cape town tourism 2022

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Home » Africa » South Africa » Cape Town

Is Cape Town SAFE to Visit? (2024 • Insider Tips)

As with all major cities, Cape Town is a mixed bag. The food is superb, there is great surfing, a strange abundance of penguins, and watching the city’s epic sunsets from Table Mountain is a bucket list worthy occupation.

Sadly, this is not the whole picture.

Cape Town’s reputation is one marred by accounts of theft, muggings, assaults, car jackings and gang violence – often fuelled by poverty. Years of Apartheid have contributed to current social issues, which haven’t gone anywhere since…

So it is super reasonable to be asking yourself “ Is Cape Town safe? ”

Luckily for you, I have created this top tier guide to staying safe when you visit Cape Town, filled to the brim with safety tips, tricks, and informative stats. There is no better weapon against danger than knowledge, and this guide will certainly give you that!

Let’s jump into this brilliant South African city!

There is no such thing as a perfect safety guide, as things change quickly. The question of “Is Cape Town Safe?” will ALWAYS have a different answer depending on who you ask.

The information in this safety guide was accurate at the time of writing. If you use our guide, do your own research, and practice common sense, you will probably have a wonderful and safe trip to Cape Town.

If you see any outdated information, we would really appreciate it if you could reach out in the comments below. Otherwise, stay safe friends!

Updated December 2023

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Is it Safe to Visit Cape Town Right Now?

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Cape Town welcomed 1,895,975 international visitors last 2022, based on Cape Town’s tourism research overview. Tourist had a generally fun vacation

Begrudgingly, yes , visiting Cape Town is safe right now. However, travellers should exercise heightened caution due to high levels of crime.

As a tourist, the level of risk that you expose yourself to is low, thanks to the South African tourist police. Spots that are regularly visited by tourists (and there are a great number of cool places to go ) are well guarded, but that does not mean that they can’t be dangerous, especially at night!

Theft, in the form of muggings, scams, and pickpocketing, remains part of the scenery as it would be in any developing city. Because of these occurrences, among others, you can’t really wander around the city too much – it is a little dangerous to do so. Thankfully, the city is safe enough to tick off a great Cape Town itinerary !

Carjackings are a particular issue in South Africa in general, and it is wise to double-check that you locked your doors before driving. When visiting Cape Town, it is always a great idea to take that extra level of precaution!

Cape Town suffered a bad water shortage in 2017/2018, so pay attention to local water regulations and rules.

There is some confusion regarding the safety of central business districts and the city centre. Some reports indicate that due to a strong police presence, the CBDs are quite safe. Others (including the UK government’s own) show that crime levels are actually unreasonably high here, especially at night.

At the end of the day, you should be cautious and take note of any travel safety tips you can get your mitts on. Talk to someone who lives here if you can!

Check out our detailed where to stay guide for Cape Town so you can start your trip right!

Cape Town is a large city with two main areas: the Atlantic Seaboard and the City Bowl. Divided by the iconic Table Mountain, these areas are subdivided into different neighbourhoods and areas. If you’re worried about your safety, stay in one of the following areas.

• V&A Waterfront : Waterfront is a contained area with limited road access and plenty of CCTV cameras and security patrols. It’s home to the Aquarium, the Robben Island Museum, and is the main stop on the City Sightseeing bus routes. If you can put up with loads of tourists, this will be a great place to stay!
• Clifton and Camps Bay : These two sister neighbourhoods are an amazing option for families that want to enjoy the beauty of Cape Town while staying safe. You can find flashy houses and mansions overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, and, if you’re lucky, one or the other celebrity. The area has good transportation links to other parts of the city and it’s home to some of the best guesthouses in Cape Town .
• City Bowl : You’ll find plenty of artists, small businesses, and young entrepreneurs in the City Bowl vicinity. Garden and Woodstock, two uprising and popular neighbourhoods, are situated in City Bowl as well. Staying here means a great mix between nature, culture and lots of creativity. Great hostels too!
• False Bay : While the name belies trickery, False Bay is actually an ex-pat hub. Lots of people move here for the fantastic watersports in the area, especially in Muizenberg and Fish Hoek. Known as Cape Town’s deep south, this is a super safe place to be.

