South Africa is not dissimilar from Australia in many ways. Relocating here was mostly easy with many similarities between the two countries. This advice is shared from my own experience and to be used as a recommendation. Your Cape Town Mate is not associated with any governing or legal body and advises to always check with appropriate Government guidelines before traveling. Below is some insights that will help you prepare for your trip to Cape Town listed in alphabetical order.

Accessibility
Accommodation- Which areas to stay
Alcohol
Cash or Card
Communications + Staying Connected (Wi-Fi, eSim, International Roaming)
Customs- Beware!
Currency + Exchange Rate
Driving
Emergency Contact Numbers
Fashion
Flight routes from Australia to South Africa
Hiking + Safety
Jet Lag
Language
Load shedding- Planned power outages
Medical Assistance
Power Plugs
Safety + Apps
Supermarkets
Tap Water Consumption
Tipping Culture
Transport + Transfers
Traveling with Children
Vaccination Requirements for South Africa
Visa Requirements
Weather

Accessibility

It should be made known that for visitors with needs for easy accessibility, Cape Town isn’t the worst city but unfortunately it’s also certainly not the best. Unlike Australia where Accessibility car parks, vehicles, ramps and lifts are commonplace, it’s not really a thing here. Some tourist attractions offer accessibility options but it’s certainly best to check before arriving or booking. Some areas will have pavements wide enough for a wheelchair, but not all. I would do your due diligence on this before considering a holiday here.

Accommodation- Which areas to stay

There are many options for areas to stay in and around Cape Town. There are approximately 28 000 AirBnb listings in combination with hotels and B&Bs. The following options are a guide for those unfamiliar with the city but in my opinion, the safest, nicest and most popular options for tourists who are on their first visit.

My top picks for anyone I know visiting, are Sea Point, Bantry Bay, Tamboerskloof, Gardens or Constantia.

Atlantic Seaboard- Camps Bay, Bantry Bay, Sea Point, Green Point, Mouille Point, V&A Waterfront- This area overlooks the Atlantic ocean and has easy access to the Sea Point Promenade, DHL stadium and the V&A Waterfront/ shopping precinct. Sea Point has lots of options for restaurants, shops and services. Camps Bay is a little further out with access to beautiful beaches (Clifton) and a strip of upmarket shops and restaurants. The Atlantic Seaboard can get quite congested with traffic in high season and is the most popular area to stay in. Green Point is positioned well and has many options for accommodation, but I’ve always found it slightly more precarious then that of Sea Point back to Camps Bay.

De Waterkant- A little busier with cool shops, nightclubs and more of an urban vibe. This is the gay precinct of the city and sits between the Atlantic Seaboard and the CBD. It can be noisy at night as it has a few clubs in the neighbourhood.

City Bowl- Gardens, Tamboerskloof, Oranjezicht- The City Bowl is based around Bree, Long and Kloof Streets where you’ll find many restaurants and a vibrant nightlife. The City Bowl has limited views of the ocean but you get the benefit of being at the base of Table Mountain. The CBD can be a bit precarious, so be careful after dark if you are staying there. I personally wouldn’t stay directly in the CBD. The City Bowl is typically cheaper than the Atlantic Seaboard for accommodation. Oranjezicht has some beautiful federation homes and is a lot more quieter, but on the doorstep of the action and is suitable if you have access to a car.

Southern Suburbs- Constantia, Newlands, Claremont- This area is an area of high wealth and is surrounded by wine farms. It’s a little further out of the action and more suburban, but safe and you’ll find larger accommodation options. The weather here on the other side of the mountain can often be a bit cooler and more inclined to rain. It’s approximately a 20 minute drive from the city, depending on the time of day.

Hout Bay- Hout Bay is a little further on past Camps Bay, across Chapmans Peak. It’s a little cheaper but it is recommended to have a car there as sometimes Ubers can be difficult to catch in the area. There is a large township on the doorstep of Hout Bay which generally equates to more crime. Many people love the Hout Bay precinct for it’s relaxed vibe however I find it logistically, to be a bit too far out of the action for short stays.

