My top tips for visiting Cape Town

In my opinion it is essential to never leave your hotel with the following items. I've also added toilet roll and hand sanitiser to my ruck sack along with a couple of snacks and drinks.

Walking boots

Camera

Binoculars
Umbrella
Coin purse, keep this in your pocket as you will often require small change but don't want to keep getting your purse out your bag.
Cape Town Red Bus Ticket and Map

Take a photo of the departure times of the Red Bus when you get off so you know what time to return for the next bus. But make sure you are then looking at the right photo, unlike me who missed 2 buses until I realised my error.


I've been to Cape Town on previous occasions and never thought to check if all the attractions were open in the winter. The Table Mountain Cableway is closed due to annual maintenance, but with this weather I'm beginning to suspect they've actually taken the mountain away.

My Sunday Photo from Cape Town

My teenage son is on his school holidays from the UK. I decided to spend as much time travelling South Africa as time would permit.

We left Johannesburg by train at 12.30pm on Friday arriving in Cape Town on Saturday at 4.30pm. That's 28hrs.

We are staying in the Waterfront. Today we ventured out on the City Sightseeing Red Bus and walking tour.

I couldn't pick just one picture and even 4 doesn't do the trip justice.

See Cape Town with the City Sightseeing Red Bus

This is my 3^rd visit to Cape Town and having travelled here by train, I’m without transport, but what better way to travel than by the City Sightseeing Hop on – Hop off Red Bus.

I will add at this point that this is NOT a sponsored post, and although I’m from the UK, I’ve lived in Pretoria for nearly 4 years and being able to walk around safely and travel on public transport, it has become a novelty to me, to be enjoyed.

The teenager did his best today with Mum in Cape Town, he wasn’t too enthralled with the idea of going on a bus tour and even less about a guided walk, but he showered and trudged after me to Long Street to the Hop on - Hop off Red Bus.

I booked a 2 day adult ticket the night before online, but when I reached the payment page, it only charged me for 1 adult ticket. On arrival at the ticket office I was informed that on weekends, U15s travel free. Although they don’t get the benefit of all the extras included with the 2-day ticket.

We got on the blue route bus at 10am, we got off at Hout Bay and saw seals. Walked from stop 10 to stop 11 at Sea Point, disembarked at the 2 Ocean aquarium at the V & A Waterfront, had a spot to eat and then travelled to the CTICC by boat along the canal and walked the short journey back to the hotel arriving back at 2.30pm.

I’m afraid I left the teenager in the hotel and returned to Long Street to join the Bo-Kaap walking tour for 3pm, which lasted an hour.

The commentary on the bus was informative and easy to listen to, head phones were provided free of charge and a new pair was issued to each passenger, there was also a commentary available on the canal trip and the guide on the walking tour was knowledgeable and engaging.

The cost of my ticket was R230 and I have a 2^nd days use left for me tomorrow and an additional R20 for sons canal trip. I had a latte at the end of the tour and I’m using the free Wi-Fi to write this blog post and upload the photos.

I will be booking the Johannesburg & Soweto tour for when my eldest son and his girlfriend come to visit in September and I look forward to seeing how the 2 tours differ.

Train from Johannesburg to Cape Town with a teenager

Well it’s been an amazing experience, something to look back on and say we’ve done, but I don’t think I’ll be doing it again in a hurry. I’ve always had a dream to travel by train, coast to coast in America, but 28 hrs on the tourist train from Johannesburg to Cape Town has put an end to those plans.

Booking tickets for the Shosholoza Meyl was completed online, once an enquiry was made, payment details were sent, proof of payment was returned, email with booking number received and tickets collected from Johannesburg train station minimum of an hour before travel. The cost each way is R630/£35pp

The station was busy and we were told to be on the platform an hour prior to travel, we stood in the waiting hall till the train was announced and it was one mad push, shove, scramble to form a queue, clinging tightly to our luggage and hoping no one moved as we’d probably fall over if they did.

The train was spotless, we had a 4 sleeper compartment, there was a toilet and a shower at the end of each carriage and around 2 hours into the journey a really friendly guy came and asked if we wanted to hire bedding for the night which cost R57/£6 pp. The compartment featured a pull down table and underneath was a sink with hot and cold running water and a plastic bag provided for the rubbish.

I packed toilet roll and wet wipes for the journey, which came in very helpful and plenty of drink, snacks and sandwiches. There is a buffet car on the train and they announce when they are serving lunch, supper and breakfast, all at a very good price with a range of burgers, pap and sarmies. Food was available also as a take away as was tea and coffee.

Sleeping didn’t come too easily I’m afraid for me. Son managed to sleep most of the night, then after an early wake up call at 6am, with a woman yelling ‘early morning coffee, coffee, coffee, coffee’ he went back to sleep. I’m afraid I wasn’t too polite and asked her to be quiet, but she carried on. It was 2 hours before we reached the next stop, I really didn’t need waking.

There were many stops in the night, up to an hour at a time, in the middle of nowhere while we waiting for trains to pass, it was strange but it was when the train was still and quiet that I actually woke up.

Both my son and I had loaded movies onto our laptops, but discovered there was no charging points on the train, thankfully I had packed many packets of loom bands that entertained my 15yo for most of the journey and I read a book and wrote some letters. There is no smoking on the train, but plenty of stops if you need one and a few people were hanging out the windows at times.

We arrived in Cape Town 28hrs later, only 1 hr behind schedule which isn't bad for an epic trip like this, we were clean, a little tired, but stress free and no aches and pains like the car journey down here before has given me.

We fly back on Wednesday evening using our Avios with BA at the cost of R350/£19.50 each.

We are staying approx a 5 min walk from the train station ands a further 15 min walk to The V&A Waterfront. A walk to a near by restaurant for dinner, a shower and a comfy bed to sink into and the train journey wasn't that bad, in fact I'd rather catch the train here again than travel by car as we will be using the hop on, hop off City Sightseeing Red Bus for the next 3 days to get around the city.