Five Fascinating Facts about Cape Town

Cape Town is one of the biggest cities in South Africa and is located on the west coast of the country. Over the last few years the area has become a popular destination for tourists and visitors. What follows are five lesser-known facts about the city.
1. The first recorded European to visit was a Dutchman…
…and his name was Jan van Riebeeck. Although there is evidence for the area being inhabited as far back as 12,000 years ago, the one-time surgeon assistant van Riebeeck was sent to establish a way-station for ships. He was the Commander of the Cape for ten years between 1652 and 1662, during which he helped build a fort, and planted an almond hedge which still grows to this day.
2. Nelson Mandela…
…spent 27 years imprisoned at nearby Robben Island. Hours after being released he gave a speech from the balcony of the Civil Hall that would herald in a new era for the country. He was elected president in 1994, and it was over the following 10 years that the country’s economy saw an unprecedented surge due to new boom in tourism and housing.
3. Table Mountain’s peak, Lion’s Head…
…has not seen a lion for over 200 years. After once thriving in the area, and no doubt giving their name to the smallest peak at the western tip of the mountain, the last lion was shot in 1802. Leopards followed in the 1820s, but the area is still home to some incredible nocturnal cats. These include the small Lynx-type Caracal, and the far rarer African Wild Cat.
4. African Penguins…
…are more common. Following the fauna theme, surprisingly South Africa is home to many colonies of penguins. Nearby Boulders Beach is home to its own colony that established itself in 1982. They are quite small, at only 68 – 70 centimetres tall, but have endured a significant comeback in recent years. However in comparison to the numbers of African penguins in at the beginning of the 20th Century, only about 10 percent remained by 2000.
5. Scarborough…
…is considered a tourist destination. Of course, Scarborough, Cape Town differs to the one we know and love in the UK as it is surrounded by conserved natural landscape. Interestingly, Cape Town is also famous for the sheer number of unique beaches it has. It is quite easy to travel to a good variety in a single day, depending on whether you want small and secluded, or miles and miles of golden sands.

Article Source: TravelFreeGuides.com

About the Author

Sarah Maple writes about travel, places, city breaks and package holidays.

by: Sarah Maple

Total views: 15 Word Count: 431 Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 Time: 3:48 PM - 1 comments

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