Cape Town city orientation tour

tour stats (rates indicated are per person)
length:	half day tour
our price:	R144.00
discount:	10%
public rate:	R160.00
hotel pick-up:	08:15
hotel drop-off:	13:00

private tours (rates indicated are per person)
1 person:	R540.00
2 people:	R315.00
3 people:	R200.00
4 people:	R170.00
5 to 7 people:	R144.00

The Castle of Good Hope
One of the oldest buildings in South Africa*. It dates back to the birth of Cape Town*. It is actually a fort rather than a castle. It was purpose built to defend the refreshment station at the Cape of Good Hope (not Cape Town* yet) but was never needed.

The Houses of Parliament
In South Africa* the government's offices are located in Pretoria but the parliament buildings in Cape Town*! This dates from the unification of South Africa* in 1910. Each of the previously "independent" republics (Transvaal, Freestate, etc.) wanted to be the capital of (the union of) South Africa. The country ended up having various capitals, e.g. a judicial capital (Bloemfontein), an administrative capital (Pretoria) and an executive capital - Cape Town*.

The Bo-Kaap
The Cape Malay are enthusiatic musicians and entertain Cape Town on a music troup and parade competition annualy Home to the most colourful community in Cape Town*, the Cape Malay. They were originally shipped into the Colony of the Cape as skilled artisan slaves. Later on they achieved their liberty and were awarded an area for settlement where they still reside today. It is referred to as the Bo-Kaap.

This mostly Afrikaans speaking Muslim community is today best known for their colourful houses and the annual music dance troup competition and parade through the city. They had a big influence on the development of the Afrikaans language which has its roots in Dutch but picked up words from among others the Malay.

Historic buildings in Adderley & Strand Streets
Strand Street (Beach Street) is quite a way from the shoreline but it used to be the beachfront road - 350 years of development has pushed the shoreline back. Strand and Adderley are two of the oldest roads in Cape Town* and some of the oldest and historically most significant buildings are found here.

Noon Gun - Signal Hill
The Cape Town city bowl and Table Bay as seen from Signal Hill Signal Hill gets its name from the function it still has in Cape Town*'s daily life. A canon on this hill was used to signal a greeting to approaching ships by firing a shot (before the advent of two-way radios). The canon would also be fired at noon to signal to ships in the bay and everyone in town what the time was. This tradition has been preserved and the gun is fired everyday at noon. The Hill also provide wonderful views of the city bowl, Table Mountain*, Lion's Head, Sea Point, Table Bay and Robben Island in the distance.