Top 20 Facts About The City Of Cape Town

Top 20 Facts About The City Of Cape Town

Cape Town is the capital city of South Africa, and the oldest city at that. It carries with it historical importance- when the first Europeans arrived in Cape Town in the 1650’s, it was the beginning of the now frowned upon slave trade that carried on for decades.

The City is the second most populous in South Africa. It is listed as one of the best places in the world to visit, and boasts one of the most beautiful harbors. The City of Cape Town is a bustling metropolis with cultural idiosyncrasies that are interesting and exciting to uncover.

Here are some top 20 facts about the City of Cape Town that might have you itching to visit.

1. The City of Cape Town’s famous Landmark rose from the sea

Sea Point, Cape Town- by Hilton 1949- Wikimedia Commons

The City boasts a table mountain with a magnificent view overlooking Cape Town. The mountain only came to be when continents tore apart and collided, causing the formation of the table mountain from the layers of sandstone on top of a granite base. Previously the mountain was at sea level- this was roughly 300 million years ago.

The iconic flat slab on top of the mountain is as a result of pressure from the underlying magma working with ice, resulting in a hardened top layer. Atop the table mountain you will find rock hyrax, frogs and lizard among other creatures.

The table mountain offers free guided tours!

2. The City of Cape Town’s original inhabitants were the Khoisan

San men lighting fire- by Ian Sewell- Wikimedia Commons

The Khoisan are skilled and industrious people who lived on the Table Mountain and the surrounding area before the Europeans’ arrival. They were the first South Africans on the land.  Their stay at the table mountain made them an authority on the local animals and vegetation, and were skilled hunters and gatherers that basically lived off the land.

As with many of the colonized nations, the Khoisan people had their own way of life. They had already given the Table Mountain its first name “Hoerikwaggo”, meaning, Mountain in the sea. They also called their city Hui! Gaeb.

The arrival of the European settlers led to the decline of the Khoisan peoples. They have become one of the most threatened cultural groups of South Africa, and stare in the face of death of their culture.

3. Cape Town’s Robben Island hosted a famous prison

View of Robben Island- by PHParsons- Wikimedia Commons

Robben Island is widely associated with South Africa’s legend and first president Nelson Mandela. He was imprisoned here for 18 years out of the 27 he was behind bars. Robben Island was fortified and used as a prison from the late 17th century to 1996. Conditions at this prison were harsh, to say the least, and escape was next to impossible.

Kgalema Motlanthe and Jacob Zuma who have both served as South Africa’s presidents were also inmates at the Robben Island Prison- most of its inmates were political prisoners.

When apartheid came to an end, the prison was shut down.

Robben Island also once quarantined deadly diseases patients, and the mentally and chronically ill-it was a leper colony when leprosy broke out in Cape Town. The move to the island by the infected was once voluntary but became mandatory with increased cases which the doctors could not understand.

Animals were also quarantined in Robben Island.

4. The City of Cape Town’s Robben Island was a training station in World War 2

Cannon in Robben Island- by Moheed Reeyad- Wikimedia Commons

Robben Island is strategically located, at the entrance to table bay. The Island became the location for a new military base, and additional plans were drawn and effected to strengthen its defenses. A gun battery was also transferred to the island, solving the shattering glass problem that mainland experienced whenever the guns were fired.

When World War 2 broke out, the Robben Island station kept Cape Town safe.

During the war and thereafter, a lot of military people made Robben Island their home.

5. The City of Cape Town boasts the Blue Flag status

Penguin beach, Cape Town- by Sidheeq- Wikimedia Commons

The City of Cape Town was the first city outside Europe to get the Blue Flag status! The prestigious award was given it by the Foundation for Environmental Education in Europe.

The city’s high-quality water, fantastic facilities, safety and cleanliness of its beaches brought it this honor. 10 of Cape Town’s beaches received the eco- label for the Blue Flag season.

To reinforce this, the UK publication, The Guardian listed the City of Cape Town’s Sea Point swimming pool one of the top ten swimming pools in the world.

6. The City of Cape Town boasts unique flora

Unique flora- by Gossipguy- Wikimedia Commons

It would be an honor to see and photograph some of the 7,000 plants found only in Cape Town and nowhere else in the world!

A visit to Cape Floral Kingdom, in the City of Cape Town would give you this honor. The kingdom is the smallest and richest recognized floral area in the world.

UNESCO was quick to declare it a world heritage site.

The Kingdom has 9,600 species of plant life, of which 70% can only be found here. Examples are the ‘ honey buchu’, ‘peninsula snapdragon and ‘Good Hope satinflower’. These species are unique to Cape Town’s Floral Kingdom.

7. The City of Cape Town was New York Times’ best place to go

In 2014, the City of Cape Town enjoyed the title ‘best place to go’. Cape Town was compared to other 5 countries from around the world. The New York Times found the City to be “a place to meditate on freedom and the creative life that followed”.

The City of Cape Town also featured second in Travel and Leisure’s list of top holiday destinations. If in doubt, travelers themselves have also rated the City of Cape Town- Trip Advisor voted The City of Cape Town as the second best African city to visit, in the 2014 Travellers’ Choice awards.

8. The City of Cape Town was hit by a vicious storm in 1858

Due to its location, the City of Cape Town is susceptible to storms. The biggest one yet hit the city in 1858, blowing ashore and wrecking 30 ships! Many lives were lost.

Thanks to insurance, there was some compensation. However, that was the last time the insurer then, Llyod’s of London, insured any ships on Table Bay during winter.

The colonial government which had control over the city then constructed the first breakwater in 1860.  Today the breakwater forms part of the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront.

