Cape Town - Long ago we used to call you the Vaalies. Now you are the Gautengers. And every December you arrive here in your droves, flooding our roads with your GP number plates.
Don’t get us wrong. We love you, we really do. And we understand Cape Town is the most beautiful city in South Africa – millions of tourists from all over the world agree – so of course you want to be here with us, and enjoy everything we have to offer – including our toll-free roads and glorious sunsets.
The first thing you’re going to want to do is go to the beach. Not just to get you off our roads, but to alleviate the stress of driving (and to avoid getting bust for drunk-driving or talking on your cellphone), may we suggest public transport?
The MyCiTi buses now run to Camps Bay and Sea Point, opening up inexpensive access to the spectacular Atlantic seaboard without the hassle of traffic jams and parking.
This side of Cape Town has many beautiful beaches with soft white sand and icy cold seas.
To be fair, there are some parts that are full of shells that can hurt tender feet – like the tidal pool at Camps Bay where it’s more comfortable and safer to swim.
Along with those beaches come a string of places to eat and drink.
Over on the False Bay side of the world, the water is warmer.
You can get to Muizenberg, St James, Kalk Bay, Clovelly and Fish Hoek by train.
While we’re thinking about public transport, one of the best ways to get an overview of the best of Cape Town is to take a ride – or two – on the topless City SightSeeing buses.
This fleet does two major routes and between them you can hop-on, hop-off and go to places like Kirstenbosch, Mariner’s Wharf and The World Of Birds in Hout Bay, stop off in the Constantia Valley for wine tasting, various museums, Camps Bay, Sea Point and Table Mountain.
Yes, how can we ignore our most famous landmark, and one of the New 7 Natural Wonders of the World?
In this case, taking the bus is not only for our benefit but yours too; parking is a nightmare up there, and you’re going to have to wait in queues anyway so who the heck wants to park and walk miles in the heat? Not us, not you.
We hope you have a wonderful holiday here in the Mother City. - Cape Times