Cape Town
Cape Town is estimated to receive just over 3 million visitors per annum with tourism contributing R14 billion rand to the city's economy and some 298,000 people directly employed in the tourism industry.
Average summer temperature: 24.3 degrees
Average winter temperature: 18.5 degrees
South Africa has 11 official languages, but the main languages spoken in Cape Town are English, Xhosa and Afrikaans. Capetonians however have an amusing, colourful array of colloquial terms and visitors can acquaint themselves with some South African slang to join the conversation:
Eish: ('Aysh') Zulu expression of surprise, bewilderment or shock.
Lekker: (Pronounced 'lekk-irr' with a rolling 'r') Afrikaans word meaning nice. Also cool, good, great.
Ayoba: Township culture personified, ayoba was originally used to approve of good dancing but is now used to describe anything awesome and even as a greeting.
Shisa nyama: This is a Zulu phrase used to describe an informal barbeque or 'braai' where friends come together to grill meat on an open fire.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CapeTown.Travel More than 230,000 fans
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/CapeTownTourism More than 6,700 followers
Our brand identity of ‘City of Inspiration’ is about more than just attracting tourists, however. It’s about incorporating business and investment, the creative and innovation sectors and academia into one vision and direction: economic growth, job creation and inclusion to the benefit of all citizens.
- Table Mountain
- Robben Island
- Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
- The Castle of Good Hope
- V&A Waterfront
- Cape Town Stadium
- Cape Town's Wine Routes
- Boulders Beach
- Cape Point
- Chapman's Peak Drive
For an A-Z of Cape Town attractions visit www.capetown.travel/attractions.
Cape Town after dark can be dramatic. From comedy and cabaret clubs to performance art and pubs, from gay bars to wine bars, there something for everyone. Bring on the night and let local jazz, traditional African music, world class contemporary music or the sound of Cape Town, 'ghoema music' sweep you away.
The sheer economic value of Cape Town’s natural heritage is driven largely by its importance to tourism. South Africa’s National Parks are well organised and respected. With a significant park such as Table Mountain National Park running through the centre of the City (and indeed the greater Peninsula), natural biodiversity is a birthright of all Capetonians and a marvel that is appreciated and admired by visitors.
Cape Town Tourism works closely with the City of Cape Town, and other stakeholders, to prioritise sustainability as a guiding principle of growth in all aspects of tourism. In 2002, The Cape Town Declaration was developed by these role-players to serve as the foundation for a charter on responsible or sustainable tourism. In 2009, this charter was realised with The Responsible Tourism Policy for the City of Cape Town.
For more information about Cape Town Tourism’s Responsible Tourism Guidelines and some handy links, please visit: http://www.capetown.travel/industry/industry_programmes/responsible_tourism/
To see the Responsible Tourism Charter and the City’s Responsible Tourism Policy, please visit http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/Pages/CitysignsCapeTownResponsibleTourismCharter.aspx
- Best Destination in Africa, World Travel Awards 2011
- Best Destination in the World, TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice Awards 2011
- Top City in Africa and the Middle East - Condé Naste Readers’ Travel Awards 2010
- One of the World’s Most Beautiful Cities, Forbes
- Best Destination, Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards 2009
- 3rd Best City In The Top 10 World Food Cities - Lonely Planet Blue List 2008
- One Of The “Places Of A Lifetime” – National Geographic Traveler July 2008
Cape Town is one of the world’s favourite cities and the quintessential melting pot; it is a city alive with creativity, colour, sounds and tastes.
Walking the streets of Cape Town and meeting its people, you will encounter and fall in love with a city of natural beauty, inspiration, creative freedom and incredible spirit.
You don't need a holiday you need Cape Town.
For anyone living or working in or visiting Cape Town, the Mother City is an endless source of inspiration.
Not only is it admired globally for its extraordinary natural beauty, it’s also exceptionally rich in heritage, history and culture, and in facilities, attractions and sights.
Our urban advantage:
Investment in the Central Business District (CBD) means we now have a safe, functioning, industrious and vibrant city centre.
Cape Town is investing in making it easier to get around the city with the Integrated Rapid Transit including the My CiTi busses aiming to reconnect the city.
Our cultural advantage:
Unique history, famous stories and a rich combination of African, European and immigrant cultures. We are a cosmopolitan entry point into the rest of Africa.
Our business advantage:
Regional economic growth driven by tourism, finance, infrastructure, food and wine, logistics and creative industries.
The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2008 scored Cape Town’s entrepreneurial activity significantly higher than South Africa’s national average and Cape Town comes 14th out of 34 cities surveyed.
Our green advantage:
Cape Town’s unique biodiversity: we have the smallest and richest floral kingdom per area unit in the world and the ‘big five’ of marine life.
A city surrounded by a national park, with nature on your doorstep, leading thinking on issues of sustainability and the low-carbon economy.
Our lifestyle advantage:
Access to diverse activities and environments, excellent education and healthcare facilities and a focus on liveability. Despite the strong Rand, Cape Town remains a good value destination.
The Cape Town Metropole comprises eight regions each with its own unique flavour and offerings:
- Cape Peninsula
- Southern Suburbs
- Cape Flats
- City Centre
- Atlantic Seaboard
- Blaauwberg Coast
- Northern Suburbs
- The Helderberg
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