All About Cape Town

A collection of interesting facts and things that are good to know about Cape Town.

Comprehensive cape town information, travel advice camps bay, clifton, entertainment, things to do - wine tours to top wineries, north sea jazz festival.

The famous English explorer, Sir Francis Drake, described this south-western corner of South Africa as "The Fairest Cape in all the circumference of the Earth". Although Portuguese sailors called it the "Cape of Storms" because of the toll it exacted on many passing ships, he was right. It is also known as "Tavern of the Seas", "The Cape of Good Hope", or simply "The Cape".

Table Mountain looms majestically above Cape Town, South Africa's premier tourist destination. One of the most unique floral kingdoms in the world is found in the mountain range sweeping down the Peninsula, and the entire region is a National Park. Magnificent beaches grace the western shores of the Peninsula, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the land, from trendy Clifton and Camps Bay to the sweeping expanse of Long Beach, home to horse riders, surfers and those wanting to escape the crowds. Some of the last remaining baboon troops roam the southern mountains on the edge of the Cape Point Nature Reserve, a pristine area of flora, fauna and jagged cliffs where gannets, cormorants and gulls soar.

Boulders Beach, home to the only mainland colony of penguins in the world, is situated on the eastern shore, where the warmer waters of the Indian Ocean allow one to swim with the penguins. The Southern Right Whales enter the protected waters of False Bay to breed and give birth between August and October, providing wonderful viewing opportunities from the shore, where at times the whales are only meters from the rocks.

Before your plane lands in Cape Town, request a scenic tour from your captain. Many airline pilots can't resist giving their passengers this treat when coming in to land at Cape Town International. Otherwise, helicopter flights around the Peninsula provide an exhilarating way to see this magnificent destination. Cape Town is on the doorstep of the country's premier wine region, and makes an excellent destination to end one's Southern Africa safari, and should be on the itinerary of every traveler to South Africa. This dynamic city boasts a wide range of entertainment, shopping and a vibrant night life, and is home to a cultural melting pot of friendly inhabitants.

Winter in Cape Town is from July to August and is known as the 'green season'. It is the wet and cool time of the year. Temperatures are still mild, the average July maximum is 17 degrees Celsius and minimum is 7 degrees. July has an average of two weeks of rain, but the West Coast is drier than Cape Town itself.

Camps Bay Beach, a broad swathe of palm tree-lined white sand, borders the bracing Atlantic Ocean. It nestles at the foot of a spectacular series of mountain peaks called the Twelve Apostles, and is only 10 minutes from the city centre by car. This is one of Cape Town's most popular beaches, but is not sheltered, so if the day is windy you should head for Clifton, another breath-taking and more secluded beach around the corner. The beachside road has a festive atmosphere and offers a good variety of cafes and restaurants with great sea views.

Malmesbury is the largest town in the Swartland (black country), so named because of the colour of its rich, brackish soil. Each year the Malmesbury Food and Wine Festival offers visitors a chance to sample delicious culinary treats and excellent local wines within this picturesque wheat-producing farming area north of Cape Town

If you're an adrenaline junky, don't miss Cape Town's annual Red Bull Downhill Extreme, held in March. This event attracts the best international in-line skaters, skate boarders, and street luge pilots, who fling themselves down the spectacular Kloofnek road leading to Clifton's beaches at speeds in excess of 100km/h. The 1.7km course is one of the most extreme on the international calendar and has drawn more than 22,000 spectators in past years.

Come and see the African Harvest North Sea Jazz Festival, where local musicians perform alongside top international jazz artists. This event is modelled on its famous namesake (the North Sea Jazz Festival), held in the Hague. Jazz is an intrinsic part of Cape Town's rich heritage, so the choice of hosting a festival of this calibre in the Mother City is apt. Although it only began in 2000, this is the biggest festival of its type on the African continent, and has become a highlight on the international jazz circuit.

Summer at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden brings concerts galore, held among the blooming agapanthus flowers. The garden, situated on the eastern slope of Table Mountain, hosts an annual classical music series. Performances are held at sunset on Sunday evenings and people gather at dusk to listen to music under the stars. Most guests bring a picnic and some good Cape wine to enhance their enjoyment. On sundays there is also a craft market at the nearby Stone Cottages, so you can shop before the concert begins.