Blouberg- Blouberg is a popular destination for locals with a more relaxed lifestyle and the beach. It is more affordable for accommodation. It can get a little windy there but beyond that has great views across the bay to Table Mountain and the city. It’s a minimum 30 minute drive from the city or more during peak hours on business days. If you were staying for only a few days, I wouldn’t recommend staying out here, best for a day trip or longer stays.

The Deep South- Simon’s Town, Kalk Bay, Fish Hoek, Muizenberg- These seaside towns are very relaxed and great for families. There are some great little shops in Kalk Bay, perfect for a day out, exploring, eating out or finding antique treasures. There is a train from the city to Kalk Bay but for the most part, a car is required. Go surfing in Muizenberg or enjoy a day at the beach. The Deep South is about 45 minutes to an hour drive from the city.

Cape Winelands- Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Paarl- As the name suggests, this is where you’ll find an abundance of Wine Farms (vineyards). A great place to stay for a weekend or week with many options of accommodation and experiences to be had within the scenic landscape. An ideal stay for foodies and wine enthusiasts alike with an array of upmarket to family friendly experiences on offer. You’re looking at an hour to 90 minutes drive from the city to the winelands so best for a day trip or a couple of night’s stay.

Alcohol

Wine is the main liquor here alongside beer. It’s very reasonably priced and you can purchase a good bottle of wine for around $7 AUD. You can find cocktails but not all establishments serve them. Non-alcoholic options (mocktails, alcohol free beer etc) are also pretty rare. For a country that loves to drink, you cannot purchase alcohol on a Sunday here from bottle shops or supermarkets, only at restaurants and bars. The legal drinking age is 18.

Cash or Card

Like Australia, 99% of businesses will accept card, often with some ONLY taking card. In the first five months of living here I’ve never once needed cash. The only instances you would require cash here would be for if you’re hiring a car and need to pay a rand or two to car guards. For this case you could easily just convert $20AUD to Rand before leaving Australia and have sufficient. If you’re experiencing a Safari or another experience here where you may have a driver or a guide, it is customary to tip. There is lots of mixed information about how much this should be however $20AUD, per person, per day would be a good guide. Cash would be preferred for this.

As a regular international traveller, I’d recommend opening a free international transaction account such as Revolut or Wise before leaving. I have both, but my preference for ease of use and better exchange rates is Revolut. These accounts come with both a physical and digital card and work like any other bank account. You top up your account as you go and there’s limited fees unlike your local bank or credit card. You can use a Revolut card in 160+ countries and load up to 36 currencies onto the card.

Communications + Staying Connected (Wi-Fi, eSim, International Roaming)

Wi-Fi is available here but I wouldn’t rely solely on that and I’d highly recommend getting an eSim for constant connection during your trip to order Ubers, access GPS and for general safety.

I know Telstra International Roaming does not work in South Africa. I am unsure about other providers like Optus, Vodafone etc so please check before arrival.

After trying and testing multiple eSim options whilst living here, I believe MTN to be the best which you can buy at the airport on arrival or at any MTN stores that are located in many large shopping centres here.

The reason I chose and continue to use an MTN eSim is because it is 5G (so optimal coverage and reception), it comes with a South African local phone number so you can make Emergency Calls etc, and the packs can be reloaded from the MTN app. I still have my Australian phone number, connected to a physical sim that friends and family can contact me on but use data from my South African eSim. This system works really well for me.

WhatsApp is how people communicate in South Africa as opposed to standard text or iMessage, like in Australia. Please download the WhatsApp App before arrival.

Currency + Exchange Rate

The South African Rand or ZAR is rather weak. $1 AUD will get you (give or take) approximately R11.50. In high tourist seasons (November- March) many businesses will increase their prices to make the most of the influx of foreigners so it is cheaper to travel to South Africa (and Cape Town in particular) in low season. You can expect to pay around $3.40 AUD for a takeaway coffee and an average priced meal is approximately $18-$20 AUD. Cape Town is typically more expensive than the rest of South Africa due to its Tourism industry and influx of Europeans who come here during summer. An expensive meal in Cape Town would be a five course meal at a high end Wine Farm which may cost you around $100 AUD per person.

