Before the 20th century
The earliest recorded inhabitants of southern Africa were the San and the closely related Khoekhoen (Khoikhoi). The next arrivals were Bantu-speaking tribes who, by the 15th century, had settled most of the eastern half of South Africa, although they never reached the Cape Town area. These tribes were pastoral, but they did trade with other peoples in the region. Many of their smelting techniques were unsurpassed in Europe until the Industrial Revolution.
The first European settlement in South Africa was a supply station established in 1652 by the Dutch East India Company at the newly christened Cape of Good Hope. It quickly evolved into a colonial settlement (based in Kaapstad or Cape Town), and the Khoesaan (Khoi-San) people were driven away. The settlers developed their own dialect (Afrikaans) and Calvinist sect (the Dutch Reformed Church). Slaves were subsequently imported from Madagascar, India, Ceylon, Malaya and Indonesia.
Over the next 150 years the colonists spread east, coming into violent contact with Bantu tribes. In 1779 the eastward expansion of the Boers (Dutch-Afrikaner farmers) was temporarily halted by the Xhosa in the first Bantu War. Further Boer expansion was hastened after the British annexed the Cape in 1806. The abolition of slavery in 1834 was regarded by the Boers as an intolerable interference in their affairs, and led to migration (known as the Great Trek) across the Orange River two years later. In 1867, diamonds were discovered in the Northern Cape at Kimberley, followed by the discovery of gold on the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg in 1886.
Modern history
The twentieth century started with South Africa at war with itself. British imperialist Cecil Rhodes stirred up rebellious sentiment among English-speaking minorities in the Transvaal, which led to the 1899-1902 Anglo-Boer War. Thousands of Afrikaner women and children died in the world's first concentration camps en route to the British victory.
In 1910 the Union of South Africa was created, giving political control to the whites. Inevitably, this prompted black resistance and white political organisations such as the Afrikaner National Party were formed. In 1948 the ANP won the election on a platform of apartheid (literally: 'the state of being apart'). The suppression of black resistance included such atrocities as the Sharpeville massacre of 1960, the shooting of school children in Soweto in 1976, the forced evacuation and bulldozing of squatter settlements and the systematic torture and murder of political activists such as Steve Biko.
One of the most important organisations to oppose the racist South African state was the African National Congress (ANC). In the early 1960s, many ANC leaders, including Nelson Mandela, were arrested for treason and imprisoned for long periods. Apartheid was entrenched even further in the early 1970s by the creation of the so-called Black Homelands. These were, in theory, 'independent' countries, but their creation led to all blacks being deemed foreign guest-workers without political rights. Any black person without a required residence pass could be 'deported' back to a Homeland.
Meanwhile, South Africa was becoming more isolated after successful black liberation struggles in Angola, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, all of which brought Marxist-leaning governments to power. The international community finally began to oppose the apartheid regime, and the UN imposed economic and political sanctions. After the 1989 elections, the new president FW de Klerk instituted a programme that was aimed at dismantling the apartheid system and instituting genuine democracy. The release of political prisoners, including Nelson Mandela, on 11 February 1990; the repeal of the Group Areas Act; and the signing of a peace accord with the ANC and other opposition groups all opened the way for difficult negotiations about how South Africa could become a country that permitted majority rule.
At midnight on 26-27 April 1994, Die Stem (the old national anthem) was sung and the old flag was lowered. A new rainbow flag was raised and the new anthem, Nkosi Sikelele Afrika (God Bless Africa) was sung. Under apartheid, people had been jailed for singing this beautiful hymn. In the first truly democratic election in the country's history, the ANC won 62.7% of the vote, less than the 66.7% that would have enabled it to rewrite the constitution. The National Party won 20.4% of the vote, enough to guarantee it representation in cabinet. In Western Cape, though, the majority coloured population voted in the National Party as the provincial government, seemingly happier to live with the devil they knew than the ANC. Nelson Mandela was made president of the 'new' South Africa.
The crimes of the apartheid era were exposed by the Truth & Reconciliation Commission (1994-99). This admirable institution was guided by Archbishop Desmond Tutu's dictum: 'Without forgiveness there is no future, but without confession there can be no forgiveness'. Many, many stories of horrific brutality and injustice were heard by the commission, allowing the people some catharsis, and the chance to put the old evils behind them.
In 1999, five years after the excitement of the country's first democratic elections, the country voted in a more 'normal' election. There was some speculation that the ANC vote might drop after Mandela's retirement. But the ANC's vote increased to put the party within one seat of the two-thirds majority that would allow it to alter the constitution. The National Party lost two-thirds of its seats, losing its official opposition status to the Democratic Party. Thabo Mbeki, who had taken over leadership of the ANC from Mandela, became president in the 1999 elections. Since the general election the NNP and DP have joined together in opposition as the Democratic Alliance. As such, they won control of the Western Cape in the provincial elections and of the city in the metropolitan elections in December 2000.
