 Cape Town and Table Mountain as seen from Bloubergstrand | ||
| Cape Town · Kaapstad · iKapa | ||
| province | Western Cape | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 3.5 to 8 million | |
other value for residents on Wikidata: 433688   | ||
| Tourist info | 27 21 405 4500 www.tourismcapetown.co.za | |
| no tourist info on Wikidata: | ||
| location | ||
| ||
Cape Town (English Cape Town, Afrikaans Cape Town, Xhosa iKapa) is the capital of the province Western Cape in South Africa and is located on Cape of Good Hope. The unmistakable landmark is the Table Mountain.
background
The Portuguese Bartholomeus Diaz sailed around the southern tip of the African continent as early as 1488, and Vasco da Gama sailed past it on his India voyage in 1497. But only António de Saldanha anchored in Table Bay in 1503. A lively trade relationship developed between Europe and the Far East. However, the ships to India were four to six months en route and many of the seafarers suffered from scurvy and other often fatal symptoms because they ran out of fresh food on the long voyage. The Cape of Good Hope was halfway between Europe and India and was therefore ideally suited as a food station. In 1653 Jan van Rieebeck was therefore sent on behalf of the Dutch East India Company and founded Cape Town as the first city in what would later become South Africa. One of the few remains of early Cape Town is the fort near Adderley Street (Castle of Good Hope). Over time, Cape Town developed into an important trading point and starting point for the “pre-trekkers”, the settlers who moved inland to explore and settle the rest of the country. Cape Town is therefore not wrongly called "Mother City".
Cape Town was the venue for the Soccer World Cup 2010
getting there
By plane
The Cape Town International Airport
(IATA: CPT) is the second largest airport South Africa and one of the most important on the whole continent. Almost 8,000,000 passengers land each year on one of the two railways and the two terminals (international and domestic flights) ensure a clear division of the passenger routes. Almost all domestic airports, important cities in neighboring countries and some destinations in Europe, Asia and America are served directly.
The airport is not nice, but functional. In recent years it has been massively expanded and has lost a lot of its charm as a result. The renovations were completed shortly before the 2010 World Cup. The main road is now dominated by the huge parking garages, the left and right of Transport Plaza and provide over 5800 parking spaces. The central departure area is also located in the central area of the Transport Plaza. When entering the terminal, the gates for all international departures are on the left and the gates for domestic destinations are on the right. The arrival areas are located on the outer edge of each terminal.
The airport is about 20 kilometers outside the city center. The ride on the national road N2 takes about 30 minutes. At the moment there is unfortunately no connection to the rail network and you can only get to and from the airport by bus or car. At the airport there are several rental car stations in the arrivals area, where there are also counters for shuttle buses into the city. There are also enough taxis available in front of the terminal. But you should make sure to use an official taxi - only Touch down taxis is approved for traffic at the airport. This may be a bit more expensive at first, but it is definitely more reliable. With private taxis you have to take into account that unnecessary detours are taken to drive up the price.
International is particularly the route to London-Heathrow important, but Frankfurt and Amsterdam are also directly connected to Cape Town on a daily basis. You usually have the best flight connections with you South African Airways and Lufthansawho are both in the aviation alliance Star Alliance are organized and together offer most of the flights between Europe and South Africa (partly via Johannesburg). However, the best prices are often obtained with one of the "Golf" airlines, whereby the journey then takes correspondingly longer. Here is an overview of all airlines that fly to the Cape from outside Africa.
| airline | Destinations (Outside Africa) | Website |
|---|---|---|
| British Airways | London-Heathrow | www.ba.com |
| Condor | Frankfurt am Main | www.condor.com |
| Emirates | Dubai | www.emirates.com |
| Etihad Airways | Abu Dhabi | www.etihadairways.com |
| Lufthansa | Frankfurt am Main, Munich | www.lufthansa.de |
| KLM | Amsterdam | www.klm.com |
| Malaysia Airlines | Buenos Aires, Kuala Lumpur | www.malaysiaairlines.com |
| Qatar Airways | Doha | www.qatarairways.com |
| Singapore Airlines | Singapore | www.singaporeair.com |
| South African Airways | London-Heathrow | www.flysaa.com |
| Turkish Airlines | Istanbul Ataturk | www.thy.com |
| Virgin Atlantic Airways | London-Heathrow (seasonal) | www.virgin-atlantic.com |
| Edelweiss Air | Zurich-airport Zurich | www.edelweissair.ch |
A number of airlines fly to and from Cape Town within Southern Africa. The most flown route is to Johannesburg, followed by the route to Durban. Kulula and Mango are the local low-cost airlines, but they all have very good safety records.
