bconnected index 1 2 3 4 7
The exotic and cosmopolitan Cape Town A brief history
baround Useful tips
bmoving Points of interest
bfun
bperfect
City events
Cape Town Reservations GLOBAL RESERVATIONS
Tel + 34 902 306 106 Fax + 34 934 188 447 E-mail reservations@theperfecthotels.com
Local Numbers BERLIN LONDon ROME PARIS DUBAI HELSINKI
+ 34 902 306 106 + 44 203 051 4664 + 39 069 926 8272 + 33 170 617 378 + + 358942599745
ON CITY HELP CITY TROUBLES:
stockholm Oslo New york Brussels praga IRLAND
+ 34 902 306 106 + 34 934 188 447 + 1 212 796 5628 + 32 280 80 929 + 420246019267 + 353766060052
Tokio + 34 902 306 106 Sydney + 34 934 188 447 Montreal + 1 514 667 9588 Zurich + 41 435 004 261 Amsterdam + 31 202 629 673 luxemburgo + 35220203608
PHONE + 34 931 842 761 1
A brief history T o visit Cape Town is to arrive at the oldest town in South Africa (this is where the nick name “mother city” comes from), founded by
Dutch colonists who came ashore at the extreme south of Africa in 1652, although the Dutch settlement ocurred 30,000 years after Cape Town was home to the nomadscalled bushmen and the Xhosa. The Dutch made the town the most important route to the East Indies. The Cape of Good Hope, however, was discovered by Portuguese settlers who baptised it firstly with the name Cape of Storms. So it became the entry point to South Africa for the European settlers.
British Colony
The exotic and cosmopolitan Cape Town
It is, without doubt, one of the most beautiful cities in the World. In spite of not being the capital of South Africa, or offeeling still certain remnants of apartheid, the truth is that the seat of the South African parliment manages to gain the hearts of thousands of tourists who visit each year. The relaxed, unworried, anti-xenophobic, cosmopolitan, and polyglot character of Cape Town reflects the mixture of Africa, European and Asian cultural influences. A way of being and living that delights all that discover it, as well as the old houses built by the succesive colonizers, the museums that show the very best of the country, the unforgettable beaches and invaluable views of a mythical enclave where the Atlantic and the Indian Oceans join.
In 1795, Cape Town fell into the hands of the British which mainly supposed a change in the organization of the town which extended its frontiers (the most evident way of recognising the british past in the coastal town is watching the traffic as they drive on the left). More European settlers, merchants, religious refugees or Asian slaves (especially from India and Madagascar) find a space in the town, that becomes a great business centre for the region.
Gold fever and apartheid The Discovery of gold and diamonds in 1869 brought about massive gold fever, which ended in a dispute between the Dutch, English and the waves of immigrants. Wars that extended throughout the country and that ended in 1910 with the proclamation of the Union of South African, Cape Town being designated as the legislative capital. In 1948, the National Party won the elections and imposed apartheid. An ethnic purge took place, like that of the town’s District Six, demolished in 1965 and declared a whites-only region. In those times Cape Town did accept racial attitudes but also leaders of the anti-apartheid movement, the prison where Mandela was jailed and the balcony of the municipal building from which the South African leader gave his historical speech after being released in 1990. The next important appointment for the town will be in 2010 when some of the World Cup football matches, which is to take place in South Africa, will be played there.
A practical guide Cape Town it situated at the extreme south-west of the country and in the epicentre of the Western Cape province, surrounded by a vast and incomparable natural setting composed of mountains, sea and vineyards. To the north and north-east the Cedarberg Mountains and the Ceres valley lie within the West Coast region. To the south you will find beaches and towns that belong to the Cape Peninsular, stretching to the Cape Point Nature Reserve. To the East are the beaches belonging to the Overberg region and the mountainous area of the Southern Cape. In this guide we manage to recommend a route through the places of greatest tourist interest, at the same time offering a first impression of Cape Town We have selected the fundamental elements for you to be able to enjoy an unforgettable three- or four-day trip. In the following pages,you will get to know certain districts, monuments and museums, after we have ruled out other elements that need a much longer visit.
