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Travel Guides
The S&A travel guides are typically authored by one or more schools located at the destination in question. If you are interested in using the complete guide or parts thereof for your web site, brochure or similar please contact the individual school for permission.
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Cape Town
 Cape Town is known as the Mother City and is the oldest city in South Africa. It is highly valued for its unique blend of modern city life and natural wide open spaces. English is one of the official languages that is spoken widely, especially in the cities. From whale-watching, hiking, mountain climbing, paragliding and diving with sharks, to sauntering along its famous wine routes,watching world-class cultural events and doing a spot of great shopping - there is something for everyone. This is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, nestled between Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean.
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Culture & History
 In 1200, Iron Age settlements flourished at Mapunubwe in the Northern Transvaal, but the most documented history of South Africa starts with the arrival in Cape Town of the Dutch settlers in 1652.
In 1886, large amounts of gold were discovered on the Witwatersrand ( Johannesburg). British military intervention shifted the balance of power in favour of the white minority. The Union of South Africa, ruled by a white minority, was formed in 1910. It consisted on 4 provinces - the Cape, Natal, Orange Free State and Transvaal.
The Nationalist Party came into power in 1948 and introduced apartheid. The first non-racial, democratic elections were held in April 1994. The 1994 election saw the inauguration of the first black State President, Nelson Mandela, who headed a government of national unity.
The Mother City and the Western Cape are home to South Africa's parliament and are a major international tourist attraction. Tourism remains the most important economic key to the development of the Western Cape. There are about 75,000 people employed in the tourism industry in this area.
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Sightseeing
 The city of Cape Town is nestled at the foot of the massive 1086 metre sandstone bulk of Table Mountain, flanked by Devil's Peak, Lions Head and Signal Hill on the lower slopes of which lies the area known as the City Bowl.
It is considered to be one of the most beautiful areas in Africa, with a multi-cultural environment resulting from a melting pot of Indonesian, French, Dutch, British and German settlers, as well as the local Khoisan tribes (Bushmen and Hottentots) and the Bantu tribes from the north.
A trip to Robben Island Museum is a must for any visitor to Cape Town. For nearly 400 years, Robben Island, 12 kilometres from Cape Town, was a place of banishment, exile and isolation. It is also the prison where Nelson Mandela spent many of his years.
The Waterfront Craft Market represents a mecca of entrepreneurship and micro business development. This vibrant indoor craft market, adjacent to the Two Oceans Aquarium, features a diverse assortment of innovative designs and traditional handcrafts, antiquities and accessories. The Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre forms the bulk of the retail space at the Waterfront, and has a wide variety of national retailers, boutiques and services, along with a large selection of restaurants, coffee shops and fast food outlets. The Red Shed Craft Workshop, adjoining the Victoria Wharf centre, is filled with a mix of handmade merchandise and art. The Alfred Mall & Pierhead is situated within the historic Pierhead and overlooks the small craft harbour and adjacent dry dock. Those seeking quality specialist artefacts, jewellery, curios and art with a nautical or African flavour will find a wonderful selection here.
The South African Maritime Museum has the largest collection of model ships and some fascinating artefacts. There is also a floating exhibit, the S.A.S. Somerset. Other items of historical interest are the Time Ball Tower, (which was once used by ships in the bay to set the time) and the Old Clock Tower, built in 1887. The topmost floor housed the clock mechanism, while the bottom floor housed the elaborate tide-gauge operated by a float on the water below.
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Shopping
 The favourable international exchange rate makes South Africa a shopper's paradise for foreigners.
Cape Town offers a great variety of domestic and imported goods including gold ( South Africa's chief export), diamonds ( South Africa is world famous for these sparkling gems), jewellery, leather goods, African curios, art, antiques, ceramics and fashion wear.
The shopping hours are from 8am to 5pm from Monday to Friday and until 1pm on Saturday. Some stores stay open late on Friday evening until 9pm.
Adderley Street has shopping centres, malls and many interesting gift shops. The area is well known for its fashion outlets, as well as many well known jewellery stores which offer quality goods for the discerning buyer.
St George's Mall has a number of interesting boutiques and around the corner is Greenmarket Square with its flea market and fashion boutiques. Long Street has many small charming shops, reflecting the character of Cape Town. The V&A Waterfront has a variety of outlets (open 7 days a week) from niche interest to fashion and is open till late.
There’s also a lot on offer at Atlantic Seaboard - Sea Point and Camps Bay, while Hout Bay has several craft shops where resident artists, potters and sculptors sell their craft to the public.
The False Bay coastline is known as the Treasure Coast and is dotted with many charming shops selling a variety of products. Claremont is the shopping mecca of the Southern Suburbs and Cavendish Square is its main attraction. Tyger Valley Shopping Centre is at the centre of the Northern Suburbs and is the largest shopping centre in the Cape and is conveniently situated between Cape Town and the Wine lands.
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Music & Arts
 Classical Music is performed at various venues. The Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra performs at the Malan Theatre and City Hall. Kirstenbosch Twilight Concerts have performances on Sunday evenings in summer, while St Georges Cathedral Choir gives performances free of charge.You may also visit the Oude Libertas Centre in Stellenbosch. This open-air theatre hosts classical music performances during the summer months.
There are also many other live music venues across Cape Town, encompassing many styles including jazz and pop. One example of the live music on offer are the Appletiser Summer Sunset Concerts, which take place at Kirstenbosch on Sunday evenings.
Opera is performed at the Nico Malan Opera House on the Foreshore whilst ballet is performed at the Nico Malan Opera House and the Baxter Theatre.