| airline | Destinations (Inland and Southern Africa) | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Air Mauritius | Mauritius | www.airmauritius.com |
| Air Namibia | Luderitz, Oranjemund, Walvis Bay, Windhoek Eros, Windhoek-Hosea Kutako | www.airnamibia.com |
| Air Seychelles | Mahé | www.airseychelles.com |
| Airlink | George, Kimberley, Nelspruit-Kruger Mpumalanga, Upington | www.saairlink.co.za |
| British Airways (Comair) | Durban, Johannesburg | www.ba.com and www.comair.co.za |
| Kulula | Durban, Johannesburg, Johannesburg Lanseria, Port Elizabeth | www.kulula.com |
| mango | Bloemfontein, Durban, Johannesburg | www.flymango.com |
| South African Airways | Durban, Johannesburg | www.flysaa.com |
| South African Express | Bloemfontein, East London, Port Elizabeth, Maputo, Walvis Bay, Windhoek-Hosea Kutako | www.flyexpress.aero |
By train
The long-distance network of the South African railways cannot be compared with that of Europe. Nonetheless, the railroad company offers Shosholoza Meyl various connections to Cape Town. You can get to Cape Town by rail from Johannesburg and Durban. Due to the length of the routes, these are trains that are usually on the move for more than a day. For this reason, the trains have couchette cars of various categories and a bistro car. Those who choose the noble variant of rail transport can choose the famous one Blue train To fall back on. Connect the modern trains Tshwane (Pretoria) and Johannesburg with Cape Town. This formerly most important connection between the political and economic centers of South Africa lives today mainly from tourism. Unfortunately, the price-performance ratio is not right with this connection, and the most beautiful sections are covered at night. As an alternative to the Blue Train, railway enthusiasts can take the steam trains from Rovos Rail to Cape Town. Sections of the route are operated by steam locomotives. The sleeping cars are old cars that have been lovingly restored. The charm of these trains is undisputed and various stops are made along the way, for example in Kimberley at the Big hole and in MatjesfonteinTo get from the suburbs of Cape Town to the city center, there are local trains of the Metrorail. They're inexpensive and relatively quick. But please don't cut corners at the wrong end. You should do without the third class ticket. For visitors who do not look exactly South African and are immediately recognized as tourists, this can result in the loss of money and valuables.
By bus
All major intercity bus companies travel to Cape Town. Travel to and from Cape Town is completely unproblematic. The most important and largest companies include Greyhound Cityliner, Translux Intercity and Mainliner Intercape. More detailed information can be found on the company's websites. Cape Town's national bus station is located next to the train station on Adderley Street, and Cape Town is also served by BazBus. This is a backpacker bus company; Golden Arrow's local bus network is poor and unreliable. To get to the suburbs, you should use the suburban train from Metrorail, a taxi or a rental car. A safe option to get around Cape Town is the MyCity bus. There is a regular bus schedule with fixed arrival and departure times, but you have to buy a MyCity bus card first.
In the street
- The N1 runs through the Karoo after Bloemfontein, Johannesburg and Tshwane (Pretoria) and from there on to Harare in Zimbabwe. South Africans drive the Cape Town-Johannesburg route in just under 24 hours. However, this is not recommended. Symptoms of fatigue on a rather monotonous route lead to serious accidents time and again. This is proven every year by the accident statistics at Christmas. Many would like to spend the Christmas holidays in the Cape and get into their cars in Jo'burg to get the route to Cape Town over with as quickly as possible. This frenzy is paid for in dead every year. If you want to bridge this distance quickly, you should use the plane. Anyone who loves the railroad can choose from a variety of different connections. If you really want to use your car, you shouldn't ignore the sights along the route. Many a jewel can be discovered in the process. For example the small town Matjesfontein or Prince Albert or also the Karoo National Park in Beaufort West. In any case, you should stay overnight, for example in Kimberley or Bloemfontein plan on.
