What You Need To Know When Visiting South Africa...
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Languages
We have 11 official languages in South Africa, however in Cape Town there are 3 that are most prominent: English, Afrikaans (originating from the Dutch) and Xhosa (an African tribal language). If you can speak English, you will manage to communicate with most locals as those who speak Afrikaans and Xhosa can usually also speak English. |
Currency
South African Rand (ZAR), which has been plummeting to all time lows recently, making 2016 the perfect time for foreigners to visit. The exchange rate: (as of 5 Feb 2020) €1 = R16,20 $1 = R14,70 £1 = R19,20 |
Value-Added Tax
South Africa has a value-added tax of 15% on purchases and services. Foreigners can claim VAT back on collective purchases of over R250 at the VAT refunds office located at the Cape Town International Airport. Tipping: A minimum of 10% of the bill is standard in restaurants. |
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Travel Insurance
It is very important to ensure you are fully covered if anything goes wrong on your trip. Make sure not only to have medical cover, but also that you are covered if there are delays, cancellations, loss/theft of luggage etc. |
International Dialing Code: +27
Emergency Contact Numbers: All emergencies, calling from any mobile phone: 112 Calling from a landline: 107 Police: 10111 |
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Seasons
South Africa doesn’t really experience four distinct seasons and Cape Town in particular is infamous for providing 4 seasons in a single day. However most assume that January is mid-summer and June is mid-winter. In general the transition season of autumn and spring are very short. The other interesting thing about South African weather is that winter down South is opposite to up North in terms of wet and dry seasons. Winter in Cape Town is very wet, whereas up in Johannesburg it is dry during winter and wet during summer. Summer: Dec – February Autumn: March – May Winter: June – August Spring: September – November |
Getting Around
Uber has become the most popular and convenient way to get around Cape Town over the past few years if you are not driving yourself. If you have not used the app before, simply download it here complete the registration. Hiring a car is also always an option, especially if you plan on exploring further afield. Just remember that we drive on the LEFT hand side of the road. Be sure however to never leave anything visible in your car when parked to avoid getting your vehicle broken into. We have great relationships with reliable local transfer companies too, so give us a shout if you'd like our assistance. |
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Best time to visit Cape Town
Summer is definitely the best time to visit, December through January is an exciting time, with lots of events taking place and there is a great buzz around the city as most locals are on holiday too during this time. However if you are not a fan of crowds, traffic and prefer not having to book everything in advance, we’d recommend visiting just after or just before the peak season rush.
The Cape peninsular is known to be one of the best places in the world to view whales from land. Whales can be spotted close to the shores between the months of June through to November. Also with September being spring, it is a fantastic time to view the spectacular wild flowers that blossom all over the Cape and cover vast landscapes with bright & colourful indigenous flowers. |
Best Time of year for a South African Safari
Although winter down south in the Cape is our wet season, up in the Kruger National Park and Eastern Cape region, it is the dry season with little to no rainfall. This is where most of our wildlife reserves are located, such as the Kruger National Park, Sabi Sands, Madikwe and Mala Mala. Due to the lack of rain, there is less vegetation, allowing for more visibility and frequent animal sightings during the winter months. Due to the scarce rainfall during this time of year, animals tend to gather around watering holes and rivers, enabling the high possibility of spotting all of the "Big Five" (Lion, Elephant, Buffalo, Leopard and Rhino) and many other spectacular animals. Contact us for more information on our safari offerings, packages and specials.
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Cape Town Peak Season
Mid December to beginning of January. This is due to the local South African summer holidays and festive season. Cape Town is a very popular holiday destination for both locals and tourists alike. Hotels, restaurants and beaches are extremely busy during this period and therefore we highly recommend travellers book their accommodation, tours and restaurants far in advance to avoid disappointment.
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Cape Town in winter?
Winter in Cape Town is generally quite mild with a reasonable amount of rain. Mid-winter temperatures usually range between a low of 8˚C and high of 17˚C. Most hotels and villas offer reduced rates during the winter months and it is a great time to enjoy eating out at fabulous restaurants or wine tasting next to a raging fire at many of the fantastic wine farms close by. It is not unusual to get sunny days too during this time of year, therefore if you are planning a South African safari during winter, we’d definitely still recommend including Cape Town in your itinerary.
