Your recommendations for the Eastern Cape (page 2 of 3)

Thanks Agnès and Michel for your replies. It’s booked! I went for the self-catering cottages so I’d have a fridge.

I’d read in your various travel journals, Michel, that you’re a fan of this park. I really like the idea of the no-electricity atmosphere with lantern lighting. And if we’re guaranteed to see rhinos there, that’s awesome—at Kruger and in the Karoo, there’s no certainty.

Have a great evening

Hello,

I’ve been thinking about how to organize our few days in Cape Town. Like everyone else, I’ve planned a half-day to go up to the top of Table Mountain. But now I’m wondering if it’s really worth it. From experience, high viewpoints often leave us underwhelmed. We’re also thinking of hiking up Lion’s Head, so wouldn’t that be redundant? What would your arguments be to convince me to go up to the top of Table Mountain?

Hi Virginie

I’m planning a trip in October with a few days in Cape Town as well.

I’ve set aside half a day to go up to the top of Table Mountain. But I’m starting to wonder if it’s really worth it.

I asked myself the same thing 😉 When you add the time spent standing in the queue, I answered my own question: it’ll be Lion’s Head! 😎 (Michel’s been convincing me for ages, plus we’re only spending a short time near Cape Town itself, so you’ve got to make choices!) Right now, it’s just a plan, so I might regret it or change my mind at the last minute.

Hi there

Table Mountain... yes, it's worth it! It's really, really beautiful but...

Get up early in the morning and check if Table Mountain is clear. Go early (as early as possible) because often the clouds roll in later, and the colors are more beautiful in the morning or evening. Early because the buses arrive later. Check if you can currently book tickets to skip the queue... Parking isn’t always easy... allow some extra time (another reason to arrive early).

Lion's Head

It’s truly a favorite if the weather’s gorgeous... The climb is doable... for those who are fit. You walk around the mountain, so you get a 360° view (Cape Town, Table Mountain, Robben Island, the peninsula, Camps Bay) with amazing viewpoints... Don’t leave anything visible in your car! Often, the top of Table Mountain is in the clouds while Lion’s Head is clear... It should always be free... Again, early is the rule here, but a little less strict...

A bit further, Signal Hill Noon gun at midday. Traditional sundowner on Signal Hill...

Three notes: Possible car break-ins at the base of Lion’s Head (rare). Assaults during the hikes to the summit and tricky climbing situations... It’s best to go in a group, be in good shape, and I’d recommend a guide! Assaults reported if walking from Bo-Kaap to Signal Hill or vice versa.

Don’t worry too much—these "assaults" are rare, but any local will tell you to stay alert...

So, in summary... All three are a must! !

Hi Muriel

I’m planning a trip in October with a few days in Cape Town as well.

I asked myself the same question 😉

That’s reassuring! I’m not the only one from outer space 😏

After factoring in the time spent shuffling in the queue, I answered my own question: it’ll be Lion’s Head! 😎 (Michel’s convinced me over time with all his talk about it, plus we’re only spending a short time near Cape Town itself, so we have to make choices!)

Even when buying tickets online in advance, it seems the queue for the cable cars is often really long. And like you, we’re only in Cape Town for a short time—just 2 and a half days, with one day dedicated to the peninsula. If we’d stayed longer, I wouldn’t have hesitated. For Lion’s Head, I have no doubts. It seems less time-consuming, really beautiful, and it’s free!

Thanks for the detailed rundown, Michel. I’m not completely ruling out Table Mountain 😉 Not very reassuring though, your warnings about muggings on Lion’s Head. I’d read that loads of tourists do that hike, so I figured it’d be pretty safe given how busy the trail can get.

I really liked Table Mountain. But that was a long time ago. No queue for the cable car to go up, a beautiful day, and not too many people at the top either.

I didn’t go to the two other viewpoints.

