![]() Even in the tourist hubs, I often felt sketched out if someone was following me for too long or bothering me incessantly. ![]() Most places within Cape Town are fine but wandering too far from the tourist hubs can be ill-advised, especially if you are by yourself. I’ve been pretty chill about all of that stuff lately but it’s way better to take a little extra time to be safe.Īnother thing to be aware of is sticking to the safer, more touristy neighborhoods, especially at night. Just lock all your doors in general and keep your stuff in a safe or locked up when you’re in your room or dorm. Shut your windows at robots (traffic lights) especially in sketchy areas where someone might do a quick snatch and grab in traffic. Keep all of your stuff in the boot (or trunk) and never leave anything in plain sight. If you’ve got a car, always lock your doors and shut your windows. Be street smart and you should have no problems, although there are a few minor annoyances that will prove to be unavoidable. Like many big cities in South Africa, Cape Town has a pretty bad reputation as an unsafe city. ![]() Staying Street Smart in Cape Townįirst things first, let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way. I couldn’t get prices that cheap sometimes in my university town. Even in the nicest bar I went to, a double gin and tonic only ran me about $7. The surprise I felt every time I would walk into a nice club and only paying maximum $3 USD for a beer never got old. For drinks, going out in South Africa is dangerously cheap. You can do a lot cheaper if you buy your own groceries and cook your own meals. It isn’t South East Asia cheap but I would estimate most prices to be about 20-30% cheaper than an equivalent in the U.S.įor food, you can get by on about $10-15 a day even eating out for every meal. As far as modern, Western big cities go, Cape Town is significantly cheaper. As far as prices go, Cape Town might be the most expensive city in all of Africa. The South African currency is called the Rand and currently, the exchange rate stands at about 14 Rand per U.S. The comfort, convenience, and simplicity will be worth it. The money you would save from taking a city bus or a local taxi is minuscule at that point. Split between a few friends, you’re basically paying $1-2 to get anywhere within Cape Town. Within the city, you should only be spending about 60-80 rand maximum to get anywhere within 20 minutes. With all that being said, Ubers should be your preferred form of transportation. I’d also personally advise against using taxis in Cape Town. You’ll get stuffed in a little van that swerves like a maniac through traffic with little concern for casualty or consequence. Taxis are just as crazy, although also a cheap option. It is the cheapest way to get around but I’d say there’s only a 20% chance you get to where you need to go by the time you need to be there. If you’re lucky that there isn’t a strike currently going on, you’ll probably quickly learn about African time instead. I use SafetyWing to keep me covered throughout my travels for as low as $40 a month.Ĭape Town has a bus system that is a strong contender for least reliable thing on this planet. Yet there I was, on my 42nd day in Cape Town after arriving ready to conquer the African content with just a backpack and a dream.Īnd before you go, make sure you have good travel insurance handy while you’re off adventuring across the world. Backpackers don’t fall in love, not with a person and definitely not with any city. Every attempt I made to leave left me coming back just a few short days later. Just like those shipwrecks, many people who wash up here will find it hard to ever leave the city.Īs a backpacker who not only survives, but lives for the constant motion of travel, Cape Town sucked me in frustratingly well. Shipwrecks still line many parts of this historically significant port city. The ocean breeze, gentle yet devastating. The mountains stand watch over the Mother City as the waves crash incessantly on its endless shorelines. It feels laid back, yet in constant motion. Yes, Cape Town is a city that has hundreds of activities to do but the real appeal of this city is its indescribable vibe. With cultures clashing yet coexisting, the dynamic feel of this city brings me to life. After having spent a solid month and a half here, I still feel like I’ve hardly scratched the surface of this vibrant city.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |