This South African City Is Home to a Stunning National Park, Penguins, and Some of the Continent's Best Hotels

"Cape Town is South Africa's crown jewel. Founded by the Dutch East India Company in 1652, it was South Africa's first attempt at a modern metropolis, earning it the nickname "The Mother City." Because of its strategic location at the southwestern tip of Africa, it once played an important role in global trade. Today, it's one of South Africa's three capital cities and home to nearly five million residents who proudly refer to themselves as Capetonians."

"But Cape Town's setting-a dramatic coastline hugging Table Mountain National Park-is as picturesque as its history is problematic. Like the rest of South Africa, Cape Town is still recovering from the apartheid era, which ended in 1994. While crime and corruption are still issues, the city helped host the 2010 FIFA World Cup, spurring an influx of tourists that has yet to slow down."

Cape Town is a coastal South African metropolis founded in 1652 by the Dutch East India Company and nicknamed The Mother City. The city sits beside Table Mountain National Park and held strategic importance in historical global trade. Cape Town continues to recover from apartheid, faces crime and corruption challenges, and experienced increased tourism after hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Popular excursions include Stellenbosch wineries, the African penguin colony in Simon's Town, and game reserves like Aquila. Notable hotels include The Silo Hotel with a contemporary African art museum and pillowed-glass rooms, and The President Hotel offering family-friendly amenities and beachfront bike rentals.

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