For more information +34 931 842 761 1
2
bmoving Points of Interest Townships
baround Useful tips In the paradise of Cape Town there are more than three million inhabitants (in the Metropolitan area, 4.5 million in the whole province of the Western Cape), an amalgamation of ethic groups, religions and languages that live peacefully together in an enviable location. Presently, 57% of the population is of mixed race, 25% are white, 17% are black and 11% are Asians. Catholicism is the main religion (90% of its inhabitants are catholics), but there is also room for muslims (6%) and jews(4%). As far as the languages that you will hear in the streets are concerned, English, Afrikaans and Xhosa are the most spoken among the eleven official languages of the town (the large amount of tourists in the town will mean that you can get by without problems in English). Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho , swati, tsonga, tswana, venda y zulu are less spoken but equally official languages. Apart from these languages, in Cape Town you will also find a great variety of architectural styles, Shopping centres, handicraft shops or restaurants, more proof of the rich culture offered by this coastal town. Cape town comes under the GMT +2 time zone, that is, it is situated in the same time zone as a large part of Eastern European countries. It is situated in the Southern Hemisphere, so its seasons are different with respect to countries such as Spain or Italy, offering visitors a very mild clmate. In winter (June to August) it is cold and damp, although you will not find wind or heavy rain. During the summer, (December to February), the days are warm and even suffocating, and the southeast wind usually blows. Temperatures can rise to 25ºC in January and do not usually rise above 10ºC in July. The best time to visit the town is, therefore, in the spring (September to November), when there are slightly less tourists, part of the flora is very green and there are even more possibilities of seeing dolphins and whales than during the rest of the year. The Cape Town currency is the South African Rand that is presently worth 0.09 euros You will not have any problems finding a bank and changing your money. While moving round town, you will have to take into account two important obstacles. The transport system is lacking and the position of Table Mountain, a huge mountain situated in the middle of the town, does not help to make the traffic flow. Anyway, you can always decide to be patient and ride on one of the trains or buses that circulate through the town.
Different shanty towns or townships can be found and visited, taking the necessary precautions, on the outskirts of the coastal town. These are districts with a black majority that, nevertheless, are becoming atrractions for the white tourists arriving in Cape Town. Kayalitsha, Langa or Gugulethu are places that are fighting, even now, against the separations that apartheid established. One can eat in a clandestine tavern, visit a few markets and even personally find out about some of thedevelopment projects aimed at ending poverty and racial segregation. It is vital to visit the townships with a proper, trustworthy guide.
Malay District
Slaves, of Asian origin from the different colonial periods lived here, beginning in the XVII Centuryand surviving such hard times as apartheid. Unlike in the District Six, the Malay people managed to keep their houses standing. This district is mainly strict muslim situated to the west of the city towards Signal Hill, on its lower slopes . The Malay district of Bo-Kaap is a suburb that calls out to bohemian souls, a place to visit on foot and enjoy the brightly coloured houses (red, green or yellow) with their low roofs. In Bo-Kaap there are also several coloured mosques and a small museum situated in a period house. You can take advantage of this visit to buy high quality aromatic spices, that have such a great influence on the gastronomy of Cape Town . Or to visit the local museum, a Dutch Cape style centre where exhibitions and didactic material will explain to you how the Indonesian community settled in the city. In short - narrow, cobbled streets, with the mountains as a background, where one can lose onself for a fair time getting to know one of the pillars of the cosmpolitan population of this city.
District Six
The inhabitants had to watch brokenheartedly as apartheid and the prime minister Verwoerd destroyed all the houses in the district using excavators. Before and after apartheid, it was and is a poor and modest district, although you can always obtain valuable information, thanks to the district’s museum, that will lead you to the worst days of racial segregation. There are many streets that remain destroyed or empty and it is always recommendable to visit this area accompanied by a proper guide.
