Cape Town recommendations

HappyDancer

Hi folks,

Looking for a few suggestions and recommendations for an upcoming trip to SA and Cape town where we're staying for 6 days. We've planned for Robbin Island & Table mountain on two separate trips but would like to ask.....

1. What is the best mode of transport in from the airport - staying in the Waterfront? €38 euro for 2 paxs offer appears to be the best for shuttle buses.
2. Would like to go to Boulders and the Cape of Good Hope. How long is this journey from Cape Town and are tours available or is it best to travel independently? Plan to travel to Franshoek after on the same day. Too ambitious?
3. Recommendations for reasonable priced restaurants with local food on offer?
4. Shark diving out of Cape town :eek:(not sure about this one) or more locally in Hermanus? Recommendations for companies to go with? Rough costs?
5. Would welcome any other interesting suggestions...:rolleyes::rolleyes:

Thanks in advance
Regards

Le_Dieux

HappyDancer wrote: »

Hi folks,

Looking for a few suggestions and recommendations for an upcoming trip to SA and Cape town where we're staying for 6 days. We've planned for Robbin Island & Table mountain on two separate trips but would like to ask.....

1. What is the best mode of transport in from the airport - staying in the Waterfront? €38 euro for 2 paxs offer appears to be the best for shuttle buses.
2. Would like to go to Boulders and the Cape of Good Hope. How long is this journey from Cape Town and are tours available or is it best to travel independently? Plan to travel to Franshoek after on the same day. Too ambitious?
3. Recommendations for reasonable priced restaurants with local food on offer?
4. Shark diving out of Cape town :eek:(not sure about this one) or more locally in Hermanus? Recommendations for companies to go with? Rough costs?
5. Would welcome any other interesting suggestions...:rolleyes::rolleyes:

Thanks in advance
Regards

I lived in South Africa ( PE ) for 16 years, so can offer some advice. While never living in CT, have often been up there.

Your Pt 1. €38 is equivalent to approx R400. That sounds steep for me ( but please keep in mind i'm back in Ireland since 2003 )

Yr Pt2. Personally, I would suggest hiring a car. There is practically NO public transport in South Africa. By hiring the car, the trip You suggest is very viable, but only if You hire a car. Cape Of Good Hope is fantastic spot, indeed there is really some magnificent scenery throughout the WC.

Pt 3 & 4: I haven't been back since 2003, and as I know restaurant prices have rocketed since I was there, I would not be qualified enough to advise on this. Likewise, I wouldn't be one for diving for sharks, so won't pass comment if You don't mind.

Pt5: How long have You got? LOL. You MUST go to Kirstenbosch, if You have any inkling for the garden this is a days trip in itself. Also, & assuming You do go hire a car, You must go drive by Hout Baai & Chapman's Peak to Camp's Bay. Also Simonstown, and You haven't even gone up the west coast to Llandudno. There also is the wine route, but like I say, You will need a car.

I have friends in CT, so can get prices for eating out. If You need any help, don't hesitate to ask

sarkozy

Spent a week and a half there over a few weeks/weekends. Got the bus, so don't know about getting in from the airport.

Depending on where you're staying, a bus might be an option - private bus companies are safe and reliable; they'd most likely drop you off in the main bus station, which is about a 5 minute walk from Long St, the heart of the action in the 'City Bowl'. By day, this is totally fine to do. If you're staying in the Waterfront (which is, really, just a giant shopping centre), then perhaps a taxi is easier, or a combination of getting in by bus then getting a taxi for a short hop.

I'd agree with renting a car, but if you're not driving (and I don't), then you can book any manner of tours from hotels, hostels, etc. We stayed in the Art Hotel on Long St. the first time (really cool) and did a few tours through them - good value for money. Actually, lots of people dropped in to arrange tours with them, even though they weren't staying there. You can do your wine country tours, shark tours, a tour of the cape including a cycling ride, paragliding on Table Mountain, etc. If you want to go to Robben Island, you can book these tickets online; you *can* go to the port at the Waterfront and buy there, but you really must book ahead to save yourself a disappointment. While I didn't do it by day (got a night bus from Namibia), the north-west coast is meant to be great.

Oh, FYI, there's only one ATM on Long St. that's open after 10pm (an FNB, if I remember). It's safe enough at that time.

