Getting to Cape Town – transportation, car rental, flights, rail, bus, coach
Posted on 15. Mar, 2010 by admin in Cape Town
Cape Town is well served by transport routes and tourists arriving for the World Cup should not have any major difficulties getting into the city or visiting the countless sites and attractions. Many football fans choose to rent a car as the simplest way of travelling between all the different host cities, although this is not the only way to get around Cape Town and the surrounds as there are also extensive rail connections.
Getting to Cape Town
By plane:
There are several daily flights from Cape Town International Airport to most major South African cities, including Durban and Johannesberg. There are also flights from Cape Town Airport to other destinations such as Swakopmund, Windhoek, Walvis Bay, Nairobi, Maun and Gaborone.
A number of airlines run flights to the US, Asia and Europe, including Delta Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, British Airways, Lufthansa and Malaysian. Cheap flights at Cape Town Airport can be secured on spare seats on some charter services but prices get particularly expensive over Christmas and New Year.
By train:
All passenger trains in the country are run by the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) and are split up into long-distance, inter-city and suburban categories. Metrorail run the commuter trains in most major cities and Shosholoza Meyl run the inter-city links.
All trains to Cape Town arrive at the main station on the corner of Strand Street and Adderley Street in the city centre. Trains to Cape Town run from Johannesburg and Kimberley everyday of the week and twice on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Trains to Cape Town also arrive from Durban, Bloemfontein and Pietermaritzburg on Mondays and Wednesdays, Port Elizabeth and Oudtshoorn on Friday, East London on Sunday and Queenstown on Thursday. Some of these Cape Town trains are only available in economy class.
MetroRail run commuter trains in Cape Town and to and from the neighbouring towns of Strand Paarl, Stellenbosch, Somerset West, Worcester and Malmesbury, and to the Southern Suburbs of Retreat, Claremont and Wyneberg. Trains from Stellenbosch arrive in Cape Town every couple of hours.
By car:
There are several major highways running through the city making travelling to Cape Town by car a fairly easy task. The N1 runs all the way from Harare in Zimbabwe, through Johannesburg, Bloemfontein and Paarl. The N2 allows drivers to get all the way from Swaziland, passed Durban and the Wild Coast, Eastern Cape and Port Elizabeth along the east coast.
You can also drive to Cape Town from Namibia along the N7, which goes along the west coast and through Springbok, the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and Upington. Driving to Cape Town is a fun way to reach the city.
By bus:
Most major cities in Namibia, Windhoek and South Africa are connected to Cape Town by bus. Major bus companies offer intercity connections with as many as six a day leaving from some places. A few buses to Cape Town also come from eastern Africa, including Kenya and Tanzania. Some of these Cape Town buses go through Zambia and Zimbabwe. All buses to Cape Town arrive next to the train station on the corner of Strand and Adderley Street.
By boat:
Most larger cruise liners have Cape Town in their itineraries but there are also come slightly more adventurous options for travelling to Cape Town by boat. The RMS St Helena is a Royal Mail ship that will drop passengers at Cape Town along the way to St Helena.
Getting around Cape Town
By foot:
Getting around Cape Town by foot is not particularly easy unless you are staying in an area where everything is all in one place. Most accommodation in Camps Bay is within easy walking distance to the beach and other amenities but if you are located in elsewhere, you may find travelling by foot in Cape Town is a struggle.
By car:
Public transport in Cape Town and South Africa as a whole is not particularly good, and often the best idea is to secure you own transport. Hiring a car in Cape Town is fairly cheap and petrol is generally less expensive than in Europe.
Driving in Cape Town is also made easy due to the good condition of the roads here, but tourists should be on their guard against the occasional night-time hijacker. It is also worth noting that you can only pay for petrol with cash or a ‘garage card’ issued in South Africa.
