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Three blocks from us is the famous and vibey Kloof Street; full of good restaurants, bars, and boutique shops. We are also walking distance from Bree Street (also with some great places for a drink or a meal) and the slightly more edgy Long Street.We are one block away from Kloof Nek road, the major road that runs from the City, over the Nek next to Table Mountain, and down to the ocean at Camps Bay.
You’ll find that using Uber or Bolt is significantly cheaper than most other places around the world. It is often cheaper to take an Uber/Bolt than it is to pay for parking. Alternatively, you can also take the MyCiti bus (you’ll need to get a bus card for this) or buy a red Hop On / Hop Off bus ticket for one day. If you’re driving, remember to always park in the direction that traffic flows (on the left side of the road, not crossing over to the right). Tourists often get fined for parking the wrong way.Walking is fine most places during the day, but we don’t recommend walking around at night. Take a cheap Uber for peace of mind.
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Don’t be careless in showing off your wealth or leaving valuables like cell phones or money/purses lying around needlessly on beaches, café tables, or in public. Don’t leave possessions like suitcases (even for a short while) visible on the seats of your car.Don’t walk far at night (It’s fine to walk almost everywhere during the day, but it is safer to take a cheap Uber/Bolt at night, and especially after drinking. Yes, even if it’s only a ten minute walk.)
It gets hot in summer during the day (and most places don’t have air conditioning). The dress code is very casual, so you can get into most places with shorts and flip flops :-)It gets cold in winter (and most places don’t have heating and not great insulation). Consider bringing wool socks, long underwear, and some other things to stay warm. We have thick winter down duvets and guest socks/slippers for the house.
If you’re driving/going out, you may notice the street lights and even some traffic lights are off. Be vigilant. Don’t walk around at night, as crime tends to be higher when petty thieves can hide in the shadows. You should absolutely still go out; just drive (carefully) or take an Uber. Almost all restaurants have adapted and will be open during load shedding hours, with backup lights or romantic candles. However, they may not offer their full menu. (For instance, if they use electric ovens, no baked meals may be served; or they might only offer french-press coffee rather than espressos.)
Cape Town basics
We want your stay to be unforgettable, for all the right reasons.
Our neighborhood
Bagamoya (our building) is in the leafy neighbourhood of , one of the oldest parts of Cape Town and an incredibly central, prime location. You’ll see a number of parks and beautiful old Victorian houses, alongside the newer (but still quite retro, often art deco) apartment buildings.
(Both of these streets and our neighbourhood refer to “kloof” (meaning ravine/gorge), as a nod to the beautiful geography leading up to the mountains. )
Getting around
Money
You won’t really need a lot of (or any!) cash during your stay, as virtually all restaurants, bars, shops, and ride sharing apps take payment by card. Be vigilant when getting cash and don’t ever accept “help” from strangers at an ATM.
Many smaller places (like market vendors) allow you to pay via the popular or credit card.
Tipping
Most waiters earn very little per shift, relying only on tips for an income.
It is expected to tip in sit-down restaurants. 10% is the normal amount (and of course if the service was amazing, a bit more; if the service was horrible, speak to a manager who will probably give you a discount, or just tip zero).
We don’t tip at fast-food places (where you order and pay at the counter, like McDonald’s / Nando’s), but we do tip delivery people (also around 10%). Tour guides and drivers won’t always expect, but will certainly appreciate a tip.
If paying by card: remember to tell your waiter the amount including tip before you hand them your card (on a R200 bill, you might say “make it R220” or “You can add 10%” and they will enter that full amount on the card terminal). They can’t add a tip later (like you can in the United States), and you might need to leave it in cash or make a second payment for that.
Alternatively, just leave the tip in cash. That way they get it immediately, rather than 3-4 days later.
🚰 Water
Due to an ever-growing population, cyclical weather patterns, and climate change, Cape Town often has limited fresh water. A we experienced a big water crisis, where we came very close to the taps running completely dry.
Please be mindful of your water use, and please:
Drinking water
Cape Town tap water tastes great and is safe to drink! We drink straight from the tap, but our unit also has a water filter built into the small tap in the kitchen.
It’s easy to minimise the negative impact of plastic by carrying your own bottle with tap water instead of buying plastic water bottles. South Africa doesn’t have a great .
Alcohol
You are not allowed to drink alcohol in any public places like beaches, parks, or on the streets in South Africa, at all. It is strongly enforced. Exceptions to this might be taking a drink to a quiet outdoor spot, like enjoying a glass of wine on Signal Hill or Lion’s Head.
Note: If you’re the only one with an alcoholic drink in public (like a beach or park), you’re probably going to get in trouble.
The blood alcohol limit for driving is 0.05 g of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood and the Western Cape has frequent road blocks to to test for drunk driving. As before: Ubers and Bolts are very cheap and plentiful. There is no reason to drink and drive.
Smoking and cannabis
You’re not legally allowed to smoke cigarettes inside any closed venues like buildings, bars, or restaurants, unless they are equipped with a dedicated smoking area.
Marijuana/cannabis/weed (commonly known as “dagga”) has been by the country's Constitutional Court for personal consumption by adults in private. There are many that sell candies, vapes, oils, dried leaves and so on.
However, as before: no smoking (not dagga nor tobacco nor vaping) in our apartment.
Inequality & crime
South Africa is one of unequal countries in the world. It is something you will encounter on a daily basis. Other than understanding this sad reality, there are things that you shouldn’t do to inadvertently make things worse.
Begging
It’s not more of a problem than in any other large city, but it can be made worse by irresponsible giving.
Studies have shown that giving to beggars can actually make some problems worse: rewarding the most aggressive (often male) beggars, and there are instances of trafficking children (to beg and collect money on behalf of adults).
An empathetic, polite, but firm “no”, is all that is needed.
Rather consider donating to one of the certified and registered NGOs that help Cape Town’s homeless and needy population, for maximum impact and good. They provide food, shelter, clothing, education, job training, and more, and can really do with more support:
Temperatures & insulation
South Africa is a middle income country. Even though you can live like royalty (compared to many other countries), there are some things to be aware of to set your expectations:
Electricity & Load shedding
South Africa is a beautiful, complex place. There are endless things that will delight you, but also some things may confuse and annoy you, particularly if you don’t understand them.
We’re a relatively young democracy, with some of the growing pains you might expect. During the horrible, race-segregated apartheid years (which officially ended in 1994), the country was exclusively built for a small, white minority. Services were great, but only built for this small white minority. Schools and universities to educate the few; towns and cities to house them; fire stations and a police force to keep them safe; roads and water and electricity to keep things running.
Even though we’ve shaken off many of those shackles, inequality is persistent and will take generations to improve. There has not been enough done to fix past mistakes, and still many things haven’t grown or been maintained enough to deliver to the entire nation.
How this will affect you
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