Mother City of Africa and the Western Cape, Cape Town is regarded as one of the most beautiful regions in the world. The City is a sundrenched rare cultural gem, resulting from the amalgamation of Indonesian, French, Dutch, British and German settlers, the local Bushman and Hottentot tribes and the Bantu tribes from the north. The large variety of wildlife and activities and its comfortable climate guarantee an unforgettable visit to this city.
Cape Town - Republic of South Africa
General information about Cape Town
The impressive presence of Table Mountain, flanked by the legendary Devil's Peak and historical Signal Hill, stands proudly above the city. Beautiful white sandy beaches along a peaceful coastline frame the Cape Peninsula, which is famed for its unique floral kingdom, bountiful rivers, vleis and dams and magnificent countryside. The surrounding area extends far into the winelands, green in summer and red-gold in autumn.
Cape Town boasts a multitude of entertainment, ranging from outdoor activities and adventures in the sun to a roaring night life under neon signs. The vast range of shopping opportunities includes haggling with shop holders at Greenmarket Square Flea Market, as well as breezing through sophisticated and stylish shopping malls. The huge variety of restaurants reflects the multicultured history of the Cape and caters for everyone's taste, from fast-food outlets and casual to the chic to the very elegant.
Cape Town provides a setting for many scenic wonders, magnificent seascapes and panoramic views. The beautiful coastal areas of Camps Bay, Clifton, Llandudno, Bantry Bay, Hout Bay and Blouberg surround the breathtaking tranquility of the winelands, Constantia, Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franshoek.
Cape Town is a city of culture, built on a history that reflects in the architecture, cuisine, music and dance. Together with a warm Summer and temperate Winter climate and a friendly community, the Western Cape and the Mother City are an ideal holiday destination throughout the year.
History of Cape Town
The origins of the present day Republic of South stem from a 1652 founded settlement to arrange for supplies to the Dutch United East-Indian Company (Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie)on the Cape of Good Hope, from which Cape Town was founded. Until 1800 this area was regarded as a colonial settlement area for the Dutch (the socalled Boere = farmers), Huguenots and Germans.
From 1800 onwards the English showed their interest in this area, they allowed English to emigrate and made the 14.000 Boere leave for the more inland plateaus of the Orange Rivers. The Boere founded the Boere Republic of Transvaal (across the valley) and the en Oranje-Vrijstraat (Orange Free State). The present Republic of South Africa - Consisting of the provinces Oostelijke Kaap (Eastern Cape), Vrijstaat (Free State), Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Noordelijke Kaap (North Cape), Noordwest en Westelijke Kaap (Northwest and Western Cape) have a long and violent history. An important part of its history is the apartheid. Until the nineties of the twentieth century black and white people lived strictly segregated (apart). Robbeneiland, the island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, is an important landmark for tourists.
The surface of the Republic of South Africa is vast measuring 1.221.037 square kilometers with 33 million people, with a 16% white minority.
South Africa has numerous natural resources, mainly gold and diamonds are the minerals explored. A large part of the people earns a living in the mining industry.
South Africa is also a typical wine country that easily competes from down under with other established wine countries like France and Spain.
The wine makes it is easy to trace back the mainly French settlers that built up the vineyards during the past few centuries. The South African grape varieties are among the best appreciated throughout the world.
A lot of vineyards are open to the public and guarantee a top experience for those who love wine.
Lenguage in South Africa
The republic is officially bilingual, i.e. African (which resembles the Dutch lenguage) and English. All official documents, announcements and road signs are bilingual. In South Africa their are eleven officially recognised lenguages. Most people speak English (fluently or a little) apart from some other lenguages. The number of people speaking African decreases since the lenguage is only taught at African (i.e. white majority) schools.
Sights
The climate in the country is mainly half desert but subtropical along the shore. The days are usually sunny and the nights are cool.
Best time to travel
The Summer season is from September till May, in general it is an all year comfortable climate for a holiday. There is no rain season.
Tourist areas
Because of its comfortable climate South Africa has a rich flora, fauna and wildlife. Most tourist come to see wild animals like elephants, lions, rhino´s, etc. These live only in the parks. The country has eleven national parks and lots of provincial and private parks and nature reserves. Wildlife in South Africa is breathtaking and can be admired also in these parks. 
Summary of the tourist areas:
- Pretoria: The capital of the Republic has interesting architecture.
- Kimberley: with tourist attraction "the Big Hole", a huge goldmine.
- Robbeneiland: symbol of apartheid.
- Durban: the most important port.
- Cape Town: with lots of Dutch influences and an attractive natural situation for tourism.
- National parks: Kruger National Park, Willem Pretorius Nature Reserve, Kalahari Gemsbok National Park.
Money in South Africa
The South African currency is the rand.
One Rand (R) = 100 cents (c).
Bank Notes: R200, R100, R50, R20, R10
Coins: R5, R2, R1, 50c 20c, 10c, 5c, 2c, & 1c.
Currency exchange rates are available at all banks, shopping centres as well as in daily newspapers. It is even possible to have the exchange rate sent to you via your cell-phone. Travellers cheques are not accepted at all places. You better order some Rands in advance with your bank (only a limited amount is allowed to enter South Africa, please inform with your bank for the exact amount). You can change cash money with lots of banks (but not all!) that are usually open from Monday till Friday from 9.00 to 15.30 hrs and on Saturdays from 08.00 uur to 11.30 uur. Changing money on the airport can be complicated if you travel with a group and have limited time (long lines). Most credit cards are getting more and more universally accepted. You can use ATM in the big cities up to 1.000 Rand a day. Ask your bank about the validity of your card in South Africa.
