Title	Cape Town On Foot A Journey through town and history
Author	Ursula Stevens
ISBN	978 0958 4951 58
Publisher	Wanderlust
First Published	1997; 5th edition: 2010
Size of book	200mm x 125mm
Cover	Paperback, gloss, full colour
Text	224pages
Illustrations	Black & white with street maps
Inside page	City map
Binding	Thread sewn
Retail Price	South African Rand R125 + P&P

1997 - and the first pocket book edition of ‘Cape Town on Foot’ arrived on the bookshelves. Twelve years later the fifth edition has come off the press, revised and extended to include the story of Robben Island. Who better qualified to describe all of this than the author who has been leading daily city walks for the past 10 years. The book is undoubtedly the indisputable leader in the vast selection of guide books available on the Mother City.

In the first part the reader can expect a lively walk through the city. The historic monuments, statues and buildings in the city centre, Company’s Gardens and the colourful Bo-Kaap are introduced, the architectural, cultural and religious roots retraced. Long forgotten stories and rumours liven up the walk which is assisted by precise maps.

Then the reader is taken on an historic journey through the ages during which he encounters the indigenous Khoikhoi and San, survives the voyages of discovery to the Cape, witnesses the socio-economic development of the city from a trading outpost to a thriving city, shares the fate of prisoners on Robben Island and enjoys early travellers’ impressions of the Cape.

The book is charmingly illustrated through black and white sketches and photographs of old Cape Town, a nostalgic glimpse into the past architectural splendour of the city.

Reviews

The Cape Odyssey, October 2005

The [4th] edition of ‘Cape Town on Foot, a walk through town & history’ has added full chapters on the Bo-Kaap and the Waterfront and more detailed descriptions of city buildings. It still retains its slim, pocket-sized format for easy handling and reading whilst walking, keeping it light enough not to cause excess luggage problems.

In the first part the visitor is taken on a magical walking tour of the city discovering historic buildings, sites and statues. As the walk weaves through the town, the reader discovers the city’s fine and diverse architecture, learns about the Groote Kerk, St. George’s Cathedral, the Slave Church Museum, the Metropolitan Methodist Church, Africa’s oldest Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Slave Lodge Museum, Bertram House, Old Townhouse, Koopman’s de Wet House, Centre for the Book, the District Six Museum, the Castle, Rust en Vreugd and many others – indeed no building of historic, cultural interest in the city centre is left out.

The Company’s Garden is fully explored, its history, development, buildings and flora.

From the city centre, the walk finds its way into the Bo-Kaap, tracing the historical, cultural and religious roots of this colourful suburb on the slopes of Signal Hill. And finally, the eventful story of the Waterfront s told, with suggestions for a short do-it-yourself walk.

After the walk through town, the Bo-Kaap and the Waterfront, the visitor is taken on an equally exciting journey through the ages. The culture and destiny of the indigenous Khoikhoi and San peoples are explained, the story of the Portuguese voyages of discovery; legends and impression of early visitors are recorded, the story of the city and the Cape unfolds, from the coming of the Dutch to the end of the 19th century.

All along the route, the reader is accompanied by charming sketches, and a photographic insert of old Cape Town allows a nostalgic glimpse into the architectural splendour of the city, the way it was.

The 224 page book published by Wanderlust is available in soft cover at all major bookshops.