Cape Town is one of South Africa’s most popular tourist cities. When you consider everything it has to offer, it’s not hard to see why this is. However, as with all South African cities, Cape Town has its good neighborhoods and its bad ones. If you want to travel there, you need to take time to learn about which ones you should stay out of. This post will explore this and more. Read on to find a definitive guide for all first-time visitors to Cape Town.
1. Find a Good Hotel
The first thing you need to know is that if you plan on visiting Cape Town, you need to find a good hotel. Ideally, the hotel should be in a safe neighborhood, too. Some areas in Cape Town are very dangerous, like Langa, Nyanga, and parts of Cape Flats. Hotels in places like Camps Bay, for example, are very safe, however. Take the Atlanticview Cape Town 5 Star Hotel, which is regarded by many to be the best hotel in the entire city. Make sure that before you pick a specific hotel to stay in, you read its reviews and make sure it’s worth staying in.
2. Pack for Your Trip
If you are visiting South Africa, make sure you pack appropriately. South Africa, and Cape Town in particular, can get very warm. While Cape Town has a sea breeze that makes the heat more tolerable, it can still be too hot for people who’re sensitive to heat. Make sure you check the weather forecast before you visit, so you know what clothes to pack. The winters in South Africa can get cold and rainy, regardless of where you are.
3. Come Up with a Budget
A budget is essential. Cape Town is arguably one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and as with all large metropolitan areas that are popular with tourists, things can get expensive. The cost of visiting South Africa rises significantly if you want to take tours, for example. A good way to budget is to use a free online budgeting app, which will calculate your incomings and outgoings and help you to figure out a sum that’s right for you and your travel mates.
4. Think About Transportation
Also, take time to think about how you will get around. Cape Town can be dangerous, as will be explored later, so you need to travel safely. A good way to travel around Cape Town is to use ride-sharing services or Uber. Uber is available throughout Cape Town. There are also other companies operating in the same niche that you can work with.
5. Plan Out Activities
If you plan to visit Cape Town, then make sure you properly prepare. The city is one of South Africa’s most popular for a reason. There is a lot to do there. Planning helps you to avoid missing out on the city’s must-dos. Consider a private day tour of Table Mountain, or a wine tour. There are many wineries in the countryside surrounding Cape Town. Many people enjoy seeing Cape Town’s famous penguins, too. Robben Island is also a popular tourist destination, as it is where the late, great Nelson Mandela was held captive.
6. Pick Quality Restaurants
If you are visiting Cape Town, you are guaranteed to eat well. Cape Town has some of the best restaurants on the entire African continent, and that’s saying a lot. Rather than just eating out at restaurants, however, why not book package experiences that include things like food and African drumming, or wine tours with meals included? If you are only in Cape Town for a short while, you should make the most of your trip, and try and get the most out of every single thing you do, from eating dinner to unwinding with family or friends.
7. Stay Safe in Cape Town
As mentioned above, some areas of Cape Town are very dangerous, i.e., Langa, Nyanga, and parts of Cape Flats. If you do not exercise caution in these areas, you could get robbed or worse. As a general rule, it is best to stay out of the city’s slums and avoid quiet areas after dark. One of the best things you can do as a traveler to Cape Town is to hire a guide. A guide will be able to work with you to ensure that you stay out of dangerous areas and remain safe.
If you are a first-time visitor to Cape Town, consider the information given above.
8. Take a Tour
Because of how much there is to do in and around Cape Town, many tourists find that hiring a tour guide is the best way to get everything done. By hiring a tour guide, you won’t have to worry about itineraries or travel plans. The guide you hire will take you to vineyards, coastal areas, and even inland (assuming that’s what you want). There are also historical tours around Cape Town that teach visitors about the city’s history, during and pre-settlement. Only hire licensed guides with solid reputations.
9. Enjoy the Outdoors
South Africa is one of the most rugged, beautiful countries in the world. There is a range of different terrains to explore, from arid desert to lush coastal retreats. If you enjoy the outdoors, there’s nowhere better in the world than South Africa for you to visit. Fishing is an activity many tourists travel to Cape Town to enjoy, because the waters around are rich in marine life.
10. Explore Inland
A lot of people who visit Cape Town don’t travel any further into South Africa than the city’s northern boundary. However, there is so much to do just north of Cape Town. Rather than trying to negotiate the difficult climate and terrain yourself, however, hire a guide. A guide will pick you up from your hotel or Airbnb in Cape Town and drive you to the different activities that await you up north. Make sure that, as already stated, you hire a guide who’s trusted and reliable.
The guidance offered in this post will hopefully help you to stay safe and avoid getting hurt or into any trouble in Cape Town. It will also help you to have a good time. Make sure to stay in positively reviewed hotels, visit restaurants with good reputations, and only work with licensed taxi drivers and guides.