Cape Town Sept 2023

[yorkshire270]

We are due to go on our honeymoon on the 18th Sept to Cape Town. The plan is to drive the garden route, with a hire car being dropped off at the hotel in Cape Town. Going to Franschoek, Wilderness, Plettenberg Bay and then safari.

I am having a meltdown reading the recent articles about increased violence in Cape Town.

Has anyone recently been to the area? If so, did you experience any problems?

We can't cancel the honeymoon as we will lose the total amount. The only other option is to postpone it for 12 months but will incur a £375 fee and any additional costs with hotels/airlines added on!

Any advice would be hugely appreciated.

@yorkshire270 Where are you going on safari? We're literally driving home from Heathrow now, having just had a holiday in Cape Town followed by safari. Absolutely awesome holiday and we are gutted to be leaving.

You will be fine - just use your common sense and follow any guidance. Ask your hotel to book reliable taxis for you in the evening. Leave your wedding & engagement rings at home, plus expensive watches. Be discreet with phones (altho that applies in any city). It's a beautiful country and city - you'll have an amazing time.

@yorkshire270 When looking for things to do in Cape Town, book some organised tours/activities through the Trip Advisor app. They were really well organised and we felt 100% safe.

@Nix32 welcome home! Thanks for all of the advice. I think we will press ahead and go, just will remain super vigilant and keep all of the valuables at home. We are staying at the Kariega Game reserve for 3 nights.

My family live there. Go to table mountain on a nice clear day, lions peak is really nice place to go and watch the sunset also. Stay away from long street after dark. Take minimal money out with you and use the hotel safes. No jewellery and put phones away. If you wish to visit Robben island you will need passports to book the ferry. Cape of good hope is also worth a visit you may see whales that time of the year. Plettenberg bay is lovely but be aware there are sharks in the water so you may wish to use the tide pools instead. I love visiting

A friend of mine is in a very similar position, they have just changed their plans to Seville. They are now looking forward to their honeymoon without unease

The V&A area is pretty secure, we stayed there a few years ago with DC and there were plenty of security people around.

We hiked up and down Table Mountain from the Botanic Gardens, and also did the cable car trip.

For driving, don’t drive at night, keep your doors locked (the only issue we had was a large male baboon trying his luck), and watch out for slightly mad overtaking and wandering wildlife. Stick to the main roads and trust your gut.

Once you’re out of Cape Town you’ll find things much better - so many fab places to go. Cape of Good Hope, Boulders Beach for the penguins, Hermanus for whales, Cape Agulhas, Knysna for oysters, Tsitsikamma for the rope bridges, Oudtshoorn for ostriches and caves. Franschhoek is pretty and has some amazing restaurants.

There is the loveliest lady
Janestsjourneys on Instagram

She has tavelled a lot and organises many tours in this area

Take a look at her page
She loves it there and always goes through the things she organised to stay safe xxxxxx

whitewinefriday your friends are missing the trip of a lifetime. I've visited the Cape twice and they were wonderful experiences. You don't get to see wild animals in their natural habitat like you do in Africa.
OP there is a penguin colony near Cape Town - a must-see! Have a wonderful time.

We hired a car through Avis - for once their own excess waiver was remarkably good value when pre-booking, and then I added the extra cover for wheels / tyres / glass at pick up. We handed it back with a chipped windscreen and a slow puncture, and we only had a minimal charge for cleaning the interior (half the beach was in there).

Calm down. It will be fine. I've lived here for ten years and am not paranoid about security, drive kids wherever, walk dog alone daily etc etc. The only time I have ever been robbed was in rural Ireland actually.
Simonstown is lovely, Hermanus too.
R20 at petrol station; have small notes available.
Have a great time.

Clearly South Africans take security seriously. In the uk you don’t see razor wire, rapid response notices, glass topped walls, anti ram gates and security staff snd dogs everywhere. Far less on the garden route and wine area but every single South African we’ve met socially talks about it.

