Cape Town is the legislative capital of South Africa. The city is known for its harbour, its natural setting in the Cape Floristic Region, and for landmarks such as Table Mountain and Cape Point. Located on the shore of Table Bay, the City Bowl area of Cape Town, which contains its central business district (CBD), is the oldest urban area in the Western Cape, with a significant cultural heritage.
In South Africa we refer to downtown Cape Town, as the "Cape Town CBD" (Central Business District). Most South Africans will not understand if you ask there where Downtown Cape Town is.Strictly speaking, this is downtown Cape Town. Our main business district. However, most locals will refer to the areas in this map as Cape Town Central.
The official boundaries of the city proper extend between the City Bowl and the Atlantic Seaboard to the east and the Southern Suburbs to the south. The extent of Cape Town has varied considerably over time. It originated as a small settlement at the foot of Table Mountain and has grown beyond its city limits as a metropolitan area to encompass the entire Cape Peninsula to the south, the Cape Flats, the Helderberg basin and part of the Steenbras catchment area to the east, and the Tygerberg hills, Blouberg and other areas to the north.
It is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and False Bay to the south. Robben Island in Table Bay is also part of Cape Town. The Cape Peninsula is 52 km (30 mi) long from Mouille Point in the north to Cape Point in the south, with an area of about 470 km2 (180 sq mi), and it displays more topographical variety than other similar sized areas in southern Africa, and consequently spectacular scenery.
The heart of Africa’s favourite city sits in a shallow basin hemmed in by the dramatic backdrop of Table Mountain, Signal Hill and the harbour. Not for nothing is Cape Town’s city centre called the ‘city bowl’ by locals. It’s a small city centre but it’s safe, busy and there's plenty to do.
Read also: Cairo Culture and Accommodation
Here's a glimpse of what awaits you:
- Historical Exploration: Delve into South Africa's past with visits to the Slave Lodge Museum and the Houses of Parliament.
- Natural Beauty: Enjoy proximity to beaches and winelands, easily accessible within fifteen minutes from the city center.
- Urban Convenience: Experience the safety and vibrancy of the city bowl, with its array of activities and attractions.
Cape Town Jewel of South Africa Walking Tour - 4K
A Stroll Through History
A visit to the Slave Lodge Museum in the city will bring you face-to-face with the slave trade history in South Africa. Away from the grim past of slavery, colonisation and apartheid, there are plenty of other things to discover in the city. The legendary Houses of Parliament has for decades captured everything you wanted to know about South African politics.
Houses of Parliament in Cape Town
Key Historical Moments
- 1488: Bartolomeu Dias arrives, naming it "Cape of Storms".
- Late 16th Century: French, Danish, Dutch, and English ships stop in Table Bay.
- 1795 & 1806: Britain captures Cape Town.
- 1910: The Union of South Africa is established.
- 1948: The National Party wins elections, introducing apartheid.
- 1990: Nelson Mandela makes his first public speech from Cape Town City Hall.
In 1950 the apartheid government first introduced the Group Areas Act, which classified and segregated urban areas according to race. Formerly multi-racial suburbs of Cape Town were either purged of residents deemed unlawful by apartheid legislation, or demolished. The most infamous example of this in Cape Town was the suburb of District Six. Cape Town has been home to many leaders of the anti-apartheid movement.
In one of the most famous moments marking the end of apartheid, Nelson Mandela made his first public speech since his imprisonment from the balcony of Cape Town City Hall, hours after being released on 11 February 1990. His speech heralded the beginning of a new era for the country. Nobel Square in the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront features statues of South Africa's four Nobel Peace Prize winners: Albert Luthuli, Desmond Tutu, F. W. de Klerk and Nelson Mandela.
Read also: Discover Addis Ababa
Proximity to Major Attractions
Indeed, one of the major advantages of staying in central Cape Town is your proximity to Cape Town's best-loved institutions. Chat to the flower sellers of Adderley Street and the market stall holders of Greenmarket Square; grab a coffee on bustling Long Street and then wander down to the museums (the District Six museum is especially good) or simply take a stroll around the Company’s Garden. The city’s small size has another advantage: in just fifteen minutes you could be on one side of the mountain sunning yourself on one of the city's famous beaches or on the other, enjoying wine tasting in the Constantia winelands. That's the beauty of Cape Town - no matter where you choose to stay, you'll always be close to its major attractions.