Customs- Beware!

South Africa can be brutal with customs. For locals living here, they pay a minimum 43% import tax for any goods purchased online, from overseas. If you are visiting and have any new items in your luggage, please consider removing all tags and evidence that items are new to avoid being stung with paying import tax.

Driving

South African’s drive on the left side of the road, like Australia. Hiring a car here is simple and there’s no need for an International Licence. The road rules here are more of a “suggestion” than the law, so just be aware of everyone else on the road. Vigilance behind the wheel is key! When driving on highways, there often isn’t two lanes to overtake so the slower vehicle will often pull over to the shoulder of the road on the lefthand side to make room for the faster vehicle to overtake safely. When this is done, it is courteous for the overtaking vehicle to pop on their hazard lights for a second or two to ‘thank’ the slower vehicle for their consideration. It should also be noted that many cars here (including hire cars) are manual drive. I’ve seen very few automatic drive cars here in my time. The road rules here are virtually the same as in Australia. I have written more about road safety on the blog here.

Emergency Contact Numbers

There is a whole page here dedicated to all the numbers you may need in the case of an emergency.

Fashion

Cape Town fashion is pretty relaxed and conservative. Due to the nature of the weather here which can sometimes be unpredictable, layers are ideal. It doesn’t get cold enough here to warrant huge jackets but a puffer jacket/ sports coat is advised, particularly because the wind can get cold between April- October. You could easily pack a couple of pairs of jeans and shorts for November- April

Flight routes from Australia to South Africa

The most efficient and direct way to get to South Africa is either on Qantas from Sydney to Johannesburg (14 hours) or on South African Airways from Perth to Johannesburg (11 hours). These are the only two current direct flights to South Africa. There are 50+ flights a day to get from Johannesburg to Cape Town on Domestic airlines. I would give yourself at least three hours layover to get through customs and check in for your next flight. Johannesburg International Airport is directly connected to the Domestic Airport without any need to leave or transit in between. If you require a night or two in Johannesburg I’d highly recommend staying at a hotel attached directly to the airport. City Lodge Hotel OR Tambo International Airport is your best bet for safety and efficiency.

Hiking + Safety

Hiking in Cape Town and surrounds is a very popular activity but it must be done with caution. I have covered all the considerations for a safe hike, here.

Jet Lag

If you don’t fly to South Africa on a direct flight from Sydney or Perth, it may take you anywhere from 25- 35 hours to get here. It can be a brutal trip. Melatonin and sleeping tablets are readily available over the counter at Pharmacy’s here if you suffer from Jet lag. I would also recommend downloading Timeshifter App to help adjust your body for Jet lag.

Another tip when planning your South African trip is that if you’re going on Safari in South Africa (i.e Kruger National Park for instance), book that at the tail end of your trip. Game Drive days can be big and long so they’re better to experience when you’re fresh and have adapted to the time zone.

Language

There are 12 official languages in South Africa but if you speak English you won’t have any problems. Afrikaans is a common language too in which you’ll find many people speak but for those people, they mostly speak English. For some insights, you’ll often hear ‘Lekker’ which means good, ‘Kak’ which means sh*t and ‘Danke’ which means thanks.

Load shedding- Planned Power Outages

For many years, South Africa has experienced load shedding. Load shedding is a controlled process that responds to unplanned events in order to protect the electricity power system from a total blackout. So basically, there’s planned outages throughout the day to limit electricity consumption. Based on the stages (which range from 1-8) of load shedding, at times power would be out for a total of 12 hours spread over three time slots throughout the day. Fortunately and at the time of writing this, Cape Town has not experienced load shedding since March 2024. You can download the ESP app to monitor any potential outages however many Cape Town businesses and accommodation optiuons are now equipped with inverters to survive any future power outages.

Medical Assistance

Cape Town has some of the best Private Health Care providers in the world. I feel very content that if I required medical assistance here, I’d be in great hands. I’ve had a couple of trips to GP’s here and have been able to secure an appointment on the same day. A consultation may cost you approximately $60AUD without any travel insurance claim. It goes without saying, having travel insurance is essential before arriving. I personally use BUPA and have found the cover to be comprehensive and well priced. Please do your own research to select what may suit your individual needs and requirements before purchasing. Emergency contact numbers can be found under the Emergency Contacts + Apps Tab on this website.

