Bantry Bay, Cape Town
Bantry Bay is an affluent suburb of Cape Town in the Western Cape Province, South Africa, situated on the slopes of Lion's Head and overlooking a rocky coastline. Its neighboring suburbs are Sea Point and Clifton. It was originally called Botany Bay after a botanical garden that was planted here for the cultivation of medicinal herbs. The name was changed during the First World War.
Bantry Bay | |
---|---|
Suburb of Cape Town | |
Bantry Bay Bantry Bay | |
Coordinates: 33°55′39″S 18°22′49″E | |
Country | South Africa |
Province | Western Cape |
Municipality | City of Cape Town |
Main Place | Cape Town |
Area | |
• Total | 0.38 km2 (0.15 sq mi) |
Population (2011)[1] | |
• Total | 820 |
• Density | 2,200/km2 (5,600/sq mi) |
Racial makeup (2011) | |
• Black African | 13.8% |
• Coloured | 7.7% |
• Indian/Asian | 1.3% |
• White | 75.5% |
• Other | 1.7% |
First languages (2011) | |
• English | 71.5% |
• Afrikaans | 12.4% |
• Xhosa | 3.8% |
• Zulu | 1.7% |
• Other | 10.5% |
Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
Postal code (street) | 8005 |
Area code | 021 |
It is overlooked by Lion's Head, which is an eroded outlier of sandstone. There is a plaque on the seashore that commemorates a visit by Charles Darwin, who made important geological observations here relating to the nature and origin of granite.[2]
Bantry Bay is known to be the most wind-free area in Cape Town. Secluded & protected, this area gets about 290 wind free days per year - a significant fact given Cape Town's windy climate.
References
- "Sub Place Bantry Bay". Census 2011.
- James, Wilmot. Charles Darwin at the Cape: notes on his sociological observations Archived 2017-08-09 at the Wayback Machine. South African Journal of Science 105, November–December 2009, p. 395