Hello friends! Are you ready to have another adventure? Today we will travel to South Africa to visit Cape Town!
If you want to learn more about Cape Town don’t forget to download our activity package:
Click here to download our Cape Town learning guide (English)
Click here to download our Cape Town flashcards (English)
Click here to download our Cape Town quiz (English)
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Click here to download our Cape Town learning guide (Spanish)
Click here to download our Cape Town flashcards (Spanish)
Click here to download our Cape Town quiz (Spanish)
Fun facts about Cape town
Did you know that at least two couples get engaged on top of Table Mountain every month? That’s right, this 6,100 ft, a flat-topped mountain in Cape Town is visited by couples all the time. How sweet!
Cape Town is the third most populous city in South Africa, right after Johannesburg and Durban, and is Colloquially named the “Mother City.” Legend has it that in the 1930s a local newspaper claimed that Cape Town was the only city in South Africa that could justly call itself a metropolis.
In case you didn’t know, Metropolis is a term used since ancient Greece to refer to huge and modern cities full of tall buildings.
Since the word “metropolis” derivates from the Greek words “meter” or “metros”, meaning mother, and “polis” meaning city, the nickname “Mother City” was born.
Cape Town is truly a magical place; the iconic monolithic mountains that stand protectively over the city, the history of the city, and its engaging blend of African, European, and Malay influences, make this place a must-see paradise!
Places to visit in Capetown
So let’s take a look at the landscapes and fun things you can do in Cape Town!
As I mentioned before, Table Mountain is a beautiful place visited by millions every year. The views are simply spectacular, and although you may encounter some heavy clouds, known locally as the tablecloth, that can obscure the panorama completely, it’s definitely worth the try.
“But how am I gonna get up there” you may be wondering, well by using the cableway, of course! It was erected in 1929 and was originally constructed from wood and steel. I know, that sounds kinda dangerous but there have been no accidents on it as of yet, plus, you get to see the whole beautiful city of Cape Town from up there! No wonder why so many couples chose this place to “pop the question.”
If you get a little to the south from Table Mountain, you can find Kirstenbosch, a 1,300-acre botanical garden where you can see some of the most beautiful plants, flowers, and even birds in the whole of Cape Town. To have a better view Kirstenbosch offers the Tree Canopy Walkway, also known as ‘the Boomslang’, or tree snake, which is an elevated wooden path perfect for bird-watching and selfie-snapping.
Also, don’t miss the protea garden, dedicated to South Africa’s national flower, the king protea!
Speaking of flowers, did you know that Cape Town is home to 7,000 plants and flowers that you can’t find anywhere else in the whole world?
That’s right, at around 55,900 square miles, the “Cape floral kingdom” is the smallest in the world but contains approximately 9,600 plants and flowers. And 7,000 of them appear nowhere else in the world! Awesome!
But Table Mountain is not the only famous mountain in Cape Town, there’s also Lion’s Head. This famous mountain is almost 2,200 ft high, perfect for hiking, cycling, or just admiring the 360-degree views of the City Bowl and the bay.
People think that this mountain got its name because of lions roaming freely there, but that’s actually not true. The mountain was named that because when looking at it from a distance, some people recognize the shape of a lion with a head and tail. I don’t really see the resemblance, what do you think?
What if you just want to sit and relax? Then there’s no better option than Boulders Beach. At this sandy stretch of shoreline on the Cape Peninsula, you can sunbathe on the rocks, have a wonderful coastal walk, and enjoy the company of wild penguins. Wait a minute, penguins?! Yes! Probably the main draw is the colony of cute African penguins. There are a lot of them here, and they like to waddle around, swim, and squawk at each other, what’s not to like about Boulders Beach?
And those are just a few interesting facts and places about Cape Town. There are more to see here, like Long street; a neighborhood full of dinky cafés, boutiques, and vintage shops, the Robben Island; where former South African president Nelson Mandela, served most of his 27-year sentence, the Woodstock street art, the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary African Art, and more!
Ciao friends!
