 Abseiling from the tip of Table Mountain |
The magnificent, often mist enshrouded, cliffs that soar a full kilometre into the sky, are not the only fascinating feature of this cosmopolitan enclave nestled comfortably on the far south western tip of the great African continent. The "Mother City's" rich history, cultural and political independence, stunning location and mild climate qualify Cape Town as one of the world's truly great cities.
Like so many African ports, Cape Town began as a strategic and economic colonial outpost. Ironically, the port was established on the strength of glowing reports of the bay that reached the opportunistic Dutch East India Company when one of their vessels, Haerlem, foundered there in 1647. The attractive, fertile land and largely cooperative, if somewhat gullible, native "Hottentots" enabled a refreshment station to be set up in the 1650s to service the many ships plying the trade routes between Holland and SE Asia.
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