Cape Town

The Table Mountain Cableway takes passengers from the lower station on Tafelberg Road to the plateau at the top of the mountain. There are spectacular views of Cape Town, Robben Island to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south.

In the late 1400s, Portuguese explorers were the first Europeans to sail round the southern tip of Africa. This is the legendary "Cape of Storms", which wrecked many ships en route to the east in search of gold, spices and other wonderful things.

The South African Football Association wants locals to buy tickets, fearing that they will be outnumbered by foreign fans at the home team's games against Mexico, Uruguay and France. Locals have bought half of the 674,403 tickets sold so far.

"Green Point! Clifton! Station!" the young man shouts. It's rush hour for Cape Town's "black taxis". By FRANCIS ROGG with photos by GÉRARD PLEYNET.

South Africa is very inexpensive for Europeans, although you will find yourself paying much more for flights and hotels during European holiday periods. Tips on where to stay and what to do in Cape Town.