Cape Town travel essentials

Everything locals wish visitors knew before landing.

📱 SIM cards & data

Buy a local SIM at the airport arrivals hall: Vodacom, MTN and Cell C all have kiosks. Bring your passport, because SIMs must be registered (RICA).
eSIMs work too (Airalo, Holafly, or the networks' own tourist eSIMs). Set one up before you fly.
Data is cheap. A 10–20 GB bundle covers a typical week of maps, Uber and WhatsApp.
Free Wi-Fi is common in cafés, malls and the V&A Waterfront.

The currency is the rand (ZAR, shown as R). Cards, including tap-to-pay, work almost everywhere. Carry a little cash for markets, car guards and tips.
Use ATMs inside malls or banks, never ones where a stranger offers to 'help'.
Tip 10–15% at restaurants (check whether service is already included), R10–R20 to petrol attendants, and R5–R10 to car guards.
VAT is 15% and already included in shelf prices. Tourists can claim it back at the airport on goods over R250.

Uber and Bolt are cheap, safe and everywhere: the easiest option without a car, especially at night.
The MyCiTi bus covers the city, Sea Point, Camps Bay, Hout Bay and the airport. Buy a myconnect card at stations.
Hiring a car is best for Cape Point, Chapman's Peak and the Winelands. Drive on the left, and don't leave anything visible in a parked car.
Avoid suburban trains as a visitor; Uber is safer and quicker.

Cape Town is very visitable with normal big-city sense. Keep phones out of sight on the street and don't walk alone after dark. Uber door-to-door at night.
Hike in groups, start early and tell someone your route. Save the mountain rescue number: 021 937 0300.
Visit townships with a local guide or tour, not on your own.
Emergency numbers: 112 from any mobile, 10111 for police, 10177 for an ambulance.

Summer (Nov–Mar) is hot, dry and windy, with peak prices. Winter (Jun–Aug) is mild, green and rainy, with whale season starting.
The south-easter wind ('Cape Doctor') can close the cable car. Check tablemountain.net on the day.
The Atlantic side (Camps Bay, Clifton) is icy at around 12–15 °C. False Bay (Muizenberg, Boulders) is a few degrees warmer.
The sun is strong year-round. Wear SPF 50, even on cloudy days.

Shark Spotters watch the main False Bay beaches. Green flag means good visibility, black means poor, red means a shark was recently seen, and a siren means get out of the water.
Swim between the lifeguard flags. Rip currents are common on Atlantic beaches.
Clifton 4th and Camps Bay are Blue Flag beaches with facilities in summer.

Plugs are Type M (large three round pins) and Type C (two-pin). Bring a universal adapter.
Tap water in Cape Town is safe to drink.
Power cuts ('load-shedding') have been rare since 2024, but check the EskomSePush app if you're worried.
Many nationalities get a free 90-day visa on arrival. Check South Africa's DHA list for your passport.

English is spoken everywhere. Afrikaans and isiXhosa are the other main local languages.
Handy words: Molo (hello, isiXhosa), Dankie (thanks, Afrikaans), Lekker (great), Howzit (hi), Just now (sometime later!), Robot (traffic light), Braai (barbecue).