Regions

Bokaap

In the North-West of the City Centre on the slopes of Signal Hill lies Bokaap, a traditional residential area of Cape Town's Muslim community and historical centre of the Cape Malay culture. The community has a very proud heritage and was started by immigrants from Indonesia, Java and elsewhere in the Malay archipelago who were originally mostly slaves brought to the Cape by the Dutch in the 17th century. Here, in stark contrast to the paved streets and avenues of the rest of the City Centre you will find cobbled streets, brightly colored houses from the nineteenth century, Muslim shrines ("kramats") and mosques.

Camps Bay

Separated from the city bowl by the stretch of national park connecting Table Mountain and Lion’s Head you will find the affluent suburb of Camps Bay, meandering down the back slopes of Table Mountain all the way to the ocean. The palm tree lined beach at Camps Bay is one of Cape Town’s most popular and boasts spectacular views of Lion’s Head and the Twelve Apostles mountain range.

City Centre

Cape Town city centre is a relatively small area quite easily covered on foot and is surrounded by the city bowl areas of Zonnebloem, Vredehoek, Oranjezicht, Gardens, Tamboerskloof, Bokaap and the Waterfront.

When the Dutch settlers landed at the Cape of Good Hope in 1652 it was within what is now the city centre that they built the Castle of Goodhope, Cape Town’s very first major structure. Besides the Castle, the city centre contains many historic tourist sites such as the City Hall and Grande Parade, the Company Gardens and Houses of Parliament, St George’s Cathedral, The National Gallery and of course the ever popular Greenmarket Square craft market.

Devil's Peak

A small, rather peaceful city bowl suburb positioned between Vredehoek and Table Mountain’s right shoulder peak from which it gets its name. How the Peak got its name is however a much more interesting story altogether.

According to legend, Devil’s Peak got its name from a Dutch pirate called Jan Van Hunks. Every day Van Hunks would walk from his house up the slopes of Table Mountain to a solitary spot where he could enjoy the view and smoke his beloved pipe. One day Van Hunks was met on the mountain by a mysterious stranger. They started talking and soon discovered that they were both avid pipe smokers. When the stranger implied that he could easily smoke more than Van Hunks, Van Hunks challenged him to a pipe smoking competition, the result of which was large clouds of smoke rolling down the mountain to be seen all the way from the Cape Town Castle.

Gardens

Located directly below Table Mountain and Lion’s Head within the city bowl, Gardens is definitely one of the more fashionable areas and has long been a favorite post code for young professionals looking for a balance between the buzz of the city centre and the relaxed cafe culture that Cape Town is famous for.

Higgovale

Undoubtedly the most exclusive of the city bowl districts, the prestigious Higgovale boasts beautiful views of the city and Table bay area. It’s situated right below Table Mountain National Park, but still within 10 minutes of the CBD. So if you want the convenience of being close to the centre but prefer waking up to birdsong rather than the song of drunken vagrants then Higgovale is the place for you - providing your pocket can accommodate it that is.

Oranjezicht

Oranjezicht is situated on the slopes of Table Mountain nestled between the city centre and city bowl suburbs of Vredehoek and Gardens. A mix of stately old Victorian homes, Deco apartment blocks and modern mansions create an eclectic look unique to Oranjezicht and surrounds.

Sea Point

Positioned between Signal Hill and the Atlantic Ocean a few kilometers West of the city centre, the cosmopolitan suburb of Sea Point rests proudly and distinctly. Proudly because this is one of the few areas in Cape Town that has truly come up from merely being up and coming and distinctly because the residential high-rise lined oceanfront promenade is unique to this Atlantic Seaboard area and instantly recognisable.