Walking with penguins and wine tasting: what to see and where to go in Cape Town

I lived in Cape Town for over a year, rented apartments in ten districts of the city, bought a car and found the best locations for my groups. And I want to share this information with you.

Do I need to get a visa

Russian citizens do not need a visa. When entering South Africa, a stamp is placed indicating the allowable time of stay - they give the maximum 90 days, and all 11 times I managed to get exactly this term. But seven days is enough for the first acquaintance with the country.

If you want to stay here longer, you can enter the country, apply for an extension through the visa center and get another 90 days. All in all, it's been six months. And if you do not want to apply, there is an option with a visaran: go to neighboring Namibia and see the animals in the national park. True, it is better to spend more than seven days outside South Africa, otherwise, upon re-entry, they may be given fewer days.

How to get to Cape Town

Due to the remoteness of South Africa, this will have to be done with transfers. Turkish Airlines, Emirates and other major airlines fly to Cape Town from Istanbul, Doha and Dubai. At the same time, their ticket prices do not differ much, even if you fly with several transfers in African countries.

Adequate price for round-trip tickets now is about $1,000. It is better to take them in advance through the Aviasales and Skyscanner aggregators - there you can pay with ruble cards.

If you are from Russia, you can save money by choosing Ethiopian Airlines. She has regular flights from Moscow to Cape Town with a change in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia). Usually this is 20% cheaper than through Istanbul.

In any case, it is better to take plane tickets in advance. The best time to travel to South Africa is from November to April. In December and January, finding accommodation will not be easy: good options are already booked by locals who are on summer vacation at this time.

How to pay in South Africa

South Africa has its own currency, the South African rand with animals on the banknotes, and it's hard to find in Russia. If you do not have a foreign bank card Visa and Mastercard, bring cash in dollars or euros with you and exchange it in official exchangers. For example, at the Cape Town airport or in the banks of the city.

But the most profitable rate and the minimum commission will be in unofficial exchangers - it is better to clarify the addresses of safe places through the chats of Russian-speaking guys. For example, in Telegram.

And don't worry: traveling with cash in South Africa is quite comfortable. She can pay for taxis, even Uber, purchases in stores, food in cafes and, of course, leave a tip.

Where to live in Cape Town

In the areas of Sea Point, Green Point, Camps Bay - if you are without a car and are going to walk the streets. For long-term rentals, Constantia, Century City and Gardens are ideal. These are quiet and unpopular areas with tourists, where wealthy locals live. There is good infrastructure, schools, parks and walking paths.

But in the areas of Philippi, Mitchells Plain, Khayelitsha, Salt River and Woodstock, it is better not to appear ever: they can rob.

You can book apartments on Airbnb 2-3 months before the trip - in Cape Town there are excellent options from the owners for $80-120 per day. This is the case when it is worth overpaying for security and not taking hostels on the outskirts. By link - 25 cool apartments and houses in which I managed to live.

If you are from Russia, you will have to book accommodation on Airbnb via VPN and pay with a foreign bank card. You can also ask friends to pay.

If there is little time left before traveling to Cape Town, you can find good accommodation on Booking, Ostrovok and other hotel aggregators. I can recommend these hotels: They have a safe and convenient location.

Where and how to rent a car

Cape Town, and other cities in South Africa, is not suitable for walking tourists. There are no sidewalks, it can be dangerous to walk the streets and public transport for travelers is poorly developed.

Therefore, I advise you to rent a car. In Cape Town, as well as around the world, this can be done through the international aggregators EconomyBookings and DiscoveryCars. There are rental points right at the airport. Other verified companies: Avis, Budget, Herz. But Thrifty, First and Dollar have repeatedly failed to return the deposit. Prices for cars - 50-100 dollars per day.

To save about 30%, you can rent a car from a local Pace Car Rental company, but you will have to take a taxi to the rental.

To rent a car you will need:

1. Russian driver's license.
2. International bank card for making a deposit.

If there is no card, I recommend writing to company representatives directly on WhatsApp, explaining the situation and agreeing on a cash deposit. Usually it is 500 dollars.

