Cape Town

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Quick Facts

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Coordinates

• Latitude: -33.91975
• Longitude: 18.42566

On Travellerspoint

• 5 Cape Town Apartments
• 20 Cape Town Guesthouses
• 36 Cape Town Hostels
• 6 Cape Town Hotels

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Introduction

McNaught Comet over Cape Town

© All Rights Reserved chaddo

Cape Town is the second largest and southernmost city in South Africa and capital of the Western Cape province. It is also arguably one of the most beautiful cities in world. With Table Mountain providing a backdrop to the city and mountains, beaches and wineries lining the landscape, it's not hard to understand why Capetonians are so proud of their home. And it's not just the scenery which has made Cape Town such a popular travel destination in recent years. The friendliness and diversity of the Capetonians themselves accounts for much of the attraction of the city. A former major trading port, Cape Town has become a cultural melting pot of Dutch, French, British & German settlers and the local Khoisan and Bantu tribes.

As home to the World Cup in soccer in 2010, Cape Town will surely become even more popular as a destination in the coming years.

Also check the official Cape Town Travel website.

Neighbourhoods

Sights and Activities

Nelson Mandela's cell on Robben Island where he spent 17 years.

© All Rights Reserved Yacca

Robben Island

Robben Island, located just off the coast from Cape Town, is famous for being where Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners were held during the apartheid period. Tours run several times a day, every day, from the Nelson Mandela Gateway at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront (+27 (0)21 413-4200).

Green Point Market

Green Point Market takes place every Sunday. It's a giant open flea market adjacent to the Green Point Stadium. There are numerous stalls selling everything from African jewelery, musical instruments, pottery, sculptures, and some great homemade gadgets, made by the creative whizzes from the local townships. The Market is a great place to pick up some serious bargains, but please do respect that many of the traders derive their income solely from the market.

The Green Point Market is accessible by taxi and bus, (destination- Sea Point) and is also accessible by foot from the V&A Waterfront.

Table Mountain

Providing a stunning flat-topped backdrop to the city, Table Mountain is a 1000 metre high plateau surrounded by steep cliffs and flanked by Lion's Head to the west and Devil's Peak to the east. The summit can be accessed either via Cable Car, or a two-hour hike for the more adventurous, and offers unparalled views of the city and the coastline. Visitors are advised to only attempt it on a clear day however, as the mountain is often covered by a 'table cloth' of cloud. The main vegetation is the unique Cape fynbos, with an estimated 2,200 species of plants on the mountain alone.

Boulders Beach

A sheltered sandy beach with large granite boulders that forms part of the Table Mountain National Park. The real pulling point however is the population of penguins that wander the beach and paths. The sea is a bit cool even in summer, but it's worth donning some goggles and jumping in for the opportunity of seeing these graceful swimmers in their natural environment.

Events and Festivals

World Cup 2010

The big upcoming international event on the South African horizon is the FIFA World Cup beginning on the 11th of June 2010. One of the most prestigious and popular world sporting events, the World Cup 2010 promises to bring throngs of passionate supporters from around the globe. Held once every four years, it's a football tournament (called soccer in South Africa) where 32 world nations vie for the famous golden trophy.

Games in Cape Town will be played at the new Green Point Stadium, which will have a capacity of almost 70,000 once building has been completed.

Cape Town Minstrel Carnival

The Kaapse Klopse or the Minstrel Carnival is an annual festival held in Cape Town. It begins on New Years Day and continues into January as thousands of people take to the streets dressed as minstrels in bright colours, spinning umbrellas and playing instruments.

Cape Town International Jazz Festival

Despite the fact that first one was held as recently as 2001, the Jazz festival has rapidly gained status with recent performers including Courtney Pine, Herbie Hancock and Youssou N'Dour.

Cape Argus Pick 'n Pay Cycle Tour

A huge event in the city, this annual 109km race follows the coastline along False Bay and then on the Atlantic Seaboard. Held in March, 30000 participants were expected in the 2009 event.

Cape Town International Comedy Festival

Held in September, it is supposedly Africa's largest comedy festival. Bringing in comedians from around the world, shows are held at different locations around the city and include street performaners and more risque comedy in the Danger Zone.

Weather

The busiest time to visit Cape Town is during December and January when the local schools have their holidays and there is also a large number of tourists. This is the middle of Cape Towns summer period which ranges from the end of October to March. Average maximum temperatures range between 24 and 27 °C during this time, with nights around 14-16 °C. The winter months of June through August can be quite cold and wet, but spring and autumn are both lovely times to visit the city. Average highs during winter are still an exceptable 18 °C while nights are mostly around 8 °C.

Getting There

By Plane

Cape Town International Airport (CPT) near the city has recently been renovated and is a good entry point to South Africa, next to Johannesburg.
South African Express flies between Cape Town and Walvisbaai and Windhoek in Namibia, Gaborone in Botswana and Maputo in Mozambique. KLM flies between Amsterdam and Cape Town directly. Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines fly from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur to Cape Town as well. The latter has flights onwards to Buenos Aires. Cape Town has flights to Istanbul, Düsseldorf and Munich and from June 2008 to New York as well and several African cities, mainly in the south of the continent.
South African Airways, Sout African Airlink andMango all fly to and from Cape Town from a number of South African cities as well, including Bloemfontein, Durban, Port Elizabeth, George and Johannesburg.

By Train

Spoornet is the national railway, with services between Cape Town and several major South African cities. Most of the connections are budget, but there is a Premier Class train between Cape Town and Johannesburg.

By Car

If you are coming from Johannesburg or Bloemfontein, take the N1 all the way, those coming from Port Elizabeth along the Garden Route will probably be on the N2. If you are coming down from Namibia, you should take the N7 southbound.