Tygerberg
In this area it is easy to guess the nationality of the inhabitants. National Monumentos such as Onze Molen or the Mostert windmill, one of the few original windmills that still resist the passing of time in Cape Town, make quite clear the Dutch origin of part of the settlers that arrived in the city in the XVII century. You can also visit some of the churches in the district, such as Durbanville or Parow.
Constantia
In some of the districts in the southern area of the city you can see for yourself the vineyards that give such fame to the cities’ wines. This area is divided into two regions, Big Constantia and Small Constantia; but they are not separated for racial reasons, but rather for physical reasons. There are old and luxury mansions, wine cellars for sampling wine, gardens, gentle hills, forests and an infinity of sunny places to stop and enjoy the scenery or have a good glass of wine.
Beaches
You cannot leave Cape Town without trying for yourself one of its famous beaches of international repute. There are those on the Atlantic, where the water is colder, such as Camps Bay o Clifton, very wellknown and therefore with prices that are not apt for everyone’s pocket. You could lay out on the high quality sand or have a drink in one of the numerous bars. Visit the fishermen’s harbour Mariner’s Wharf or try one of the fish restaurants in the area, besides trying typical smoked snoeck – these are other options for a perfect day on the beach. If you prefer warmer water, go for the beaches on the Indian Ocean, such as Muizenberg, St James, Kalk Bay or Fish Hoek. They are Coves protected from the wind, with equally gentle waves and with the peculiarity that you can share photos and even swim with African penguins. Surf lovers prefer beaches in the north, such as Blouberg Strand, Dolphin Beach or Milnerton. In any case with such a generous climate as that of Cape Town, the possibilities of enjoying a swim at an unforgettable beach are numerous as the variety is enormous: family, glamorous, tranquil, rough beaches or those for surfers.
Enjoy this guide in your ipod www.theperfecthotels.com 3
4
bmoving Points of Interest Table Mountain
It is, without doubt, one of the tourist references of Cape Town. The original Table Mountain, given this name as it has a flat top, is well known as a reference point for sailors. Actually, on a clear day, it is visible from 200 kilometres offshore. At a height of 1.086 metres above sea level, this mountain has 1.470 botanical species. A modern revolving cable car will take you to the top in just six minutes. Once there, you can walk along the different paths that are sign-posted, witheleven view points that will provide you with views of the bay, the city or Robben Island that will definitely end up on your digital camera. A glamorous option is to eat or dine at the restaurant situated at the top, The Table Mountain Bistro, but we strongly recommend you to book well in advance. If you are fit, you could descend on foot through the Platteklip gorge, but take all possible precautions because the wind and the cliffs can be hazardous. In any case, the visit depends on weather conditions as when there is excess cloud, the cable car is cancelled.
Robben Island
Very few tourists go to Cape Town without visiting this island, declared a World Heritage Site and known World-wide as this was the island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years. The prison , that was once a leper colony and a home for the insane, can now be visited through guided tours ( previous prisoners are the present guides), which also include entrance into the prison museum that tries to explain, rather than justify, the period of African Apartheid. It is so moving to listen to the guides and to see Mandela’s cell or how he tried to make a garden in the prison patio. Besides the prison, make sure to take photos of the views of Cape Town from the island, the infinitely beautiful beaches or the different colonies of penguins and seals that give a picturesque atmosphere to this island.
Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
The same as Barcelona did with the Maremagnum or Buenos Aires with Puerto Madero, Cape Town has recovered its dock area and has converted it into an ideal place for tourists and for residents alike. This waterfront has recovered its
charm and attracted passersby thanks to the renovation of Victorian stores, offices, buildings, shopping centres or various types of restaurants One of the greatest attractions on the waterfront is the Two Oceans aquarium, where it is also possible to participate in immersions that are organized for tourists. Within the installations of this waterfront is the Clock Tower Precint, a stopping place for many cruise ships that will take you to the other docks or the much-visited Robben Island. Handicraft Workshops, bars, hotels, cinemas, live music or a conference centre are some of the other incentives to be found in this harbour enclave.