Darn, like Virginie, I thought Lion's Head was safe (at least during the day)! 😕

Assaults don’t happen on Lion’s Head but on the hiking trails leading to the top of Table Mountain (it’s actually clearly indicated on the Sanparks website). Lion’s Head is more about the parking lot where you need to take the usual precautions. And avoid walking to Bo-Kaap Signal Hill. We’re far from calling it dangerous—I’m just saying what any South African would tell you...

it's safe! but... see my other message

How come you "didn’t go to the other two viewpoints"? Never Lion's Head? But, but... that’s unthinkable! We’ll have to fix that! 😉😛

assaults don’t happen on Lion’s Head but on the hiking trails leading to the top of Table Mountain (it’s actually clearly indicated on the Sanparks website)

Okay, sorry, I misunderstood. Yeah, for the Table Mountain hiking trail, I knew that—it’s mentioned all over the websites and blogs.

For the car, we apply the usual precautions everywhere, including in France! Never leave anything visible.

I’ve only been to Cape Town once! A really long time ago... I’ve taken flights to Cape Town since then, but never stopped in the city. Straight into the green!

I’m not really a city person.

I’ve got a new question!

Our two flights arrive at night in Cape Town and Durban. In Cape Town, we should exit the airport around 7:30/8:00 PM, and in Durban around 9:00 PM. It’s not super late, but it’ll be dark. In Cape Town, we’ve booked accommodation north of Hout Bay. In Durban, I haven’t booked anything yet.

Is it sketchy to drive at those times? In Cape Town, there should still be quite a bit of traffic at 8:00 PM, so I’m not too worried, but in Durban at 9:00 PM, I’m not feeling great about it. Would it be better to take a taxi and pick up the car at the airport the next day?

The closest place to sleep in Durban seems to be Ballito, since we’re heading to St. Lucia the next day. Do you have any accommodation or neighborhood recommendations?

Thanks

At night, it's not necessarily because of human danger but mainly because of animals that might wander onto the road.

I’d head to the booked accommodation in Cape Town, and for Durban, I’d choose a place to stay no more than about ten kilometers from the airport (picking up the rental car right away).

Thanks for your reassuring message, Agnès. Actually, I kinda panicked for no good reason 🤪 Yesterday I read stories about people getting scammed by fake municipal agents and fake cops, and another victim of carjacking. Since we avoided cities on our first trip, I’m struggling to gauge how dangerous it is to drive at night compared to that.

No one is immune to bad luck, but there are still plenty of people who land in Durban. If everyone were having problems, there’d be a warning on the French government’s travel advice website.

But there isn’t.

For Durban:

In Durban:

Victoria Quay, underground passages of the Workshop Shopping Centre and the Victoria Embankment, Point Road, the immediate surroundings of the Wheel Shopping Complex and the port. Be cautious at all times on the waterfront.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t stay alert, but no need for paranoia either! 😊

Hi Vall,

For one thing, Durban’s bad reputation is partly because Western travelers don’t come to this country for what it offers—like certain neighborhoods that remind you of San Francisco and one of the world’s largest aquariums, right on the coast. I’ve got a few buddies out there who tell us about it when they come to chill… in the Karoo. 😇

But most importantly, the new airport is *very* far from the city. You *could* drive up to Ballito, but there are also hotels along the coast just south of the airport, where a taxi could take you. The extra cost might even be covered by what you’d save on a rental car. Plus, waking up to the Indian Ocean? Priceless. 🙂

Hi there, Durban is often seen as unsafe by South Africans who don’t live there (much like the Eastern Cape, which is always labeled as a dangerous area...). Almost all the problem stories I’ve heard about happened...in Joburg, downtown Cape Town, and Durban—especially the city center and the beach areas. Voyajou is absolutely right to point out that the airport is pretty far from Durban...

Thanks to all three of you—Attila, Voyajou, and Michel—for your replies.

Indeed, the airport is quite far from Durban, and there are neighborhoods to avoid at night.