Cape Town

South Africa is a beautiful, culturally, and geographically diverse nation. Cape Town is located in the province of the Western Cape, at the southernmost point of the African continent. South Africa’s recent history is marred by a period of racial segregation and oppression known as “apartheid,” and the remnants of apartheid continue to impact every aspect of life in South Africa. Though the nation is currently celebrating almost 30 years of democracy since the first democratic elections in 1994, the communities that have been historically marginalized by apartheid continually to bear the burden of this history. For this reason, the economic and social landscape of South Africa remains a complex and challenging terrain to navigate and a unique vantage point from which to view some of society’s most complicated issues such as racism and economic inequality.

The city of Cape Town is the second most populous urban area in South Africa, after Johannesburg. This city is one of the most beautiful regions in the world and is a rare cultural gem. Cape Town has a long colonial history and a culturally and linguistically diverse population. This includes black and “colored” South Africans, a large population of expats and immigrants from other African countries and Europe, and the largest population of white South Africans of any region in the country. The demographics of Cape Town often surprise visitors who expect a predominantly black population and find that the racial makeup of Cape Town is not in keeping with this expectation. This diversity can also be seen in the varieties of cuisine and cultural influences that make up the social fabric of the city, which is truly unlike anywhere else on earth.

Cape Town’s local economy is the second largest in the country, and the city is well positioned to take advantage of South Africa's re-entry into the global arena following the demise of apartheid in the early 1990s. As the seat of the Parliament of South Africa, it is also the legislative capital of the country. The city is famous for its harbor, picturesque beaches, Cape floral kingdom, Table Mountain, Robben Island, and Cape Point. In 2014, Cape Town was named the best place in the world to visit by both the New York Times and the British Daily Telegraph, and it continues to top travel lists annually.