The Company Gardens
This large city park was founded by commander Jan Van Rieebek, the same man who was in charge of the Dutch army who founded the city in 1652. In those days, these Gardens produced fruit and vegetables for the ships moored in the City harbour, while nowadays they are a true botanical reference for the city. The Planetarium,the South African Museum, Saint George’s Cathedral, The National Gallery and the Houses of Parliament are all situated within these Gardens The latter, at the lower eastern end of the gardens, have a combined Georgian and Victorian architectural style In the very same parlimentary headquarters(active six months of the year), Hendrik Verwoerd, the precursor of apartheid was assassinated in 1966, and Nelson Mandela gave his first speech after being pronounced the first democratic president in South Africa in 1994.
Koopmans De Wet House
It is worth a visit to Strand Street to see this house whuch was constructed in 1701. The Koopmans mansion is of the Dutch Cape style, from which many houses and buildings emanated in that period and that had, among other elements in common, the special feature of curved gables. The interior of the house, where little light enters, offers visitors the chance to see South African handicrafts and handcarved furniture, giving a sense of respite against the warm temperatures of the city.
Use the recommendations from the personal concierge to discover Dublin+34 931 842 761 5
bmoving Points of Interest Other places of interest Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
Although it does not have the same historical reference as the Company Gardens, this park, thanks to its botanical richness, is considered one of the seven best gardens in the world. This world distinction is fruit of its 528 hectares and its more than 5.000 species of indigenous plants. We recommend that you lose yourself for a while in this immense botanical showcase, where African stone sculptures are displayed, a path adapted for those with impaired sight, a water garden, an amphitheatre of cicadeas or a greenhouse with baobab, beside various restaurants or shops where you can buy souvenirs both of the gardens and of the coastal towns. Remember that every Sunday in the summer (December to March) the Kirstenbosch Gardens are the perfect enclave in which jazz, folk or traditional African music concerts are held.
Castle of Good Hope
Constructed in 1666 and an old Dutch fortress, this castle is the oldest in South Africa. This fortress, with a floor in the form of a five-pointed star, also housed the military government during the time of apartheid. Since the end of racial segregation, exhibitions, cultural events and shows are held in this castle, attempting to leave behind the bad reputation it acquired during the years of apartheid. Do visit the William Fehr Collection where you will learn something more about the colonial period that left so many artistic and cultural vestiges in every corner of the city. Do not confuse the castle, situated practically in the centre of the city, with the Cape of Good Hope which lies a few kilometres south of the city and is the famous dividing point of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans.
South African Museum
This museum explains the natural history and politics of the African country through works of art, permanent and temporary exhibitions or material of undoubtable historic quality. It offers an extremely valuable sample of South African art, explaining the political contact and the aesthetic elements that each artist has used for each piece of work. It is the most important museum in the town – do not miss seeing the “ Lydenburg Heads”, 500 B.C.
Bo-Kaap Museum
This buiding, situated in the centre of the Malay district is a point of Muslim reference for Cape Town. Although of Dutch Cape style, it was home to the learned Turk Abu Bakr Efendi, a professor who wrote about the recognition of Africaans as an African language (it is presently one of the eleven official languages of the country). Permanent and temporary exhibitions, apart from an enormous volume of educational material, are at the disposal of all those who wish to visit this museum and learn about the history of the community that, arriving from Indonesia, settled into the district that has the same name as the museum.
Gold of Africa Museum
This is undoubtedly the finest museum in the World dedicated to this precious metal. Situated in the Martin Melck mansion, a beautiful XVIII centuryhouse, this centre will help you to understand the mysteries of the history of gold in African craftsmanship. A visit to this museum can include goldsmithing workshops or the study of the design of each piece, as well as seeing the gardens or the winecellar that form part of this Melck mansion.