However as a holidaymaker it’s not going to affect you, but you will notice it. Some security aspects will make you feel safe and we’ve never had a single issue. We have never done a guided tour. You don’t need to as navigating is easy. Plus we like to go at our own pace. If you must see township culture, a guided tour is the only way but we’ve never been particularly interested in them. We have found local radio gives a great insight into local life. Especially phone in and investigative programmes.

Can I jump on please? DH is in SA with work. Decided to join him last minute this morning. Travelling with DD (17). Any advice regarding getting taxis at Cape Town? Do we just join the rank or get the hotel to send a car? We are likely staying at the O&O I think. What about the weather this time of year? Do we really need to leave watches and jewellery at home or will we be ok?

Oh OP I am so jealous! We went to SA on honeymoon approx 10 years ago. Obviously can't comment on recent events but presuming that you are staying in the waterfront area you will be fine. There is a large security presence and we didn't once feel unsafe. If you are going up table mountain though, I personally would take the cable car rather than hike.
It's the trip of a lifetime, we still talk about it now - I hope you can relax and enjoy it

Take a cheap watch, leave fancy stuff at home. Weather - BBC weather app is your friend. Getting the hotel to organise a pick up would be a good option.

I personally would take the cable car rather than hike.

Depends how fit you are and how much you like a good hike maybe? Up Skeleton Gorge was a slight scramble in
places but coming down Nursery Gorge was easy (you could go up and down Nursery Gorge). We had preteen / teenage boys and they loved it. That was in 2014 and no safety issues.

@Onestopover Uber is easy to use in the cities, but maybe arrange to be picked up from the airport if you are worried.

The weather is currently about 16 - some sun/clouds. Met Office also quite reliable.

I was thinking more from a safety point of view than fitness, but then I'm quite risk averse!

WE stayed at the one and only this hotel felt really safe . I absolutely loved this holiday and was the best place I have ever been to . Would love to go back .

I have been to Cape Town for work but the last time I went was 2019. I got a SIM while there (and it had data so I used my UK Whatsapp number mainly).

It will be a little chilly (definitely take a jumper/coat) and some houses don't have very good heating/insulation.

I have not had to drive myself though and have either had a transfer booked from the airport, or had someone drive me, or taken an Uber back to hotel/Airbnb from the office.

@MissAtomicBomb1 We first visited when I was 5 months pregnant - didn’t stop DH from thinking that a hike up would be a good idea 🙄

OP, are you referring to the current taxi strikes?

There are protests from time to time, but I really don't think you should consider canceling your trip next month. Yes it's been an issue in some areas, but it will have died down by the time you get here.

Also, the areas you will most likely to be staying in, haven't been affected as badly. There has been a spate of people panic buying bread etc so some places had some empty shelves, was resolved in a day.

You have had good advice, you will be here at an amazing time of the year, fresh into spring and the weather will be great, and everywhere won't be too busy.

To the pp asking about airport transport, Uber is very popular. Just follow the signs walking out of the airport at arrivals, there is a whole car park just for Uber collections.

I'm sure you will have an amazing honeymoon OP.

You are booked at stunning places. I hope you feel a bit better about your holiday now after these responses.

I am pretty sure O&O does airport pickups, otherwise you are welcome to dm me and I will give you the details of some shuttle companies I have used.

They have a motor yacht too btw. In case you wanted to splurge a bit on a private boat charter 😊.

@isthismylifenow I feel a million times better since I reached out on here. It was my first post and everyone has been so helpful.
We have decided to still press ahead, the yacht charter sounds like something we need to definitely try and book. Thanks a mil x

For anyone wondering about jewelry. I just wore my wedding ring and a cheap watch. A very thin gold chain necklace is ok but I wouldn’t wear an expensive engagement ring or a high value watch. If you value it, someone else will too.

I would also take the cable car up table mountain. In winter you can get fog and low cloud. Hiking up or down in those conditions is to be avoided. No one in a hotel will suggest you do this. Plus the weather changes very quickly. Don’t get stuck far out on your own in the Kirstenbosch gardens either.

Do have a drink in the bar at the Silo!!