- The N2 leads along the coast as an important connecting road George, Port Elizabeth and Durban. You cross the granary all around Caledon and drives along the Garden Route and the Tsitsikamma National Park.
- The N7 connects Cape Town with the West coast and is the direct link to Namibia. On the route there will be places such as Malmesbury, Citrus dal, Clanwilliam and Springbok touched. At the Orange River the border to Namibia is reached. From the border it goes via Keetmanshoop continue after Windhoek. The stretch to Windhoek can be done in two days without having to race too hard.
By boat
Cape Town can also be reached by ship. Regular traffic is currently only maintained by the Royal Mail Ship St. Helena. The RMS St. Helena travels from Portland (Great Britain) to Cape Town up to twice a year. Be on the way Tenerife, St. Helena, Ascension, Walvis Bay and Luderitz approached.
More frequent departures are offered by cargo ships. Depending on the route, these go to some ports in Europe and then take a direct course to Cape Town. The provider of such a trip is, for example, the German Africa Line. She works with the South African Safemarine.
If you prefer one of the luxury cruise ships, you can also choose from a wide range in this case. Almost all global cruise lines travel to South Africa and Cape Town on their world trips. For example, the Europa from Hapag Lloyd and the Queen Elizabeth 2 from the British Cunard Line have been frequent guests in Cape Town. The 1 Cruise Terminal is only a few minutes away from the V&A Waterfront.
A trip to the travel agency helps to choose the right journey by ship. One should not forget, however, that a boat trip takes a correspondingly long time. The average travel time is at least 14 days. On a freighter this means that you can bring a lot of reading material with you. There is no great entertainment program on board these ships. The first-hand experience of an equator baptism, on the other hand, remains an experience that will never be forgotten.
mobility
The MiniCabs are a nice, inexpensive, if not always safe option, they are notoriously overcrowded and yet never full. However, this is also a great way to start nice conversations and get to know people. In Cape Town, tourists are generally not advised to use the minibuses after dusk, as there is an increased risk of being robbed.
Official taxis are the safest. The kilometer price is only around 10 rand. The city center is also easy to explore by foot - which is again the case during the day and only in the lively pubs and tourist areas at night.
The most recommendable and also relatively inexpensive is to use the taxi service from “Uber” or “Taxify”. It is the best option, especially at night.
If you want to be independent, you should reserve a rental car in your home country. So you can move around freely and go on excursions in the surrounding area. The internationally known rental car companies are also represented in Cape Town. In addition, there are also local, smaller lessors of somewhat older, but also well-kept cars. An example of a well-kept, cheap rental car is "Penny KS"(roughly translated as" cheap kilometers "). If you like it a little more adventurous (especially for a few months), you can rent one Beetle ("beetle"), which were also built by VW in South Africa and can still be found frequently in the cityscape.
Attention please! Petrol stations rarely accept credit cards. You almost always have to pay in cash or with a fuel card. Some rental car providers in your home country have automatically included such a fuel card in their package. The fuel is then billed to the rental company in South Africa. In Cape Town, for example, the Caltex petrol station next to the Audi Center on the Waterfront (on Coen-Steytler-Avenue) accepts credit cards; To be on the safe side, you should ask here again beforehand.
Attention: There is no self-service at petrol stations in South Africa! You drive up to the column and wait for an employee to come to the driver's window. He asks for the type of fuel (usual answer: "Ninety-five, unleaded" or "Ninety-five, leaded", ie "Super unleaded" or "Super leaded" - the "95" means the octane number), then either for how much one want to fill up ("for 100 Rand") or fill up ("full, please"). Then you are usually asked whether the oil and cooling water should be checked ("Check oil and water?"), Which can usually be answered in the negative. The almost obligatory cleaning of the windows by a second employee and often also the air pressure check by a third party can hardly be prevented. These (albeit unsolicited) services should be rewarded with around 2 rand extra in cash directly for the employees.
- 2 Hop on - Hop off bus, Ticket Office: 81 Long Street. Tel.: 27 (0)21 511 6000. City Tour Red Line, Downtown Tour Yellow Line, Mini Peninsular Tour Blue Line Price 1 day ZAR 220.
Tourist Attractions
Churches
Buildings
- 2 Bertram`s House. permanently closed.