Places in Cape Town to Avoid

Unfortunately, not all of Cape Town is safe. The general rule of thumb is: the poorer the neighbourhood, the more dangerous it is . We’ve listed the main no-go areas that you should avoid during your trip.

• Cape Flats: Cape Flats is known for high crime rates and should definitely be avoided. It’s situated to the southeast of the CBD area and is ruled by gangs. Since 2019, the government has stepped in and the crime statistics have improved, however, it’s still considered a no-go area for tourists.
• Langa and Nyanga: These two areas are the oldest townships in Cape Town, but also one of the poorest. Therefore, crime rates are relatively high and it’s not a safe area for tourists.
• Kraaifontein : Kraaifontein has an extraordinarily high crime rate, and is best missed if possible. Over 10000 crimes were committed here in 2020.
• Other Township Areas: These areas are on the outside of Cape Town’s popular neighbourhoods. While they offer an incredible culture, they’re not the safest place for tourists. Exploring these areas alone is not recommended. Instead, opt for having a local guide or friend show you around.

Keeping your money safe in Cape Town

 One of the most common things to happen to you whilst travelling is losing your money. And let’s face it: the most annoying way for this to actually occur is when it’s stolen from you.

Petty crime is pretty much a problem all over the world.The best solution? Get a money belt.

Stash your cash safely with this money belt. It will keep your valuables safely concealed, no matter where you go.

It looks exactly like a normal belt  except for a SECRET interior pocket perfectly designed to hide a wad of cash, a passport photocopy or anything else you may wish to hide. Never get caught with your pants down again! (Unless you want to…)

The best way to avoid crime is to be cautious, stay vigilant, be aware of your surroundings – and to keep in mind our insider tips for staying safe in Cape Town. 

• Don’t walk around at night  – crime rates are significantly higher after dark. Don’t even think about wandering around during this time. Take a taxi (more on that later).
• Don’t travel on the trains (especially at night)   – Rent a car to get or use Uber.
• Avoid certain districts  – do your research when visiting Cape Town and make sure your walking routes don’t take you through dodgy neighbourhoods.
• Be aware of your surroundings  – for instance, wearing headphones isn’t smart. You’ll want ALL your senses to stay safe.
• Don’t walk around looking super rich  – jewels, expensive clothes, looking like a celebrity. It’s an advert for thieves.
• Be alert at all times – don’t wear your headsets or walk around holding electronics like cameras or phones.
• Take a good medical kit with you – you never know when you might need it!
• Swim between flags and in nets at beaches  – because of dangerous currents, and also sharks. Swim close to the shore and keep an eye out for red flags (these mean don’t swim). But enjoy!
• Be careful if you’re out hiking  – Attacks do happen on the trails. Always share your location with someone you trust. Travel with a group and check to see if certain areas have higher rates of muggings.
• If you’re approached by ‘tourist police’ ignore them  – these people are nine times out of ten fake and just looking to extort you. Ask for identification if you are unsure.
• Don’t leave things lying around unattended  – bags, phones, wallets. These can disappear easily. Keep them on you. A large proportion of crime in Cape Town is opportunistic, so don’t give ’em a reason!
• Always keep an emergency stash of cash – Never keep all your cards/ currency in one place. And hide it all from thieves with a hidden money belt .
• Use ATMs inside  – The only currency accepted in South Africa is the Rand (ZAR). Avoid carrying a lot of cash and try to pay by card. It’s just safer to do so. When withdrawing cash, go inside a mall or bank.
• Secure your belongings at your hotel  – If someone rifles through your stuff, it’s best to have valuables hidden or in a safe.
• Don’t open the door to just anybody  – check to make sure you know who’s knocking at your door – it may be a potential thief.
• Keep your credit cards in sight  – even when they’re in use as fraud is rampant here. Hide them in a money belt.
• Similarly, don’t give your details to anyone  – again, fraud.
• Practice safe sex  – HIV/AIDS is a genuine issue in South Africa that affects lives daily.
• If you’re being robbed, don’t resist –  most fatalities occur when people struggle too much.
• Decline if someone offers to help you with your luggage at airports  – they’ll most likely just be after your luggage itself.
• If you’re heading out at night, do your research and go with people  – a ‘nice’ area + more people around you = preferable.
• Copy important documents  – rather than take your passport around with you, which could easily go missing.
• You’ll probably be approached by street children asking for money  – it’s a personal choice if you give money, but you may find yourself overwhelmed if you seem to be giving a lot/all the time. Donate to a not-for-profit.

