CapeTown Tour Safaris
CapeTown Falls Safaris
Cape Town Tours: Visit South Africa’s Mother City on a Private Tour
For many people, a trip to the gorgeous South African West Coast is an experience that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. This iconic city is a combination of history, cultural vibrancy and with plenty of nature all around, it is also scenic. People flock to this city in the hopes of seeing where much of modern South Africa first began. They picture themselves visiting the mountain, the castle and then spending time exploring the waterfront, taking in the sights and smells of the city.
There are few cities in South Africa that are so loved, and you can explore it all when you sign up for a Cape Town tour. With so many things to do in Cape Town you want to make sure that you have the very best sightseeing opportunities and that you are able to be a part of the excitement. Cape Town tourism is on the rise and with more people looking to visit the city, more tour options have become available. Affordable daily tours – taking you to the most popular places as well as showing you a few of those off-the-beaten-track-areas, allow you to have the best opportunity to get a proper feel of the city and the surrounding areas. There are also many Cape Town helicopter tours available at the best prices.
From stunning Cape Town beaches, Private Cape Town wine tours, Cape Town Peninsula tours and historical attractions to incredible nightlife, there is a lot to do with your time in the city. Attracting people from all over the world, a visit to this popular city can really change the way that you see South Africa. MoAfrika Tours can assist with bus tours and transfers from Port Elizabeth, Durban, Pretoria and Johannesburg.
Planning a visit to Cape Town? You need the right tour!
MoAfrika has created a number of interesting tour options, at the best rates, which allow guests to walk away with the ultimate experience and many happy memories.
The Western Cape is well known for its wine production which means that Private Cape Town wine tours have been put on the tourist map. The stunning green winelands offer a calming environment in which to taste some of the wines that have helped make South Africa a respected producer.
The Half Day Winelands Tour and the Full Day Wine Route Tour are ideal for those wanting to get a real feeling for the area. For those looking for adventure, Cape Town has plenty to offer. The Full Day Whale Route Tour, the Peninsula and Cape of Good Hope Tour and the Shark Diving and Viewing tour are packed with excitement and are a wonderful way to enjoy an adventurous tour when you are in the Cape.
But it is really the Cape Town attractions that you see when on a Cape Town Peninsula tour that have made Cape Town a must visit destination. With so much to see and experience in the city itself, you will never be bored. Your tour will take you to all of the most interesting places, giving you the opportunity to see the city and all that it has to offer. With so much to see in the city, it is always best to take a few days to explore.
MoAfrika has the Best of Cape Town Day Tour and the Half Day Cape Town City Tour, visiting the city’s landmarks and showing people what this iconic place is really all about. There is never a dull moment when you are part of a tour, with the guide keeping you entertained while sharing their valuable knowledge. From whale watching and diving with sharks to drinking some of the best wine, Cape Town is a must. MoAfrika has some of the most affordable Private tours to this city, you can contact us today for prices on our latest 2019/2020 packages, to select a tour and indulge yourself in a scenic journey through one of the country’s oldest cities.
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Where do you start when writing a guide to the top attractions of the spectacular Cape Province? In the cosmopolitan City Bowl that offers visitors an overwhelming choice of entertainment; or the Cape Peninsula tour with breath-taking scenery that rivals the most beautiful destinations in the world; the charming suburbs and beach towns that hug the coastline along the southern-most tip of Africa; the windswept beauty of the western coastline and the warm-hearted people who welcome you in their distinctive brogue; or Route 62 that takes you on a magical journey through the wonderland of the Cape Town wine tour winelands route? We’ll have to take it one step at a time.
He named the peninsula the “Cape of Storms” in direct reference to the treacherous voyage around the tip of Africa and its menacing rocky shores. By late 16th century, many Portuguese, French, Danish, Dutch and English ships were stopping over in Table Bay enroute to the Indies, either seeking shelter from the perilous storms or restocking their dwindling supplies. The Portuguese trade merchants were the most regular visitors to the Cape shores; trading tobacco, copper and iron with the Khoikhoi (Bushmen) in exchange for fresh meat.
