Cape Town
Cape Town is the largest city in terms of size in South Africa with a land area of over nine hundred and forty seven miles. It is also the second largest city in the area with a population of over three and a half million people. Cape Town is the legislative capital of South Africa and is also the provincial capital. This city is situated at Table Bay and its original purpose was as a supply port for Dutch ships traveling to the Far East and India. In 1652, Jan van Riebeeck established the city for the Dutch East India Company. During the early stages of Cape Town, growth was retarded by the lack of adequate labor, so slaves were imported from Indonesia and Madagascar. During its history, Cape Town became the pawn of factions fighting during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars. In 1814, the city permanently became a possession of Britain and became the capital of the newly formed Cape Colony. The next notable point in Cape Town history occurred during the 1948 elections. This was when the National Party won on the apartheid platform. This would later lead to the Group Areas Act which enable a race classification of public areas.
Ethnically diverse neighborhoods were emptied of their residents or destroyed. One of the most famous of these neighborhoods was District Six. It was classified as a whites only district with all the residents getting purged and the housing demolished. Over sixty thousand residents were displaced in total. Apartheid was eventually abolished during the early years of the 1990′s resulting in universal suffrage elections. Cape Town is not only the economic center of the Western Cape, but it is also the manufacturing center as well. This city is also the transportation hub of the Western Cape featuring the primary airport and harbor in the area. But, the biggest portion of this cities economy is its importance as a tourist destination. Tourism accounts for almost ten percent of the regions Gross Domestic Product and employs nine percent of the regions workforce. One of the most popular attractions in Cape Town is the Table Mountain & Cableway. Table Mountains offers visitors a chance to see fantastic views of the city that can’t be found anywhere else. This mountain features many telescopes to help visitors get a closer look at the city and it also boast a restaurant where visitors can enjoy a leisurely meal.
The mountain can be ascended by the cableway cable car, which has a revolving car that allows visitors a three hundred and sixty degree view as they climb the three thousand feet to the top. A must see World Heritage site in the city is Robben Island. This island features the famous prison where South African president Nelson Mandela was incarcerated. Today its no longer a prison but a tourist attraction where visitors can get spectacular views of the bay with Table Mountain in the distance. Entry to the island can be gained through the use of a ferry. Ferries leave at regular intervals throughout the day. Another notable attraction in Cape Town is the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. This park sits on an area of five hundred and twenty-eight hectares and contains thirty-six hectares of gardens. These gardens contain a large variety of flora indigenous to the South Aftican region. These include cycads, proteas and fynbos interspersed with streams and ponds. There is also a large number of birds in the park and plenty of trails for pedestrians. Not far away is the Boulders Penguin Colony. Here visitors can get a chance to see a colony of African penguin within their natural habitat.
The Castle of Good Hope is another popular attraction to visitors of Cape Town. This castle was built in 1679 and is one of the oldest buildings in South Africa. In 1682 a new gated entrance way was added to replace the previous one that had face out toward the sea. In 1684, a bell tower was added. Later in 1697 a bell was added. The bell was cast by Claude Frémy in Amsterdam and weighs over one hundred and fifty pounds. It was rung on the hour and also to summon residents during important announcements. Castle of Good Hope was named a national monument in 1936 and the building went through extensive renovations during the 1980′s. The V & A Waterfront is a popular attraction among both residents and tourist alike. The waterfront has over two hundred and fifty shops which range from local craft stalls to major design boutiques. There are numerous restaurants, pubs and cafes where visitors can grab a meal or a drink. Also located here are attractions such as the SA Maritum Museum, Telkom Exploratorium and the Two Oceans Aquarium. The Two Oceans Aquarium features a touch pool and several display tanks which include the ever popular predators tank.
The predator exhibit features over five hundred thousand gallons of water and includes many species of sharks, yellow fish and stingrays. The World of Birds of Hout Bay is a bird and wildlife sanctuary featuring over three thousand birds in their natural environment. Visitors can amble through the various aviaries and personal first hand encounters with animals such as owls and guinea fowl, monkeys, cranes and even eagles. The World of Birds is also a breeding institution for endangered species and a hospital that cares for injured birds. Other Cape Town attractions include the Cape Point & Table Mountain National Park, Rhodes Memorial and Cape Wine Lands. There are also Township Tours where visitors can be taken on tours of the locations surrounding Cape Town such as Langa, Khayelitsha and many others. Visitors can also take a trip to the areas many beaches. There are several beaches available which include Camps Bay, Clifton, Llandudno, Muizenberg, Fish Hoek Beach, Boulders Beach and Noordhoek . Cape Town also offers distinctive restaurants, pubs, hotels and resorts. There is something for everyone in this city, whether your a young child or a senior citizen. Few cities contain more natural beauty or magic than Cape Town. |
