Hi all,

Planning a trip to South Africa in October - 7-19 Oct. We will be flying from UK direct into CPT (flights not negotiable, got a really good deal so already firmed these).

Current plan is:

Cape Town, 6 nights: scuba in kelp forest, Table mountain, Bo-Kaap, Boulders Beach, Cape Point, Lions Head, District 6, Robben Island, Kirstenbosch. As well as of course plenty of food and drink places. Planning on staying in Sea Point. Any extra time for beach half-days. Keeping it flexible due to weather.

Hermanus, 3 nights (but arriving late on first day): this is really important to me, I’d love to see whales as this is a bucket list activity for me.

Franschhoek, 2 nights (3 days): wine tram, visit some wineries, hiking in Mont Rochelle, maybe day trip Stellenbosch. *or should we be doing Stellenbosch as base??*

Then Franschhoek to CPT airport to fly home.

My aims for the trip is a mix of wildlife, scenery, wine, cultural side of Cape Town, hiking.

We will likely be doing this without a car.

What are your thoughts on this itinerary? I’m a little hesitant at the fact it’s all on a small part of the Western Cape and not the whole country, but given flying in and out of CPT I don’t want to try and squeeze in too much. Am I being an idiot for not trying to get some safari in?

Safari is not an absolute must for me but I would have loved to do it. My thought process is it seems like a very different trip and I don’t want to waste a relatively short trip stuck in planes and transfers when there is already so much to see in Cape Town and its surroundings.

Would you sacrifice the time and money to spend 2/3 nights up in Kruger?

Hey Cape Townians,

I (m,24) am going to spend a month in Cape Town on my own, doing an internship at a local hospital where I'm sure there will be fellow Europeans to hang out with, but I also wanna make local friends to go on weekend trips together and such! Since I've heard various different opinions on the safety of Cape Town, I wonder, where would you guys try to make new friends? Are there any good places that are also safe to go to and popular with people my age?

And does anyone have recommendations regarding a car rental for 30 days that doesn't break the bank? Or should I just uber everywhere?

Lots of love from Germany, can't wait to finally see Cape Town in person!

Is anyone looking to hike up table mountain today?

Has anyone else seen what looks like a blue light brigade but there are taxis in the middle instead of fancy cars? I've seen it twice now on the N1 inbound to M5 interchange in the mornings. About 2-3 of those bright highway patrol police cars and 3-4 taxis in the middle. They have their lights flashing etc. and drive in the shoulder or push past every one else.

Does anyone know what it's all about?

Hi guys, I hear traffic has gotten hectic going into town recently and Im travelling from southern suburbs to CBD tomorrow and have to be there by 9am, what time do you recommend leaving my side? Travelling M5 and N2.

Myciti is going to far,they used to be affordable and the prices would match the services but they recently increased fare price and honestly it ain’t worth it anymore bus chair,doors and more are broken,kiosk is closed 90% of the time and buses are always coming late. AM I THE ONLY ONE THAT THINKS THIS??like the fare increase does not make sense to me honestly

Genuine question: would a rent strike work to force local government to act in terms of rent controls?

Airbnb has become a big talking point in the past year or so but there are other issues facing renters. As with many other locals I rent not from an individual who I can address with issues but from a trust that owns the apartment block I live in.

I have lived in this particular apartment for 4 years and have never missed a rental payment, yet I have had to fix every issue in my apartment out of my own pocket. All emails and calls going to the trust remain unanswered, including a complaint regarding pipes that leak from the ceiling. Every year rent goes up by around R1000.

Newer occupants are forced to pay a double deposit. I know from former neighbours that not a single tenant has received their deposit back.

It seems that these large trusts and rental agents use housing scarcity and overwhelming power to avoid upholding their end of the bargain and to force people to accept very dubious leases - because where else do you go?

Our rental tribunals are overburdened and the stress of living in a building where your landlord is actively trying to remove you or block you from resigning leases is enough of a threat that most won’t even try.

TL/DR:
Landlords (especially corporate owners and rental agencies) use rental scarcity as leverage in lease agreements, deposit disputes and to leave problems unresolved. Is a rental strike the solution?

Hi,

I hope someone can help me understand or if they experience the same thing and might looked into this. When you are on a call coming over Plattekloof hill on the N1. Does anyone drop connection there? Everytime when I drive past there my phone drops connection. I thought it was just me. Then on Sunday my Girlfriend was driving home and drove past that spot and she also dropped connection.

It's bugging me what is causing the connection to drop there? I thought let me first reach out here to see if someone knows. Hopefully someone knows. It isn't anything important I just need to know.

Thanks

Anyone know a good car valet in town / Atlantic seaboard?

Loads of car washes but I don’t know any that do a deep upholstery clean.

Since the matter is still on the news, I thought to repost this as it’s funny 🤣 as could be !

Hi guys, I have recently learnt that generic GLP-1's are on the market or will be soon in South Africa. Has anyone seen them yet? Also, how can I find out when they'll be available locally?

I am thinking of visiting COT for a few days, is it recommended that I book a hotel in the CBD?

Driving down to Boulders to see the penguins. Considering a whale watching boat tour from Simon's town afterwards, or else driving down to Cape point. Don't have time for both. Anyone done both and what do you recommend?

Not a bad spot for a 7am start. No filters.