There are several places to visit in Cape Town South Africa, a city that has been designated as one of the world’s top ten most-loved cities, according to CNNGo. What’s not to love? It’s replete with natural beauty, boasts a diverse population, and is generally considered a safe and healthy area to visit on the continent of Africa. If you are planning on visiting the city, here are some things to keep in mind, along with where to stay and what to do while you’re there:
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Considerations: Cape Town is about 20 hours by airplane from New York; you’ll have to make a stop in Johannesburg or London to transfer. United States citizens don’t need a visa for stays shorter than three months. Unless you are stopping in South America or other parts of Africa, you won’t need a yellow fever vaccine, but you should be sure that you’re up-to-date on your hepatitis B inoculations. Malaria is not a concern in Cape Town. Should you get sick, the health care facilities are clean and safe. Many people speak English, and you should be able to get an English-speaking guide without any problem. Heed your guide’s advice on where you’ll be safe and, more importantly, where you might not be safe. Follow all normal precautions that you’d take in a big city, and avoid giving money to beggars or street children. As long as you follow basic health and safety rules, you should have an incident-free trip to Cape Town.
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Where to Stay: Cape Town offers accommodations that range from hostels to five-star luxury hotels, so you will have a wide variety to choose from that will suit any budget. One luxury hotel is the 2Inn1 Kensington, located in Cape Town Central. The service, rooms and location of this establishment has been lauded by previous visitors. You’ll enjoy a beautiful swimming pool as well as attractive public areas in addition to your well-appointed room. If you are looking to just spend a few dollars on accommodations, consider the Ashanti Lodge and Travel Centre. The lodge offers camping sites, along with hostel-style accommodations. Another clean and safe hostel is A Sunflower Stop, which offers dormitories as well as double rooms at a great value.
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What to Do: With so much to do in the area, you’ll likely be overwhelmed by all of your choices. It’s best to choose one or two things to do each day and try to enjoy each place rather than to fit too much into one day. Families might enjoy the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens or going to the beach. If you’re a golfer, you’ll enjoy the area’s top-notch and well-known golf courses. There are events and festivals going on year-round. Some that are taking place right now include the Earth Fair Food Market, which goes on until the end of December, and live jazz music at the CRYPT Jazz Restaurant, which is open from Tuesday through Saturday and requires reservations.
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If you are looking for a vacation destination that will satisfy your yearning for big-city atmosphere along with the natural beauty of a seaside town, Cape Town may be the perfect match for you.