- 3 City Hall
- 4 Castle of Good Hope
.jpg/150px-Castle_of_Good_Hope_Entrance_(1682).jpg)
- 5 Koopmans de Wet House
- 7 houses of Parliament
- 8 Old Town House
Monuments
Museums
- 9 National Gallery (South African National Gallery)
- 10 SA Museum Library
- Cultural Museum
- 11 District Six Museum, 25A Buitenkamp Street. Tel.: 27 (0) 21 466 7200.Book an appointment for a guided tour online.Open: Mon-Sat 9: 00-16: 00.
- 12 Bo-Kaap Museum
- 13 Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, MOCAA), V&A Waterfront, Silo District, S Arm Road, Waterfront, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa. E-mail: [email protected].
The museum opened in 2017 in a former granary.
.jpg/314px-Båtar,_Kapstaden_(redigerad).jpg)
Streets and squares
- Adderley Street. Shopping street, connects the train station with the parliament.
- St Georges Mall
- 14 Green Market Square
- Grand Parade
- Long Street
Parks
- 15 Company`s Garden. The green lung of the city center. The oldest park in the city used to be the Dutch East India Company's vegetable garden and was turned into a park in the mid-19th century. The oasis is ideal for relaxing during a city tour. Around the park there are many historical buildings, some museums, archives and also the parliament.
- 16 Kirstenbosch.The botanical garden is located on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain and is home to over 6,000 different plant species, many of which are endemic.
various
- 1 Victoria & Alfred Waterfront.- The Waterfront is one of Cape Town's entertainment districts. A small entertainment town has been built from the old port facilities since 1988. In addition to shopping malls, there are also many restaurants, cinemas, theaters, bars and pubs, tourist information and hotels. You can make harbor tours with small boats. The Two Oceans Aquarium located here offers an insight into the fauna and flora of the seas at the Cape. The ferry to Robben Island also departs from the Old Clock Tower on the waterfront. Immediately next to the waterfront is one of the largest ocean ports in South Africa. The docks also have shipyards, a fishing port and a hustle and bustle. Just recently there has been massive construction in the area of the waterfront and a large number of hotels and apartments have been built.
- Above the V&A Waterfront is the 17 Time Ball Tower, which was built in 1894 next to the residence of the port captain. His red ball on the top of the tower fell down at noon every day.
- 2 Table Mountain - Table Mountain is the symbol of the city. You can hike up or take the cable car up.
- 3 Lion’s Head
- 4 Signal Hill - from here you have a wonderful view over the city and the Table Bay, as well as the Table Mountain. Signal Hill is located above the district Green Point. Popular place for the Sundowner with picnic. Early arrival is recommended because of the prevailing parking space shortage. Two cannons have been fired here every day at 12 noon since 1806 (Noon gun) and serve as a time signal.
- 18 Robben Island
- is the former prison island in the bay off Cape Town. Nelson Mandela and other ANC fighters were imprisoned here before the end of apartheid. Today the systems are only used for reconnaissance. The departure station is on the waterfront, right by the clock tower, from where you can take a ship to the island. There is a short tour and a guided tour, mostly with former prisoners. The island was also a military station and camp for lepers and lepers. But there are no seals. - 19 Two Oceans Aquarium - The aquarium is also located on the waterfront and offers a good insight into the fish world of the oceans off South Africa. There is an opportunity for children to touch and feel live starfish and crabs at a "learning table" in the water. Furthermore, living sharks and other deep-sea fish can be admired in a huge pool over several floors behind glass.
- 20 Rhodes Memorial
- 5 Ratanga Junction, Amusement park
.jpg/310px-Robben_Island_-_Cape_Town,_South_Africa_(3883849594).jpg)
activities
One can be beautiful in and around Cape Town trips Companies. But the city and the surrounding mountains also have a lot to offer!
hike
- A hike on the is particularly popular with visitors and locals alike Table Mountain (alternatively also down again). This is very strenuous and especially not recommended in the summer months during lunchtime, but you will be rewarded with a spectacular panorama. It starts e.g. at the parking lot of the mountain railway valley station (signposted "Cable Car"). You should calculate at least three hours for the ascent and if possible not go alone. Every year tourists have accidents who leave at the wrong time of day (midday heat) or during unfavorable weather conditions. Due to the sometimes strong downhill winds, rescue by helicopter may not be possible. But if you take enough water with you and don't overload yourself, you can experience a wonderful hike through the Cape vegetation. Several providers (e.g. Abseil Africa) also offer guided hikes.