The Cape settlement lacked adequate infrastructure as there was a dire shortage in this period of skilled and manual labourers. This prompted the Dutch East India Company authorities, under the directorship of Jan van Riebeeck, to import slaves from Malaysia, Indonesia and Madagascar. Many of these became ancestors of the first Cape Coloured communities (Coloured referencing the mix of races). The Dutch settlers were also responsible for introducing exotic crops such as grapes, apples and citrus which had a lasting impact on the province’s agricultural market. Britain orchestrated an aggressive campaign to capture Cape Town in 1795 but they conceded defeat and the Cape was returned to the Dutch by treaty in 1803. British forces occupied the Cape again in 1806 following the Battle of Blaauwberg and Cape Town was ceded to Britain.
It became the capital of the newly-formed Cape Colony and attained its own independent parliament and a locally-accountable Prime Minister. Under British rule, scores of inhabitants that were descendants of the Dutch settlers left the Cape and embarked on the Great Trek to the northern regions of South Africa where they sought to establish an independent nation. They became known as the Voortrekkers, characterised by a unique dialect that became known as Afrikaans (the birth of the Afrikaner population). This dialect evolved from the Dutch vernacular of South Holland, and incorporated words used by the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) and Madagascar slaves. Up until the mid-1940s, Cape Town was racially inclusive although inhabitants were segregated more often on gender. When the National Party came into power in 1948, the Group Areas Act was imposed that had devastating consequences for the multiracial harmony of the city.
Non-European residents were forced out of areas that were declared Whites-only districts and relocated to far less desirable locations such as the infamous District Six, the Cape Flats and Lavender Hill. Under the apartheid regime, the Cape was considered a “Coloured labour preference area” to the exclusion of “Bantus” (Black Africans). Oppression and victimisation wore down the spirit of the non-White nation and led to years of bitter struggle and resistance, led by the great Nelson Mandela. Running an underground struggle movement and classified as a terrorist, Nelson Mandela was captured, tried and incarcerated on Robben Island along with other members of the movement. They endured insufferable hardships on the desolate, windswept island until their release.
The first democratic election heralded the dawn of a new democracy and the abolishment of racial
SCENIC WONDERS OF THE CITY BOWL
The most recognisable landmark of Cape Town is the majestic Table Mountain. This distinctive mountain is characterised by near-vertical cliffs and a flat-topped summit, with Devil’s Peak and Lion’s Head on either side. The thin strip of cloud that often smothers the summit is affectionately known as the “tablecloth”. Below, at its feet, lies the so-called City Bowl. This vast plain is a natural amphitheatre, created by the hills that flank it on both sides. It includes the central business district of Cape Town, the harbour, the Company’s Garden and the old residential areas that were home to the Dutch settlers. The City Bowl lies nestled between Table Mountain and Table Bay, a natural tranquil bay on the Atlantic Ocean that offered seafarers protection when the great Cape Storms raged. Signal Hill is a landmark flat-topped hill that together with Lion’s Head looks like a lion sphinx.
When you find yourself in front of a terraced row of brightly coloured homes, you’ve found Bo-Kaap. Formerly known as the Malay Quarter, this delightful suburb is situated on the slopes of Signal Hill overlooking the central business district. It is the epicentre of the Cape Malay culture in Cape Town and a visual and gastronomic treat for visitors. Bo-Kaap dates back to the 1760s when it was established as a settlement for slaves that were brought to Cape Town by the Dutch East India Company to build Cape Town. Many of them were skilled tailors, carpenters, shoemakers aswell as builders. They became known as the Cape Malays and enriched the city with their unique culture. Steeply cobbled roads link the colourful houses that are a mix of Cape Dutch and Georgian architecture. The Cape Malays leased the houses from the Dutch authorities and there was a strict rule that all the houses had to be painted white. When the rule was lifted and the slaves were allowed to buy their properties, they celebrated their freedom by painting the front of their homes with brightly coloured paint. Many of the families living in Bo-Kaap today are descendants of the original slave community. The oldest building in Bo-Kaap is in Wale Street and has been turned into a museum.
The Bo-Kaap Museum provides visitors with a glimpse into the life of a typical Cape Malay family. After a visit to the museum, enjoy all the area has to offer which includes exploring the Islamic Kramats (shrines), the Auwal Mosque and the food and craft markets where you can sample authentic Cape Malay dishes. A ten-minute walk to the centre of the city takes you to Greenmarket Square, one of the oldest market squares in South Africa. It was created in 1696 at a site where a burgher (Englishman) watch house was erected. Over the years the market square served as a slave market, a produce market, a parking lot and lastly a flea market. It is surrounded by a number of heritage buildings, including the Old Town House.