Here are a few of the landmark historical moments that make Cape Town the place it is today. It was at sea level—but what lay beneath was layers of sandstone set atop a granite base. Pressure from the underlying magma worked with the ice to harden the top layer, leaving the iconic flat slab we see today. Would you believe the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway is nearly a century old?
Before then, the only way up the mountain was by foot and only the most adventurous—or foolhardy—had been to its summit. On 4 October , after two years of difficult and dangerous work, the first Cable Car chugged its way to the top filled with excited and probably very nervous visitors.
Table Mountain and the surrounding area was home to the Khoisan people long before the first Europeans arrived. Gaeb, and they were skilled and industrious people with an unmatched knowledge of the local fauna and flora.
It was the Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias who became the first European to set eyes on what is now Cape Town after he rounded the Cape by ship in the late s.
But the Dutch colonist Jan van Riebeeck became the first European to set foot on its soil in Shortly after Van Riebeeck established the supply station, the VOC brought slaves from Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia to work on the farms that supplied the fruit and vegetables to passing ships.
This brought the Islamic faith to our sunny shores, along with the delectable Cape Malay cuisine. Since it was first colonised in , Cape Town was tossed back and forth between two of the greatest colonial powers of the time, the British and the Dutch. The Dutch were in charge for the first century and a half after colonisation. Two World Heritage Sites, the sprawling Winelands, nature reserves, botanic gardens and a buzzing waterfront are just the start of the adventure.
Its strategic geographic position at the tip of Africa has seen foreign visitors stopping off at the Cape since the s, each contributing unique cultural influences that make up the fabric of modern-day Cape Town. Discover wines at source in the famous Cape Winelands by taking a day tour on one of six wine routes, and explore the historically rich adjacent towns of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl.
An abundance of flora may be appreciated within the city environs, from the magnificence of the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden to a World Heritage Site featuring more than 9 fynbos 'fine bush' species in the Table Mountain National Park. As the meeting point of many cultures, Cape Town is dotted with mosques, kramats, churches, synagogues and temples, while its architecture reveals examples of art deco, Cape Dutch and Malay engineering. What started off as a just a fashion show has now become an annual lifestyle event that showcases the best of South African talent.
From firm fashion favourites to emerging artists, the shows feature everything from glamorous garments, ready-to-wear pieces, wedding couture and the latest development in menswear. African Fashion International AFI was established as part of an unequivocal determination to propel and restore refined African fashion brands on the global stage.
Apart from the established names in the business, the annual couture conference affords young designers the opportunity to dazzle audiences with their fresh ideas and share the runway with the elite crew of trendy exhibitors. Aside from checking out the competition, business-savvy fashionistas can also look forward to the much-anticipated conference where speakers give budding designers business advice and tips on how to stay relevant.
This event takes place in Johannesburg and Cape Town. The Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town houses vivid and educational displays of marvellous life from beneath the waters of the Indian and the Atlantic oceans, both of which wash Western Cape shores.
The Freedom Trail is an exhilarating mountain-bike route from East Coast to West Coast in South Africa that runs through some of the most spectacular natural beauty the country has to offer.
Runners who visit South Africa to conquer iconic marathons like the Comrades or Two Oceans get an added bonus: recovering afterwards on the holiday of a lifetime with a huge range of options. South Africans are a diverse mix of peoples from Africa, Europe, Asia and elsewhere, and the many museums scattered around the country preserve rich histories, heritages and cultural traditions. Sandboarding — the sunnier version of snowboarding — is popular in South Africa thanks to several dedicated sites and adventure-tourism outfits offering adrenaline jolts to novice and expert alike.
We can start on Twitter before going to the art galleries South Africa has an abundance of artists and creators across all our provinces. Discover the many flavours of South Africa foun…. Let's ShareSouthAfrica! A perfect visit for the upcoming festive season.
The beauty is overwhelming and it is worthwhile to enjoy the sublime views. When it comes to magnificent scenery - Cape Town and the surrounding province of the Western Cape never fails to deliver. With such a varying landscape - found in very few other places across the globe - Cape Town offers forests, beaches, gardens , mountains, oceans, grasslands, nature reserves, Winelands, as well as one of the most unique floral biomes in the world - fynbos.
It has been voted the most beautiful garden in Africa after all. Located in the incredible Cape Point Nature Reserve, Cape Point is the most southwestern point of the continent, as well as the longest peninsula in South Africa. Also considered a Natural World Heritage Site, here you will find more dramatic scenery as endless ocean views. Cape Point Views.
Not just pretty to see, but at Cape Point, you can also visit the old lighthouse, board the Flying Dutchman Funicular , walk the shipwreck trail, dine at the Two Oceans Restaurant, braai, picnic, or explore the deserted beaches and glorious tidal pools. You could spend a week in Cape Town and not manage to fully explore all of its beaches. To explore all this natural beauty, the climate in Cape Town is that of a year-round, mild Mediterranean one - gracing us with long summer days to explore all that the city has to offer.
The history of South Africa, the Cape, and Cape Town city itself is a long, important and sombre one. From the Khoi-San who lived across the southern reaches of the continent for hundreds of years, to the colonisation and resulting slave trade that introduced Indian, Indonesian and the Middle Eastern populations to the area, and of course South Africa's apartheid history which can never be overlooked.
Of all of this dark yet moving history, Cape Town is perhaps most famously known for being home to the inspirational South African president and national treasure, Nelson Mandela. The Bo-Kaap is a colourful hub of history, culture, music and flavour. Established as a township during the colonisation of the Cape, slaves were brought to Cape Town from across Africa, India, Indonesia and the Middle East, creating a new combination of culture.
Historical Bo-Kaap. Known for its brightly coloured houses, Bo-Kaap lies on the slopes of Signal Hill, just above the city centre at is the epicentre of Cape Malay culture.
You can learn even more about this vibrant history on foot with one of our free guided walking tours.
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