About Cape Town
Cape Town is the legislative capital, and the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. It is the country's oldest and second-largest city, after Johannesburg. The city is known for its harbour, its natural setting in the Cape Floristic Region, and for landmarks such as Table Mountain and Cape Point. In 2014, Cape Town was named the best place in the world to visit by The New York Times.
Cape Town was founded by the Dutch East India Company in 1652 as a supply station for Dutch ships sailing to East Africa, India, and the Far East and was the first permanent European settlement in South Africa. The Table Mountain National Park is within the city boundaries and there are several other nature reserves and marine-protected areas within, and adjacent to, the city, protecting the diverse terrestrial and marine natural environment.