Cape Town - The colourful district of Bo-Kaap (South Africa)

The colourful Bo-Kaap district is one of Cape Town’s main attractions. The colourful district in the heart of the city is often referred to as the Malay Quarter, Slamsebuurt or Schotschekloof.

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Things to know about Cape Town

Cape Town is the second largest cityin South Africa after Johannesburg with a population of around 4 million. The city was named after the “Cape of Good Hope”, which is located about 45 kilometers to the south and posed a major danger to shipping by sea to India. The Cape Town skyline is dominated by the 1,087-metre-high Table Mountain,Signal Hill, Lion’s Head and Devil’s Peak.

The climate is influenced by the Atlantic: in the summer months of December to February, the monthly maximums are around 25° C and in the winter months of July and August 17° C. The University of Cape Town is one of the oldest universities on the African continent. To the In addition to Table Mountain, the most popular sights include the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront (built on the model of the Waterfront in San Francisco), the Castle of Good Hope, the Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, Long Street, the Prison Island of Robben Island and the beaches of the tourist suburbs of Camps Bay and Clifton.

The Bo-Kaap district in Cape Town

The Bo-Kaap district, which is only about 1 km in size, is located at the foot of Signal Hill and has a population of about 6,000.

Aerial View, Bo Kaap, Colorful Houses, Cape Town, South Africa, Travelreport

View of the Bo-Kaap district in Cape Town

The colorful houses of Bo-Kaap

Due to its colorful rows of houses, cobbled streets and numerous mosques, the district is a well-known tourist attraction. Today, the district is predominantly Muslim. In the 18th century, the neighborhood was settled by Southeast Asian slaves, known as Kapmalays, after they were released from slavery.

We parked near the Hilton Cape Town City Centre on Buitengracht Street and were able to go straight up Wale Street and marvel at the first colourful houses. Since we were here at lunchtime, very few people were on the way. By the way, half an hour was enough for us to take some photos and stroll through the alleys on foot.