A coastal city in the southernmost region of Africa, Cape Town is overlooked by the majestic Table Mountain (one of the seven natural wonders of the world) and surrounded by a string of beaches washed by the Atlantic and Indian oceans.
Cape Town is a young city with a multicultural population and thriving nightlife. As home to four universities, international students make up a significant proportion of the student population. Beyond its natural beauty, it is a hub of arts and culture, located in a unique biodiversity hotspot, and home to award-winning wine estates and top restaurants.
Climate and lifestyle
In South Africa, lifestyle follows climate. With Cape Town’s beautiful landscapes, you are likely to find yourself spending a lot of time outdoors, from soaking up the sun, to climbing mountain peaks or dancing in a forest at an outdoor music festival.
Cape Town has a Mediterranean climate, with dry summers and wet winters. Summers get very hot. Temperatures vary between 15°C and 43°C (59°F and 110°F) so be sure to always carry water, sunscreen and a hat. Winter is rainfall season and temperatures drop to between 3°C and 15°C (38°F and 59°F). If you are coming in winter be sure to pack a good raincoat (umbrellas can be useless in the wind). While Cape Town winters are not as severe as those in the US or Europe, most buildings don’t have central heating. Bring clothing that can be layered for the cold – both indoors and out.
Come rain or shine, the Mother City is famous for its four seasons in a day, so always take a jumper when you head outdoors, or be ready to remove a layer when the sun comes out. Keep in mind that Cape Town is in the southern hemisphere. December and January are the height of the summer months, while our coldest months are July and August.
Fun Facts
Cape Town regularly features as one of the best places in the world to visit and appears in many lists of great cities to live and work in. The city offers great quality of life at extremely competitive prices.
The Cape Floral Region is one of South Africa’s eight World Heritage sites and one of the world’s 18 biodiversity hotspots. It boasts 7 000 plants found nowhere else in the world. Cape Town has the oldest wine industry outside of Europe and the Mediterranean. The first wine production was recorded on 2 February 1659. Cape Town’s gentle climate is equivalent to that of California or the Mediterranean.
The City was the first outside of Europe to be awarded Blue Flag status for its beaches, owing to high water quality, good facilities, safety and cleanliness. The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in the historic heart of Cape Town’s working harbour is the most-visited destination in South Africa. Table Mountain hosts an average of two weddings a year of couples who wish to say their “I dos” on the beautiful, flat-topped mountain that was formed nearly 300 million years ago.