Cape Town - Solo Travel

[znappa]

I've been to Cape Town a long while ago. We did a few nights in Cape Town and then a few nights in the wine region. We did the main sights like V&A and Table Top mountain.

I'm looking to go on my own in late November. I am looking to explore some new places. Does anyone have any suggestions?

I would also like an area of the city that I can just wander from my hotel/airbnb out for a coffee and then back home.

Avoid CBD, I think you'd be ok at the V&A, Camps Bay and then further afield (Fish Hoek, Kalk Bay, Simonstown maybe) and then even further out in Franschoek (Winelands). I felt really unsafe in central Cape Town, sorry I can't be more positive.

I'd agree, went last year and stayed at the Double tree which does free transfers into the V&A area, but even then you would not want to wander about at night in the DT area, despite it being up and coming, I'd add, even Camps Bay, which should be OK (but wasn't really). We got a capetown pass when we were there, and it was very cheap and well organised for what we got, far better than any other city, including wine tours, the HOHO (we used that a lot) sunset hill, sunset cruise, table mountain, botanical gardens, world of birds etc. We also booked a private driver to take us to the far out places via the hotel (cape point, penguins) - and where it was not cheap, it was the best day ever for £85 each, totally safe, totally got our agenda, and was a lovely guy. The HOHO people do tours there, but we were not keen. We used ubers a bit (to get us back from V&A) and they were fine, and inexpensive. It is a difficult place to visit if you like just getting out and doing stuff, but it genuinely is just too un-nerving and dangerous, and I have travelled extensively for 30 years. I loved my time there (we flew up to J'burg and had a side trip to Dinokeng, which I also enjoyed) but it is just not the place to wander around, you have to stay in your lane, which is the tourist lane. Hope you still get to go, and I am glad I went, but I won't be going back xx

Nobody "wanders around at night" anywhere in the world. Would you at home?
No of course not.
Cape Town is fabulous.
Take the Red Tourist bus. Hop on hop off anywhere you want to go. Including to going up to Table Mountain.

I travelled solo around South Africa. Never had a problem. People are lovely.

@suburberphobe I would feel safe walking a block or two in most cities - not Cape Town. We stayed on Bree Street - a road full of restaurants, cool bars etc (which is why we chose it). I can't remember the actual building numbers, but say we were staying at Number 20, and the restaurant we'd booked was at Number 100, even the people on the reception desk at the hotel told us to book an uber (for what was less than a 10 minute walk - at 7pm). That's not normal for most cities.

We travelled quite a bit through SA this summer and would wholeheartedly agree that 99.9% of the people we met were wonderful, 99% of the time I felt safe (other than central CT and downtown Jo'burg).

What about Blouberg area OP?

It's right on the beachfront, not too busy and there are plenty of coffee shops and restaurants nearby. And kite surfers aplenty to gaze at if you are that way inclined. You can get a bus pass or Uber to the more touristy places if you want to visit them again.

I wouldn't walk around the CBD of Cape Town or Jhb at night, but then again I wouldn't in many other busy cities either in other parts of the world. And I am doubtful OP being a single traveller would either.

It is just practicing common sense surely.

The OP said she wanted to wander out of her hotel for a coffee and back again. As I said above, 7pm in July is not dark, its not particularly late, and we were still advised not to walk even a block or two.

I'm only giving my opinion to assist the OP in making choices. We were there this year - we'd been about 10 years ago, walked all over CT morning, noon and night without a care in the world, it was amazing. This summer, it had a completely different vibe.

But 7pm in July is dark. Its winter then.

Anyway OP, PP stayed in CBD and Woodstock which are more vibrant, but busier areas. And because of this, may have been advised to take more caution at night.

What setting would you prefer? Like I said Blouberg is lovely with easy access to local restaurants, or for something quieter a little further up Melkbostrand is also nice. Or Kalk Bay / Noordhoek. Or even up the west coast on the outskirts of CT towards Langebaan. Or Stellenbosch for a less beachy setting. So it depends on what type of environment you would prefer.

We stayed at the Silo Hotel (above the MOCAA Museum), very close to V&A. We generally took ubers at night, but felt fine walking around in busier areas during the day.

The Botanic Gardens are lovely, OP, and I highly highly recommend the Oranjezicht City Farm Market if you're there on a Saturday or Sunday. We walked from the hotel and could not have felt safer.

I also found that Franschoek in wine country felt super safe (and had a lovely Autumnal feel in July).

I stayed at The Table Bay hotel, I would recommend that and then book excursions from there. Or there and a few days at the winelands.
Would you consider hiring a car, I’ve done that a couple of times as there are a lot of great places you can get to in about an hour.

suburberphobe · Today 02:21

Nobody "wanders around at night" anywhere in the world. Would you at home

There are plenty of places where it is safe at to wander around at night. Cities in Korea and Japan, Beijing, Hong Kong, quite a few in the Middle East.

I agree there are plenty of big cities where it’s safe to go out walking at night!

If you are talking day time wandering a bit i think central like bree street would be fine. But cape town is not a "wander around" at night city. And never has been. As a born and bred Cape Townian I can tell you we havr always been ridiculously anti walking anywhere except up Table Mountain! South Africans are often a weird juxtaposition of active and outdoorsy with "drive from.shop a to shop b, 100 m apart! "

Staying in the waterfront is the most likely to give you that sense of just wandering out whenever you feel like it.

I have been enjoying insta posts from secretcapetown - might be worth checking out.

Things I like doing when I am home (although dont do all of these as much these days with dc!)

Lunch in Hout Bay. I used to love Dunes for the perfect view but not sure if its still there.

Kirstenbosch. I find it astonishingly relaxing. The Sunday evening concerts might have started by the time you arrive so worth checking out. But I always visit kirstenbosch at some point and the kids now love it too.

Pottery painting - i think its in hout bay too but will check.

Markets - there are a few but you will have to check where and when. Kirstenbosch and Hout Bay used to be lovely. There might be in observatory or Woodstock.

The world of birds

Cricket at Newlands

Afternoon tea at the Vineyard Hotel

Go swimming in the palmiet river. This one might not be entirely advisable if you are travelling alone.

Spa and massage at 12 Apostles hotel.

Walk up Lions Head - find a group or tour.

Kalk Bay- a great day out with lovely boutique shops and lots of cute little arty cafes and restaurants. We used to take the train but I am not sure if thats a great idea these days. So uber or drive.

For shopping, the waterfront feels too overwhelming! My local was Cavendish Square and I still have a soft spot for it - explore just outside and in surrounding streets too. At Constantia Village the main mall is a bit pointless but I have always liked the little add on bits.

Breakfast at the buffet at the Raddisson in the Waterfront.

Rhodes Memorial has glorious views. But it might be shut to visitors as I think there was a fire.

Take a walk along sea point promenade (by day). Just filled with locals exercising, socialising, being, and its goegeous along the sea front. There's also a sea water / tidal pool there somewhere.

Ooh we did Lions Head this summer, it was amazing if not a little scary (the ladders!). The weather was atrocious - couldn't see anything - but still loved it! OP definitely do it as part of a group if you are on your own.