Make sure you do your homework, be aware of ‘no-go’ areas, and be conscious of your surroundings; practice these, and you’re bound to have a blast!

You’ll be pleased to know it’s safe to visit Cape Town alone. Of course, travelling by yourself  anywhere in the world comes with its problems. Solo travellers are often easier targets for thieves and can be more susceptible to attack. If you follow our Cape Town safety tips, you should be fine!

Travelling around Cape Town Alone – Tips and Pointers

• Staying in a hostel in Cape Town with solid reviews, a good social atmosphere, and a good location is a good step towards staying safe as a solo traveller in Cape Town.
• Going on a well-reviewed walking tour, or any other sort of tour – maybe one put on by your hostel – is a good way of getting acquainted with the city. 
• Staying with a local at a homestay or guesthouse is another good way to  get some perspective.  Not only will you learn about Cape Town (and South Africa) but also get a good grip on how to get around the city.
• Listen to advice from locals. If you are advised to avoid certain areas or activities alone, do some additional research with their advice in mind before making your final decision on the destination or activity.
• Always let someone know where you are . You don’t want to go missing without anyone noticing.
• Make sure you know where you’re going, how you’re getting there and how you can get back independently.
• Ultimately,  do your research.  Our tips are a good place to start, but the different districts of Cape Town are a sphere of knowledge that need special attention.

With a high crime rate and the ever-looming threat of rape (South Africa as a country has been called the “rape capital of the world”), Cape Town might not seem like the best place to be heading as a solo female traveller .

In defiance of these dangers, there are still plenty of female travellers who go backpacking in Cape Town. Staying safe just means extra work as a female solo traveller .  Lame but necessary.

Travelling to Cape Town as a Woman – Tips and Pointers

• Take taxis arranged by your hostel or through an app. It’s not worth taking the risk when it comes to walking around at night, or even just after sunset.
• Meeting other travellers is a good idea, so find a place to stay in Cape Town with good views, a good vibe and some female-only dorms (if you fancy it). Talking to other female travellers is good since you can share tips on travelling, which can only ever be a positive thing.
• When you’re walking around by yourself, be confident. Looking unsure of your surroundings makes you seem like an easy target .
• Not everywhere in the city is shady. Do your research, and get out of the main touristed areas – Bo-Kaap is a wonderful, trouble-free district full of cool, colourful houses.
• If you want to go out partying, maybe stick to your own hostel bar. If you do go out (with people and while using taxis),  watch your drink and don’t take drinks offered by strangers.
• Ask the staff at your hostel about the local area. The more you know, the safer you’ll be.
• Let people know what your plans are . If you go out hiking or even just on a guided tour, having someone know your whereabouts s better than nobody knowing where you are for the day.
• Try to fit in a little more and dress like a local.
• Avoid being on isolated beaches by yourself, any time of day. Muggings – or worse – can happen.

V&A Waterfront

V&A Waterfront is Cape Towns safest and most popular neighbourhood.

Cape Town receives all kinds of tourists, many of these being families rather than intrepid backpackers. As such, we’d say Cape Town is absolutely safe for families.

Chances are you’ll be staying in a more visited area, and will be doing more touristy things than the average backpacker. This already makes the situation much safer for you, and it should be easy to fully experience Cape Town.

With regards to specifics, you’ll want to pay extra attention to your children if you let them go swimming, due to strong currents and sharks. Normally, there will be a lifeguard or shark spotter on the beach, but don’t count on this!

Don’t let kids wander around streets themselves, and stick to the ‘good’ bits of town. Crime risks are low in large parts of Cape Town but can rise if you head into the slums or poorer parts of town. Don’t do that really uncool tourist thing of visiting one of the underprivileged parts…

There are a few public transport options in Cape Town. Although not as safe as Uber, they’re still a great way to get around the city.

