South African Seagulls or anyone been to Cape Town.....

[Northstander]

Here's two things to do that we did and loved every second.

Afternoon tea in the Mount Nelson Hotel. Check times.
Sounds poncy and pretentious - but it isn't and you can stuff
your face with as many sandwiches and cakes as you can handle.

Go on a wine tour. I'm not a wine drinker myself - but I was
hooked after the day (and merry as Father Christmas). We had a lady
who was doing an Msc in wine-tasting at Univ. Cape Town - her
tour picks you up at 9.30 and by 10am you're boozing. You
can book down on the waterfront. Amazing.

 

[essbee]

We stayed in a hotel that ran shuttle buses down to the waterfront early evening
and picked up at 11/11.30 etc. Worth knowing about.

 

[farawaysaint]

We stayed in a hotel that ran shuttle buses down to the waterfront early evening
and picked up at 11/11.30 etc. Worth knowing about.

Just my 2c and all but the waterfront is a must to visit yes but expect to be thoroughly ripped off. It's the most expensive place in CT due to all the tourist traffic although that exchange rate will probably help you out quite a bit.

 

[Gully]

Just my 2c and all but the waterfront is a must to visit yes but expect to be thoroughly ripped off. It's the most expensive place in CT due to all the tourist traffic although that exchange rate will probably help you out quite a bit.

...even considering that it is one of the cheapest places I can remember to eat decent food.

There is a fish restaurant there that rates as one of the poshest places I have eaten, most of the clientelle were suited and booted...we were on a hockey tour and wearing shorts, t-shirts and flip-flops...the waiter said that we were more than welcome to eat on the balcony, which was overlooking the harbour and table mountain...I think this taught us that South Africans don't really stand on ceremony, they really do make tourists/travellers feel welcome!

If you like sushi there is a fantastic sushi bar in the main shopping complex, I think I was attached to a much larger restaurant, a great place for lunch!

 

[turnstiler]

Well the Gus bus is definitely gonna be in town - I'll also be flying to Cape Town in a few weeks.

Not hijacking the thread, rather adding to it I hope, but I'm a bit late in booking the Cape Town part of the trip.

Does anyone have any tips on self-catering places to stay in a quite central part of town for around 200/250 quid (preferable the lower part) for 4 nights?

Am getting well excited and will be doing the garden route as far as Addo Elephant Park and back again!!

 

[Jameson]

Chapmans Peak Drive, walking (guided tour) up Table Contain, beaches at Camps Bay and Clifton (don't even think about swimming, it's freezing cold), V&A Waterfront, helicopter ride over Table Mountain, wine tasting at the wineries, having a braai, penguins at Simon's Town, flower market in city centre (lots of stout local ladies flogging beautiful flowers), Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, whale spotting in False Bay, Castle Lager, fush and chups at Houts Bay. Lots to see and do.

Take care and be sensible travelling around at night and around townships at Cape Flats. The local white population are paranoid though so don't get let them convince you not to mix with the natives. Keep everything secure and locked at home/hotels or it will be stolen. Lock your car doors when driving.

 

[Gully]

Does anyone have any tips on self-catering places to stay in a quite central part of town for around 200/250 quid (preferable the lower part) for 4 nights?

We stayed in a place called "the Seagull", by chance not choice, which was in Greenpoint (not far from the footy stadium) and only ten minutes walk from the Waterfront. It was very, very, basic...but we were on a hockey tour and only wanted somewhere safe to stay that was convenient for either going into town or getting out of it. Not sure if it will still be there, we were there in 2003, but from memory it was at the budget end of the scale...so, it may be worth trying to check out.