Taking a trip to Cape Town South Africa
November 8, 2009 by 247 Travel Guides
Filed under Travel Tips
Situated on the West Coast of South Africa, near L’agulles, is Cape Town, which forms the most Southern point of the African continent. Many consider this area one of the most beautiful parts of the world due to its well-known and most miraculous Table Mountain. Cape Town’s coastal location lends itself to a moderate climate experiencing rainfall in the winter and very strong seasonal winds. The city’s inhabitants are known for their laid-back attitude, which contributes to the Cape’s cultural heritage.
The History Of Cape Town
Bartolomeus Dias came to the Cape in 1488 and named it The Cape of Storms (later on it was known by another name “The Cape of Good Hope”). Ten years later, Vasco de Gama came to the Cape and after this, the Portuguese began Eastern trade and the Europeans became acquainted with the Khoi-Khoi. It could be implied that this was the beginning of the Capes cultural variations. Jan Van Riebeek built a lasting settlement at the Cape in 1652, which functioned as a rest stop for boats to get clean water and food to eat. It also helped with Eastern trade. The Cape used slaves, because of the crops that needed to be cultivated to feed the boat dwellers that traveled through. The transported slaves were also a part of the Capes changing cultural legacy.
Tourism
Cape Town offers a good variety of ethnic music, coupled with tribal African dancers, which can be experienced at the St George’s Mall. There one will find good traditional African music performed on instruments such as bongo drums, xylophones and flutes. On the first of January the streets of Cape Town are filled with the reach cultural activity of the “Kaapse Klopse” or Coon Carnival. It is an annual parade of about 20 000 dancing and singing people, performing traditional tunes to start the New Year on a positive note. At this time of the year one can also enjoy the singing of the Cape’s Malay choirs and the many church choirs which forms a distinct part of the Cape’s musical and cultural heritage.
If you are touring to this beautiful city you will find it easy to get around with the attractive Cape Town car rental deals available.
Architecture And Robben Island
Cape Town has a combination of British, Dutch & African styles of houses. The older houses of the Dutch era represent the ancient culture of the city. The poor black people who can not afford nicely built houses, build their own houses in unique indigenous ways, using whatever things available. This style is called “shack chic”. The tourists can visit nearby Robben Island by boat. The erstwhile white racist rulers used to keep political prisoners on this island during the freedom struggle of black African people. The first black president of South Africa- Nelson Mandela was imprisoned on the island for 27 years. Many other political leaders fighting against racism of earlier South African regime were kept prisoners on this island. Now the government of South Africa has turned the island into a museum, showing the history of struggle against apartheid.
The Castle Of Good Hope And Table Mountain
The Castle of Good Hope is a major tourist spot and has attracted a lot of tourists in the recent days. It is situated in the heart of Cape Town city, in South Africa. It is one of the oldest stone buildings of South Africa and is known for its museum and has a good restaurant too. The Western Cape’s military administrative headquarters is situated in the Castle of Good Hope as well. Cape Town is most known for Table mountain (The name says it all). It is noted for its popular cable car service, enabling the tourists to relax, and there is a good restaurant at the top of the mountain, where they get good food and tourists can enjoy their food and the view at the same time.
If you are looking for a great tourist attraction, then Cape Town is a great place. If you are considering catching a flight into Cape Town in the near future, then you are likely to find great deals for car rentals in the city to be to your likeness. The city provides its visitors with a broad range of hotels, lodges, guesthouses, bed and breakfast places and back packers. It’s definitely a great place for a variety of tourists, because of its diversity in music, people, food and architecture.