- If you like it a little more comfortable, you can get on and around the Signal Hill hike.
- The most popular hike among Cape Townspeople is the Lions Head. The special thing is that you go around the mountain, which offers a 360 ° view of Cape Town's most famous sights. From here you can marvel at Table Mountain, the city center, Signal Hill, Robben Island, the waterfront and the 12 Apostle mountain range with Camps Bay. The "full moon" hikes or sunset / sunrise hikes are particularly popular. To get to the starting point, drive to "Kloof Nek" and then take the road towards Signal Hill - Lions Head is in front of Signal Hill. The hike to Lions Head takes about 1.5 hours, whereas athletic people need 1 hour. It is advisable to bring sturdy shoes with you, as the last part is a little steeper up a ladder. Furthermore, for safety reasons, it is recommended to undertake the hikes in a group.
Abseiling
Near the mountain station of the Table Mountain Railway, abseiling takes place almost every day in summer. It is one of the longest and highest routes in the world that is used commercially for abseiling. A well-known provider is Abseil Africa.
Diving
Cape Town is located on two oceans, the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean. The Atlantic is very cold (approx. 10 ° C), there are cold water corals and kelp forests in which seals cavort. The Indian Ocean is a little warmer, so the more colorful fish can be seen here.
There is that in Cape Town itself 21 Two Oceans Aquarium
, in which it is also possible to dive. There is also the possibility to Cage dives with sharks.
Links to diving centers:
- Sub-Atlandian Diving: Gerrit Conradie. Diving school in Stellenbosch.
- Great White Shark - cage diving. Diving in a cage off the coast of Gaansbaito be very close to the great white one. Participants will be picked up in Cape Town and given breakfast before taking the boat off the coast.
- Shark & Safari Tours. Tel.: 27214184873, Email: [email protected]. Great White Shark tours and more in the Cape Town area.
- Cape Town-Tauchen.com. The only German diving operator in Cape Town and the surrounding area. Diving safaris, day trips, taster courses, diving courses according to European standards and with German guides and diving instructors.
miscellaneous
- City tours in a double-decker bus. Hop On - Hop Off are available in different versions. A tour also stops at the valley station of the Table Mountain Cable Car.
Regular events
- Cape Town Jazz Festival. End of March.
shop
- Waterfront. The famous Victoria & Alfred Waterfront has a lot of shops with all your daily needs, luxury items and souvenirs.
- Canal Walk (Ratanga Mall). One of the largest malls in Cape Town, which primarily focuses on affluent customers. It is located directly on the national road N1, north of the city center.
- Green Market Square. Here you can mainly find souvenirs and souvenirs. Very large selection and wide range, with better prices than on the waterfront. Bargaining is expressly allowed and you should not accept the first price - a reduction by 1/3 is definitely possible and necessary, otherwise you will ruin the prices.
- Long Street
kitchen
A little tip for breakfast or lunch: In Blaauwberg there is a small cafe called Cafe Blouwberg. The tables by the window or on the terrace in good weather are particularly beautiful. You have a wonderful view over Table Mountain Bay on Cape Town. Good location and huge portions.
Cheap
- Eastern Food Bazaar, 96 Longmarket Street, Cape Town. Tel.: 27 (0)21 - 461 2458. Open: daily from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.Price: around 20-30 rand.
medium
- Mama Africa, 178 Long Street, 8001 Cape Town. Tel.: 27 (0)21 - 424 8634, Fax: 27 (0)21 - 426 9459, Email: [email protected]. Open: Tuesday - Friday: 12:00 - 16:00; Monday - Saturday: 7:00 p.m. - midnight.Price: food and drink around 180 rand.Accepted payment methods: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club..
- Pearl
Upscale
- Tantris (Gardens).
- Buitenverwachiting (Constantia).
- Blue Danube
- Quay Four
- Cape Grace
Wineries
- Groot Constantia.
- Little Constantia.
- Buitenverwachting, Klein Constantia Road (Constantia). Tel.: (0)21 794-5190, Fax: (0)21 794-1351. Buiten Blanc, Christine, Cabernet Sauvignon.
nightlife
- Long Street
- Sea Point
- Observatory
- Waterfront. The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is the city's largest entertainment district. There are countless boutiques, restaurants, bars and pubs here.