Power Plugs

South Africa uses three types of power plugs (which, quite frankly can be annoying as a traveler). They are type C, M and N but you will manage with just C and M. Type C has two round parallel pins. Type M has three round pins in a triangle shape, where the top one is longer and thicker. Type C are for smaller appliances- mobile phone, laptop, hairdryer, shaver, toothbrush etc and type M are for large electrical appliances such as TV’s, Fridges, Irons etc. I would recommend upon arrival, popping into a supermarket here and purchasing a multi type power board as some older properties don’t have Type C power plugs. Also, it’s illegal for South Africa to have power points in the bathroom so bring a small mirror if you need for when you are drying your hair etc.

Safety + Apps

This is obviously a big and important factor when it comes to traveling in South Africa. I’ve dedicated a whole page to this right here to make sure you understand the risks and do your best to be safe. You can also find a list of emergency numbers and safety apps on this page too.

Supermarkets

The major supermarkets in order of most expensive to cheapest are Woolworths, Spar, Checkers and Pick and Pay. At most of these supermarkets you can get everything from alcohol, fresh produce, meat, bakery goods and takeaway meals. Clicks and Dis-chem are the big chain pharmacies. Checkers has a delivery app called Sixty60 and Woolworths has an app for grocery delivery too. Takealot is the local app/website that offers most things online. The V&A Waterfront which is a relatively large shopping centre at Green Point has many foreign brands and stores like H&M, Country Road, Zara, Nike, Gucci and MAC including supermarkets etc. It is open 9am-9pm everyday.

Tap Water Consumption

Yes, Cape Town tap water is safe to drink and brush your teeth in.

Tipping Culture

Tipping a minimum of 10% for meals and hospitality is customary here in South Africa.

Transport + Transfers

My biggest recommendation getting around here is either Ubers, private transport or hiring a car. I would not suggest public transport or ‘taxis’ which are mini vans that you’ll see picking up people from the side of the road. However, using Ubers or hiring a car come with a caveat so I’ve shared more information about safety when catching Ubers or self driving here.

Traveling with Children

Traveling with younger children here is certainly possible. There are many options of parks, beaches and outdoor areas that children can adventure and play in. Sidewalks exist for prams and there is an array of family friendly restaurants.

Vaccination Requirements for South Africa

You won’t require any coming to Cape Town however if you are heading to another African country before or after, Yellow Fever shots may be required. Kruger National Park and Mapungubwe National Park are Malaria risk areas. You can purchase Malaria tablets at Pharmacy’s here. Please consult the lodge, your GP or your travel agent for any other health advice before travelling.

Visa Requirements

Australian Citizens traveling to South Africa for Tourism purposes, get a free, 90 day visa on arrival. There is nothing more required. Whilst here, you can extend your visa for up to another 90 days. This can be done through VFS Global and needs to be applied for at least 60 days before the end of your initial visa.

Weather

Cape Town weather can be very unpredictable. Winter is rather miserable with a lot of rain and wind- think Melbourne if you will. The summer months or high season, typically December through until about March are mostly warm with little rain. It can get a little windy though on some days during summer. A ‘hot’ day in summer is in the low 30ºC however the sun tends to have a very high UV Index so can feel much warmer than it is and it’s very easy to get sunburnt. Cape Town properties aren’t made for the heat or cold with very few having air conditioning. If you arrive in the cooler months, March- November, layers are essential. Particularly a puffer jacket or something that can easily be put on. A super cold day here is about 5ºC and the wind chill factor can be even colder. Even with its glorious aqua beaches, the water is much colder in Cape Town. Areas in the Cape Winelands such as Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl are typical a few more degrees hotter than in Cape Town. The fashion in Cape Town is typically reasonably casual and conservative with people opting for comfort and practicality so comfy trainers, jeans and layered tops will work well for your stay. As a girl who loves her fashion (and high heels) I find it hard to find occasions to wear them.

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