Travel Guides: All Countries / Africa / South Africa / Western Cape / Cape Town
 |  | Fact File : Cape Town |
|
| | | Cape Town | | Did you know?
Locals love to go "kloofing" - exploring the cliffs or gorges in the Table Mountain area.
Language
English, Afrikaans, seSotho, isiXhosa and isiZulu are the most commonly spoken. There are six other official languages.
Visas
None required for visits of up to 90 days.
Getting there
Direct flights from the UK. Cape Town International airport is 17km from the city centre.
Flying time from London
10 hours
Getting around
Buses are good, as are metro commuter trains and local trains, though third-class carriages are not safe at peak times when crowded or at weekends when deserted. Minibus taxis are a cheap and efficient way of getting around, and Rikki's tiny open vans provide Asian-style transport at low prices. Taxis are expensive but worth it late at night. Good deals on car hire are available locally.
Currency
Rand (R)
Costs
Can of beer 50p, roll of 36 exposure film £2.50, moderately-priced restaurant meal £6-10, litre of petrol around 25p, four-mile taxi ride £4-£6. All prices may vary.
Weather
Cape Town has a Mediterranean climate, though it can get relatively cold and wet for a few months over winter (down to about 10C/50F). The city gets crowded in the school holidays and prices tend to go up. Maximum summer temperatures are around 26C (79F). The Western Cape is often windy - with the southeasterly "Cape Doctor" reaching gale force at times - and the weather can change rapidly and often.
Time difference
Two hours ahead of GMT.
International dialling code from the UK
00 27 21
Voltage
Mostly 220/230V - you'll need an adaptor which can be hard to find. You could consider having your appliance rewired to a South African plug. Most hotel rooms have 110V outlets for shavers.
Opening hours
Shops are usually open 8am to 4.30 Mon-Fri and until lunchtime on Saturdays but city centre stores keep longer hours and there's late night shopping at the Victoria Wharf (Waterfront) seven days a week. Post offices open 8am to 4.30pm Mon-Fri and until noon on Saturdays. Banks open 9am to 3.30pm Mon-Fri and 8.30am to 11am Sat.
Health - Before you go
Make sure you're up to date with TB, polio and tetanus vaccinations. Otherwise, no jabs are required if you're planning to stay in Cape Town. Good travel insurance is advisable - good private healthcare is available in Cape Town, but it's expensive. The public health service is underfunded and overcrowded.
Health - When you are there
Tap water is safe unless you're advised otherwise locally. Sun in South Africa is much stronger than in the UK so take adequate care against sunburn. Bluebottle stings are common in summer.
Warnings
Crime is a problem; take reasonable precautions such as not drawing attention to money or jewellery.
Emergency
Police 4678000, Police (Tourist Assistance Unit) 4182852. British High Commission: Cape Town 91 Parliament Street, Cape Town 8001. Tel: 00 27 21 461 7220.
Customs
At noon every day except Sunday a cannon is fired on Signal Hill. You can hear it all over town and traditionally it was for the burghers to check their watches by.
Pets
Quarantine applies so it's not advisable to take pets.
Tipping
Pretty much mandatory due to the very low wages. Around 10-15% is usual.
Tourist office
South Africa Tourism Board, 5-6 Alt Grove, Wimbledon, SW19 4DZ; 24-hour brochure requests and enquiry line - Tel 08701 55 00 44.
|
|
|
|
|
| | Available rental properties in Cape Town |
|
|
|
|