Drama is lively with many locally written plays. The big musicals are staged at the Nico Malan Opera House, the Baxter Theatre, Dock Road Theatre, Theatre on the Bay and at Maynardville Open Air Theatre. Art exhibitions are situated at many venues.
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Nightlife
 Cape Town doesn't dim the lights after dinner. Like most cities, nightlife flourishes in many forms, including nightclubs, discotheques, wine-bars, music venues, pubs, cocktail lounges and restaurants.
The Waterfront, Sea Point and Lower Cape Town buzz until the early hours. Cinemas are situated throughout Cape Town. There are specialised cinemas for art and foreign films. The Imax cinema is situated at the Portswood Road entrance to the Waterfront. The Planetarium ( Queen Victoria Street) offers lectures and many interesting talks and shows on astronomy.
There are also no less than two ice rinks being opened at GrandWest's Ice Station. The ice-rinks are the centre-piece of the entertainment centre, which includes a fast-food court and six new cinemas.
The Grand West Casino floor is home to 1750 slot machines and 66 gaming tables, offering Roulette, Diamond Rush Black Jack, Poker and Punto Banco. The casino is surrounded by bars and restaurants all open 24 hours a day. GrandWest is located on Vanguard Drive on the old Goodwood Showgrounds, between the N1 and N2 highways, less than 15 minutes drive from the Cape Town CBD.
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Sports & Activities
 The Western Cape is the perfect place for outdoor activities, be it swimming, walking, hiking, climbing, horse-riding, sailing, sail-boarding, surfing, diving, boating or fishing.
Visitors can experience the thrill of bungee jumping including the highest bungee-jump in the world at Bloukrans. Hiking is popular among the locals, and Table Mountain can get rather crowded on a Sunday. However you should always go climbing with an experienced person who knows the routes.
Surrounded by the clear oceans, water sports are extremely popular in the region. Some of the finest big game fishing in the world is available here - in particular Longfin and Yellowfin Tuna and Broadbilled Swordfish.
Scuba diving is one of the largest growing sports in Cape Town and there are many areas suitable for this exciting sport. Sail-boarding (windsurfing) is another favourite, with Blouberg beach being the main area. The Royal Cape Yacht Club is situated at the docks in Table Bay. Multihull sailing is popular at Fish Hoek and Hout Bay. Sailing on dams, lagoons and rivers is also possible. Surfing is popular in Cape Town and spectacular surfing competitions are held during the summer months.
Cricket has been played in Cape Town since the early days of British occupation. South Africa's cricket team is one of the best in the world and facilities at Newlands Cricket Grounds are outstanding. Visitors can attend provincial and international matches.
Cape Town is home to the famous Argus Cycle Tour of the Peninsula, which takes place in March every year. Horse racing in Cape Town takes place on two tracks - Kenilworth and Durbanville every Wednesday and Saturday afternoon.
Rugby is the favourite sport of South Africans and the Springbok team are national heroes. Tennis courts are to be found at most hotels and there are many sports clubs in and around the city which will accommodate visitors. Golf is a popular sport and South Africa offers some of the most famous golf courses around for the pleasure of visitors.
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Nature & Outdoors
 Nature and outdoor lovers are sure to find Cape Town and its surroundings of great interest, with its rich flora and the variety of wildlife and birdlife. There are a number of parks and nature reserves in and around Cape Town, each displaying a different aspect of the Cape's biodiversity.
The presence of Table Mountain, the pristine coastline with its white sandy beaches, the magnificent countryside with its bountiful rivers, dams and the unique flora kingdom, together with the warm summer climate and friendly community, makes the Western Cape perfect for any vacation.
The Two Oceans Aquarium offers an exciting insight into the indigenous fresh and seawater creatures of South Africa. Cape Fur Seals can be seen by taking a boat ride around the harbour. Bird watching is also a popular activity.
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Eating Out
 The cuisine of most nationalities is to be found in the wide choice of restaurants in and around Cape Town. Fresh vegetables are supplied from the thriving agricultural sector and meat of excellent quality is available.
Traditional cuisine is a mixture of Indonesian, Malaysian, French, German, British and Dutch. During the winter months, venison (especially springbok) of all kinds is popular. Live Cape rock-lobster (crayfish) and perlemoen, along with a superb selection of freshly caught fish, are widely available. Fish and seafood are a popular dish in the region. Cape Town's restaurants serve hefty portions which are enough to satisfy any appetite. The quality of meat is extremely good and the variety wide. Beef, lamb and veal dominate menus with venison being popular in winter. Chicken and duck are also available at most restaurants.
South Africans are extremely fond of braaiing (barbecuing), and boerewors (sausage), kebabs and lamb-chops are popular. Fruit is plentiful and deliciously sweet.
Wine has been made in the region since Jan van Riebeeck's first vineyard was planted at Bishopscourt. Simon van der Stel started the wine lands of Constantia, and Stellenbosch, Paarl, Somerset West and Franschhoek areas are currently producing some of the best wines in the world. Beer is also a favourite drink among the locals.
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Practical Information
Here is some practical information about Cape Town and what to expect during your stay.
Population: 2,984,100
Time Zone: GMT +2 (same as Paris, Rome and Prague)
Languages: English, Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Tswana .Sotho (Southern), Swati, South Ndebele
Climate
Total Annual Rainfall - 515mm (20ins)
Average Summer Temperatures in December to February - 15 -27C (60 – 80F)
Average Winter Months of June to August - 20C (45 - 70F)
Electricity: 220/230V 50HzHz
Religion: Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Jewish and traditional religions
Currency: Rand (R)
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Published: 11th June 2008
Last updated: 11th June 2008
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