Foodwise, it totally depends what you're eating. Long St. is a good bet, though because you've got variety. At the lower end, you've got Nando's, a decent mexican place, pizza. Maybe a slight notch above this is the hip but awesomely good Royale Eatery - a really small burger joint (think Jo'burger) that does amazing burgers, sweet potato fries, lasagne, good affordable wine list and local beers. Continuing up to Kloof St. also has great places to eat. Eating at all those places is really reasonable. There are a few good cafés on Long St., and on Greenmarket Square (I think that's what it's called), you've got some other places to eat, which are fine - there's a Kauai on the far corner (a really good Hawaiian-inspired SA wholefood chain serving good ostrich burgers) and a Vida e Café (a SA Portuguese-inspired coffee chain) and another on Kloof. There are also lots of posh restaurants in the 'City Bowl' and loads more at Greenpoint, and wherever else anyone recommends. Compared to home, SA is usually very good value for money, even with skyrocketing food prices (this is a global, and African thing across the board).

It also depends what you're into generally, and then I could maybe suggest some other things to do - but I'd only be recommending things we did.

HappyDancer

Brilliant Le_Dieux,

Thank you for all the suggested trips out of CT as will probably led a lot on others recommendations. We plan to hire a car for a couple of weeks after CT so will look into your favs....

Cheers again

HappyDancer

Thank you for great tips Sarkozy and the food options likewise are fantastic.

Le_Dieux

No Problem HD

When You hire the car, where You heading for? May I suggest The Garden Route? Fabulous drive, in my book as spectacular a drive as any I have been anywhere in the World ( haven't been everywhere mind:-)).

Have a super trip, and take care!

MadsL

HappyDancer wrote: »

Hi folks,

Looking for a few suggestions and recommendations for an upcoming trip to SA and Cape town where we're staying for 6 days. We've planned for Robbin Island & Table mountain on two separate trips but would like to ask.....

1. What is the best mode of transport in from the airport - staying in the Waterfront? €38 euro for 2 paxs offer appears to be the best for shuttle buses.

Try asking your hotel what their taxi fare would be - then you can be met by a driver at the airport.

2. Would like to go to Boulders and the Cape of Good Hope. How long is this journey from Cape Town and are tours available or is it best to travel independently? Plan to travel to Franshoek after on the same day. Too ambitious?

Rent a car and why not stay the night at Boulders beach? There is a fabulous B&B and restaurant there.Romantic as hell. Great food and you get the penguins to yourself when the tourist have left. http://www.bouldersbeachlodge.com/

3. Recommendations for reasonable priced restaurants with local food on offer?

They are all reasonably priced to be honest - eat lots of seafood and be brave and try crocodile, and other bush meat. Personally I like Kudu at lot. Some of my favourites are up in the Gardens, much more real Cape Town than the Waterfront.

For African food start with Mama Africa on Long Street - a bit touristy but good food and authentic game dishes.
Ocean Basket at the waterfront serves some of the freshest sushi I have ever eaten, and the seafood platters are awesome.

4. Shark diving out of Cape town :eek:(not sure about this one) or more locally in Hermanus? Recommendations for companies to go with? Rough costs?

Just personally, please don't. Great White attacks on humans are becoming more common and I cannot help but associate this with cage diving and chumming and the sharks associating humans with food. Australians are now sadly calling for culls on these magnificent creatures.
You can whale/seal watch in season out of Hermanus and may see Great Whites anyway. I recommend the whale watching trips.

I learnt to dive in CT and thoroughly recommend Two Ocean Divers in Camps Bay.

My first dive in CT was actually with sharks at the aquarium, i believe you can still do this, it is a great experience to actually swim with sharks rather than waiting your turn to stand in a cage. It is an incredible experience and very reasonable considering what you are doing.
http://www.aquarium.co.za/diving/book_a_dive_at_the_two_oceans_aquarium/

Enjoy CT, don't be afraid to get out of the Waterfront and enjoy the real city, I found it safe if you don't dress up or look wealthy, and take reasonable precautions. Most SAs will tell you you are crazy to walk around CT at night, but I found Long St to be surprisingly civilised. Check with locals of course, but be aware they will err on the cautious side. [/QUOTE]

MadsL

Le_Dieux wrote: »

No Problem HD

When You hire the car, where You heading for? May I suggest The Garden Route? Fabulous drive, in my book as spectacular a drive as any I have been anywhere in the World ( haven't been everywhere mind:-)).

Have a super trip, and take care!

