Welcome to Cape Town!
Official city guide to Cape Town, South Africa: (http://www.capetown.travel)
Cape Town, South Africa is the second-most populous urban area in South Africa after Johannesburg and is the capital and primate city of the Western Cape province. This port city located on South Africa’s southwest coast, on a peninsula beneath the imposing Table Mountain offers an immense number of things to see, do, and experience.
Below you will find important information about Cape Town which can help you plan your trip or may be useful to you in an emergency or at any time during your visit.
Cape Town Weather/Climate
Cape Town is never out of season, with a particularly good, long summer from November to March. These are the most popular months for visitors, who come to enjoy the 11 or more hours of sunshine every day.
- Temperatures: Average summer temperature: 24.3 ºC
- Sunshine: Average daily sunshine hours: Between 7.5 and 9.5 hours
Cape Town Weather
Cape Town International Airport
Cape Town International Airport is the second-largest airport in South Africa, serving travelers from all over the world. It was extensively upgraded and renovated in 2010, and today it has world-class facilities and is widely regarded as one of the best airports in Africa. 22 airlines operate out of Cape Town including Mango, South African Express, and Flysafair which are all major hubs. The Cape Town International Airport is located 20 km (12 mi) from the Cape Town city centre.
Getting Around Cape Town
Getting around Cape Town does not need to be a chore with plenty of options to choose from. Hire a cab, take the bus or make your way around the city by foot or on bicycle. See more options.
Cape Town Time Zone
The month of November in Cape Town will follow South Africa Standard Time (SAST).
Cape Town Currency
The currency used in Cape Town is the South African Rand. If you are traveling to Cape Town, you will need to exchange your currency for the South African Rand. You may exchange your money for the South African Rand at most Cape Town banks or at specialized stores called Foreign Exchange Bureaus. Look for signs that say Bureau De Change, Geld Wechseln or Cambio. You may be able to exchange your money at the Cape Town airport, but exchange rates may not be the best. You should consider purchasing the South African Rand currency at a more favorable exchange rate before you arrive in Cape Town. You can do that by researching online currency brokers that do foreign exchange. Also, before your trip, consult with your credit or debit card bank about the foreign exchange transaction fees charged for using your card in Cape Town.
Language spoken in Cape Town
The most common languages in Cape Town are English, Afrikaans and Xhosa. Afrikaans is the most widely spoken home language with more than 40% of Capetonians speaking the language. Afrikaans is one of the eleven official languages of South Africa. English is widely spoken and most of the local African population speaks Xhosa. English is spoken by most of the locals, however Afrikaans is still the lingua franca in the Northern suburbs and on the Cape Flats.
Cape Town Electricity
The power supply in South Africa is 220/230 volts AC. The standard plug in South Africa is the 15-amp round-pin, three-prong plug. Euro- and US-style two-pin plugs, and UK-style three-pin plugs, can be used with an adaptor, available at supermarkets. Most hotels have 110-volt outlets.
Emergency Services and Healthcare in Cape Town
Medical facilities in Cape Town are world-class. There is an excellent network of both state and private hospitals.
If you’re an adult, you won’t need any inoculations unless you’re travelling from a yellow-fever endemic area (the yellow fever belt of Africa or South America), in which case you will need certification to prove your inoculation status when you arrive in the country. Hepatitis B inoculations are recommended for children up to the age of 12 who have not completed the series of injections as infants. Cape Town is a malaria-free area.
Hospitals
Groote Schuur Hospital
Main Rd, Observatory, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa
+27 21 404 9111
Somerset Hospital
Bay Court, Portswood Rd, Green Point, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa
+27 21 402 6911
Open 24 hours
Netcare UCT Private Academic Hospital
D18 Anzio Rd, Observatory, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa
+27 21 442 1800
Open 24 hours
Netcare Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital
25 D.F. Malan St, Foreshore, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa
+27 21 441 0000
Open 24 hours
The Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital
4 Klipfontein Rd, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa
+27 21 658 5111
Open 24 hours
New Somerset Hospital
Portswood Road, Green Point, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa
+27 21 402 6911
Open 24 hours
Life Vincent Pallotti Hospital
Alexandra Rd, Pinelands, Cape Town, 7405, South Africa
+27 21 506 5111
Open 24 hours
Mediclinic Cape Town
21 Hof St, Gardens, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa
+27 21 464 5500
Open 24 hours
Emergency Numbers
- Emergencies from a mobile: 112
- Emergencies from a landline: 107
- South African Police Service: 10111
- Medical & Fire Emergencies: 021 535 1100
- Table Mountain NP Emergencies: 021 480 7700
- Sea & Mountain Rescue: 021 948 9900
- National Sea Rescue Institute: 082 911
- Baboon Monitors: 071 588 6540
- Shark Spotters: 078 174 4244
- Ambulance: 10177