Go to the security desk and say that you are staying in unit 804. They will help you to scan your fingerprints for access to the building and common areas during your stay.

Take the elevator to the 8th floor. Enter the door code. Once you’re in the apartment, please send me / the co-host a message in the Airbnb app so that we know you’re all settled in!

🚪 Door code

Enter the code followed by the lock/unlock button to open.

Just turn the knob on the inside to lock the door when you’re inside.

⁠

Here is a video demo⁠

(with a different code) if you’re still unsure.

When leaving, always remember to lock the door on the outside by pressing the lock/unlock button.

🛜 WiFi

WiFi network: MP804-5G Password: 0796370767

The unit has fast internet (100mb upload / 100mb download speed). Perfect for constant streaming or work videos. Some older devices won’t connect to the zippy 5G WiFi network, above. In that case, you should connect to the other network called MP804.

If you experience any issues with the internet, please connect with FTTA support. The fastest way is to join their

Whatsapp support group⁠

and ask your question there. You can also find phone numbers and email addresses for their support, printed on the WiFi router underneath the desk.

There is a Gizzu WiFi UPS connected to the router, under the desk. It should provide uninterrupted WiFi internet connectivity for up to four hours during load shedding.

👀 Monitoring devices

Note that the building has security cameras in the common areas, such as the entrance, lift, gym, and hallways.

📞 Phone numbers

You can always reach me, or the co-hosts, via the Airbnb app.

We get notified faster that way (we receive email, text and a push notification when you send us a message via Airbnb) and it

protects you⁠

as a guest, in case you ever need to resolve an issue with Airbnb.

(If it is an emergency, you can try WhatsApp: +27796370767)

Emergency services

Cape Town fire, police, and general emergencies: +27214807700

South Africa general emergencies: 112 (from a mobile phone, otherwise 10111)

Wilderness Search & Rescue: +27 21 937 0300 (all mountain, ocean, and outdoor emergencies — save this number if you plan to hike Table Mountain)

🔌 Electricity

Sockets and voltage

South Africa has for many years used the big and unique “type M” sockets, but these are being phased out in favour of “type N” and “type C” sockets.

See them here⁠

I have equipped the apartment with travel adapters that should work with most laptop and phone charging cables from Europe, Japan, India, China, and North America.

Note that we use 220v ~ 50Hz electricity in South Africa, so appliances that are rated only for 110v use and not 110-220v (like some from the United States) should not be plugged in.

Electricity use

As before, South Africa is experiencing a

massive power crisis⁠

. Please be mindful of your electricity use.

The majority of South African houses and apartments have what is called “prepaid electricity”: you purchase a code for electricity units (online or in supermarkets/shops), enter this code in the electricity meter, and the electricity gets added after which you get to use it.

If you use up all your electricity units, there will be no power in the apartment, until you add more. In a way to encourage South Africans to conserve energy, it also becomes slightly more expensive, the more energy you use each month.

The apartment should have enough electricity pre-loaded on the meter for your stay, but it is important to monitor it from time to time. I will send you vouchers for more electricity each week (or month) for longer stays. Just enter the number into the meter and it should show you how many units you have added.

If you need more electricity beyond this, you can buy it via the

SnapScan app⁠

, online at

PayCity⁠

or at any supermarket or petrol station convenience stores. You will need to provide your meter number for each purchase.

Meter number: 07140162293

Enter the prepaid electricity code into the electricity meter (in the utility closet, right next to the entrance door). You should hear a chime when done and the new electricity balance will show on the screen. For a video demo,

see this⁠

Load shedding (scheduled power outages)

South Africa, like many emerging economies, does not produce enough electricity for the demand of its residents and visitors. The “solution” to this problem is what’s euphemistically termed “load shedding” — in other words: scheduled power outages per city or neighbourhood. These usually last between 1 and 4 hours.

The best place to check the schedule is via

the ESP app here⁠

. The user experience on the app isn’t the best, so here are some tips:

Table 2

Table 2

Screen grab

Text

Choose “Add area” or the “+” button in the lower right corner:

Search for and add “Observatory (City of Cape Town)”

Click “Add to my areas” - This will allow you to get load shedding notifications and easily check in at any time for the schedule.

From there, you can see what the upcoming load shedding times are. You can ignore the “stage” part and just look at the times. For instance, in the example here, on Monday, there was no electricity early in the morning (4am to 5am) and there will again be no electricity from 8pm to 10:30pm (a bit annoying). On Tuesday and Wednesday, there won’t be electricity from 2am to 4:30am (likely not to actually affect you, as you’ll be sleeping).

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⁠

⁠
`🎶`⁠
Music

I’ve equipped the apartment with a Bluetooth speaker. Simply turn it on and search for “Tempo” on your phone or laptop’s Bluetooth connectivity settings. If you can’t connect to Bluetooth, there is an aux/charging cable in the bottom drawer of the work desk.

If runs out of battery, you will need to recharge the battery using the same charging cable (or one of the white ones, used to recharge the bedside lamps).

🚰 Water

Due to an ever-growing population, cyclical weather patterns, and climate change, Cape Town often has limited fresh water. A

few years ago⁠

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:

close taps while brushing your teeth

take short showers

only do full loads of laundry

You can monitor the Cape Town

rainwater levels here⁠

Drinking water

Cape Town tap water tastes great and is safe to drink!

