How does one get about Cape Town?
It depends … Long haul – one can do coach buses such as Intercape or fly with One Time, SAA, BA or Kulula. Longish distances – would probably best in a hired car, or with Golden Arrow who have brand new buses on the roads or by train. Click here for the bus timetables – Golden Arrow bus services.
The roads in SA, although a bit of a mess at moment, are generally good. Make sure you know where you are going in advance and have a safe place to park a car.
Short trips – are best by bus or taxi. I prefer the Rikki taxis which are well priced London style cabs. Minibus taxis are widely used by most locals but they do have a bit of a reputation. The aim is to get as many people as possible to wherever as fast as possible. A bit hair raising for my constitution. I would not take one if I was the only person getting in and I would not use one at night. [see minibus taxis in the picture] I also prefer to avoid the trains.
There are many more operators out there but these ones spring to mind right now.
Is public and commercial transport safe in South Africa? We do have crime. Our crime does tend to occur in hot spots. Our crime statistics are not as scary as some South Africans insist on portraying. You can look up the crime statistics in the area you will be staying at on this link – South African Police Services.
Hanging baskets, a common feature in Europe, do occur here too. In the picture are some Geraniums or what are probably more likely to be Pelargoniums in Main Road, Sea Point.
The plant family is indigenous to South Africa despite being in abundance all over the world.
All along the roads and walk-ways more indigenous plants are going into the ground. The flora should hopefully be spectacular come Soccer World Cup. We will need sun for many plants like the Gazanias or African Daisies to open up. Yet another famous local plant.
Charles Darwin was here. Right here at this exact spot. Back in 1836 Darwin was aboard HMS Beagle and marvelled at this very rock formation.
Some say it was his fascination at the unique geology in the area that began his formulation of the theory of evolution. You can visit the place too if you walk along The Promenade at the furthermost end of Sea Point.
South Africa has 11 official languages. America has none. You really won’t need to start learning to speak Tsonga, Nedebele or Venda to get by. English is readily spoken by most people. In rural areas you may find some locals only speak their mother tongue.
Road signs are in English and some are also in Afrikaans which is very similar to Dutch or Flemish. The local language in Cape Town is Xhosa. Xhosa has distinct click sounds when you see an X or a Q written. It’s really hard to do if you haven’t grown up speaking Xhosa.
Search You Tube for Xhosa clicks to hear the sound or find Miriam Makeba’s click song
You can also learn some basic lingo for free on-line by going to this link – free on-line African language
The Cape Peninsula is flanked by the Indian Ocean on the one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other side. We call them the warm and the cool oceans but in truth there is only about a 2 – 5’C variance between them.
They are both cold. Well to me that’s cold.
Temperatures range between 10’C and 17’C. On a stinking hot summers day one can possible brave a quick dip and risk getting an “ice cream headache”.
Most people who enjoy ocean sports use a wetsuit, although I do know some who don’t.