Recent history
Suspicion and mistrust between the black and coloured communities remains one of the more heartbreaking legacies of apartheid, although the popularity of the local media's 'One City, Many Cultures' programme, launched in 1999, provides some hope for the future.
In May 2008 frustrations in the townships, fuelled by spikes in food and fuel prices, boiled over in a series of xenophobic attacks on immigrants and refugees from wars and political violence in Somalia, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia and other troubled areas of Africa. As some 30,000 people fled in panic, the vast majority of Capetonians rallied to provide assistance. It was a shocking reminder that living in a beautiful location doesn't equate to living a beautiful life.
Top Accommodation
Top Restaurants
One look at Cape Town's 1073m (3520ft) Table Mountain backdrop gets the thrillseeker's brain spiking with action possibilities: climb it, abseil or hang glide off it, mountain bike down it, or join the locals just kloofing it (canyoning).
Top Attractions
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Table Mountain Cable Car
Table Mountain National Park 
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Bloubergstrand Beach
Bloubergstrand 
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A Perfect Day
By Simon Richmond
I beat the crowds up Table Mountain by taking the first cableway at . To really get the blood pumping I schedule an abseil off the top with Abseil Africa - it's 112m down to the rock ledge from where I climb back up to the cableway. Hopping into my car I motor over Kloof Nek, down to Camps Bay for breakfast by the beach at either Sandbar or Caprice. Refreshed, I follow the sinuous coastal roads around to Hout Bay, then take the scenic route to Kalk Bay via spectacular Chapman's Peak Drive. There's always something interesting to buy in Kalk Bay's many craft and antique shops, as well as more excellent food at Olympia Café & Deli or Live Bait beside the picturesque harbour. It's back to the city via Constantia, picking up a bottle of Vin de Constance at Klein Constantia on the way, or maybe going for a stroll through the shady grounds of Groot Constantia. Returning to the City Bowl, I squeeze in the latest exhibition at the SA National Gallery before grabbing my beach towel for a late afternoon sunbathing session on Clifton No 3. The deck of Wakame at Mouille Point is the ideal spot for sundowners, followed by a gourmet meal at a favourite restaurant, such as The Showroom or Jardine. Nightcaps and dancing at The Waiting Room or Zula Sound Bar on always buzzing Long St round off the night perfectly.
In winter, between June and August, temperatures range from 7°C to 18°C with pleasant, sunny days scattered between the gloomy ones. From September to November the weather is unpredictable, with anything from bright warm days to howling southeasterly storms and winds of up to 120kph. December to March can be very hot, although the average maximum temperature is only 26°C and the Cape doctor generally keeps things bearable. From March to April, and to a lesser extent in May, the weather remains good and the wind is at its most gentle.
Average weather
Main Currency
Currency: Rand (ZAR)
Symbol: R
| average room cost | average meal cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Deluxe: | 150+ | |
| High: | 2000+ | |
| Mid: | 400-2000 | 40-80 |
| Low: | 80-400 | 15-40 |
Transport
Getting there and away
Cape Town is behind Johannesburg in terms of cheap airline tickets, though many international flights, both in and out of the city, are available. The South African landscape is geared toward travel by car. If you have the choice, car hire or purchase is recommended. The Cape Town train station is the departure point for all long-distance bus lines operating in South Africa.
Getting around
Plentiful transport options exist throughout Cape Town. Taxis have unlimited range and are worth considering, especially at night, though they can get expensive. Cheaper Asian-style 'Rikki' transporters are a fun way to get around but don't go much further than the City Bowl area. Minibus taxis operating from the main train station are inexpensive but do not cover the entire city - you will need to ask the driver. Metro commuter trains, especially the Simon's Town line, are a good option for tourists, though service levels can fluctuate. An effective bus network covers the city, although many lines do not run after dark. The main bus station, the Golden Acre, is on Grand Parade. All the major car-hire companies have desks at the airport.
Health & Legal Requirements
Dangers and annoyances
While Cape Town is one of Africa's more relaxed cities, it's by no means a place to throw caution to the wind. If you do get blown in the way of the Cape Flats make sure you have a trustworthy guide leading you. There have been reports of hoodlums stoning cars on the N2 near the airport; never stop here if possible. Most busy areas (including all tourist sites) are basically safe during day and night business hours - just keep abreast of local advice. There is safety in numbers. There have been reports of muggings on the slopes of Table Mountain and Lion's Head. Environmental hazards include strong rips at the beach, sudden temperature changes and ticks in the mountains.
fast facts
| Full name | Cape Town |
|---|---|
| Currency | Rand, ZAR (R) |
| Population | 3500000 |
| Languages |
Swazi (other) Sotho, Southern (other) Tswana (other) South Ndebele (other) |
| Time zone(s) | GMT/UTC: +2 |
| Voltage | 220/230V |
| Hertz | 50Hz |
| Plugs |
South African/Indian-style plug with two circular metal pins above a large circular grounding pin |
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