Cape Town airfares, South Africa (CPT)

Cape Town airfares, South Africa (CPT)

Cape Town, South Africa airfares

Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town is one of the three capitals of South Africa. The other two are Bloemfontein and Pretoria. These are the judicial respectively the executive capitals of the country, while Cape Town has the legislative power. Interestingly, none of these is the largest cities in South Africa, which is Johannesburg with a population of over 3.8 million.

Cape Town is the most culturally and socially active capital of the country, mainly because of its geographical position and population. Even if it has roughly 400,000 less residents than Johannesburg, it’s the center of tourism in South Africa. The fact that it is situated on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean makes it very popular among international tourists and among those who aspire to visit the southernmost point of Africa.

Many think that the Cape of Good Hope is the southernmost city of Africa, but in reality Cape Agulhas is that. Even so, millions of tourists visit the Cape of Good Hope every year, which is just a 2-2.5 hour drive from Cape Town.

Cape Town is characterized by a Mediterranean climate, which has well defined seasons. The winter starts in May and lasts until September, with average lows of 8-9 °C and highs over 18 °C. The hottest month of the year is February with temperatures between 16 and 27 °C. However the highest temperature ever recorded in the city was in 41 °C in March, while the lowest just one degree below zero in June and July.

The population of the city is a diverse one. Nearly the half of the 2.9 million residents of the city itself are younger than 24, and the median age of the city is just 26. Almost the same percentage of the city’s population is colored, which is an ethnic group of black and white parent’s descents. The thirty percent of locals are Black, while the White population of Cape Town is somewhere below 19%. This gives the city a very young and multicultural character, making it very attractive among young tourists.

After the announcement of the location of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in the city, the modernization of the airport began. This prestigious sporting event will be hosted by eleven South African cities in 13 venues, from 11 June 2010 over a month. The Cape Town International Airport already was the third busiest airport of the continent, but it’s expected to become the second in a year. In 2007 over 8.3 million passengers were handled here, arriving from numerous African cities, Buenos Aires, Dubai, Dublin, London, Munich, New York and not only.

The Port of Cape Town is also very important both because of economical and tourist purposes. It’s the second busiest port in Africa, mainly because it’s situated near the busiest shipping corridor of the world. However, its importance for tourists has another reason: the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. This is a historical center of the city and today attracts the most tourists, topping any other site in South Africa. Many shops and restaurants are located here, just like several hotels and luxurious apartments. Regular boat trips sail from here to Robben Island and Two Oceans Aquarium. The latter is a well-known aquarium, where you can dive with sharks if you have the needed certificates and guts.

Robben Island is s former prison island, where the former president of South Africa and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Nelson Mandela once was imprisoned. Today this is a museum and guided tours are available around the prison and the Robben Island Lighthouse.

Similar to the Robben Island is the Castle of Good Hope, which is a defense fort, built between 1666 and 1679. Today it is one of the most visited sites in Cape Town, with numerous shops, traditional workshops, a bakery and a church.

Maybe the best-known landmark in Cape Town, also its trademark, being featured in the official flag of the city, is the Table Mountain. This mountain formation includes the Devil’s Peak, the Table Mountain proper and the Lion’s Head. Thousands visit the latter each month, because the available walk path. It is also very popular among paragliders because of its prone backdrop. The Devil’s Peak is also very popular because of the breathtaking view it offers. Numerous easy routes are available at lower parts of the mountain, like the one to the Rhodes Memorial.

Besides the natural sights, the city offers a numerous man-made marvels. These include the characteristic structures built in a so-called Cape Dutch style. This is a fusion between the Dutch, German and French architecture. Several notable buildings in Cape Town were raised in this style, like the ones in the Constantia district and along the Long Street. The latter also played an important role in the anti-apartheid era, having many theaters, which played propaganda pieces.

The most important regional event is the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival, which is held on January 2 each year. Because it takes place the next day of New Year’s Eve, it is frequently called “Tweede Nuwe Jaar”, meaning Second New Year. During this celebration, you can see musicians and performers in brightly colored clothes on the streets of the city. Locally it is known as Kaapse Klopse.

The restaurants of Cape Town, as well as its cafes, are famous nationwide because, besides the great taste of served food and drinks, the design is also a priority of the owners. As a result, here you can order the best dishes of local cuisine, in terms of both taste and looks. A large number of restaurants offer delicious dishes made of fresh seafood.

The most popular nightlife spots are situated around the Long Street and in the De Waterkant district. In the city, you can find everything, no matter what your taste is, with places ranging from simple bars, through western styled pubs, to nightclubs and luxury lounges.

Cape Town is without a doubt the best holiday destination in South Africa and it’s in the world elite. The extended green areas and the modern shopping centers are both present making the city attractive among tourists, whatever their preference would be.

 

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