Cape Town Budget Travel Guide

View all Cape Town budget safaris & tour packages

44 tours pass through this location


Cape Town is a city like no other. It is perhaps one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

Location

Nestled in the South-Western corner of Africa surrounded by the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, Cape Town and its surrounds areas are a site to behold. To the East of the city you will find the Cape Winelands and to the North of the city you will find the stark and barren West Coast.

The City Areas

The city is comprised of 5 main areas. The first of these areas is the city centre, the second is the Cape Peninsula with its Floral Kingdom of Cape Point, the third area been the Southern suburbs, the fourth area is the Northern Suburbs and finally the Cape Flats. Cape Town is a mix of both first and third worlds as a result of the Apartheid System. There are informal townships that cover the area known as the Cape Flats and next to these shanty towns you will find some of the finest hotels and suburbs in Africa, a stark contrast and reminder of a troubled past. The most distinct landmark however is Table Mountain. The Mountain divides the city into its various suburbs and over the years each of these suburbs has developed its own distinct character.

History

Cape Town was established originally as a Trading Post by the Dutch East Indian Company in 1652 and has since then been under the control of various European colonisers until 1942 when South Africa became a Republic. The biggest colonial influence having been made by the British.

Cape Town Today

Cape Town today is a cosmopolitan city with a population as varied as its landmarks. The majority of Cape Town's inhabitants are so called "Cape Colourds", followed by a black, white and a small Asian population. Each race group has its own distinct culture and each in turn ads to the fusion that gives Cape Town it's on distinct feel.

Some of the top highlights on offer is this city include its beaches and walks, bars and clubs, the V & A Waterfront, The Castle of Good Hope, Kirstenbosh National Botanical Gardens, Cape Point Nature Reserve and Robben Island amoungst others.

Cape Town has a Mediterranean climate with a hot dry summer from September to April, and a cold wet winter from May to August. It is best to visit this magnificent city over summer. No visit to South Africa is complete without a visit to Cape Town, a must for every traveller.

Google Map of Cape Town

Use the Google map to explore Cape Town. Feel free to Print the Street Map when you're ready.