Many waitresses are students who rely on tips to supplement their wages.
We recommend a 10% tip of the total sum for Taxi Drivers or Waitresses. A waitress generally does NOT receive a basic salary, and has to pay for any breakages occurring. The cleaning staff generally gets R10 off the waiters tip at the end of the evening. A lot of the students use that money to pay for their studies or help to pay for their families. Be aware that big groups at restaurants might incur a 10% surcharge.
In Town you will find people wanting to assist you with parking as well as watching your car. Please don't see this as pestering. The best is to ask for their name, thank him or her and tip him at the end of the night with one or two rand.
Traffic
In South Africa we drive on the left side of the road and give way to traffic approaching from the right. On multiple lanes it is advised to overtake on the right-hand side. The general speed limit is 120km/h on open roads and 60km/h in urban areas. Be aware of cameras and speed traps especially before and after small townships. In case of late arrivals at the airport, it is advisable to take a taxi, and collect your car the next morning at the hotel or holiday house. After a day or two driving on the left will be no problem for you as it is quick and easy to adapt to. Keep in mind that approaching a traffic circle in South Africa does not give you right of way, traffic already in the circle has right of way.
We have a lot of four-way stops instead of traffic lights. A four-way stop means who ever approaches the stop first has right of way. This traffic rule works wonderfully in South Africa . The four-way stops hinder people speeding in small town and living areas.
The roads in South Africa become very slippery when it rains due to long periods of no rain in summer. Drive slowly and keep a fairly large distance from the car in front of you.
In South Africa we park in the direction that we drive. Always make sure that your vehicle is locked properly and no goods are lying around inside as this leads to theft. Car radios are one of the favourite items to be stolen so assure that it is always taken out and locked away.
Holidays
1 January - New Years Day
21 March - Human Rights Day
27 April - Freedom Day
1 May - Labour Day
16 June - Youth Day
9 August - National Womens Day
24 September - Heritage Day
16 December - Day of reconciliation
25 December - Christmas Day
26 December - Goodwill Day
If one of these holidays is a Sunday the next Monday is a holiday.
Cape Town
Of course you want to see London, New York or Paris some day. But if you are in for something completely different South Africa is your holiday option that has it all. Cape Town offers you the beauty of wine regions, white beaches, blue seas, palmtrees, lovely dishes and great wines , history, artists, intellectuals, fools, freedom and feasts. For all ages this city is an unforgettable experience. Come and see Cape Town. The magic of this city - you will feel it as soon as you get of the plane - is practically indescribable.
Holiday villas, homes and apartments.
You will find the holiday homes and villas (most of them with private pools) on the hills and on the coasts. The apartments are generally not far from the beach.
Unique
The combination if so many aspects of nature, wildlife, people, poor and rich, architecture, visions, history, parties, humor, music, art, food and everything you can think of makes this global city a most characteritic atmosphere. Most of all, the people in Cape Town are kind and show interest.
Stressless
The mother city of Cape Town has more than three million residents and the city is known for its relaxed community feeling where time and stress do not make up the bigger part of life. People take their time to have lunch with a good glass of wine, there is time to have a big BBQ with family and friend and everyone who enjoys it, there is time for parties (may be a bit too much) abd there is time to watch the favourite sports rugby. Even if a match is broadcast at a days peak: shops will be closed and bars will be jam packed.
Nowhere in the world you will find a funnier mix of lenguages as the one you will encounter in South Africa. The combination if English and African, spiced up with some local lenguage and pronunciation are likely to end up in funny conversations. Sometimes it means that you will have to listen three times before you realize someone said "thank you".
Lively Cape Town
Summer and Winter are two completely different chapters in Cape Town. In Summer thousands of tourists fill the restaurants, museums, streets and the lawn in Kirstenbosch for a concert, market days, the funicular to the Table Mountain, the busses to the townships, the boats to Robben Eiland and the hip beaches and bars in Camps Bay, Llandudno and Blauwbergstrand (Blue Mountain Beach). Every summernight there are club and art disco beach parties. In Cape Town you can do your first skydive, you can go sandboarding and make your first flight in a Viet Nam chopper. The Sun is hot, there is a lively atmosphere on the street.
In Winter Cape Town belongs to the Capetonians again. The streets atmosphere is still cheerful, the weather is nice, the sundowners still make you want to have some more and the parties are good, but you wil find they are all organized by Capetonians who prepare for a long Summer.
Down town Cape Town
Down Town Cape Town is formed by Longstreet, Adderley Street and Strand Street. Longstreet all by itself can keep you busy for a day. Lots of people worth a longer stare, cafés, numerous little shops with secondhand clothes, antique, skilled crafts and books. We recommend you have lunch in one of the deco design lunch cafés with no more than six tables. You will have the rolls there and the best coffee for a fair price.
Do not forget to eat a delicious "boerewors van die braai" (grilled sausage) that streetsellers offer you in Longstreet before you go home after a nerver-recking night in town.
Fairy tale
Cape Town is a dynamic city, it feeds you with positive energy. It is almost like a fairy tale.