- Observatory. Observatory is part of the Southern Suburbs. Since the UCT is around the corner, many students and backpackers live here in the student residences. There are many pool bars and restaurants on Main Street. There is something for every taste and it is easy to chat with the young people over a game of billiards.
- Cool runnings. Cool Runnings is a beach bar with a lot going on in the evenings.
accommodation
A good "atlas" of accommodations across the country is provided by the three-volume, free-of-charge series of so-called "portfolio" books, which also on-line are visible. They are divided into "simple" ("the bed and breakfasts"), "medium" ("guest houses") and "luxury" ("game lodges"), whereby the "simple" B&B are usually very luxurious and by no means should be confused with a German hotel of a cheap chain. The "portfolio" is good for traveling; Around noon you can estimate where you will be around evening and phone around to find out which accommodation is still available (for example on the Garden Route, if you want to take your time). Attention: This procedure is rather not recommended in the main season, you should pre-book what is also from Germany with the help of website already goes.
Cheap
- Cactusberry Lodge, Located 200 meters from Gardens Shopping Center, 10 minutes walk to Green Market Square. Comfortable double rooms with shower / toilet.Price: From R 450 per room per night.
- 1 Tudor Hotel, in the center of Cape Town, right on the famous Greenmarket Square. All attractions (waterfront, city center, Cape Peninsula) are easy to reach from here. The rooms are well equipped.
- The Lenox German Guest House, located in the center of Cape Town below Table Mountain on Mill Street. About 500 m to the center and about one kilometer to the waterfront. The rooms only have a sink and shared shower, but are clean.
- Nine Flowers Guest House, in the historic center of Cape Town. Clean rooms, great breakfast, good value for money. And very helpful owners. Highly Recommended.
- 2 Never @ home. Good, centrally located hostel just ten minutes walk from the waterfront. Very clean rooms, with private bathrooms and AC. Good price-performance ratio and very helpful (sometimes German) staff.
medium
- Sunset Lodge. Sunset Lodge is located in the suburb of Bloubergstrand, famous for its white beaches and world-famous views of Table Mountain. The lodge is located in one of the quieter corners and is right by the sea. The luxuriously furnished rooms are very good value for money and the lodge has already received many very good qualifications.
- Secret Garden Guesthouse. In the immediate vicinity (two houses next door) is the Secret Garden Guesthouse, which has five luxurious four-star apartments. Apartment for two people from 49 euros per night with two people.
- Cape Town Ritz Hotel, Cnr Main & Camberwell Roads, Sea Point, Cape Town (Located in the Sea Point district near the football stadium). Tel.: 27.21.439.6010, Email: [email protected]. Good staff, but the house (as of 2011) needs a refresh. There is a on the 22nd floor Revolving restaurantthat turns once in 1 hour, good view, reservation necessary.
- Grapevine Cottage Guesthose. Another insider tip is the Durbanville Wine Route in the north of Cape Town - this is where it is located [Grapevine Cottage Guesthose]. Breakfast with a view of the wine country, relaxing by the pool, and dinner at one of the wineries nearby - Cape Town couldn't be much nicer. A room with breakfast is available from R 300 per person, an apartment for 4 people is available from R 600.
Upscale
The venerable Hotel Mount Nelson is certainly one of the top addresses in Cape Town. If you can't afford to spend the night here, you shouldn't miss it and stop by for tea. The charm of the British colonial empire can be breathed here. Furthermore, one must not forget the ***** hotels on the waterfront. These include Table Bay and Cape Grace. The Arabella Sheraton, the Holiday Inn Waterfront and The Cullinan have recently been built at the gates of the waterfront.
- 4 MannaBay, 8 Bridle Rd, Oranjezicht, Cape Town, 8001,. Tel.: 27 21 461 1094, Email: [email protected]. This boutique hotel is located in the heart of Cape Town, on the last street before Table Mountain with a wonderful view over the city. MannaBay offers 8 exclusive suites with contemporary comfort. The most impressive is the French-inspired Versailles Suite with a private balcony. MannaBay has a swimming pool, spa and gym. The suites cost between R 7,000 and R 9,900 for two people. The price includes breakfast, drinks, afternoon tea, 24-hour butler service, dinner transfer and airport transfer.