Car rental companies in Cape Town:
CABS Car Hire can be found at the airport
Tel: +27 (0)21 386 5500
Email: info@cabs.co.za
Pace Car Rental has both city and airport branches
Tel: +27 (0)84 840 2847
Email: berne@pacecarrental.co.za
CARS Car Rental Services has city and airport branches
Tel: +27 (0)21 553 8000
Email: cars@rcjm.co.za
Avis is based at the Airport
Tel: +27 (0)21 934-0330
Tempest Car Hire is based at the airport
Tel: +27 (0)21 934-3853
First Car Rental Western Cape is located 400m from the Airport terminal
Tel: +27 (0) 21 934 7499
Cruise Table Bay Car Hire can be found in Aviation Crescent, Airport City
Tel: +27 (0)21 386-7699
Email: info@cruisetablebay.com
Hertz is based at the Airport
Tel: +27 (0)21 935-3000
Thrifty is at the airport
Tel: +27 (0)21 936 2116
Drive Africa can be found in Main Road at the Observatory
Tel: +27 (0)21 447 11 44
Penny K`s car hire is in Van Ryneveld Road, Devilspeak
Tel: +27 (0)72 736 69 57
Car-Rental South Africa is located in Brand Avenue, Melkbosstrand
Tel: +27 (0)21 553 80 00
By Taxi:
Metered taxis in Cape Town are a fairly reliable way of getting around. The price is around R8 – R10 per kilometre or you can set a fare with the driver before the journey. Cape Town taxis are a popular choice for tourists.
The Sainte Marie Taxi company has an office at Cape Town Central
Tel: +27 84 745 0312
Email: sainte.marie.tours@gmail.com
Rikkis Taxis has an office New Church Street
Tel: +27 (0)21 418-6713 (info@rikkis.co.za)
Sisonke Tourism Services runs hotel shuttles and day tours
Tel: +27 (0)21 696 4002
Email: tourism@sisonketours.co.za
Tour ‘n Travel offers airport shuttles to and from hotels and guided tours of the area
Tel: +27 (0)21 706 3739
Email: steven@tourandtravel.za.net
Minibus taxis in Cape Town are popular with locals but tend to be less safe for tourists as they get very crowded and often drive erratically. That said, they are very cheap and cover most of the city. Some newer minibus taxis have started to cater to tourists, however, and offer safer but slightly more expensive rides.
Luxury chauffeur services in Cape Town are also available for VIP transportation to corporate events and airport shuttles with style.
Getting Home Executive Services offer such luxury travel. They can be found in Mill Street
Tel: +27 84 800 8093
Email: iwroberts@myrealbox.com
Q Drive also does the same
Tel: +27 860 374 836
Email: info@qdrive.co.za
By bus:
Cape Town buses offer cheap connections to various places in the city with the company Golden Arrow. Buses in Cape Town normally only run in the day and it is always best to check the destination with the driver and ask him to give you a shout when you arrive.
By scooter or motorbike:
Hiring a scooter or motorbike in Cape Town is a good way to get around and it is a lot cheaper than going the whole hog and getting a car. Make sure you insist on a helmet, however, as this is not always considered necessary. Cycling is also popular among locals but it can be hair-raising and heavy on the thighs. Motorbike rental in Cape Town is a much more sensible choice. Prices range from around R100 – R200 per day for standard motorbike hire in Cape Town.
LDV Biking rent scooters and motorbikes from Kloof Nek Road
Tel: +27 (0)83 528-0897
Email: mail@ldvbiking.co.za
Cape Sidecar Adventures has an office on Glengariff Road in Anchor Bay and also rent out vintage WWII sidecars
Tel: +27 (0)21 434-9855
Email: info@sidecars.co.za
Harley Davidson Cape Town will rent you one of their big boys from around R700 per day Tel: +27 (0)21 424-3990
Email: rentals@harley-davidson-capetown.com
By train:
Trains in Cape Town are mainly used by locals and the Metrorail trains in Cape Town are not quite up to European standards. Buying a first-class ticket will ensure you more comfort, however, but not all Cape Town trains have this option available. Cape Town train station can be found on the corner and Adderley and Strand Streets in the city centre.
More than 80 suburban train stations can be reached from Cape Town by train. A nice journey is along the Cape Peninsula’s east coast to Simon’s Town. You can often see whales from your carriage and you may even have your window doused in sea spray if the wind is wild enough. A tourist ticket on this route will allow you to hop on and off any train for the whole day.
If you do choose to travel by train in Cape Town, try and avoid it after dark as thieves often target tourists on the lines. All valuables, including the jewellery you are wearing, should be kept out of sight for the whole of your journey.
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