9. Cape Town’s Castle of Good Hope was once a fort

Castle of Good Hope- by scott marsland- Wikimedia Commons

Castle of Good hope is South Africa’s oldest colonial building. It was once a fort and welcoming port for sailors. This view can only be imagined or viewed in pictures, since the castle’s surroundings have changed over the years.

10. The City of Cape Town’s table mountain serves as a wedding venue

Table mountain- by Matti Blume- Wikimedia Commons

Quite an adventurous couple to go up the table mountain for a wedding ceremony and reception. The table mountain is said to host at least two weddings every month. This Mountain actually has six different venues on it! Each of them have a stunning view and functionality.

Table Mountain currently has a century old cableway, which has made transport to the top much easier.

11. The City of Cape Town is South Africa’s Tobogganing hub

Africa has only one Tobogganing track, and it is found in the City of Cape Town. The track is called Cool Runnings after the film featuring Jamaica’s first bobsled team. Away from the traditional track usually made of snow and ice, Cape Town’s toboggans run on a stainless steel track, each seating one or two people.

A day at Cool Runnings would be great for relaxation as it is also a good venue for functions and hangouts.

12. The City of Cape Town hosts Africa’s largest LGBTQ annual events

Each year the City of Cape Town hosts Africa’s largest LGBTQ annual events with parties across the city for days. The event will have parades, parties, competitions, art, poetry, karaoke, book readings, and a fun run among other activities. Some of these events are free while others will need ticket purchasing.

As with most LGBTQ events worldwide, the Cape Town event aims at raising awareness of LGBTQ issues, and advocates for this communities’ rights.

13. The first ever heart transplant took place in the City of Cape Town

Dr. Christiaan Barnard- by Benito Prieto Coussent- Wikimedia Commons

Dr. Christiaan Barnard performed the first ever heart transplant surgery at the Groote Schuur Hospital. This hospital has been turned into a museum, befittingly called The Heart of Cape Town.

This surgery was the worlds most reported on medical event, making Dr. Barnard a celebrity.

The patient, Louis Washkansky woke up from anesthesia and spoke briefly to his wife. He however contracted pneumonia and died 18 days after the ground breaking surgery.

14. The City of Cape Town was a proposed convict colony

Adderly Street- by HelenOnline- Wikimedia Commons

The City of Cape Town has Mr. Charles B. Adderly to thank for its current status as a regular but beautiful city, operating the way it does. Mr. Adderly was a British parliamentarian who campaigned against turning Cape Town into a colony for convicts.

This iconic street, named after the parliamentarian, is today filled with flower and fruit-and-vegetable sellers and cafes. It is always alive with entertainment by street artists, busker and musicians.

Adderly street at Christmas is a sight to behold, with spectacular lights from its top to bottom.

15. The City of Cape town was tossed between two colonizers

Jan Van Riebeeck- by Khaosaming- Wikimedia Commons

The British and the Dutch were two of the greatest colonial powers in the 1650’s. The two super powers fought over the City of Cape Town, and each took control over it depending on who won.

Cape Town went to the Dutch in the first century and a half after colonization, while Britain had the city in 1795. Yet again, Britain lost the City of Cape Town to the Dutch in 1803 but got it back 1806.

Cape Town was free of these nemeses when South Africa gained independence. What a roller coaster ride for the city!

16. The City of Cape Town upholds a canon firing tradition

Noon Gun Firing-by Graham Richter- Wikimedia Commons

Should you be in the City of Cape Town visiting or touring, expect the popping off of a canon at exactly midday. This tradition is one of the oldest in Cape Town, upheld from 1806.

An old canon atop Signal hill is fired with a resounding boom over Cape Town’s central business district.

It was originally meant to declare incoming ships, so that traders would haul their goods down to the harbor.

17. South Africa’s most valuable real estate is found in Cape Town

Cape Town- by Andres de Wet- Wikimedia Commons

The City of Cape Town has homes with very high value. Trophy homes, they are called. While the country’s wealthiest live in a different area, Cape Town certainly has the value.

These Trophy homes are valued at approximately over 1,000,000 Euro!

18. The City of Cape Town is the most equal in South Africa

A UN report found that Cape Town is the most equal city in South Africa, although still unequal per other countries in the world. This means that the gap between the rich and poor isn’t as large in Cape Town as it must be for other cities.

With this, the City of Cape Town can be said to be doing its part in the development of the country, as inequality has dire impact on progress in all the cities of South Africa.

19. Almost half of the City of Cape Town is below the age of 25!

Boys after a soccer game- by Ed Suter- Wikimedia Commons

The City of Cape Town is definitely drinking from the fountain of youth. 43.2% of the City of Cape Town’s population is below 25, according to the national census reports of 2011.

The city however struggles with drugs, gang violence and a surge in violent drug-related crime. These vices can, without necessarily having scientific support, be attributed to this age group.

20. The City of Cape Town’s ‘Lion Head’ has nothing to do with felines

Lions Head- by Hilton Teper- Wikimedia Commons

The hiking spot ‘Lions Head’, Leuween Kop in Dutch is a mountain in the City of Cape Town. It was named so by Dutch settlers who thought that the space between the two mountain peaks made out a crouching lion.

In the City of Cape Town you might hear it lovingly referred to as “Mother City”. There are several explanations to the name, one of which has it that in the 1930’s a Cape Town newspaper declared Cape Town as the only one that could actually be called a metropolis. Metropolis is derived from the Greek word ‘metros’ and ‘polis’ meaning city.  This stuck and residents call it that.

If you visit the City of Cape Town you will find a vibrant and colorful city, you will enjoy the harbor if you have access, try out interesting local cuisine and experience the rich culture.