Trip to Cape Town

[vwdan]

Make sure they are sending you Business class. It's a ******* bitch of a journey if it isn't

Yeah - we didn't go in the end but we were toying with Africa at one point and, to be honest, I had no concept of just how far away it was until we looked at flight durations!

[Platypus]

Scruff's last post was 6 months before you 'joined' the forum. Funny that

Eh? Scruff has several recent posts

[Platypus]

Make sure they are sending you Business class. It's a ******* bitch of a journey if it isn't.

12 hours. If not Business Class, make sure you're very tired, have a pillow and guzzle as much booze as possible so you'll sleep. Then it's not so bad.

I often can't / don't sleep on long haul, this time I did, it was fine.

[Scruff]

I have just spent 4 weeks there. In May, the weather will be changeable and pretty cool at night - rain will be a distinct probability, and daytime temperatures around 20C.

Personally, I have never travelled there Business Class (I have been at least 25 times in the past 15 years), since I would rather have the extra spending money. If a client was paying, then I would insist on it, however. I would not travel via Dubai or Qatar, since the overall travel time is ridiculous. Direct flights (Virgin or BA) take 11.50 hours and SAA via Jo'burg 14-15.

Crime - be sensible and you won't (shouldn't) experience any. Don't walk around shouty and drunk / don't flash the Rolex/AP/Breguet. Hire a car and use Uber for taxis.

Restaurants are dirt cheap and the steaks / grilled fish/calamari exceptional.

Musts - Franschhoek town & Babylonstoren Restaurant just outside / La Perla in Sea Point / The Ocean Basket fish franchise restaurants / Kirstenbosch Gardens / Table Mountain Cableway / Lion's Head walk to the top (1 hour) / Paragliding from Signal Hill / Robben Island / Cape Point Nature Reserve.

Don't - Argue with minibus taxis / neglect to tip 10-15% / pay the car guard R10-R20.

[v8gaz]

Been a few times, love it. We usually stay either on the beach (lastword on Noordhoek beach) or drive up to Stellenbosch (try the Speir winery resort as an example).

Last time was my birthday and we managed to blag a 3 bedroom suite in the Cape Grace, overlooking both the harbour and table mountain. Lovely.

[FatLazyContractor]

Make sure they are sending you Business class. It's a ******* bitch of a journey if it isn't.

Most of the crime is against people not being vigilant. There are signs up advising you not to use phones at traffic lights etc. There will be gangs of lads standing at busy junctions just looking for people that aren't watching what's going on around you. It's a little scarey at first knowing they are there for nothing but to car jack/rob you. Be alert and make sure you know whats going on around you and you'll be ok. Not sure it's the same in the built up areas but when you start getting out of the city it's noticeable. Look confident when you are walking and all those pieces of advice. I was told when I was there most people that were a victim of petty crime made themselves a target.

Similar to 'My friend told me' etc?

[mudskipper]

Musts - Franschhoek town & Babylonstoren Restaurant just outside / La Perla in Sea Point / The Ocean Basket fish franchise restaurants / Kirstenbosch Gardens / Table Mountain Cableway / Lion's Head walk to the top (1 hour) / Paragliding from Signal Hill / Robben Island / Cape Point Nature Reserve.

And Boulders Beach for the pikkewyn!

[Scruff]

And Boulders Beach for the pikkewyn!

If they haven't migrated back to Antarctica by then, for sure 🐳

[Coalman]

Thanks guys. I'm only going to be flying Monday and flying out Thursday evening so limited time. Staying in Waterfront area near exhibition centre. Will try to get up table mountain, not sure what else I'll have time for.

[xoggoth]

Not sure my experience, circa 1972, would be very helpful.

PS But PM me if you are using a time machine.