- Villa Atlantica. Pure luxury. It offers absolute luxury apartments in Cape Town's posh suburb Camps Bay, right on the Atlantic Ocean and with a view of the famous "Twelve Apostles". Rooms are available from R 400 in the low season and R 900 in the high season. The prices for apartments start at R 2200. But you should book well in advance as they are often fully booked.
Work
To work in South Africa you have to meet some conditions. A work permit is required. In this regard, it is best to contact the South African embassy in your home country. If you want to do a study internship in South Africa, you should find out from your university or directly from the DAAD what options are available here. You can then contact the embassy for a residence and work permit. There are also student exchange programs.
security
Cape Town is in an emerging country. One must not forget this when considering the security situation. In the European media, however, this is portrayed in an overly dramatic manner and thus does not correspond to reality. But of course Cape Town also has townships that are not without danger. If you want to get an insight into the life of a township, you can do so on guided tours.
As in all cities in the world, there is petty crime in Cape Town. Please do not display the expensive video equipment and all family jewelry. It is not necessarily clear whether it is costume jewelry or something valuable. For this reason, look as simple and unspectacular as possible so as not to be immediately recognized as a tourist. Nach Büroschluss und an Sonntagen sollte man sich nicht mehr im Stadtzentrum zu Fuß aufhalten oder durch Parks spazieren. Am Besten nimmt man auch für kurze Strecken das Taxi. Ausnahmen hierzu sind aber zum Beispiel die Vergnügungsgebiete in der Longstreet, in Seapoint, an der Waterfront oder in Observatory. Weitere Sicherheitshinweise bekommt man auf der Webseite des Auswärtigen Amtes.
Große Vorsicht ist Nachts auch auf der Longstreet geboten. Dort besteht zwar nicht das Risko, Opfer eines Gewaltverbrechens zu werden. Jedoch sind dort sehr viel Taschendiebe unterwegs, die (v.A. wenn man stark alkoholisiert ist!) einem blitzschnell die Taschen ausräumen. Das Risko steigt weiter an, je später, bzw. früher am Morgen es ist. Am Besten nimmt man, wenn man Party in der Longstreet machen möchte nur Geld (keine Handys oder Kreditkarten) mit.
health
Grundsätzlich gilt bei diesem Thema, dass vor Reisebeginn der Hausarzt aufgesucht wird. Nur ein Arzt darf entsprechende medizinische Auskünfte geben.
Es gilt, dass Kapstadt und die Western Cape Province malariafrei sind. Alle diesbezüglichen Mittel dürfen getrost zu Hause bleiben. Impfungen sind nicht vorgeschrieben.
Wer in Kapstadt einen Arzt benötigt, der kann sich an Dr. Pieper wenden. Dr. Pieper spricht Deutsch und hat seine Praxis sehr zentral in der Kloofnek Road.
Die medizinische Versorgung in Südafrika ist hervorragend und so sind auch die Krankenhäuser in Kapstadt sehr gut ausgestattet. Man sollte nie vergessen, dass in Kapstadt die erste Herztransplantation vorgenommen wurde. Ein großer Unterschied besteht aber zwischen privaten und governmantal Hospitals. Um einen deutschen Standard zu bekommen, sollte man auf jeden Fall ein nicht-staatliches Krankenhaus aufsuchen.
Zudem gibt es sehr viele kleine Privatkliniken für Schönheitsoperationen. Derzeit gibt es einen großen Trend zum Medizintourismus nach Südafrika.
Practical advice
Die Menschen in Kapstadt und Umgebung sind sehr freundlich und hilfsbereit. Es findet sich auch häufiger als man denkt jemand, der etwas Deutsch spricht.Orientieren kann man sich immer am im Zentrum gelegenen Tafelberg. Die eigentliche Stadt ist relativ klein und überschaubar. Erst wenn man in die vielen Vororte möchte, wird es komplizierter. Bitte nicht in alle Vororte unvorbereitet fahren. Es gibt leider Gegenden, in denen ein Tourist sich nicht aufhalten sollte. Nebenbei bemerkt, die gibt es auch in Miami und New York, es ist also kein Südafrika-spezifisches Problem. Am besten man erkundigt sich beim Hotelier oder bei anderen Einheimischen. Geübte Globetrotter erkennen vielfach auch ohne diese Informationen, wo sie sich bewegen können und wo nicht.Eine Reise nach Kapstadt bietet garantiert etwas Afrika mit etwas Europa gepaart. Als Einstieg in Reisen nach Afrika unbedingt zu empfehlen. Wer sich nicht allein traut, kann entsprechend begleitete Rundreisen buchen.
