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Getting Around Public Transport Cape Town is a frustrating city to navigate, simply because there is hardly any efficient public transport to speak of. That and the fact that there is a great big mountain right in the middle of the city can make getting around quite a daunting task for the tourist. Cape Town is, nevertheless, equipped with some trains and buses. Metro Transport Information (tel: (0800) 656 463; website: www.mti.co.za) provides centralised information on all trains, buses and taxis. Cape Metrorail (tel: (021) 449 3557; fax: (021) 449 6351; website: www.capemetrorail.co.za) runs the suburban network of trains, which serve the southern and northern suburbs and Stellenbosch, completely ignoring the Atlantic seaboard and the airport. Nevertheless, the Cape Town–Simon’s Town route, which traverses the coastline, just metres from the ocean, is particularly spectacular. Tourists are advised to keep a watchful eye on their possessions, as pickpocketing is rife, and they should also never travel after dark. Trains run daily 0400-2100 (depending on the route travelled), with regular departures, although there is a more limited service at weekends. Tickets vary in price depending on zone and class – a single-zone, third-class ticket costs R5 or R10.50 in first class. Tickets are available for purchase at Cape Town Station, Adderley Street, as are weekly and monthly Metrorail passes, costing R16.50 and R57 respectively (R34 and R117 for first class). Despite a dubious reputation largely gained through a violent confrontation with the minibus taxis, in what became known as the ‘taxi wars’, a few years ago, public buses still run regular and safe services to most destinations – including Camps Bay, Claremont, Hout Bay, Kirstenbosch, Kloof Nek, Sea Point and the Waterfront. However, tourists should probably avoid taking buses to the outlying areas. Golden Arrow (tel: (021) 937 8800 or (080) 121 2111; fax: (021) 934 4885; e-mail: information@gabs.co.za; website: www.gabs.co.za) has the monopoly on Cape Town’s bus services, which run out of the main bus terminus on Strand Street, just opposite Cape Town Station. Buses run daily approximately 0600-2100 (depending on the route), with a more limited service at the weekend. Bus fares are based on the kilometres travelled and prices vary accordingly. For example, a ticket from the city centre toward the southern suburbs (Mowbray) costs R3. Tickets can be purchased upon boarding or from the main terminus (Monday-Friday 0530-1900, Saturday 0700-1815). ‘Clipcards’ or passes are also available at the Strand Street terminus. Based on travel between the city centre and southern suburbs (Mowbray), these cost R27 for a weekly and R119 for a monthly clipcard. Water taxis (tel: (021) 418 5806) operate daily from 0800 to sunset, departing from the V&A Watefront Marina via the Aquarium, Quay 5 and Quay 6 on specific routes. Taxis Metered taxis can be ordered at any time of day or night and can also be hired for day trips. Although the meters are generally accurate, visitors should ask the driver for an estimated price before setting out, as many of the taxi drivers choose to ignore the meter. Taxi rates are approximately R10 per kilometre travelled, with a R60 per hour waiting fee. There are taxi ranks at the main railway station and at the top of Adderley Street, just below Company Gardens. Visitors should note that the practice of hailing a taxi off the street is virtually unheard of in Cape Town. Besides finding one at the ranks, visitors can call Marine Taxis (tel: (021) 434 0434), Unicab (tel: (021) 448 1720 or 447 1179) and Magic Bus (tel: (021) 934 5455), while Rikki’s (tel: (021) 423 4888) provide a more tourist-orientated open taxi service. Tipping is not common practice in Cape Town, although an extra R10-20 is always appreciated. Minibus Taxis A common sight in any South African city, including Cape Town, is the ten- to 12-seater minibus taxis – the preferred transport option of many a car-less local. This is by far the cheapest transport option at about R2.50 a ride from the city centre to the southern suburbs or Atlantic seaboard, however, it cannot really be recommended to tourists. Although the minibus taxis are getting more organised, especially on the inner city routes, and are probably safer than they once were, they still have a dreadful reputation and a bad track record, as a result of the ‘taxi wars’ (see above). Tourists who do choose to use this service should exercise caution and employ common sense at all times. Passengers, particularly women but men as well, should not board an empty bus, nor should they travel alone, at night, or beyond the city centre and the immediate suburbs. They should absolutely avoid the minibus taxis that are in dreadful shape – with flat or smooth tyres, alarming dents or just a general state of disrepair. Similarly, tourists should absolutely avoid minibuses where ‘co-pilots’ lean out of the window or the door to shout the destinations – tourists should only board the minibuses that have the destinations and corresponding route numbers printed on the back of the bus. A ride in a minibus taxi is also a white-knuckle experience, not for the faint hearted, as the drivers do not pay much attention to the rules of the road. Limousines Limousines are something of a novelty in Cape Town and would certainly be stared at in the street. But for an indulgent day of sightseeing – especially wine tasting – a chauffeured limousine is ideal. Operators include Cape Limousine Service (tel: (021) 785 3100), Rent-a-Rolls (tel: (021) 556 7144) and Limousine Services (tel: (021) 439 3252; fax: (021) 439 3214). Rates are R1500-3000 per day (all inclusive). Driving in the City Due to the lack of efficient and safe public transport, many visitors choose to drive. Driving in the city is usually fairly unstressful, as there are good feeder highways, excellent signage and efficient traffic lights. The scenic routes and meandering country roads are particularly lovely. However, the characteristic Cape Town repose seems to dissolve once the locals are behind the wheel and driving can be hair-raising at times. Drivers are almost always accosted at stop streets and traffic lights, by beggars or entrepreneurs flogging everything from newspapers and roses to bin liners. A wonderful treat for a hot and bothered motorist is to purchase a box of sweet Hanepoot grapes, when in season (late summer). Rush hour is generally 0700-0830 and 1630-1800, when some routes, particularly De Waal Drive, heading out of the city, become quite congested. Getting into the city from the southern suburbs can be quite an adventure for the uninitiated. On what is known as ‘University Bend’, where De Waal Drive rounds the mountain towards feeder roads to the N2 and the Eastern Boulevard, there are many tricky lane changes to tackle, mainly because the exits are to the right of the road despite the fact that driving in South Africa is on the left. A preferred route into the city centre is via Main Road, which feeds into the city centre all the way from Wynberg, through Observatory, Woodstock and Salt River into Cape Town. Although fairly straightforward, here drivers have to keep an eye out for minibus taxis, whose Mad Max antics can be quite alarming at times. It is not advisable for drivers to attempt to challenge the minibus taxi drivers, as this can be very dangerous. Parking is plentiful around the city, with almost every mall equipped with indoor parking. Central car parks are located on Strand Street, the Grand Parade and Plein Street. Parking costs approximately R8 per hour. Other parking lots offer a pay-and-display service. In many free open parking lots, uniformed parking security guards will look after cars for a tip. Tipping is not essential, however, as this is, in most cases, the sole means of support for these security guards, a small tip of around R1 is not much for the average visitor to spare. Street parking is much less simple. Rather than using coins for parking meters, there is a prepaid swipe card system. Cards are available from R20 at newsagents and other outlets. In many instances, informal parking attendants, mostly unemployed people, will offer to assist in the parking procedure. Having purchased many parking cards in advance, they will monitor the meter for drivers – thus taking away the hassle of the driver having to purchase a card and return all the time to top up the meter. They will also look after the vehicle for the price of parking used and a tip. These attendants can be unreliable, however, and may wander off. Car Hire Hiring a car is often the visitor’s preferred mode of transport in Cape Town, especially for excursions to outlying areas. Hotels can arrange car hire for their guests, while all major car hire companies have booths at the airport. Cape Town Tourism (tel: (021) 426 4260/7/8; fax: (021) 426 4266) will also arrange car hire for tourists at no extra charge. Some of the many car hire companies include Atlantic (tel: (021) 934 4600; fax: (021) 934 4549; e-mail: atlancar@iafrica.com); Avis (tel: (0800) 021 111; fax: (021) 423 3601; website: www.avis.co.za); Budget (tel: (086) 101 6622; e-mail: reservations@budget.co.za; website: www.budget.co.za); Caesars (tel: (021) 919 5171; fax: (021) 910 0775; e-mail: info@caesars.co.za; website: www.caesarscarhire.com); Cape Car Hire (tel: (021) 683 2441/2; fax: (021) 683 2443; e-mail: info@capecarhire.co.za; website: www.capecarhire.co.za); Hertz (tel: (0861) 600 136 or (021) 400 9650; fax: (021) 425 8766; e-mail: res@hertz.co.za; website: www.hertz.co.za) and Tempest (tel: (021) 424 5000; fax: (021) 424 4190; website: www.tempestcarhire.co.za). Rates start at R75 per day for a budget vehicle (excluding mileage). Optional insurance is provided by the car hire companies and is highly recommended, particularly against theft. In most instances, drivers must be at least 21 years (and often 25 years) and have a credit card and an International Driving Permit (unless the driver’s national licence is printed in English and bears a photograph of the holder). Bicycle & Scooter Hire Cycling in the city centre requires nerves of steel, and tremendous good luck. It is therefore not recommended. However, country and suburban excursions can be incredibly rewarding, especially through the Winelands and the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. Rent-a-Ride, 1 Park Road, Mouille Point (tel: (021) 434 1122; e-mail: bahamba@iafrica.com), hires out bicycles for R85 per day or R350 per week. To beat the beach parking blues, particularly in the crowded summer months, adventurous tourists often choose to hire out Vespa scooters from African Buzz, 202 Long Street (tel: (021) 423 0052; fax: (021) 423 0056; e-mail: skootaz@intekom.co.za), for R145-175 per 24 hours, depending on the season. |
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