, MTN, Cell C or Virgin Mobile and save money on local calls.

Internet

  • , Kloof Street. 

Other web cafes can be found throughout the city and suburbs.

WiFi

Always-On [36], 27 (0)11 575-2505, provides pre-paid WiFi at a number of locations in Cape Town. Prices start at around R15 for 10 minutes or R60 for 100MB.

Always-On covers:

  • . 
  • . 
  • . 
  • . GrandWest, Pinelands and Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. 
  • . Bayside Center and Durbanville. 
  • . 
  • . Adderley Street, Buitenragt Street and Mouille Point. 

Embassies and Consulates

Safety

Cape Town has a high crime rate. Be cautious and plan your way through the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront and the city centre, the less dangerous areas. Walk in a group instead of going alone or as a couple.

At night, make sure you stay on well-lit streets full of people. Crime is especially high in Seapoint, Greenpoint, Salt River, Observatory, Mowbray and Cape Flats.

Try not to look like a tourist, don't wear cameras, shorts, or golf hats, and you won't be a "target".

Important Phone Numbers

from a landline

  • 107 - Emergency.
  • 10111 - Police. [37]
  • 10177 - Ambulance.
  • 082911 - Netcare911 [38] and National Sea Rescue Institute [39].

from a mobile phone

  • 112 - Emergency.
  • 911 - Netcare911 [40] and National Sea Rescue Institute [41].

Leave

Cape Peninsula

  • Boulders beach - Famous for the penguin colony and you can see the penguins in their natural habitat. September is the breeding season and you can see the penguins laying eggs.
  • Cape of Good Hope - Experience the wild habitat present here. It has beautiful views and wildlife such as baboons and ostrich. Stop at Simon's Town and see the sights at False Bay.
  • Hout Bay - Also known as the "Republic" of Hout Bay is a beautiful and calm bay in the Atlantic Ocean. It has a fishing port and boat trips to Seals Island.
  • Chapmans Peak - Experience one of the most fantastic scenic roads in the world.

Cape Winelands

  • The main cities are Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek. All of them are good for experiencing the unique atmosphere of the Lands Wineries. Don't forget to have a wine tasting in one of the many vineyards.
  • For visits to private vineyards with culinary accompaniment, contact Cape Fusion Tours [42].

along the south coast

  • Just two hours from Cape Town are the Bontebok National Park and the De Hoop Nature Reserve, perfect for whale watching.
  • The southernmost part of Africa, the Needle handle, it's not very far.
  • The region of Overberg offers whale watching and quiet towns to relax.

The Garden Route and beyond

  • the world famous Garden Route stretches from Mossel Bay, via George and Knysna to the Tsitsikamma National Park on the south coast. This road will take you further north to Port Elizabeth, Durban and eventually to the Essuatini. Don't forget to visit the Karoo semi-desert and take an ostrich ride in Oudtshoorn.

further north

  • Go further north along the West Coast to Saldanha Bay. Farther north to Namaqualand and Richtersveld and finally toNamibia.
  • , Langebaan (120 km north of Cape Town), ☎ 27 (0)22 766-1606, email: . R25. 
  • Visit Melkbos for surfing, windsurfing, kite surfing and sunbathing on its beach and also see Africa's only Nuclear Power Station.
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