CAPE TOWN

TRAVEL TIPS

VISÃO GERAL ATRAÇÕESTRANSPORTE COMPRAS ONDE FICAR ONDE COMEROVERVIEW ATTRACTIONSTRANSPORTATION SHOPPINGWHERE TO STAY WHERE TO EAT

OVERVIEW

Cape Town, the legislative capital of South Africa, is a sophisticated city and the gateway to the majestic continent of Africa. It’s a place where old and new converge.

Warmed by the African sun, the city lies at the foot of the TableMountain on Africa’s south-western coast, where the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean converge.

Immense natural beauty and the fast pace and bright lights of a great urban centre meld effortlessly here. Firmly positioned on the international map, Cape Town offers a great variety of things to do and places to see, whatever your tastes, inclinations or budget.

In October and November, the weather is getting warmer in Cape Town. Spring is in the air, but it is not as hot as mid-summer yet. These months can be windy months.

December to March are the prime summer months of long hot days. The sun sets late in the evening (it stays light up until about 8:30 p.m. in December) and there is generally a lot going on. You will fight for space on the beach around New Year’s with all the local tourists, but it is still a great time to visit as there are a lot of things happening in the city.

February is the most reliable month for weather, with week after week of hot days.

DUFRY TRAVEL TIPSCAPE TOWN

rain for two weeks straight on occasion. It can also get very cold at night in the winter, with temperatures as low as 6-7° C (42 - 45° F). It gets warmer during the day, with temperatures reaching between 14 and 20° C (57 and 68° F).

TRANSPORT

Cape Town’s public transport is not really extensive and is somewhat expensive. Cape Town is, nevertheless, equipped with some trains and buses.

Cape Metrorail runs the suburban network of trains, consisting of five routes, which serve four different parts of the city. The

The months of April and May can change from year to year, but generally speaking it is still warm. There are far fewer visitors around at this time of year, and you can get excellent deals on accommodation, food and most tourism services.

The summer months in Cape Town are from December to March. Days are usually very hot, but the humidity is low, so it is not uncomfortable. During these months, it’s advisable to stay inside or in the shade during the midday heat.

The winter months of June and July tend to be rather wet, which does not mean rain every day. Often there will be one or two days of rain and a week of total sunshine, but it can

Cape Town-Simon’s Town route, which hugs the coastline, just metres from the ocean, is particularly spectacular.

Public buses run regular and safe services to most destinations. Bus fares are based on the distance travelled and prices vary accordingly. Tickets can be purchased upon boarding or from the main terminal. Clipcards or passes are also available at the Grand Parade terminal.

Hiring a scooter or renting a bicycle are also options and can be a fun and cheap way to get around the city.

ATTRACTIONS

Almost everything is possible in Cape Town, from a guided city tour through an adrenaline kick in an old fighter jet. The easiest way to get an overview on things to do, restaurants, clubs, tours etc., is to drop into the visitors centres which you will find in almost every area (V&A Waterfront, City Bowl, and Green Point).

V&A Waterfront is situated between Robben Island and Table Mountain, in the heart of Cape Town’s working harbour. It has become South Africa’s most visited destination. Set against a backdrop of magnificent sea and mountain views, exciting shopping and entertainment venues are intermingled with imaginative office locations, world-class hotels and luxury apartments in the residential marina.

Table Mountain, Cape Town’s defining landmark, is also one of the city’s greatest

tourist attractions. Take a cable car to the top. Always take something warm to wear when going up the mountain, even if it is 30°C (86°F) at the bottom of the mountain. Weather conditions at the top of the mountain are not the same as at the bottom.

Platteklip George — If you’re feeling fit, try climbing the simplest and most common route up the mountain. It’s a steep 2 hours but well worth the effort and you can take the cable car back down. This is well worth it just for the views over the city, Atlantic Ocean and Robben Island.

Cape Peninsula — Go to the Cape of Good Hope via Simon’s Town and the African

DUFRY TRAVEL TIPSCAPE TOWN

penguin colony at Boulders. Visit Cape Point in the Table Mountain National Park. Then take Chapman’s Peak Drive throughHout Bay and along the trendy Atlantic seaboard via Llandudno andCamps Bay, stopping off at one of Clifton’s famous four beaches.

Swimming — Beaches on the warmer False Bay side of the peninsula are the most popular with swimmers for obvious picture perfect reasons. St James has the most picturesque tidal pool on the stretch betweenMuizenberg and Kalk Bay, while Clovelly and Fish Hoek beaches wrap around a sheltered bay with soft, white sands. Fishing boats, Hobie cats and kayaks launch from here too.