Once you've reached Cape Town, a car is probably the best way to explore the city and its surrounding environment, and it affords more freedom than a guided tour will give you. The city's public transport system is pretty sub-standard and generally not to be relied upon, while you can get to most of the main sites of interest within a couple of hours in a private vehicle.

By Bus

There are many companies offering services to and from Cape Town, but the main operators are Greyhound South Africa, Intercape and Translux. They serve both several international as well as many domestic destinations.

The Baz Bus is a bus where you can hop on and of and is mostly used by backpackers travelling on a budget. They are dropped off at hostels. There are three routes. One is running between Cape Town and Durban.

By Boat

Arriving by Boat into Cape Town HArbour

© All Rights Reserved Taffski

The Royal Mail Ship "Saint Helena" travels regularly between Saint Helena and Ascension Island, Walvis Bay and Cape Town. The schedule is primarily designed to meet the needs of locals and cargo for St. Helena, and thus follows a timetable but not a consistent routing. In general terms, the ship leaves Cape Town once a month, before heading to St. Helena, sometimes via Walvis Bay. From St. Helena it will then run 1 or 2 shuttles to Ascension Island, before returning to Cape Town, again sometimes via Walvis Bay. Occasionally, Cape Town is omitted, and the ship returns to St. Helena directly from Walvis Bay.

For travelling directly to Tristan da Cunha, there are only a few boats a year from Cape Town (and sometimes Namibia). If you are lucky enough though, the trip takes 5 or 6 days and will mean you have to spend months on the island. Tickets roughly cost about 1000 to 1200 for a return trip. It's best to check the Tristan da Cunha website for details.

Boats also go to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was jailed for 20 years from 1964 to 1984.

Getting Around

By Car

Several car rental agencies operate in the city. International companies such as Avis and Budget Rent-a-Car have branches at Cape Town International Airport.

For those who like to travel in style, companies like Q Drive offer luxury chauffeur services which include airport pick-ups and drop-offs, general transport and even VIP protection.

By Public Transport

Cape Metro Rail offers transport around Cape Town, its suburbs and neighbouring towns like Stellenbosch and Paarl in the wine region.

By Foot

By Bike

Eat

Whether you're traveling on $10 a day or a hundred, Cape Town has affordable and luxurious eating options for everyone. From a backpacker's budget on Long Street to fine dining in Camps Bay, you will find everything from traditional African fare and Cape Cuisine to Mexican, Italian, or Portuguese. And don't forget the fresh seafood! As a city on the water's edge, fresh linefish and oysters are popular menus options.

Victoria & Alfred Waterfront

For the greatest diversity of eating establishments in one location, start at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. With over eating 70 options to choose from, the V & A Waterfront offers everything from casual, cafe culture to pub style eating. You can enjoy a lazy afternoon at Quay Four for fish and chips, or rub elbows with celebrities at Balducci's. There are several national restaurant chains represented like Ocean Basket, Mug and Bean and Steers. Several cafe-style establishments offer limited, free wireless internet connections which can be extended for a small fee.

Long Street

On a budget? Head over to Long Street, the backpacker's district of Cape Town. With a myriad of bars, cafes, restaurants, and clubs, you can't go wrong. Try Mamma Africa for traditional African and Cape cuisine. Be sure to call ahead to reserve a table. Mamma Africa's also offers great live African music, however be ready to pay a small cover charge to listen at the bar. Ready to venture out of the city bowl?

Ocean Views

Want to watch the sunset from your table? For a beachfront setting, head to the neighborhoods of Camp's Bay, Clifton or Bantry Bay. Le Med is a local favorite for sundowners. With such a wide range of restaurants to choose from, there is no excuse for leaving Cape Town without several exceptional, dining experiences.

Other Places to Eat

Try the neighborhoods of Green Point, Observatory, and Sea Point. All offer several dining options. At Tank, in Green Point, a 20,000 liter salt-water, fish tank separates the cocktail lounge from the dining room.

Drink

Sleep

Budget

There are many cheap B&Bs and hostels in around the city. Some recommendations:

• Ashanti Lodge
• The Green Elephant (Observatory)
• Long Street Backpackers (right on the strip)
• Ardvark Backpackers

All offer dorm beds or private rooms, from about 10 dollars a night.

More option in the budget range in Cape Town include:

Mid-Range

• Spring Tide Inn (Seapoint)
• Cape Nelson Guest House (Seapoint)

Both offer off-street parking, breakfast, honesty bar

Upscale

• Table Bay Hotel (V&A Waterfront)
• Cape Grace Hotel (V&A Waterfront)
• The Bay Hotel (Camps Bay)
• Camps Bay Retreat Boutique Hotel (Camps Bay)

Work

Learn

• University of Cape Town is one of the best universities in the country and is considered the best school in all of Africa. The campus is beautiful and has stunning views of the mountains. It has excellent hard and biological science programs.
• Stellenbosch University is also one of the best universities in the country and in Africa. Its most recent claim to fame was designing and building Africa's first microsatellite the SUNSAT, which was launched in 1999. This school also has a stunning campus with great views of the mountains all around.
• University of the Western Cape originally founded in 1960 as a Coloured people only school. It was hot bed for resistance against the apartheid starting in the mid 70s. Today it is an integrated school located in the suburbs.
• Cape Peninsula University of Technology is the only technology school in the Western Cape province. The school was founded in 2005 with the merger of Cape Technikon and Peninsula Technikon. The school is the largest in the area with over 29,000 students and students can take classes in any of South Africa's official languages.

Keep Connected

Internet

Phone

See also: International Telephone Calls

Post

Post Offices normally are open Monday through Friday from 8:30AM to 4:30PM. On Saturdays they are usually open from 8AM to noon.