South Africa

[innorway]

Anyone had a holiday in Cape Town / Garden Route with kids recently?

Went to SA with our then 5mo dd last year. It was fab, fab, fab. Agree with everything said - your older kids will love boulders (penguins) and the other suggestions sound great. Also stayed on Waterfront - it was lovely; we made full use of babysitting services so were able to get nights out. Everyone was soo friendly and dd was treated like a princess by everyone. Have two comments:

**Car seats: Our car hire experience was the only slightly disorganised part of our stay. I would advice double-checking that they have a car seat for you AND that they know how to put it in the car AND put it in the car for you. Our car arrived without a car seat, was sent back, then arrived with car seat but not secured in car, then finally some arrived to put the car seat in the car. Was a v old looking one (bulky exposed metal frame) and dd was facing forward at 5mo, but we got on with it. This was through an int'l chain.

do you have a baby backpack? we used one a bit though dd was still a bit small for it.

Could I ask a question please? We were thinking of going in Easter holidays (early April) but were told probably not warm enough for sitting around pools etc (we fancy a couple of days dossing doing nothing)

What do you think?

TIA
x

These SA Mumsnetters could start a family travel advice business service!

I also had another question about our trip end feb / beginning March which I'd be grateful for input on. Our youngest 2 both sleep in grobags (2.5 tog) - should I go for 1 tog or 0.5 tog for our holiday?? - tricky one eh!?

Innorway - my DS2 just uses his 2.5 tog grobag, it gets fairly cool at night and there is no heating.

Mummycan - early April is a lovely time of year and is usually still very warm. I think you could easily sit around the pool in Cape Town.

Depends where you are going Mummycan.

Durban you might be OK - I've certainly been swimming in the sea there at that time of year.

The cape might be a bit cool - it would just depnd on the waether - and it is not so reliable at that time (although we have always been lucky).

The pools may well be getting too cold to swim in, unless they are heated - it's nott he temeparatures during the day that is the problem, but the temperatures at night.

South Africans may have a different view as to whether or not it is warm enough. Dh and I have a fond recollection of sunning ourselves on the deck of our Rondavel in the Game Park on our honeymoon (beginning of June), me in my bikini and dh in hs trunks, when one of the rangers came across to see us - in her fisherman knit thick chunky jumper. We each looked at each other as if we were nuts!

Innorway - I'd prbably go for the 1 tog. If it were that hot, then you could just put a sheet over your youngest ones.

When we were in the Cape in November/December 04, it was really hot during the day. However, we all still slept under sheets and a blanget at night - so porbably about the equivelent of 1 tog.

I agree with jambot about not even being asked permission befire taking your kid away "to look after". The other thing is that they hate hearing kids cry and will do anything to stop them crying. This caused me a wee bot of a problem with ds when we were there when he was 13 months old: he used to resist having his afternoon nap, and I was at a "Golf/Activities Day". I put him inside the golf club to keep him away from all the activity and hopefully get him to settle. He would usually grizzle a wee bit and then go off - however,the staff kept on entertaining him to stop him crying and then feeding him bottles of milk and grapes (both of which were OK - he was mixed bottle and breast fed by that point - but not too much) - so he never did settle. He rewarded me with the most spectacular crap, which went everywhere over his buggy right in the middle of the auction/dinner that evening.

Definitely take some form of portable high chair for your two youngest: you can't rely on finding thme in all restaurants.

We didn't get a wonderful car seat in either of the two cars we hired when ds was 13 months - but at least he was old enough to be facing forward. They were just adequate - and we didn't get instructions as to how to fit them (and at that time, we were still using a rear facing seat at home, so didn't even know how to start putting in a forward facing seat).

Dejags - what d'ya say about white sharks??! and sea swimming?!

Would you also recommend Clovelly over Hout Bay and Kommotjie?

Much thanks
x

There are 2 scratch patches

at the water front

and

just outside simon's town .

This is aslo something that we always did when parking (don't know what our resident SA mners think about it though) -

Car Guards & Parking
?Car guards?; a unique phenomenon you can find in different parts of Cape Town. Ones wearing vests are official ones. As for the unofficial ones, they are either trying to make a living or a quick buck. Look at it this way: Overseas you usually pay tax for a parking meter, over here there is some added value in safety being watched over your car. A Rand per hour is customary. Where there are parking meters an ADO parking card can be used, ask the official parking attendants.

The nights in March can be coolish. But that is SA cool not British! I wouldn't go with the lowest tog bag. Probably not warm enough.
April is a funny month. Can still be lovely during the day, but often fairly chilly at night. On the other hand it can be raining a fair bit. Capetonians probably wouldn't swim in April, but actually it's still nice as the sun is not so hot and you can actually sit out and catch a tan without getting frazzled.
There is a Scratch Patch at the Waterfront and on the road to Cape Point, before you get to Simonstown.
Innorway. Unless you have booked accommodation, I would suggest you give George a miss and rather do two nights in Knysna - more if you can. George is just really a fairly large town. Doesn't really have much to recommend it other than it is close to some great golf courses. Knysna is a wonderful place for a family holiday with lots to do. I would recommend looking for accommodation on Leisure Isle. It has a lovely little beach and is right on the lagoon. Try to do a boat trip to The Heads. That's really lovely. There's also the steam train which runs from Knysna to George. It's worth it to do, but I wouldn't suggest you do the return trip back to Knysna. It takes quite a long time and I think little ones would get very restless.
Innorway - Clovelly is a bit further into town than Hout Bay but there's lots to do in the area and you are close to Cape Point. Fish Hoek beach is a few minutes by car. Unfortunately Fish Hoek town itself is not much to get excited by, but you'll only probably pass through. Also check out another nice beach for children called Seaforth. It's down from the parking lot for the Penguins at Boulders. Lovely sheltered beach with lots of boulders for the kids to play around and jump off of.
Don't worry about sharks. We do get them and there has been an increase in attacks over the last few years, but unless you really swim fairly far off the beach you should be pretty safe. They also have patrols based on the mountainside that look out for sharks coming in too close. If your're adventurous you can go cage diving in shark infested waters. Maybe your DH would be keen on that.

