History of the City of Cape Town

• Province Western Cape
• Coordinates; 33.9243° S, 18.4187° E
• Municipality City of Cape Town

.Cape Town central was first established as a local municipality in 1839. The central part of the city is known as the city bowl owing to the amphitheatre-shaped geography of the area with the mountains surrounding the CBD.

Before Bartolomeu Dias arrived at the Cape in 1488, little is known about the inhabitants of the area. Remnants of human settlements in the peninsula date back about 15000 years.
Bartolomeu Dias and crew were the first Europeans in the area. He called it The Cape of Storms, in Portuguese, (Cabo das Tormentas). Later it was renamed Cape of Good Hope in 1497 by Vasco Da Gama with great hopes for the route to the Indies. Trading here was done between the local Khoi Khoi and many European traders and explorers. Tobacco, copper, and iron were traded with the Khoikhoi people in exchange for fresh meat.

Jan Van Riebeek and a crew employed by the Dutch East India Company arrived in 1652 to establish a way station. Cape Town, locally known as the mother city, is the oldest city in South Africa, it is also the legislative capital and the primate city of the Western Cape.

The original inhabitants called the area around Table Mountain Camissa (sweet water) because of the 13 freshwater springs that flowed from the mountain, which were essential for their survival. These “sweet waters” were a lifeline but also represented a spiritual connection that the Khoi people had with the land. The region was also known as ||Hui ! Gais, meaning “where clouds gather,” a reference to the mist that often envelops Table Mountain, is believed to be a divine presence by the Khoi people

 

 Adderley Street outside the railway station

Things to do and see in Cape Town Central

• The Adderley Street story
• Table Mountain Cableway
• The Company’s Gardens
• City Hall
• Museums in Cape Town
• The Cape Town Jazz Festival is held at the CTICC in April, 021 671 0506
• Kaapse Klopse (Cape Town minstrel carnival) usually 2 January
• The South African Good Food and Wine Show is held at the CTICC in May, 021 702 2280
• The Cape Town cycle tour is in March, info@cycletour.co.za
• The Cape Town and Winelands Film Festival in March
• In April, the Two Oceans marathon is held.
• The wine affair at the V & A Waterfront in May
• Cape Town Art Week in July
• Cape Town Fashion Week is in August
• Cape Town Art Fair marketing@fieramilano.co.za
• First Thursdays
• Bree Street, Cape Town’s most food-centric street, has introduced car-free Sundays .
• The Heritage Vine on the corner of Bree and Short Market Streets.
• We Are Still Here Memorial at the Long Market Pedestrian Mall,
• You can see the remains of a brick and stone reservoir that were exposed during excavations for the Golden Acre shopping centre. It dates from 1663, and it is currently encased in glass.
• Take a guided tour of the secret tunnels and lost rivers with Voice Map or visit with TOP SECRET” Tunnel and Bunker Adventures
• Old slave tree memorial 
• City walks begin at the Company’s Gardens. – 021 419-1881
• Free walking tours
• Cape Town Laws and Regulations
• Video: How safe is Cape Town?
• About Cape Town Weather

• See a more detailed list of things to see and do in Cape Town City

Useful Numbers

• Police: 021 467 8078
• Traffic Department: Hillstar Traffic Department-0860 103 089
• Home Affairs: 021 468 4501
• Fire: 021 444 0830
• `Water: 0860103 089
• Electricity:0860103 089
• Ambulance: 10177
• Post office; 021 464 1707
• Library:021 444 0209
• Closest hospital; Christiaan Barnard Memorial-021 441 0000
• Clinic; Dorp Street Clinic-clinic-021 483 4662
• Pharmacy; 021 595 1433
• SPCA: Cape of Good Hope-021 700 4140
• Schools: Cape Town High School-021 424 2168
  Good Hope Studies – English Language School -021 425 5403
•  Transport Information Centre (TIC) 24/7,  0800 65 64 63.
• Cape Town Central City Bowl Ratepayers’ & Residents’ Association: www.cibra.co.za
• Museums;
• Iziko Slave Lodge– 021 467 7229
• Iziko Old Town House Museum-021 481 3933
• Rust En Vreugd-021 464 3280
• South African Sendinggestig Museum-021 423 6755
• Martin Melck House-021 405 1540
• Castle of Good Hope-021 787 1260
• Iziko South African Museum(Natural history museum)021 481 3800
• Find a comprehensive list of emergency numbers HERE

FAQs for Cape Town