Company's Garden
Post-Apartheid Era
Cape Town has undergone significant changes in the years since Apartheid. Cape Town has experienced economic growth and development in the post-apartheid era. The city has become a major economic hub in South Africa, attracting international investment and tourism. The city's economy has diversified, with growth in sectors such as technology, finance, real estate, and tourism. The establishment of the City Centre Improvement District (CCID) has been particularly successful in revitalizing the city center, bringing businesses and people back into the area.
Opinion polls show that South Africans view the Western Cape as the best governed province, Cape Town as the best governed city in the country. According to the AG, municipalities that achieve clean audits display strong financial and performance management, whilst adhering to legislative requirements, and Cape Town is a model of governance and accountability. The AG further stated that Cape Town showed strong leadership, skilled personnel, accurate records, credible reporting to communities, and good quality planning and performance management.
Geographical Landscape
Table Mountain, with its near vertical cliffs and flat-topped summit over 1,000 m (3,300 ft) high, and with Devil's Peak and Lion's Head on either side, together form a dramatic mountainous backdrop, which creates the City Bowl. A thin strip of cloud, known colloquially as the "tablecloth" ("Karos" in Afrikaans), sometimes forms on top of the mountain. There are over 70 peaks above 300 m (980 ft) within Cape Town's official metropolitan limits.
Read also: Lagos: A Historical Overview
Many of the city's suburbs lie on the large plain called the Cape Flats, which extends over 50 km (30 mi) to the east and joins the peninsula to the mainland. The Cape Peninsula is a rocky and mountainous peninsula that juts out into the Atlantic Ocean at the south-western extremity of the continent. At its tip is Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope. The peninsula forms the west side of False Bay and the Cape Flats.
There are two internationally notable landmarks, Table Mountain and Cape Point, at opposite ends of the Peninsula Mountain Chain, with the Cape Flats and False Bay to the east and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Maximum altitude is 1113 m on Table Mountain. The Cape Flats (Afrikaans: Kaapse Vlakte) is a flat, low-lying, sandy area, area to the east the Cape Peninsula, and west of the Helderberg much of which was wetland and dunes within recent history.
Table Mountain
Climate and Environment
Cape Town has a Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csb, bordering Csa), with mild, moderately wet winters and dry, warm summers. Winter, which lasts from June to September, may see large cold fronts entering for limited periods from the Atlantic Ocean with significant precipitation and strong north-westerly winds. Summer, which lasts from December to March, is warm and dry with an average maximum of 26 °C (79 °F) and minimum of 16 °C (61 °F).
Spring and summer generally feature a strong wind from the south-east, known locally as the south-easter or the Cape Doctor, so called because it blows air pollution away. Water temperatures range greatly, between 10 °C (50 °F) on the Atlantic Seaboard, to over 22 °C (72 °F) in False Bay.
Table Mountain has an unusually rich biodiversity. Its vegetation consists predominantly of several different types of the unique and rich Cape Fynbos. Consequently, Cape Town now has over 300 threatened plant species and 13 which are now extinct.
Governance and Economy
Cape Town is governed by a 231-member city council elected in a system of mixed-member proportional representation. The city is divided into 116 wards, each of which elects a councillor by first-past-the-post voting. In the 2021 Municipal Elections, the Democratic Alliance (DA) kept its majority, this time diminished, taking 136 seats.
Living in the City Center
Living in the Mother City’s city centre is becoming more and more popular with younger people and families who want to avoid the frustratingly long daily commutes and who enjoy an urban lifestyle. The many modern high-rise apartment buildings offer not only spectacular views over downtown Cape Town but also superb amenities such as gym, swimming pools as well as concierge services but they do not come cheap. Many of the historic Cape Town city center buildings have been renovated and more than 5,000 new flats have been built in the recent years.
According to the CCID more than 5,000 people live in Cape Town City Centre, with roughly 50,000 more in the surrounding areas. The improved public transport network with regular and safe bus services, however, make the inner city centre of Cape Town very attractive especially for digital nomads, millennials and expats who do not want to pay for private transport and with urban lifestyles, cars are not such a necessity anymore, not even in Cape Town.
According to a 2016 survey of the CCID: The top reason cited for living in the CBD and its immediate surrounds was that it was close to residents’ place of work (58%). Many residents (34%) were able to live within 0.5km of their workplace. And a growing number of the CBD residents are young professionals and 47% of all respondents living in the CBD in 2016 were between the ages of 18 and 34.