You'll find 'car guards' at almost every parking area. It is now fairly controlled and most of the are officially allowed to be there. As a rule, I give R2 if I'm parked for an hour or two. If I was parked for the afternoon I would give R5.
Also don't forget that the petrol stations are not self service. I normally tip R2 to the attendant. They will normally wash your windscreen for you and ask about your oil and water. Tipping is not done by everyone but it's fairly common practice.

ooh, we stayed just by Seaforth beach which was lovely. 2 decent restaurants within walkign distance, one with bar etc right by the beach, dd loved the penguins. We'd go back like a shot. Google Robinsons cottage seaforth and you should find it.

Seaforth beach is just near Simons Town

I forgot about the petrol stations not being self service! Plus many (most?) of them don't take credit cards (unless that has changed).

Some of the driving customes are different in SA: for example 4 way stops are common and people take it in turn to go, depending on who arrived first at the junction.

Also overtaking on country roads: there is a sort of expectation that the car ahead half pulls over on to the half hard shoulder, to make it easier for the overtaking car to get past. But watch for the (many) pedestrians that may also be on hard shoulder!

Don't many of the more popular swimming beaches have shark nets? I've never some in the sea at the Cape, so don't really know (but the Durban beaches I'm sure had shark nets).

Petrol stations don't accept credit cards, unless it is a special Garage card, but don't think that will apply to overseas visitors. You will really need cash to fill up.
Cars will often pull over onto the shoulder to let you pass. If you pass them it's expected to flash your hazards or wave as thanks. Be careful though as some will pull over at the most dangerous places, when you wouldn't be able to overtake anyway.
There are no shark nets in the Cape, only along the Natal (Durban) coast.

A word of warning: make sure to really check your hire car before you accpet it - and note any additional scratches/damage. Do the same when you return it - and get them to sign for it.

ALso make sure to fill it right up to the brim: we do that and they still manage to put a few more litres in at an exotritinate rate.

We've often had problems with car hire companies trying to claim either damage or an extra day's hire - watch your credit card bills when you get back. And its' not just us - my parents have had the same problems.

If you've pre-ordered before you get there (as it sounds like you're doing) - then take it up with whoever you hired through. They usually sort it!

Another thought as a result of the worrying about car seats etc. The daugher of one of our staff runs a business called Tiny Tourists. She is based in Cape Town and hires our top quality baby stuff ranging from car seats to camp cots, baby baths etc etc. She will actually meet you at the airport, hotel to deliver any stuff you may require.
Her web address is www.tinytourists.com.
The site also has some useful tips on child friendly things to do.

Thanks for that jambot, we have hired car seats with the hire car but if they are like the ones we had last time will prob be dire, we found somewhere to get decent ones but lost the address (perhaps this is it).

We're thinking of going there,ds has severe nut allergy.Have already spoken to dejags about this,but what are your opinions on the allergy situation there?

Will it be a nightmare eating out? He's three..

I would think your average restaurant isn't particularly clued up on what foods have nut products or not.
The only food I know of that is specifically marked if it contains nuts or is from a factory that uses nuts is the food from Woolworths - our M & S. They have a wide range of very good fresh and ready made meals that would suit a toddler. They are widely found throughout the country.

This thread is sooo helpful. We are going to Cape Town too in November for my 40th as my old school friend runs a diving school out there. We shared our 18th's together so thought we would meet up and do the same for our 40th's.

goosey, if you are going near the beginning of November, you might just catch the end of the whale season in Hermanus (normally around July to November when they go off South again). When I lived in Cape Town, I used to go down to Hermanus every year and watch the whales - it is the most unbelievable experience. Even just standing on the beach (didn't bother with going out in boat because they are quite strict about how close you go) you can see the whales frolicking in the water and jumping out and flipping over. It really is an amazing experience.

The whales are fantastic!

We've seen them in April once too - we were lucky and were told that they were in, so made the trip down from Stellenbosch.

Although it's late in the Whale season, you can still see lots of whales if you go to Hermanus. My cousin was out here on his honeymoon last November and he saw Whales, dolphins and went cage diving with Great Whites.

Although it's late in the Whale season, you can still see lots of whales if you go to Hermanus. My cousin was out here on his honeymoon last November and he saw Whales, dolphins and went cage diving with Great Whites.

Although it's late in the Whale season, you can still see lots of whales if you go to Hermanus. My cousin was out here on his honeymoon last November and he saw Whales, dolphins and went cage diving with Great Whites.