Destination: South Africa: Cape Town
Getting Around Text Size A A A
You need to rent a car in Cape Town and to have a good map. Taxis are available but expensive, and public transportation (buses, trains to the southern suburbs) is crowded, unsafe and slow. However, the city is easy to navigate, and the roads are excellent, although you’ll have to get used to driving on the left-hand side of the road. Don’t worry; the adjustment is easier to make than you might think.
In most central areas you will have to pay for on-street parking. Cape Town has an unusual system; uniformed parking attendants patrol a particular beat with small devices that look like credit card machines. After buying a card, put a small amount, around $4.50, on it. (You can add money as needed.) When you return to your car, the attendant will deduct the appropriate amount, about $1 an hour. Although they’re generally honest, abuse of the system is not unheard of, so make sure to ask to see what is being deducted.
There are no self-serve gas stations in South Africa (at least I’ve never seen one), so enjoy the full service. Petrol attendants will also check oil, water and tires and clean your windows with enthusiasm; a small tip (about 70 cents) is the norm. If you are taking taxis, you will need to call one (hotels have lists of taxi operators). Ask for an approximate price ahead of time; a 10 percent tip is sufficient.
Facebook
Delicious
Twitter
Search By Keyword
Submit A Postcard
Popular Destinations
South/Central America: Brazil: Brazil: Rio de Janeiro
This South American city is imbued with sophistication, generous hospitality...
New on Indagare
Give the Gift of Indagare The perfect present for travelers: a membership to Indagare. Buy now
Indagare Insider Trips: Cuba, Myanmar and India: We’re planning trips throughout the year. Contact Indagare (212-988-2611) to be added to the wait list.
Indagare’s Mapped Out City Guides on Paris, London, Rome & more
Le Dolce Città: Rome & Florence Updates
Chile’s Landscapes: Patagonia and Atacama
Fashion Spotlight: Migrants du Monde
SPECIAL OFFERS
Member Reviews
- Community: Share advice with fellow members asking about your favorite travel discoveries.
- Indagare Insiders: Three-day itineraries for families in London and art lovers in Vienna. Plus, fashion insider Chiara Ferragamo’s picks on what not to miss in Florence, Bonnie Gokson, owner of Hong Kong’s lofty Sevva on Hong Kong, Culinary Insider: Budapest.
- Rant & Rave: Indagare members can share their advice with the community by logging in first, then clicking here: Rants & Raves.
- Give the Gift: Indagare: Give the gift of travel intelligence with a membership to Indagare. For details or to order, call us at 212-988-2611 or click here: Gift Membership.
- Indagare Plus: Remember that hotels marked by an Indagare Plus symbol offer preferential rates and benefits to members.
- Indagare Share Feature: Share articles, postcards and reviews with family and friends on such networking sites as Twitter, Facebook and Delicious. Simply click on the three small dots that symbolize our connect icon, at the end of every article, and follow the link to the networking site of your preference.
- Sample Indagare: With free bi-weekly email blasts on new hot spots and insider tips when you sign up for our mailing list.
- Profile feature: Members share your profiles, comments, favorite articles and IQs. Just click on the Profile tab on the upper right of your screen and look for the Edit My Profile blue tab.
- Indagare means to discover, explore, seek, scout in Latin.
