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Beautiful Cape Town City South Africa in photos

Updated on August 6, 2012

A city of contrasts

Cape Town, where I am writing this, is a city of contrasts - old and new, rich and poor, and many other contrasts besides.

The area around the city centre is full of interesting images and historical buildings, and also vibrant with culture and colour.

Not far from the Central Business District are the Company's Gardens, founded by first white colonists under the leadership of Jan van Riebeeck who, in 1652, started a refreshment station for the ships of the Dutch East India Company. The Gardens have a rich heritage and are surrounded by a wealth of historical buildings, from the stately Parliament buildings to the well-known St George's Cathedral, all of them overshadowed by the brooding hulk of Table Mountain, which is almost always visible from the city centre and the Gardens.


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A Cape Town City crest on a bollard at the entrance to Parliament LaneThe steps of St George's Cathedral, scene of many anti-apartheid demonstrations duing the 70s and 80s.Tuynhuis (literally Garden House) opposite the Comapany's Gardens, residence of the President when in Cape Town
A Cape Town City crest on a bollard at the entrance to Parliament Lane
A Cape Town City crest on a bollard at the entrance to Parliament Lane
The steps of St George's Cathedral, scene of many anti-apartheid demonstrations duing the 70s and 80s.
The steps of St George's Cathedral, scene of many anti-apartheid demonstrations duing the 70s and 80s.
Tuynhuis (literally Garden House) opposite the Comapany's Gardens, residence of the President when in Cape Town
Tuynhuis (literally Garden House) opposite the Comapany's Gardens, residence of the President when in Cape Town

Walking in the different rhythms of the city

Walking in the city is to walk in a vibrant today within touching distance of a time many yesterdays ago. There is the old Slave House, St George's Cathedral opposite it, and the Houses of Parliament next door. As I was walking up the vibrant and colourful St George's Mall, which was St George's Street when I was a young boy, I came across a group of Xhosa drummers and dancers singing a song made famous in the days of the destruction of Sophiatown by the then apartheid government in the late 1950s, a song with a strange, heady, mix of a happy, infectious rhythm and words of biting sarcasm, a song called "Meadowlands", which ironically became quite a hit with whites in those now far-off days.

And then around the corner in Greenmarket Square was a group of Cape Carnival musicians in their colourful outfits playing some of their own wonderful music, usually only heard at the time of the New Year's parades.

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Drummers and dancers enliven the city centreSinging and dancing with incredible energyThe joyous sounds of the "Klopse" in Greenmarket SquareTypical faces of the Cape Carnival
Drummers and dancers enliven the city centre
Drummers and dancers enliven the city centre
Singing and dancing with incredible energy
Singing and dancing with incredible energy
The joyous sounds of the "Klopse" in Greenmarket Square
The joyous sounds of the "Klopse" in Greenmarket Square
Typical faces of the Cape Carnival
Typical faces of the Cape Carnival
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Front of St George's CathedralHouses of Parliament with Queen Victoria statueStrollers on one of the many lovely paths in the GardensThe lawns are for lovers too!The sundial in the GardensCecil John Rhodes proclaiming that "your hinterland is there!"The South African Museum, which was founded in 1825 and houses some of the greatest examples of San rock art and many other interesting exhibitsStatue of former Prime Minister, philosopher and statesman Jan Christian Smuts, in front of the South African National GalleryThe South African National Gallery, which was started in 1872. The Gallery houses a large collection of artworks dating from the 17th Century to contemporary South African works, including beadwork and sculpturesThe facade of the South African Jewish Museum. The foundation stone was laid in 1904. It now houses the Holocaust Centre
Front of St George's Cathedral
Front of St George's Cathedral
Houses of Parliament with Queen Victoria statue
Houses of Parliament with Queen Victoria statue
Strollers on one of the many lovely paths in the Gardens
Strollers on one of the many lovely paths in the Gardens
The lawns are for lovers too!
The lawns are for lovers too!
The sundial in the Gardens
The sundial in the Gardens
Cecil John Rhodes proclaiming that "your hinterland is there!"
Cecil John Rhodes proclaiming that "your hinterland is there!"
The South African Museum, which was founded in 1825 and houses some of the greatest examples of San rock art and many other interesting exhibits
The South African Museum, which was founded in 1825 and houses some of the greatest examples of San rock art and many other interesting exhibits
Statue of former Prime Minister, philosopher and statesman Jan Christian Smuts, in front of the South African National Gallery
Statue of former Prime Minister, philosopher and statesman Jan Christian Smuts, in front of the South African National Gallery
The South African National Gallery, which was started in 1872. The Gallery houses a large collection of artworks dating from the 17th Century to contemporary South African works, including beadwork and sculptures
The South African National Gallery, which was started in 1872. The Gallery houses a large collection of artworks dating from the 17th Century to contemporary South African works, including beadwork and sculptures
The facade of the South African Jewish Museum. The foundation stone was laid in 1904. It now houses the Holocaust Centre
The facade of the South African Jewish Museum. The foundation stone was laid in 1904. It now houses the Holocaust Centre

The Avenue

At the top of Cape Town's main street, Adderley Street, is the Avenue which divides Parliament and other buildings from the old Company's Gardens. With St George's Cathedral on one corner. the Avenue, more properly known as "Government Avenue", stretches all the way to Orange Street, past the South African National Library, De Tuynhuis, the South African Museum, the Jewish Museum and Holocaust Centre and the National Gallery.

Inside the Company's Gardens can be found many interesting plants and beautiful flowers, both indigenous and exotic, as well as some interesting momuments and statues, including one of arch-imperialist Cecil John Rhodes.


Back to Adderley Street

Coming back down the Avenue one comes to the top of Adderley Street again, where the old Slave Lodge, which is now a Cultural History Museum, stands and also the Mother Church of the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa is, the church known as the Grootte Kerk (Big Church).

Nestled next to this church is a small alley with an open-air cafe.

Further down Adderley Street is a large old bank building and some traditional flower sellers, who have plied their trade in that spot for decades, adding a wonderful, elivening scent to the air and vibrant colours to the street.

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The front of the Slave Lodge at the top of Adderley Street. This building, one of the oldest in Cape Town (built in 1679), has a grim history but a bright present as the home to the South African Cultural History MuseumA reminder of the grim past of the building housing the Cultural History MuseumThe Grootte Kerk in Adderley Street. The foundation stone of the building was laid by the then Governor of the Cape Colony Simon van der Stel. He was Governor from 1699 to 1707.In front of the Grootte Kerk stands a statue of famed South African churchman Dr Andrew Murray (who was godfather to my grandfather, the Rev Andrew Murray McGregor)The flower sellers of Adderley Street, a much loved feature.
The front of the Slave Lodge at the top of Adderley Street. This building, one of the oldest in Cape Town (built in 1679), has a grim history but a bright present as the home to the South African Cultural History Museum
The front of the Slave Lodge at the top of Adderley Street. This building, one of the oldest in Cape Town (built in 1679), has a grim history but a bright present as the home to the South African Cultural History Museum
A reminder of the grim past of the building housing the Cultural History Museum
A reminder of the grim past of the building housing the Cultural History Museum
The Grootte Kerk in Adderley Street. The foundation stone of the building was laid by the then Governor of the Cape Colony Simon van der Stel. He was Governor from 1699 to 1707.
The Grootte Kerk in Adderley Street. The foundation stone of the building was laid by the then Governor of the Cape Colony Simon van der Stel. He was Governor from 1699 to 1707.
In front of the Grootte Kerk stands a statue of famed South African churchman Dr Andrew Murray (who was godfather to my grandfather, the Rev Andrew Murray McGregor)
In front of the Grootte Kerk stands a statue of famed South African churchman Dr Andrew Murray (who was godfather to my grandfather, the Rev Andrew Murray McGregor)
The flower sellers of Adderley Street, a much loved feature.
The flower sellers of Adderley Street, a much loved feature.

Copyright notice

The text and all images on this page, unless otherwise indicated, are by Tony McGregor who hereby asserts his copyright on the material. Should you wish to use any of the text or images feel free to do so with proper attribution and, if possible, a link back to this page. Thank you.

© Tony McGregor 2010

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