Eine Post zu finden kann in Kapstadt mitunter schwer sein, da diese oft an etwas versteckten Orten eingerichtet sind. Wer sich aber in der Nähe eines bedeutenden Platzes oder in einem Einkaufszentrum befindet, kann davon ausgehen, dass auch eine Post in der Nähe ist. Man sollte nur beachten, dass die Postfilialen in Südafrika spät aufmachen und früh schließen!
Verständigung
Im Zentrum und der Umgebung der Stadt kommt man als Tourist mit Englisch hervorragend aus. Auch wenn viele Kapstädter als Muttersprache Afrikaans oder Xhosa sprechen, ist Englisch doch die Sprache, die alle verbindet. Wenn man natürlich noch ein paar Brocken der anderen Sprache kann, ist das immer schön. Sicher freut sich der Tankwart (in 99,99 % ein Schwarzer) über ein freundliches Mola („Hallo“), wenn man seine Dienste in Anspruch nehmen will. Denn generell gilt, dass die Menschen in Kapstadt sehr höflich und freundlich miteinander umgehen.
Da seit den letzten Jahrhunderten ein stetig anhaltender Schwall deutscher Einwanderer vor allem in die Kapregion strömte, ist es nicht unüblich auf deutschsprachige Menschen zu stoßen, auch wenn man es gerade am wenigsten erwartet. Doch gerade in der Touristikbranche wimmelt es förmlich von Deutschen, die ein Gasthaus betreiben oder ein Souvenirgeschäft. Außerdem haben viele Weiße deutsche Vorfahren oder kennen einen Deutschen in der Nachbarschaft. Und auch an einigen Schulen werden Deutschkurse angeboten.
trips
Tagesausflüge:
- on the Kaphalbinsel (Cape Pensinsula), durch Hout Bay and over Chapman's Peak Drive zu einem Besuch des Cape of Good Hope
- Ein Tag am Strand von Boulder's Beach (mit Pinguinen!) nahe Simon’s Town, Muizenberg, Blouberg (herrliches Tafelbergpanorama) oder Beach
- Geführte Touren in die Townships von Kapstadt, z.B. Langa, Khayelitsha, Gugulethu or Nyanga.
- Cape Winelands - Weinanbaugebiete um Durbanville, Stellenbosch, Paarl, Franschhoek, Malmesbury and Worcester.
- The West Coast National Park liegt ca. 120 km nördlich von Kapstadt. Bekannt ist die Blütenpracht nach den Winterregen. Dann legen sich wahre Blütenteppiche über das Land. Aber auch im restlichen Jahresverlauf lohnt sich ein Besuch. Man kann in der Langebaan Lagoon wunderschön baden oder stundenlange Wanderungen an nahezu unberührten Stränden unternehmen. Außerdem gibt es viele Schildkröten und unzählige Vogelarten.
Kapstadt als Start-/Endpunkt für längere Reisen:
Von Kapstadt führen viele Wege in die Welt. Wer nur kurze Zeit in Südafrika ist, fliegt vielleicht von hier nach Durban oder in den Kruger National Park. Mit dem Auto kann wunderbar entlang der Westküste to Namibia weiterfahren, oder durch die Karoo das Landesinnere entdecken oder aber entlang der Südküste zum südlichsten Punkt Afrikas und der Garden Route drive. Wer Kapstadt als letzten Ort auf seiner Reise durch das südliche Afrika besucht hat, wird hier hoffentlich mit guten Erinnerungen das Flugzeug besteigen und sich schon auf den nächsten Afrika-Aufenthalt freuen.
Web links
- Kapstadt.com - Umfangreiche Informationen zum südlichen Südafrika(deutsch)
- Kapstadt.de - Informationen zu Kapstadt, Umgebung und ZA (deutsch)
- KapstadtMagazin.de - Kapstadt's internet Magazine(deutsch)
- Auswärtiges Amt - Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise für Südafrika
- Cape Town Information Centre, offizielle Seite
- Robben Island
