Cape Town (Afrikaans: Kaapstad; Xhosa: iKapa) is the third most populous city South Africa, capital of the province of the Western Cape, and the country’s Legislative Capital – including being home to the National Parliament. As of 2001, the city had an estimated population of 2,893,251.
Cape Town is located on the coast, at the northern end of the Cape Peninsula. There are over 70 peaks over 1,000 feet (305 meters) tall within the city limits, but most dramatically, the city is overlooked by Table Mountain, which is a flat-topped mountain (approximately 2 miles (3 kilometers) from side to side, and surrounded by steep cliffs) rising to 3,563 feet (1,086 meters). Because the plateau is often topped with a thin layer of cloud, it is locals often affectionately call it “the tablecloth”. To the West and East of the plateau, two other dramatic features stand out – Lion’s Head and Devil’s Peak. Visitors to Table Mountain can ascend it on a cable car system (the Table Mountain Cableway) or by one of several hiking trails – and are rewarded by some truly spectacular views from the summit. There are also facilities for rock climbing, and for caving – unusually for a sandstone feature, Table Mountain contains some large cave systems.
There are many other places to see in Cape Town, including several excellent beaches, many cultural and nightlife activities, and the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, which is a premier shopping venue as well as being home to the impressive Two Oceans Aquarium. You can also take a ferry from the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront to one of the nearby seal colonies, or to Robben Island (Afrikaans: Robben Eiland) where Nelson Mandela and many other anti-apartheid activists were imprisoned for many years.