Surfing — Cape Town is one of the best places to surf. Muizenberg is a good place for beginners to learn. If you’re an experienced surfer, try the reef break at Kalk Bay, Outer

Kom near Kommetjie or Misty Cliffs on the coast road near Scarborough. You could head up the west coast and sample Milnerton, Table View or Big Bay, although Big Bay is often crowded with people kite surfing due to the windy conditions.

WHERE TO STAY

Accommodation in Cape Town ranges from hostels, of which there are many, to luxury accommodation. The city’s growth into one of the world’s most popular destinations has given birth to a culture of hospitality and service, ranging from Five Star favourites to smaller bed & breakfasts. Actually, there are so many hotels, and B&Bs that it can be difficult to decide where to stay.

DUFRY TRAVEL TIPSCAPE TOWN

Cape Town has also gained a glowing reputation for backpacker accommodation and services, offering dozens of comfortable, but affordable, self-catering or fully-catered youth hostels.

Consider staying in a hotel in one of the suburbs. It is normally much quieter and there is less traffic than in Central Cape Town. The suburbs in the south, like Campus Bay or Simon’s Town or near the winelands may offer better quality accommodation for a lower price.

There’s also the option of choosing the convenience of renting “a place of your own” during your stay in Cape Town. The city’s many holiday accommodation specialists have a comprehensive range of homes on their books, from family-sized houses to stylish city lofts and modern, sea-facing apartments.

DINING OUT

Food in Cape Town is generally of high quality. The wines are much celebrated, but the surrounding region is also a major fruit producer, and the Karoo lamb is widely regarded. Seafood caught locally is excellent, yet much of it is exported because of the prices that can be achieved. Ask about the local line fish -- yellowtail, cape salmon, kingklip, kabeljou and others are great eating. Oysters in season are also exceptional, farmed and wild from Knysna or wild flown in from Namibia.

As one of the main tourist spots is the V&A Waterfront, you will find a broad range of restaurants there, but they are often crowded and expensive. Another highlight is the area around Long Street with its many cafés

DUFRY TRAVEL TIPSCAPE TOWN

and restaurants (frequented by a multi-ethnic clientele), while the trendy area of De Waterkant between Bo Kaap and Green Point above Somerset Road also boasts good food. Camps Bay has many hip eateries and nightspots overlooking the beach along Victoria Road.

Hout Bay, on the west side of the Cape Peninsula, is very good for fresh crayfish while Kalk Bay, on the east side of the peninsula, offers a big variety of fresh fish.

If you have a car, you should visit the Cape Winelands. In Stellenbosch, there are several restaurants, including the fun, afro-chic Moyo, and many wine estates offer food of different types and quality Stellenbosch has the added attraction of being an historical university town.

The village of Franschhoek is the culinary navel of the wine region home to three of south Africa’s top ten restaurants.

Most wineries charge for a tasting session, but usually refund it on a purchase.

SHOPPING

SOUVENIRS AND CURIOS

The V&A Waterfront is the prime tourist destination for souvenirs, though these tend to be typically touristy. More authentic souvenirs for better prices can be found every Sunday at theGreen Point market outside the Green Point Stadium, which is within walking distance of the V & A Waterfront. Many of these same

souvenirs can be purchased during the week in the several multi-story shops at the lower end of Long Street. For the real deal with authentic artefacts, go to Church Street where there are a couple of shops. When buying African Curio, the price at open markets are almost always very negotiable and seldom does the item have a price sticker attached. People with foreign accents are often quoted twice to three times the price they sell to locals, so do negotiate.

WINEIf you like south African wine, buy it in Cape Town where it’s cheaper than elsewhere and there is greater variety available than overseas.

ARTS AND CRAFTSArts and Crafts distinctively Capetonian in character are to be found everywhere, from chickens made of plastic bags to bead and wire work to pottery, glass and embroidery. If you don’t buy a chicken from a Rastafarian at a street corner (the authentic experience --

about 30 rand depending on the size), then try Heartworks (Kloof Street or in Gardens Centre mall) or the Red Shed at the V & A Waterfront. There is also a high-end craft boutique in the Cape Quarter in De Waterkant.

CONTEMPORARY SOUTH AFRICAN ARTContemporary South African Art has been riding a big wave in the international art world. It is on par with the best in the world and undervalued. If you like real art as opposed to curios, crafts or posters, and you have the budget for it, there are several serious galleries in town.

CURRENCYThe Rand is the currency of South Africa. It takes its name from the Witwatersrand (White-waters-ridge in English), the ridge upon which Johannesburg is built and where most of South Africa’s gold deposits were found.

The rand has the symbol R and is subdivided into 100 cents.

2721

107

COUNTRY CODE

CITY CODE

EMERGENCIES

POLICE

418 2852

FIRE STATION

535 1100

TOURIST INFORMATION

418 2852

INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

086 727 7888

IMPORTANT NUMBERS