Ultimate Cape Town Travel Tips
South Africa seems like a dream far away from us and we really didn’t expect we would tick this destination off the bucket list so soon. Cape Town and its unique charm have captivated us in many ways and we believe you will fall in love with the city too. Enjoy The Most Wanted comprehensive Cape Town travel tips – from weather, safety, travel advice, transportation, packing guide, where to stay and more! This blog contains everything you need to know to plan for a trip to Cape Town.
Safety & Security
The safety of Cape Town is always a concern for many travellers. Many have the common impression that tourists are getting robbed during their travels in Cape Town. In spite of the perceived risk, it is very important to be vigilant at all times wherever you travel. Here are some Cape Town travel safety tips you need to know.
Most places in Cape Town especially those touristic ones are relatively safe with high security presence. You don’t have to worry too much about personal safety. Just make sure you stay alert and beware of your surrounding all the time. Please avoid talking to strangers who approach you. Besides, it is better to carry your bag in front of you and keep all your valuable items close to your body. As most crime cases happen at night, try to avoid walking alone on the streets when sun goes down. Plus, we will recommend you to take a taxi or Uber to your destinations. You must quickly get out of the area where you sense that something is not right. Most of the time, it is better to be safe than sorry – trust your instincts.
On top of that, you need to pay extra attention during adventurous activities such as hiking. Unaccompanied hikes are not recommended. There are people who lost their life due to the lack of awareness. So choose a trustable operator or make sure you hire a local licensed guide who is knowledgeable and adhere to safety regulations. You will have more enjoyable experience too.
Best Time To Visit Cape Town
October to November
It marks the end of Spring season in Cape Town, where tourism is slowly picking up but still not overcrowded. Weather is at its best during this period as it is chilly with lesser rainy days and flowers are starting to bloom. Even though it is chilly outside due to the cold breeze from Atlantic Ocean, beware of the harmful sun rays.
December to March
This is the Summer peak season. Weather is warm and comfortable. As the countries in Northern Hemisphere are having their winter and year-end holidays, tourists will flock into Cape Town to spend their holidays here. This is the time of the year, Cape Town will be very happening with loads of festivals, music events and parties. Although it is crowded, a summer vacation is always difficult to resist. On top of that, main attractions such as Table Mountain, Lion’s Head and Camps Bay can be very packed with long queue. We will advise you to book your accommodation in advance if you are planning to visit during this period.
August to November
This is the best season for whale watching activity. During this period, you have a higher chance to catch a glimpse of the impressive southern right whales and humpback whales migrating to calve their offspring! While land-based whale watching is common along the coastline, nothing beats a cruise trip to spot a whale up close. Sign up a cruise whale watching trip and be amazed by these incredible mammals.
Fancy a summer vacation?
Read our Egypt Summer Itinerary and Guide here
Things To Be Mindful
The Most Wanted Travel Tips
- Travel in groups when you are into activities in Cape Town’s natural attractions like hiking to the top of Lion’s Head or Table Mountain. Get a guide with you, don’t travel alone.
- Accommodations in downtown area are cheaper. However, try avoid going out at night if you’re staying in the downtown. When night falls, the downtown turns into a ghost town and homeless people will start roaming around. If you have to go out at night, it is better to take Uber instead of walking, even the destination is just two blocks away.
- Race and skin colour are sensitive subjects in South Africa. Avoid discussing about these subjects if you are not familiar with their political history to not offend anybody.
Type of Travel
Nature enthusiasts and adventurous souls. Indulge your inner explorer in the wilderness of Table Mountain National Park with activities like paragliding, hiking, biking and rock climbing. The diverse wildlife of course, is going to leave you in awe. Besides, you should not miss the opportunity to try Shark cage diving and view wildlife in game reserve – some highlights of Cape Town travel.
Family & animal lovers. Educational trips are the best for families with children. You can bring kids to the safari to see the wildlife up close, picnic in Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, check out the cute Penguins in Boulders Beach or join the Whale watching tour.
Gastronomy. The city has a plethora of amazing eateries with gourmet food and fine wines. As a cosmopolitan city, it is the best place for you to savour diverse cuisines. Game on, foodies!
History, heritage & arts lover. You will admire the city for having many historical sites and amazing museums that showcase Cape Town’s history. Not forget to mention the vibrant arts and culture scene. You will love South African’s cultures and wonder why are you not visiting this city earlier.
Luxury connoisseurs. Stay in luxury properties and spend your time enjoying the beautiful ocean or table mountain view, book a private gourmet dining tour to explore some of the best vineyards and top restaurants in Cape Town or maybe to have the best experience in Cape Town by booking a private helicopter tour to see the amazing view of the city from above.
Free and Easy travellers. Cape Town is generally very convenient to travel around, thanks to their developed transportation system. Even the museums have audio guides, so you don’t need a tour guide all the time. For activities like hiking and cage diving, you can easily find tours available on various online platforms.
Solo backpacking. The city is also a popular backpacker destination. It is safe and easy to go around using public transport. Things are affordable in Cape Town. Besides, there are many attractions and activities are free of charge you can do it for free! Hostels are widely available and cost per meal is pocket-friendly.
Read more: Cape Town | 5 Days Travel Itinerary & Guide
Currency Exchange & Travel Expenses
South African Rand (ZAR) is the national currency. USD 1 or MYR 4.3 is about ZAR 18.9. Most restaurants and retail shops accept credit card. You don’t have to worry for not bringing enough cash because it is for safety purposes. Especially when you are going out at night you might not want to carry too much cash with you. However, if you want to buy souvenirs and food in markets or street vendors, cash would be the payment method. Travelling in Cape Town will not burn a hole in your pocket, unless you are into luxury indulgence.
