HISTORY OF CAPE TOWN
History records that the Cape was first rounded by Bartholomew Diaz and Vasco da Gama in 1488 and 1498 respectively. However, a vessel believed to be that of Phoenician origin was unearthed not too far from Table Bay and it is believed that expeditionary trips around Africa were commissioned by Pharaoh Neco many thousands of years ago.
Cape Town was established as a refreshment station for the sailing ships traveling the Spice Route to the East. Many famous explorers and notables of history have passed this way, each leaving a little of their own souls inextricably woven into the tapestry of what Cape Town is today.
Cape Town is one of the TOP FIVE WORLD DESTINATIONS and is also known as the City of Two Oceans. The mighty Indian and Atlantic Oceans embrace at the tip of Africa (Cape Aghulas) and at Cape Point, 34 degrees SOUTH, the warm Mocambique Current mingles with the cold Benguela Current from the Antarctic.
Other names for Cape Town include: the Gateway to Africa, the Mother City, the Tavern of the Seas, the Cape of Storms & the Cape of Good Hope. This City is currently the destination of choice in South Africa.
South Africa has three Capitals, Cape Town our Legislative capital where our Houses of Parliament are situated, with Pretoria our Administrative capital and Bloemfontein as our Judicial capital.
There are many facets to Cape Town - mountain slopes and summits, sandflats and renosterveld, magnificent white beaches and dunes, rocky shores and oceans, wetlands and rivers, forests and plantations & gardens and parks. Add to this our exceedingly generous flora and fauna, and you have one of the most unique places in the world.
The Cape Floral Kingdom, the smallest, yet richest of the world's six floral kingdoms, makes Cape Town yet again one of the most unique spots on the planet. There are 2256 plant species on the Cape Peninsula alone, covering an area measuring approximately 500 square kilometres – Britain 5000 times bigger, contains only half as many. The Cape Floral kingdom covers only 0,04% of the earth's surface with as many as almost 8500 different species, compared to the other floral kingdoms covering vast areas such as Australia, the Antarctic or the Northern Hemisphere. Rainfall permitting, our Spring is the greatest wildflower extravaganza on earth.
The indigenous peoples of this southern tip of Africa were the Khoi Khoi – pastoralists, and the San, hunter gatherers. They have left traces of their culture indelibly written in their rock art. Now, the mother city to a rainbow nation, Cape Town is an exciting plethora of cultures and vibrant nationalities, rich with a history of courage and pioneering, an eclectic meeting of inspired hope and cutting edge technology.
