My Guide to Cape Town, South Africa

Camps Bay
www.aboutcapetown.com/campsbay_clip.htm
A trendy beach in an upmarket area of Cape Town. Stunning location with Table Mountain and the 12 Apostles mountain range as a backdrop. Plenty of food and drink close to hand. 'Massage on the Beach' is fantastic.


Clifton
www.aboutcapetown.com/clifton_clip.htm
Four beaches to choose from with each seperated by large boulders. You decide which you prefer! A spectacular setting. Can be sheltered from the wind.


Llandudno
Just 10 min from Camps Bay this beach is surrounded by mountain slopes hosting some of the most amazing millionaire seaside residences. A quiet spot with seals and dolphins often playing in the waves.


Big Bay
A great beach for a surf / bodyboard and then a pizza and beer at the Blue Peter with the rest of the kite / wind surfer brigade. Classic views of Table Mountain and Robben Island from this beach.


Boulders
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=27732&id=667076781&l=dde61bd662
The beach with the penguins! It is sheltered from the wind too...and has a small charge (R15pp) which helps keep visitor numbers down.

Fish Hoek
Set on the False Bay side of the peninsula on the way to Boulders Beach and
Cape Point, this beach has a warmer sea than those on the Atlantic side!

Gordon's Bay
Another False Bay beach which is good for swimming. Close to Somerset West wine areas.

Safety concerns:
The Waterfront or Camps Bay are the safest areas for tourists but you still need to take sensible precautions during your holiday:
* Do not walk around at night in areas not well populated with tourists - take a cab.
* Try not to look like a typical tourist - do not flash your cash, expensive cameras, jewellery or mobile phones around without considering your surroundings first.
* When in your hire car do not have valuables / bags on display even when driving. Do not tempt those who may be begging at traffic lights. 'Smash-and-grab' is common (as it is in Rome / Seville etc) but only when there is something to grab!
* Do not leave open bedroom windows that any person / child could climb through. Some guest houses do not have burglar bars on all windows, keep these windows closed.
* Try not too drive far / on motorways after dark. Motorways are fast and driving standards low. At night there are more drunk drivers around than in most countries.

Also see Foreign Office advice below:
www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/travel-advice-by-country/sub-saharan-africa/south-africa
If you want more information do not hesitate to email me. Millions of tourists enjoy trouble free holidays in South Africa.

Driving tips
* On motorways drivers will overtake on the inside and outside lanes, so keep to the left as much as possible. They will also drive very close up behind you until you move over.
* Let taxis (people carrier type things) pull out infront of you...they'll cut you up too...expect them to do whatever they want...so leave a good gap and generally keep your distance from them.
* On out-of-town motorways and in the Winelands cars often use the hard shoulder to allow faster vehicles to overtake. You may need to do this but never do it at night and only if you can see there is nothing (e.g. people or animals) in the hard shoulder for a good distance. If you're not comfortable don't do it! However, it is legal and widely practised by most South Africans.

Airport transfers:
Good value 'door-to-door' shuttle bus services are available by pre-booking (sometimes on demand). Call Airport Shuttle 021 462 0272 or Magic Bus 021 505 6300 (they should be booked 24hrs ahead).

Most hotels and guest houses offer well priced airport transfers or can advise you. Touch Down Taxis is the officially authorised airport taxi company. Beware of conmen who try get you into illegal minicabs.

Getting around:
A rental car is recommended unless your trip to Cape Town is less than a week and you plan on using organised tours. You can organise tours from the two excellent tourist offices (central Cape Town and V&A Waterfront), through hotels or by calling various operators.

We would not recommend using the cheap 'minibus' taxis which are overcrowded and are not known for passenger safety. Hotels and restaurants will be happy to call a taxi for you. Marine Taxis (24hr tel 021 4340434) and Excite Taxis (021 448 4444) are well regarded companies.


Parking and 'Car Guards'
In and around Cape Town you will find car guards who will point out parking spaces to you and help you park! When parking say "hi, and that you'll see them later", remember their name or face and when you return you will need to tip them. R5 is fine, but if you park all day R10 might be a better idea. Make sure you pay the right person on your return or you might be hassled to pay twice! Many are formally appointed, others are informal but the same rules apply.

Filling up with petrol
When you arrive at a petrol station, do not expect to fill up your car yourself. A man or woman will come up to your car to fill it up. This same person may offer to check your oil and water or may wash your windscreen. Don't ask them to stop as it is just a common courtesy and you can tip them R3 to R5 for the service.

Guide books
A guide book will provide invaluable information for your trip as well as historical background to the city and its people. A book covering the whole of South Africa will probably not have enough detail on the areas you visit. Get books for specific regions. Consider the following (but check publication dates):
* Rough Guide Cape Town, Winelands & Garden Route - version 2 Oct'08
* Time Out 'Cape Town Visitors Guide' - this magazine is available across CT.
* Time Out Cape Town, Winelands and Garden Route
* Lonely Planet Cape Town City Guide