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Getting to Cape Town
There are many airlines that frequently travel to South Africa from all over the world, offering both direct and indirect options. Most direct flights are into Johannesburg and from here it is a two-hour flight to Cape Town. Direct options to Cape Town are from London Heathrow, Munich, Frankfurt (during summer), Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Buenos Aires and Abu Dhabi. Booking in advance is highly recommended as closer to the time of travel, rates increase due to demand.
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Where to stay
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Where to Eat
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This is our specialty and we love taking the time to find out exactly what each individual client of ours is looking for regarding their accommodation. We then match our clients with the ideal property for them. The most popular suburbs/places to stay in Cape Town are mostly on the Atlantic Seaboard, such as Camps bay, Clifton, Sea Point and the Waterfront. There are many fantastic hotels in Cape Town ranging from small boutique hotels and guesthouses to large, luxury chains. A few of our favourite hotels on the Atlantic Seaboard are Ellerman House, Twelve Apostles and Sea Five. In the V&A Waterfront, The Cape Grace is stunning; a small, luxury hotel with great staff and a famous whiskey bar called Bascule. View all our hand-picked, best luxury Cape Town hotels portfolio.
If you will be travelling as a group of friends or a family staying together, we’d recommend looking into renting a private villa to accommodate your group, such as Hamilton House or La Clé Des Montagnes in the Cape Winelands. Often the rates work out to be more affordable with all the perks one would usually receive in a hotel, including our exceptional concierge service at no additional cost. Contact us to tell us exactly what you are looking for. View our Luxury Villa Portfolio. |
Condé Nast Traveler named Cape Town the Best Foodie City in the world for the past few years running so if you love great food as much as we do, you have come to the right place. We have put together a list of our favourite restaurants in and around Cape Town, have a read of our 11 favourite Cape Winelands restaurants and let us know your thoughts.
An option we often put forward to our clients who choose to stay in their own private villa, is to allow us to arrange an exclusive meal(s) in the comfort of their ‘home’. We will custom-design a menu just for you. Our exceptional chefs will then cook up a storm in your kitchen, whilst all you will need to do is relax and enjoy drinks by the pool, served to you by our professional staff. Dinner will be served, cleared and your kitchen will be left clean and tidy as though you had gone out for dinner, but the memories, experience, food and service will be remembered for years to come. If this is something that sounds appealing to you, Contact Us and we’d be happy to put together a unique menu just for you. |
Cape Town’s Best Beaches
1. Clifton: Located on the Atlantic Seaboard, Clifton is separated into 4 beaches by large boulders and is hands down one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, with its white sand and clear, turquois waters. Protected from the infamous South Easterly wind, this is always a great option.
2. Llandudno: is a 200m blue flag beach, situated a short 20-minute drive from the city centre, towards Hout Bay. This beach is popular for sunbathing and sundowners, although few venture into the water for more than a few minutes as the water is icy cold, especially in summer. This is a popular surfing spot for professionals.
3. Camps Bay: The most popular tourist beach in Cape Town with it’s long white sandy beach and incredible backdrop of Table Mountain and Lions Head. The beach is lined with palm trees, bars and restaurants, also know as the “Strip”.
4. Boulders beach: probably one of the most unique experiences would be swimming at Boulders Beach. This is due to the large African Penguin colony that calls this beach their home. Definitely worth a visit on your way to Cape Point.
5. Blouberg: Iconic location to take exceptional photos of Table Mountain over the ocean. Also one of the best places in the world to kitesurf/watch kitesurfers.
2. Llandudno: is a 200m blue flag beach, situated a short 20-minute drive from the city centre, towards Hout Bay. This beach is popular for sunbathing and sundowners, although few venture into the water for more than a few minutes as the water is icy cold, especially in summer. This is a popular surfing spot for professionals.
3. Camps Bay: The most popular tourist beach in Cape Town with it’s long white sandy beach and incredible backdrop of Table Mountain and Lions Head. The beach is lined with palm trees, bars and restaurants, also know as the “Strip”.
4. Boulders beach: probably one of the most unique experiences would be swimming at Boulders Beach. This is due to the large African Penguin colony that calls this beach their home. Definitely worth a visit on your way to Cape Point.
5. Blouberg: Iconic location to take exceptional photos of Table Mountain over the ocean. Also one of the best places in the world to kitesurf/watch kitesurfers.