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

recycling rate⁠

Tip: Section 4.6 of the South African

Liquor Act⁠

states that "Free drinking water should be made easily available at all on-consumption liquor outlets", such as all bars, clubs, and restaurants that sell alcohol. When you ask for water in such a place, a waiter might try to offer you a paid bottled option by cheekily asking “Still or sparkling?”. You can just politely say “Just tap water for me, please”. 😊 Non-compliant venues can be reported to the

Western Cape Liquor Authority⁠

. You don’t need to purchase alcohol to get free tap water with your order in a restaurant, but places that don’t sell alcohol (such as fast food outlets), won’t be able to help you.

Noise

Please be mindful of the neighbours and keep music and noise to a reasonable level.

The building has quiet hours between 10pm and 8am each day. They issue fines for noise violations. It is strictly a “no parties” apartment (there are many bars and clubs nearby for that).

No extra guests —more than those in the Airbnb reservation— are allowed.

🚭 Smoking

As per the description on AirBnb, this is a strictly no smoking apartment.

You may not smoke cigarettes, nor tobacco, nor cannabis; nor e-cigarettes (vape), not anywhere in the apartment, not blow it from inside to outside the windows.

Unfortunately, non-smokers like me (and future guests) are sometimes allergic to smoke or suffer from asthma. Complaints and penalties will go to Airbnb against those who break this rule — including recovering the costs to steam clean the curtains, linen, mattress, duvets, pillows, blankets, rugs, sofa, and more.

More information:

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/2894⁠

⁠

🧺 Laundry

Please only run the washing machine when you have a full load of laundry, and consider using the mixed load setting to save water (the cycle lasts 30 minutes).

For drying, please first consider using the drying frame in the apartment or balcony: your clothes should dry within a few hours in summer. You’ll find that almost no apartments nor Airbnbs in South Africa have tumble dryers, so this is the “South African” way. However, if that doesn’t work for you, you can of course use the tumble dryer at no cost to you (other than the extra electricity usage, if you run out).

Finally: Remember to check the load shedding schedule before you begin! If a wash cycle is going on when load shedding starts, your clothes might be left soaking for hours...

Don’t want to do it all yourself? You might also prefer using the two excellent and family-owned local laundromats (

That Laundry Spot⁠

and

Tip Top Laundry⁠

) both near the building. They will do washing, drying, ironing, folding, etc. usually between R100 and R300 (US $5 - 15) a load, depending on the size and how fast you need it back.

🪟 Balcony

To unlock the balcony door, pull lightly on the handle and slide the black pin down. Push hard in the middle of the door and it should slide open. You don’t need a key.

To close it, pull hard on the handle until it is fully closed, and slide the pin to the locked position.

Here is a

video⁠

Note that the wind in Cape Town can get very strong in summer. Don’t leave empty wine glasses or other items that might blow from the balcony table or railing.

⁠
`🛋️`⁠
The sleeper sofa

The orange sofa converts into a full-sized bed, for those who don’t want to share a bed and prefer a separate place to sleep.

Table

Table

Step

Notes

The sofa, like normal.

Remove all scatter pillows and the two back rest cushions.

Pull the seated area towards you. It will pull out a bit, then a bit more, and then a bit more. Please don’t pull it too far, too fast, or too hard! It might come detached and then it’s difficult to put back. Be careful not to hit your toes :-)

If you didn’t read the above and you pulled it too far (🙄), lift up the front of the sofa, the part you held while pulling back, and fit the other side back over the L-shaped wooden grey lip.

Fold back the top half of the big orange seated cushion.

Insert the two back rest cushions into the top part, fitting the pointy side into the hole in the arm rest.

This is what it should look like

Place a fitted sheet from the cupboard. You’ll also find a blanket, duvet, flat sheet, and pillow there.

Et voila! Your bed is ready!

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🛒 Supermarkets

⁠

Kwikspar⁠

is my favourite, but there is an okay

Pick n Pay⁠

across the street (both have adjacent liquor stores).

⁠

Komati Food⁠

sells natural and organic produce.

Most petrol garages (”gas stations”) have convenience stores attached, three within walking distance from the flat.

📦 Deliveries

Uber Eats and Mr D are the most popular food delivery apps, available on iOS and Android.

Save the full address (Unit 804, Madison Place, 6 Trill Road, Observatory, Cape Town, 7945) and your South African phone number in the app before ordering. Collect from the delivery person downstairs (or they will leave your food with the security concierge). It’s common to tip 10% for deliveries (in the app or in person to the delivery person in cash).

If you ordered something online for delivery (

Takealot⁠

is the closest thing to Amazon we have), the security concierge downstairs can sign and accept the package on your behalf; just remember to collect it from them.

🚮 Trash and recycling

You can put all garbage (including recycling) directly into the garbage bag in the kitchen. The garbage bags must be tied shut and you can put them in the garbage room (ground level, next to the gate to the parking lot).

The recyclable items, such as plastic, glass, and tin, get sorted after collection from the building by

waste pickers⁠

. These reclaimers recycle 80 to 90% of plastic and packaging in South Africa.

🏙️ Madison Place Building Rules

All residential buildings have a Rules of Conduct document that applies to all residents and guests and says what can and can’t be done in the building. These rules apply to you and your stay.

You can view them here:

⁠

Conduct Rules - Madison Place - V1.08.17(1).pdf

258.9 kB

⁠

Want to print your doc?
This is not the way.

Try clicking the ⋯ next to your doc name or using a keyboard shortcut (

CtrlP

) instead.

The apartment basics

📍Address and check-in