Cape Town is the second most highly populated city in South Africa. The city known as Kaapstad in Afrikaans, is the primate city in the Western Cape, and also the capital of the province. It is home to over 3.7 million people and is 2,445 square kilometres in size. From a political perspective it is the legislative capital and home of the National Parliament.
Cape Town is renowned for its beautiful harbour and the beautiful Cape floral kingdom. The city which sits on the shore of Table Bay, was originally a supply station for the Dutch sailing ships that were bound for East Africa. It wasn't until 1652 when the first European settlement was formed following the arrival of Jan van Riebeeck. But the city quickly outgrew its initial purpose, and before long was the economic and cultural hub of the entire Cape Colony.
It was actually at one stage the largest city in South Africa, until the good old Gold Rush circus came rolling into the city of Johannesburg. Yet still true to form, even today it is still a home of multiculturalism, being one of the top cities for both expat's and immigrants alike.
Cape Town won two awards in 2014, the first being the best place to visit in the world by The New York Times, and the World Design Capital. As much of the geography of Cape Town is governed by the lay of the land of Table Mountain and the Durbanville Hills, the city is subsequently divided into eight different groups of suburbs. They are the City Bowl, the Atlantic Seaboard, the West Coast, the Northern Suburbs, the Southern Suburbs, the South Peninsula, the Eastern Suburbs and the Cape Flats.
Some of the must see attractions in Cape Town include the Two Oceans Aquarium, the Castle of Good Hope, the V&A Waterfront, the Rhodes Memorial, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Robben Island, the South African Parliament, Sandy Bay, Signal Hill and Lions Head.
If museums, galleries or the arts are more your scene be sure to check out the South African National Gallery, the Bo Kaap Museum, the Artscape Theatre, the District Six Museum, Slave Lodge, the South African Jewish Museum, the South African Maritime Museum, Galleria Gibello, the Armchair Theatre, the Baxter Theatre, Groot Constantia, the Labia Screen, the Masque Theatre, and On Broadway.
If you're looking for activities, why not consider a few of these? Catch the Cable Car to the top of Table Mountain, go to the Cape of Good Hope, visit the African penguin colony at Boulders, go on a sunset cruise, do a townships tour, visit the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station and Nature Reserve, go whale watching, go surfing at Muizenberg, Kalk Bay, Outer Kom or Misty Cliffs, take in a Safari tour, try kite surfing, seal snorkelling, climb Table Mountain, scuba diving, kayaking, do a wine tasting tour, deep sea fishing or even shark cage diving.
There is also a good range of festivals and events hosted in Cape Town including the Cape Town Flower and Garden Show, the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour, the Two Oceans Marathon, the Cape Town Jazz Festival, the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival, the Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts, the Mother City Queer Project, the Spiers Summer Arts Festival, and the City Harvest Festival.