Found the garden route a tad overrated tbh. Much more interesting routes to be had further inland up around Overberg and Swellendam, some of them dirt roads through the mountains with spectacular views of that Garden route you are missing at sea level.

If you are ever up that way my favourite place to be cosseted is Klippe Rivier Country House, you may have to book way in advance though. When we stayed we were the only guests, like having your own country estate. The food was out of this world.

Highcontrast1

hey there
i have lived in cape town all my life till feb this year.
from the airport take the my citi bus only R50 to town
from there get a meter taxi and insist on the meter to be turned on
hire a car it will work out cheaper (try and get one from a smaller but reputable company. avis is too expensive)
too many places to go--- garden route, hout bay, kirstenbosch gardens, robben island, llandudunno, stellenbosch, paarl too many to mention
try and and go to the Clifton beaches as they tend to be warmer than camps bay
Be careful of the car guards, they will try and get every penny off you.
places to eat--- wakame -- seafood royale eatery --- best burgers in town
caprice, beluga, mama africa are also worth checking out
if you are to go out just be careful as long street has a number of seasoned pick pockets.
any questions just ask

mrkdips

Hi there I went to cape town on honeymoon and loved it. Regarding restaurants in the Victoria and Albert shopping mall there are two fab restaurants. Baii is a seafood one and is excellent. Right across from it is an Indian restaurant. Make sure if u want to go to Robin Island that you book your ticket ahead of time. Wel ahead of time at that. We were told that a week before we went and we failed to get to see it as the trips were sold out. Enjoy it is lovely

mrkdips

Another thought - the mount nelson is a fab spot to go for afternoon tea if u are into that sort of thing. Beautiful grounds very relaxing and believe me you won't want dinner that night. You just pay a once off charge and it's eat what u want all afternoon then. Lovely grounds. You don't have to book it. It's on the sightseeing tour bus route
We also went to stellenbosch and stayed in lanzerac estate winery. Real nice

HappyDancer

Cheers Le_Dieux,

Garden route is on the agenda after a few days of site seeing in the car around CT,

Thanks again for all the info......

HappyDancer

Great suggestions MadsL, Crocodiles also look like they're on the endangered list when you're hungry

Will venture towards a few of those in SA.....we'll be staying close to the Garden route as we've most of our accommodation booked in that area after CT.....

HappyDancer

Cheers Highcontrast1,

Thank you for your local input.....and the suggestions for areas after CT.

Warnings noted...

HappyDancer

Cheers Mrkdips,

We learnt about the Robben issue a few weeks ago so booked straight away, thank you for the food options as we are staying in the W&A and plan to eat locally a couple of the nights.....

Le_Dieux

HappyDancer wrote: »

Cheers Le_Dieux,

Garden route is on the agenda after a few days of site seeing in the car around CT,

Thanks again for all the info......

HD, without wanting to wreck Your plans, if You wish, You could drive down as far as George, then head for Oudtshoorn, and go back up to CT via the R62...also a fabulous drive. I am, of course assuming You are flying in and out of CT International?

And if You go to Oudtshoorn, You can eat all the ostrich steak You desire...there are literally millions of them there, so a steak or 2 in both of Your bellies won't do any harm to the ostrich population:-))

Rascasse

If you want to see the Garden Route and don't fancy driving both directions I recommend driving one way and flying back. We flew into George and picked up a hire car there and started in Plettenberg Bay. You could easily drive the other way and drop the hire car off at George or PE and fly back to Cape Town. Kulula and 1time are cheap airlines we used down there.

One place I would recommend on the Garden Route is the elephant sanctuary near Plettenberg. Walking with the elephants was one of the highlights of our trip. Also nearby is Birds of Eden & Monkeyland and are pretty cool as well.

Le_Dieux

Rascasse wrote: »

If you want to see the Garden Route and don't fancy driving both directions I recommend driving one way and flying back. We flew into George and picked up a hire car there and started in Plettenberg Bay. You could easily drive the other way and drop the hire car off at George or PE and fly back to Cape Town. Kulula and 1time are cheap airlines we used down there.

One place I would recommend on the Garden Route is the elephant sanctuary near Plettenberg. Walking with the elephants was one of the highlights of our trip. Also nearby is Birds of Eden & Monkeyland and are pretty cool as well.

And while recommending where to go on the Garden Route, if one is doing it, they MUST stop in Knysna - sheer paradise!