Saint George’s Cathedral
Situated in the Company Gardens, this Anglican building is only 100 years old but has become a reference point of the fight against apartheid. Within its walls, many protests, political meetings, gestures and speeches against racial separation took place. It is presently the headquarters of the archbishopric that manages the Desmoond Tutu Nobel Prize.
Book restaurants, shows and activities with a simple call +34 931 842 761 6
bfun City events
borganized
SUS NOTAS
Cape Town offers you, practically every day of the year, an agenda full of events and guaranteed fun. Shows with electronic music and dancing are celebrated on the magnificent beaches; there are rock and jazz concerts, comedies, ballet, opera, art exhibitions or lectures of all types and styles that, yet again, reflect the great cultural variety of this coastal town. Anyway, we recommend that you have a look at some of the cultural guides of the city to confirm the events and their times. Cape Etc (fortnightly), SA Citylife (monthly), Cape Times (weekly), The Cape Argus (weekly) or Mail & Guardian (weekly) contain the best, detailed information about the town.
Theatre
The two main theatres are the Baxter and the Artscape, as well as the Theatre on the Bay. Contemporary and popular works, cabaret, musicals or comedies, including a circuit of comics that have gained great popularity in the town, are some of the main courses on the theatre menu that Cape Town offers visitors. The Grouse and On Broadway are other less conventional theatres that equally have a large following which confirms the success of their program.
Dance
The local company Jazzart performs their shows in the Artscape theatre, while Cape Town City Ballet uses their own venue in the UCT Dance School, the Artscape and the open-air theatre Maynardville. Travelling companies perform both in the Baxter and the Artscape theatres.
Cinema
Going to the cinema is one of the favourite pastimes in the town, among other reasons, because the numerous shopping centres have several cinemas showing the latest films. The companies that manage the most conventional cinemas are Ster-Kinekor and Nu-Metro, while the Labia Theatre is the oldest and most bohemian independent cinema in the town.
Music
Genre and styles for all tastes. Cape Town offers a wide agenda of concerts all year long that will not disappoint you, that includes night clubs, discotheques, wine bars, music bars, coctail bars and concert halls. If you like rock and more alternative music, you will enjoy yourself at Mercury. Jazz-lovers go to hear the best live jazz at Marco’s African Place or Dizzy Jazz Cafe Mama Afrika and Drum Café offer local music , as well as good food. At Hanover Street Nightclub, Kennedy’s Cigar Bar or The Independent Armchair Theatre there is also live music performed by local bands. Large concerts are normally performed at the Bellville Velodrome or the Greenpoint Stadium. As far as discotheques and clubs, Cape Town offers an equally wide range of places to enjoy yourself. Long Street Café, Fez, Bascule, Joburg Bar, M-Bar, Bossa Nova, Buena Vista Social Club or the immense Dockside are some of the numerous examples that ensure a varied nightlife. Those that prefer more tranquil music also have the chance to see a live show. The town Philarmonic Orchestra performs at City Hall and the Artscape. The innovative Cape Town Opera also performs at the Artscape where, besides classical music, you can also find pop concerts. Lastly, you can also enjoy discotheques and concerts at the GrandWest Casino, an enormous and famous complex that includes an ice rink, several restaurants, activities for children and an infinity of games rooms and fruit machines.
Information The tourist Information Office is situated in the centre of town at the corner of Burg Street and Castle Street.
Cape Town Tourism Visitor Information Centre Pinnacle Building (021) 4264260 www.tourismcapetown.co.za You can also ask for information at the Clock Tower Precinct, in the famous Kirstenbosch Gardens, in Muizenberg, in Gugulethu or at the city airport.
Enjoy this guide in your ipod www.theperfecthotels.com 7
8