Security of course, is one of the top issues when visiting or living downtown, however, the high security measures implemented in the newly built flats in the CBD provide many special safety features. Furthermore there are other safety measures put in place like CCTV camera surveillance systems, security officers on foot, on bike and even 6 equestrian officers.
Things to Do and See
Long Street surely is one of Cape Town’s major attractions; there are many restaurants and bars to enjoy great food and company. A walk along the many Victorian buildings is a 'Must Do' when exploring Cape Town. The pedestrian zone in St Georges Mall is lively and vibrant during the day with street vendors stalls where one can find handmade local gifts, but this area is not very populated in the evening or weekends after the shops close, so just be aware of your surroundings when in the area.
Make sure to visit the Slave Lodge, housing the museum of cultural history. The displays, galleries and permanent exhibition in this museum, located in one of Cape Town's oldest buildings, will provide excellent insights into the history of the city. Enjoy the calmness of Company Gardens, watch the squirrels frolicking in the trees, explore the restructured historic 'company gardens of the VOC' precinct, relax in the coffeeshop and then also admire the newly erected 'Arch for Arch' next the St Georges Cathedral.
Visit beautiful St Georges Cathedral, the 'People's church' next to the lower end of Company Gardens. The church was centre of the peaceful resistance movement during apartheid. Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, first black archbishop in South Africa and Nobel peace prize winner in 1984, was the predominant leader of the resistance movement in Cape Town. Beside the serene surroundings, marvel at the colourful stained glass windows and admire the beautiful 'Black Madonna' of British artist and sculptor Leon Underwood.
Walk right up to the Mount Nelson Hotel through the Company Gardens and have a delicious high tea with lots of delicious sweet treats. The hotel is often referred to as the 'pink grand dame' of Cape Town’s luxury hotels. Last but not least, smell the scents and shapes of the colourful flower bouquets at the Flower Market in Adderley Street. Here you can source some of the finest local flowers.
Flower Market in Adderley Street
Transportation
Cape Town’s CBD benefits from the My City integrated bus rapid transport system. Bus stations and bus stops have been placed strategically all over the city. The Cape Town Train Station is located in Adderley Street: Here local commuter trains arrive and depart, the Blue Train and Rovos Rail are stationed here as well.
Cape Town International Airport is 20 km/12 miles to the east of Cape Town city centre, easily reached via the N2 highway. The airport shuttle service main station is located in Hertzog Boulevard, but My City feeder services are available throughout the city centre.
Shopping and Dining
There is Pick&Pay Mall in Strand Street and Woolworths in St Georges Mall. Many smaller corner stores can also be found downtown for your daily grocery shopping. St Georges Mall is popular for its smaller boutique and handicraft stores. Jewelers’ Alley, Greenmarket Square, entertainment & nightlife hub Long Street as well as the artisan boutiques, specialty stores and foodie scene in Bree Street and Loop Street also are fascinating places to explore in the city centre.
Key Points
- Central Location: Close to major attractions and institutions.
- Revitalized City Center: Thanks to the Central City Improvement District (CCID).
- Cultural Hub: Home to international clubs, foreign restaurants, and expat communities.
Cape Town Population
The historical population of Cape Town is shown in the table below:
| Year | Population | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1658 | 360 | - |
| 1731 | 3,157 | +3.02% |
| 1823 | 15,500 | +1.74% |
| 1833 | 19,227 | +2.18% |
| 1836 | 20,000 | +1.32% |
| 1875 | 45,000 | +2.10% |
| 1891 | 67,000 | +2.52% |
| 1901 | 171,000 | +9.82% |
| 1936 | 344,223 | +2.02% |
| 1950 | 618,000 | +4.27% |
| 1955 | 705,000 | +2.67% |
| 1960 | 803,000 | +2.64% |
| 1965 | 945,000 | +3.31% |
| 1970 | 1,114,000 | +3.35% |
| 1975 | 1,339,000 | +3.75% |
| 1980 | 1,609,000 | +3.74% |
| 1985 | 1,933,000 | +3.74% |
| 1990 | 2,296,000 | +3.50% |
| 1996 | 2,565,018 | +1.86% |
| 2001 | 2,892,243 | +2.43% |
| 2007 | 3,497,097 | +3.22% |
| 2011 | 3,740,025 | +1.69% |
| 2016 | 4,004,793 | +1.38% |
| 2021 | 4,678,900 | +3.16% |
| 2022 | 4,772,846 | +2.01% |
Popular articles:
tags: #Africa
