Useful things to know before your visit at Lourens River Guesthouse in Somerset West, South Africa.
information, tipps & titbits
useful telephone numbers:
for all emergencies dial from cell phone: 112
dial from landline: 10177
police 10111
Mountain rescue: 021 937 0300
N2 emergency traffic: 021 946 1646
Sea Rescue: 021 449 3500
Sun burns. BIG TIME! Use a lot of sun protection even in the shade. When it is windy or overcast you don’t feel the heat.
The Western Cape is a safe province and Cape Town is an easy city to visit, and if you’re planning your first trip, your biggest problem may just be how to fit all of the area’s notable attractions into your tight itinerary.
But with a few tips and some insight, you’ll be able to maximise your time and ensure you leave South Africa yearning to return.
it’s pretty safe, but stay alert
If it’s your first trip to Cape Town, you’re probably anxious about your safety and security. The reality is that there are parts of the city that aren’t particularly safe, but if you keep your wits about you, you should be fine. Never leave anything visible in your car unattended. And stick to withdrawing cash from well-lit, public automatic teller machines inside banks or inside a shopping centre – and politely but firmly refuse any assistance from people. As with any big city, there are opportunists waiting to take advantage of visitors, but those who are smart and alert to the fact will not attract any would-be criminals.
Foreigners are easy targets, so when walking around, be sensible. If somebody offers you help at an ATM-machine, cancel the transaction immediately and go into the bank or get your money at another time.
Leave valuables in the room safe.
Don’t leave anything inside your car (no jackets or shoes). Put it in the boot/trunk. Windows are easy to break and a pain to replace.
Be careful when you drive at night; hazards include unexpected pedestrians, potholes and animals, also on national roads.
animal encounter
IMPORTANT! Baboons roam free and they are wild animals. And behind the cute little one sits his big uncle. Specially at parking areas of the tourist attractions (Cape Point, Sir Lowry’s Pass, Clarence Drive, Franschhoek Pass….) can you find them. They are looking for food. Therefore do not take bags or backpacks with you that contain food; do not leave car doors, windows or boots open; if the people are in the car – lock the door (baboons know how to open the car doors). Should a baboon take your bag, leave him. He is only looking for food and will leave the rest. DANGER!
work with the weather, not against it
Cape Town has a Mediterranean climate, and the weather can be dramatically different depending on which side of the mountain you find yourself. During summer, it’s often hot but windy; in winter it won’t get horrendously cold, but can rain for a few consecutive days. Fortunately, there are plenty of things to do when the weather turns.
Perfectly still day? Head straight for the mountain while the cable car is operating. Wind pumping? Why not try your hand at kite surfing, or take a scenic drive? Rain getting you down? Find a cosy wine estate with a roaring fireplace. It’s easy to get grumpy with the weather, but the best approach is to seize the opportunities on a good-weather day, and embrace the indoor activities at other times.
Always dress in layers. It might be nice and warm but you turn and suddenly you find yourself in a windy spot or the clouds cover the sun. The temperature can be different from being near the ocean shore to a few kilometres inland. Mornings and evenings are much cooler than during the day. You definitely need a jacket or sweater after sunset.
load shedding and adapters
Load shedding is a way of life. Load shedding is a phrase used to explain the daily power outages for between 6-8 hours per day. It is happening all over South Africa due to complicated issues between the government and power company.
getting around
Public transport is very limited in South Africa. Besides the MyCiti bus network in Cape Town and the Gautrain in Johannesburg and Pretoria, you’ll pretty much need to rent a car, take a metered taxi or Uber around for everything else.
eating out
Make a reservation for your restaurant
Cape Town’s become a foodie capital, and there are dozens of top restaurants to explore. Not every restaurant accepts walk-ins and you need a reservation, especially during high season and school holidays.
Local food consists of a big variety with international influences from countries like Malaysia, India, Portugal etc.
There are so many dishes and flavours; think about meat and fish. Indulge in different varieties of succulent ribs, steaks and burgers, fish, seafood and sushi. Look for Gatsby, Bunny chow, curries, Bobotie and Biltong.
location for shopping
Somerset Mall offers more than 200 stores on 67 000m² to give families from near and far a safe, fun-filled entertainment environment, alongside a superior browsing and shopping experience with restaurants, coffee shops, cinema and food court. Somerset Mall is the third largest shopping centre in the Western Cape.
We hope this was helpful for anyone planning a trip to South Africa. Feel free to share and don’t hesitate to contact us for further information.