And if you don't drive, settle in the safe neighborhoods of Sea Point, Green Point, Camps Bay for walking and get around on Uber.

Where to eat in Cape Town

The restaurant culture in South Africa is quite developed: there are high-level establishments, places with healthy food and avocado toast, good burgers, and so on. You can choose a place in Google Maps or on Tripadvisor after reading the reviews. The price for a meal per person starts from $10.

List of my favorite restaurants: Our Local, Addis in Cape Ethiopian Restaurant, VIXI Social House, Zest Restaurant. Bar with delicious cocktails Chinchilla.

But what really deserves your attention in South Africa is the wineries. This is not just a tasting at the factory, but a real hedonistic cult. Each winery has a high-level restaurant or, conversely, a cozy area for enjoying a drink. You can come there, order a cheese plate or a full meal - and at the same time try several varieties of wine.

My favorite wineries: Steenberg Tasting Room, Vergelegen Wine Estate, Delaire Graff Estate. I would recommend the brewery as a bonus Hey Joe Brewing Company. But I warn you: you need to book wine tastings 2-4 weeks in advance.

What to see in Cape Town

Cape Town reminds me of an American city: the ocean, palm trees, good roads, villas instead of high-rise buildings. I advise you to enjoy it to the maximum by visiting popular places for travelers:

• table mountain - a mountain with a flat top, for which it was called Table Mountain. You can climb it by cable car and see the whole panorama of the city.
• Cape of Good Hope - the most southwestern point of Africa, so the name is familiar to many from geography lessons. Along the way, you can see antelopes, baboons and ostriches, and on the cape itself, take pictures with the popular Cape of Good Hope sign and the coordinates of the place.
• colony of penguins Boulders Beach - This is an ennobled beach with paths, bridges and fences. There are about 3,000 penguins in the colony and you can see them swimming, basking in the sand and incubating their eggs.

Next - go to less popular locations. I advise you to visit the Cape Point National Park and go down the path to the sandy and deserted beach Dias Beach. It is located on Cape Agulhas - the southernmost point of Africa. And here you feel that you are on the edge of the world: in complete solitude, without cars and civilization.

You can also enjoy nature in the botanical garden Boomslang Canopy Trailwhere hundreds of plants from all over the world are collected.

When planning a route, add the most beautiful road to the list Misty Cliffsthat runs along the ocean and rocks. And of course, stop by to watch the sunsets at the viewing points The Rock, Chapman's Peak Drive Lookout Point And Camps Bay Beach and Table Mountain ViewPoint.

More things to do in South Africa

In fact, South Africa is a paradise for those who love wildlife and extreme sports. This is the busiest travel destination, and now I will explain why.

If you want to see wild animals:

• Go to the reserve Stony Point Penguin Colony - there penguins live without fences.
• Take a safari to the private Aquila Game Reserve to try your luck and see the big five of Africa: leopard, elephant, buffalo, lion and rhinoceros.
• See alpacas in The Alpaca Loom Coffee Shop and Weaving Studio.
• From May to November, try to see whales at a distance of 5-10 meters in Southern Right Charters. Here they swim near the surface, so the chances of admiring them and taking a cool picture are high.

If you want to add extreme:

• Fly in a helicopter with a company NAC Helicopters Cape Town - It will cost $200.
• Dive with sharks WHITE SHARK PROJECTS. Cage diving into the cold ocean is something you will never forget. Therefore, I add this entertainment to all my trips.

What should you be prepared for

The main thing is not to walk down the street at night. Get to bars and restaurants at night only by taxi. And for complete safety, follow these rules:

1. Do not go to unfamiliar areas: they can rob. Even if you have 10 minutes walk to the next point, it is better to choose a car or a taxi.
2. Do not show jewelry, expensive equipment, cash.
3. Go around the tents with the homeless.

But it’s also important to be prepared to be surprised: South Africa is a relatively new and not yet fully explored destination, and it will change your ideas about travel.

I love Cape Town and would love to come back again and again. I did not have a week or two months to enjoy the country. There are many contrasts here: on the one hand, you have in front of you an authentic Africa with a poor population and a lot of animals, and on the other, European buildings, good restaurants, expensive villas.

Have a good travel!