The Most Wanted Travel Tips
If Rand is available at the money changer in your home country, it is better to get the currency before going to Cape Town. This is because the exchange rate in Cape Town is lower and money changers here are charging very high transaction and service fees (approximately USD 20 per transaction) when you exchange other currencies to Rand. We highly recommended you to use credit card as there is no credit card surcharge and service fees. Always exchange your currency at a trustable place like the currency exchange machines and banks.
Packing Guide
Comfortable & Casual
Cape Town is a modern beach side city, hence something comfortable and casual are good to go everyday. For gentlemen, you can pack something casual such as T-shirts, singlets, chinos and jeans. For ladies, don your prettiest sundress or just crop top with shorts and sandals! Keep it light and simple so you can be at ease exploring the many attractions in the city.
Sports Attire
It is hard to resist to do some running or hiking amid the beautiful landscape when you visit Cape Town. So pack along your sports attire and a pair of good sport shoes with you. For ladies you might want to bring activewear such as sports bra, tank tops and active bottom for the hiking and long walk when visiting the nature attractions.
Beach Essentials & Accessories
Remember to bring sunglasses and some favourite swimwear of yours because the beaches in Cape Town are so Instagram worthy. However, don’t forget to apply sunscreen while you are enjoying the sun. You can get sunburn from the scorching hot sun without knowing it because of the cold sea breeze.
Scarf & Jacket
Some said in Cape Town you can experience four seasons just within a day due to its unique geographical location and landscape. The weather in Cape Town can change pretty fast, it can change from hot and sunny to super windy and chilly in a split second. Thus, always remember to bring along a scarf or jacket with you anytime and anywhere.
The Most Wanted Travel Tips
You can never imagine how strong is the wind in Cape Town until you experience it yourself. Simply walk on the streets or the beach and you might lose balance when the wind blows. So, give yourself more excuses to fill the tummy with more good food. P.S Just tell yourself it will keep the body warm and perhaps gives more stability.
Getting Around Cape Town
MyCiTi Bus
Public bus is one of the cheapest way to travel Cape Town. You can easily purchase a seasonal pass (1, 3, 7-day or monthly) at the airport. Routes, stops and timetables are available on their official website and you can also download their app to access these information. The best thing is you just need to pay a flat rate and you can use the bus for unlimited in the period of time. However, it might take longer time to reach your destination as it has many stops in between.
Uber
The traffic in Cape Town is very smooth and you will hardly get any traffic congestion. Uber is the fastest way to travel in Cape Town with the convenience of phone application in ordering a service. It is also safe, affordable and reliable compared to taxis. Nevertheless, the cost can be a burden if you rely only on Uber as main transportation, especially when you are on a budget.
Car Rental
Car rental in Cape Town only costs around USD 15 (MYR 65) per day for normal sedan car. It is pretty affordable. Your reward is scenic drives along coastal roads and that incredible views of rolling hillsides. Even though the fuel price in Cape Town is pretty high, the good thing is that you can travel anytime, anywhere, at your own pace.
iVenture Card
If you want to save money or you are traveling solo, the best option is to get an iVenture Card. The Hop-On-Hop-Off City Sightseeing bus is included in the pass so you can use it to reach different destinations. Plus, the entrance tickets are included as well so you don’t have to queue up and purchase them at the counters. Regardless which package you choose, you can easily save up to a hundred dollar. Read more about it here. It is also cheaper to purchase online too. With this card, you get to save a lot of money while experiencing the best of Cape Town. The downsides are buses have limited scheduled services and it only covers for main attractions in Cape Town.
Places To Stay
It is better to stay in places like Green Point, Sea Point, Clifton or Camps Bay. Properties located along the coastline guarantee a gorgeous sunset Atlantic ocean view with a magnificent mountain backdrop. Moreover, these areas have plenty of quality restaurants and bars, perfect for all-day hangout. Generally, these areas are safer and definitely ideal for those who want utter convenience.
Luxury Hotels
If you are looking for international chain hotels, there isn’t many choice here in Cape Town. Nonetheless, the city is nothing short of luxury hotels to satisfy your luxury indulgence with sophisticated interiors, ultimate gourmet experience as well as world-class hospitality.
Guest Houses & Boutique Hotels
These accommodations are for those who wants something with personality and great vibes. It is not difficult to find one with colonial architecture that has unique charm on its own. Expect classic details like windows, chandeliers and antiques. Some even have beautiful courtyards and gardens for your relaxing afternoon teatime after a day of sightseeing.
Bed & Breakfast
B&B is also another popular options in Cape Town if you would like more privacy and that ‘home away from home’ atmosphere. From mid-range ones to super luxury villa with private pools and exclusive services, be rest assured that you can find something within your budget preference. You can easily find a stylish apartment unit as low as USD 50 (MYR 200) per night! City homes are widely available, but those with ocean views or near the beach are particularly favoured by many.
Internet & Wi-Fi Connection
Most of the places in Cape Town like restaurants, museum and shopping malls provide free high speed Wi-Fi. If you prefer to stay connected all day, a local Sim Card only cost around MYR 40 (USD 10) for 7 days with 2 GB of Internet, which is pretty much affordable. MTN is the most recommend telco in Cape Town as they provide one of the cheapest and best mobile network in South Africa.
Cape Town is indeed the jewel of South Africa. We love that how the city can be lively with its nightlife, parties and concerts but at the same time it can be laid back enough for anyone to just drive along the spectacular coastal road or lazing on the beach sipping a glass of Chardonnay for the whole afternoon. No matter how old are you, it definitely has something that you enjoy.
Till the we meet again, Cape Town!
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