10 Facts about Cape Town that will surprise you!

Cape Town is a city filled with captivating culture, rich history, beautiful natural scenery and warm hospitality. It’s a place much-loved by locals and visitors alike. From the iconic peaks of Table Mountain and the waves lapping at the shores of the historic Robben Island, to the adorable penguins of Boulders Beach and the sprawling vineyards of the Cape Winelands, Cape Town is a world-class travel destination for a reason. It’s also a city that will surprise you, no matter how many times you visit, or even if you live here! New activities, uncovered history and quirky finds abound.

To celebrate this magnificent city, we have put together a list of fun facts about Cape Town that may surprise you. Expand your knowledge about the beautiful Mother City with these interesting tidbits. Here are 10 surprising facts about Cape Town:

1. Let’s start with the name, Cape Town is nicknamed the ‘Mother City’

There are a number of suggested reasons by Cape Town is known as the Mother City. One of which is that it was hailed the mother city due to it being one of the first European settlements on the continent. Another suggestion is that in the 1930, a local newspaper referred to it as a ‘metropolis’ which is derived from the Greek words ‘metros’ (mother) and ‘polis’ (city) which the public enjoyed so much they used the description as a nickname.

Cape Town is also known as the Cape of Good Hope and was, at one point in history, known as the Cape of Storms.

2. Table Mountain is one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature

Excitingly, Cape Town’s iconic landmark is officially one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature! The mountain has its name due to its flat-topped shape and the clouds that settle across the mountain when the wind blows in a certain direction are known as the ‘table cloth’. Even more interestingly, the indigenous Khoisan people named it ‘Hoerikwaggo’ meaning ‘mountain in the sea’ which is an absolutely spot on description when you see it in person, too.

Besides its notable shape and name, another well-known aspect of Table Mountain is the cableway. The first cableway to the top opened on 4 October 1929 with the earliest cable cars carrying up to 25 people. The faster, rotating cable cars that we are familiar with today were first installed in 1997, with upgrades made consistently over the years. Nowadays, you can travel from the lower cable car station to the top in +-5 minutes, enjoying a 360 degree view as you go!

3. The Castle of Good Hope is the oldest colonial-era building in the country

Located on the corner of Darling Street and Buitenkant Street is the Castle of Good Hope. It was built by the Dutch East India Company between 1666 and 1679 and today is the oldest colonial-era building in the country. You can visit the castle to enjoy tours, see the military museum, admire the African Pottery Collection and even do a tunnel and dungeon tour!

4. Company’s Garden is the oldest garden in South Africa

While it began as a humble vegetable patch centuries ago, today, Company’s Garden is a gorgeous green oasis nestled in the heart of the city centre. It’s also the oldest garden in the country! It’s home to centuries-old plants, including the country’s oldest cultivated pear tree which was planted around 1652. Today, Company’s Garden is home to cultivated gardens filled with indigenous plants and local fauna. Plus, you get incredible views of Table Mountain. It’s a spot locals love to visit during the week to escape the hustle and bustle of the working city, as well as on the weekend to slow down and embrace nature.

5. The city is partly built over the sea

This may sound like an odd one but the geography of Cape Town is not the original lay out. In the 1940s, land claimed from the Atlantic Ocean was developed into Cape Town’s foreshore. Everything beyond Strand Street in this area used to be the ocean! It was built upon the sea in order to expand the city centre and today you’ll find well known Cape Town landmarks including the CTICC, Artscape and the Civic Centre in this area.

6. You’ll find two UNESCO World Heritage Sites here

This incredible city is home to not one, but two UNESCO World Heritage Sites! The first to be inscribed in 1999 was Robben Island. This island is renowned for housing political prisoners during the apartheid years, the most famous of which was Nelson Mandela who was imprisoned here for 18 of the total years he spent being jailed by the apartheid government. Today, it is no longer an operating prison and people can tour the historic island. Catch a boat across the stretch of ocean, arrive and see the prison building including Mandela’s cell, the limestone quarry and more sites of note.

The second of Cape Town’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites is the Cape Floral Region which was inscribed on the list in 2004. The region is one of the most biodiverse in the entire world with fynbos vegetation being completely unique to the region. Seeing the beautiful indigenous natural scenery is a must for anyone in Cape Town!

7. Signal Hills is home to the Noon Gun

Find yourself in the city centre around lunchtime? You’ll likely hear the boom of the Noon Gun echoing around the city bowl! The Noon Gun has been a historic time symbol in Cape Town since 1806 and is one of the city’s oldest living traditions. Located on Signal Hill, the pair of guns (one is a backup) are maintained by the South African Navy and fire everyday at 12pm (except Sundays and Public Holidays) to mark the time.

If you’d like to visit, the area is open for visitors around the time the gun is fired with a short presentation conducted beforehand while the gun is loaded.

8. Cape Town is one of the three capitals of South Africa

This is a fact many South Africans will already know: South Africa boasts three capital cities versus the regular old singular capital city that many countries have. The other two are Pretoria and Bloemfontein. “Why three?” you may ask. The reason is that there is one for each branch of the government; Cape Town is the legislative capital and the official seat of Parliament, Pretoria is the executive branch and official seat of the Cabinet, while Bloemfontein is the judicial branch and home to the Supreme Court of South Africa.

9. Cape Town’s first bottle of wine was produced in 1659

Hundreds of years ago, the first Dutch Settlers arrived in the Cape and one of the things they brought with them that still hangs around today, is wine. The first bottle was harvested and produced by Jan van Riebeck, Cape Town’s governor back then. In the following decades, vineyards were planted in Constantia and the nearby Cape Winelands, and both blossomed enormously. Today, the Cape Winelands and Constantia are home to a highly impressive amount of award-winning wine estates!

10. Cape Town is also the start/end of the longest wine route in the world

Amongst many wonderful accolades, South Africa also holds the title of being home to the world’s longest wine route. Route 62 is +-850km long and stretches from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth, winding through the Cape Winelands and Klein Karoo, connecting the Western Cape and the Eastern Cape. Meander along Route 62 for a road trip filled with dramatic scenery, charming towns and, of course, fabulous wine!

These fun facts are the perfect thing to have in your mind to explore Cape Town from a brand new point of view. As we mentioned above, it’s a city that never fails to surprise and thrill, no matter how many times you visit or how long you’ve lived here. It’s no wonder the Mother City has such a special place in the hearts of so many, especially ours. We love you Cape Town!