Our Favourite Wine Farms
There are so many fantastic wine farms in the Cape, so we put this list together to include estates with quality wines and unique experience offerings.
1. Waterford Estate: Located in Stellenbosch, fabulous wines, and exceptional service in such a beautiful setting. They offer three unique wine tasting experiences: Chocolate and Wine Tasting, Reserve Vintage Tasting and a 2 hour Waterford Estate Wine Drive where guests get to taste the estate wines in the vineyards of their origin whilst expertly guided as to why this region is so diverse and fantastic for wine making.
2. Creation Wines: Located in the breathtakingly beautiful Hemel en Aarde Valley, a two-hour drive from Cape Town. Hands down the best food and wine pairings around, really spectacular wines and professional service. There is a lot to see and do in this region, including whale watching in Hermanus, shark-cage diving in Gansbaai, dining at the award-winning restaurant at Newton Johnson and more, however, Creation is worth the two hour drive simply to taste their excellent wines and cleverly paired food.
3. Delaire Graff: Luxury and exclusive accommodation within Delaire Graff Lodge, spectacular views, beautiful gardens, award-winning wines and their restaurant; Indochine, stunning boutiques and gallery.
4. Cavalli Estate: a modern stud and wine farm in Stellenchosch. With fantastic wine at very reasonable prices, the award wining restaurant Equus and world-class Saddlebred horses. The estate is located in a prime position with breathtaking views over the wine region.
5. Haute Cabrière: Located at the top of Franschhoek, Haute Cabrière provides the ultimate vantage point from which to appreciate the exceptional views over the Franschhoek valley. They are particularly well known for their unique Chardonnay, Pinot Noir blend and sparkling wines.
6. Constantia Glen: This wine farm is located in the Constantia wine region, just 20 minutes from the city centre. A beautiful glass tasting room sits atop rolling vineyards with views all the way to False Bay. Their wines and platters are fabulous. Bookings are essential as this spot is a local favourite and usually full on weekends.
7. Cape Point Vineyards: Located in Noordhoek, a mere 33km from Cape Town. This is the perfect place to enjoy a pre-ordered gourmet picnic on their rolling grass, overlooking the lake and Long Beach whilst tasting some of the “worlds best wines in its class”.
1. Waterford Estate: Located in Stellenbosch, fabulous wines, and exceptional service in such a beautiful setting. They offer three unique wine tasting experiences: Chocolate and Wine Tasting, Reserve Vintage Tasting and a 2 hour Waterford Estate Wine Drive where guests get to taste the estate wines in the vineyards of their origin whilst expertly guided as to why this region is so diverse and fantastic for wine making.
2. Creation Wines: Located in the breathtakingly beautiful Hemel en Aarde Valley, a two-hour drive from Cape Town. Hands down the best food and wine pairings around, really spectacular wines and professional service. There is a lot to see and do in this region, including whale watching in Hermanus, shark-cage diving in Gansbaai, dining at the award-winning restaurant at Newton Johnson and more, however, Creation is worth the two hour drive simply to taste their excellent wines and cleverly paired food.
3. Delaire Graff: Luxury and exclusive accommodation within Delaire Graff Lodge, spectacular views, beautiful gardens, award-winning wines and their restaurant; Indochine, stunning boutiques and gallery.
4. Cavalli Estate: a modern stud and wine farm in Stellenchosch. With fantastic wine at very reasonable prices, the award wining restaurant Equus and world-class Saddlebred horses. The estate is located in a prime position with breathtaking views over the wine region.
5. Haute Cabrière: Located at the top of Franschhoek, Haute Cabrière provides the ultimate vantage point from which to appreciate the exceptional views over the Franschhoek valley. They are particularly well known for their unique Chardonnay, Pinot Noir blend and sparkling wines.
6. Constantia Glen: This wine farm is located in the Constantia wine region, just 20 minutes from the city centre. A beautiful glass tasting room sits atop rolling vineyards with views all the way to False Bay. Their wines and platters are fabulous. Bookings are essential as this spot is a local favourite and usually full on weekends.
7. Cape Point Vineyards: Located in Noordhoek, a mere 33km from Cape Town. This is the perfect place to enjoy a pre-ordered gourmet picnic on their rolling grass, overlooking the lake and Long Beach whilst tasting some of the “worlds best wines in its class”.
