Introduction
Cape Town is a diverse city in South Africa often considered a melting pot due to its diversity. This city is one that once you visit has a place in your heart for all eternity. Most people fall in love with the culture, the beauty, and of course, all there is to do in the area. The city is home all cuddled up between the ocean and the majestic mountains. The Table Mountains known by this name due to their flat top is 1,086 meters above sea level. Mother City as Cape Town is fondly referred to offers visitors as well as residents a picturesque painting to call home or just to explore.
Cape Town is the second most populated city in South Africa but by land size is the largest. Hope on Table Bay with the Table Mountains in the background every visitor understands the reason that this city has been sought after for centuries to be called home.
History of Cape Town
There is no recorded history as to the inhabitants of the area until around the 15th century when Europeans discovered this wonderland. The first recorded history other than a mention here or there is during 1652 when Jan Van Riebeeck and others from the Dutch East India Company established a way station for ships traveling to Dutch East Indies.
War broke out in Europe and Great Britain seized control over Dutch colonies including Cape Town in 1795. In the treaty of 1803, the Netherlands received Cape Town as a condition of the treaty. Diamonds were discovered in 1867 in Griqualand West and during the Witwatersrand Gold Rush in 1886 more settlers moved to South Africa.
Green Point Stadium – host of the 2010 World Cup
Green Point Stadium is the stadium that is now under construction in the same location as where the Cape Town Stadium once stood. The Green Point Stadium will be completed by December of 2009 and will have a capacity of 70,000. The exterior of the stadium was created with noise reducing cladding, which is an added bonus.
Transportation
For those worried about transportation to and from the Green Point Stadium there is nothing to worry about at all. Cape Town is home to all kinds of transportation options including car hire, public bus service, minibus taxis, and taxi cabs. You will find major car rental companies throughout Cape Town and a few local companies offering all kinds of services. The bus service as well as the mini bus taxis are often used by the local residents. Both will provide transportation to areas all over the city.
If you wish to use a metered taxi, do not expect to stand on the street and hail a taxi. If you need a taxi, you will have to call the company, as they are not allowed by law to solicit business by driving around town.
Lodging Accommodations nearby Green Point Stadium
Cape Town is home to all kinds of lodging facilities from spas to small hotels to bed breakfast to luxurious hotels. If you are looking for accommodations nearby the Green Point Stadium the most popular include:
Within 1km of the Green Point Stadium, you can find Camberwell Court, Protea Hotel Breakwater Lodge, Protea Hotel Victoria Junction, and Southern Sun Newlands.
Camberwell Court is more of an apartment than a hotel room offering guests a roomy and great place to stay nearby all kinds of attractions as well as within walking distance of the stadium. The rooms offer cable television, a kitchen, and of course bath/shower. There is a bar and restaurant on grounds.
The Protea Hotel Breakwater Lodge offers so much to those visiting Cape Town. A major benefit is being in the close proximity to shops, theatres, and restaurants as well as all the amenities the lodge offers. The hotel offers handicap facilities, elevator, dry cleaning, non-smoking rooms, bar, restaurant, telephone, internet, and personal safe, to name a few.
The Protea Hotel Victoria Junction is on the edge of Victoria and Alfred Waterfront offering beautiful scenery along with a design for those that expect more. The hotels offers standard rooms as well as double storey loft apartments. Other amenities include handicap facilities, elevator, dry cleaning, valet, non-smoking rooms, car hire desk, concierge, safe deposit boxes, bar, restaurant, coffee shop, telephone, internet, and cable TV as a small portion of the benefits.
Southern Sun Newlands offers handicap facilities, elevator, dry cleaning, non-smoking rooms, bar, restaurant, coffee shop, telephone, internet, cable TV, comfortable rooms, and breathtaking views of the Table Mountains and close by the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.
Restaurants in the area
Cape Town as mentioned before is a diverse city and with that said, you must realize that there are many different restaurants in the area. A few of the most popular restaurants include On the Rocks offering Breakfast, Cocktails, Continental, Cosmopolitan, European, Fine Dining, International, Seafood, and Vegetarian; Ons Huisie serving African, Breakfast, Buffet, Italian, Light Meals, Seafood, South African, Traditional, and Vegetarian; Bowl Restaurant offering Asian, International, Light Meals, and Sushi; and Five Flies Restaurant serving African, Fine Dining, Fusion, International, and South African.
Things to do in Cape Town
Cape Town has many wonderful things to do and explore from the beautiful beaches to the mountain climbing. At the top of the list of the most popular attractions in Cape Town, you will find Table Mountain, V A Waterfront, and Robben Island.
Table Mountain of course, is a great place for mountain climbing, mountain biking, and hiking. Once you reach the top of the mountain, you will enjoy the breath taking view of Cape Town below along with Table Bay.
V A Waterfront also known as Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. The V A Waterfront is home to shops, restaurants, nightspots, tourist attractions and museums in the city s historic harbor. You will find a huge array of things to do all in one place when you visit this area including helicopter rides and boat charters.
If you love history, then you will want to take a boat ride to Robben Island so you can learn more about the country’s struggle to freedom. The island was home to a prison that held political activists in South Africa not too long ago. A few of the well known names that were held prisoner here include Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki, and Oliver Tambo.
Facts:
• Name: Cape Town – the name Cape Town was derived from the city’s connection with the Cape of Good Hope.
• Province Western Cape
• Population – 1.3 million
• Altitude 0m
• Geography located at the northern end of the Cape Peninsula with the Table Mountains in the background.
• Climate Mediterranean climate with well defined seasons. Winter months are May to September. Summer months are November to March.
• Key Economic Sectors Tourism, Agriculture, Manufacturing
• Professional Football Clubs Ajax Cape Town, Santos (Premier) Hanover Park, Ikapa Sporting, FC Cape Town (1st Division)