• Minibus Taxis : Very cheap, but they also come with a lot of flaws. They’re often overcrowded, the cars themselves are not maintained, and the drivers have a tendency to disobey all traffic laws.
• MyCiTi : It’s the bus service in Cape Town, and it is much safer. As opposed to minibus taxis, these are actually like any ‘normal’ city bus that you might get in. We approve of this mode of transport.
• Metrorail : As we mentioned earlier, this is not the sort of thing you’ll want to be travelling around on at night (like with anything in Cape Town).

While the roads in Cape Town are generally good to drive on, carjackings and smash-and-grabs make it a bit more dangerous than other places. Since these happen almost exclusively at red lights, people often run reds to mitigate the risk. Lights don’t mean everything here!

Uber is safe in Cape Town. In fact, everybody uses Uber in Cape Town. Even if it’s a 2-minute journey on foot, even if it’s just 100 metres to the next venue, Cape Town residents do not walk – they Uber (or taxi).

Stick to reputable companies that have official methods of contact. One company that is certainly worth your time (and money) is  Excite Taxis, although there are plenty of others. Even when using these legitimate services , take a photo of the driver’s ID.  This helps in case you have any problems.

Crime in Cape Town is sadly a large problem. In 2022, the murder rate was 66.36 per 100,000 inhabitants , which is in a similar bracket to some of the most dangerous cities in South America (like Fortaleza or Belem). The U.S. government travel authority has put a level two rating on South Africa as a whole, due to the high crime rate. Thankfully, crime against tourists is pretty low, but the recent drought and water crisis have put everyone on edge, including the inevitably white middle class.

There have been increasing reports of tour guide scams, so if someone offers, don’t take them up on it unless you know they’re kosher! Try to travel with a friend if you can, and be wary of criminals posing as officials .

Laws in Cape Town

Always carry a copy of your passport and visitor permit with you. Lock the real thing up somewhere safe! The use of cannabis for private consumption is legal here, but it is illegal to buy or sell. You should watch out for current water usage regulations, which have been relaxed since 2018, but may still be present.

Everyone’s packing list is going to look a little different, but here are a few things I would never want to travel to Cape Town without…

Hanging Laundry Bag

Trust us, this is an absolute game changer. Super compact, a hanging mesh laundry bag stops your dirty clothes from stinking, you don’t know how much you need one of these… so just get it, thank us later.

A decent head torch could save your life. If you want to explore caves, unlit temples, or simply find your way to the bathroom during a blackout, a headtorch is a must.

Yesim stands as a premier eSIM service provider, catering specifically to the mobile internet needs of travellers.

Monopoly Deal

Forget about Poker! Monopoly Deal is the single best travel card game that we have ever played. Works with 2-5 players and guarantees happy days.

This is a regular looking belt with a concealed pocket on the inside – you can hide up to twenty notes inside and wear it through airport scanners without it setting them off.

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing .

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

For a travel destination like Cape Town, there are lots of different things you have to consider when it comes to safety. We’ve listed the most common question, answers and facts to make your trip as easy as possible.

Is Cape Town safe at night?

Unless you’re staying in a resort, it is not safe to walk around at night in Cape Town. While touristy areas might be safer, you should definitely avoid going into dark side streets or quiet areas by yourself (or at all).

Is Cape Town Safe for Solo Female Travellers?

Yes , Cape Town is safe for solo female travellers , but they should stay extra aware, and take more precautions than they usually would. South Africa is known in general as the rape capital of the world, so making sure that you stay safe is a top priority.

What are the most Dangerous areas in Cape Town?

The Cape Flats are the most dangerous area and should be fully avoided by tourists and visitors. It’s an area that even locals don’t walk in, and you should definitely avoid it during your visit. In general, townships should be left alone too, given their high rates of crime.

Is Visiting Cape Town Safe?

Whilst Cape Town has a high crime rate and suffers from systematic social issues, you should be safe when you visit Cape Town . A large portion of crime in confined to poorer neighbourhoods and tourist areas are patrolled regularly by the South African tourism police force. That said, it is a place where you should take extra care if possible.

Is Cape Town LGBTQ+ Friendly?

You’ll be happy to hear that Cape town is one of the most LGBTQ+ friendly cities on the entire planet. The rainbow nation legalized same-sex marriages in 2006 – the first country in Africa and the fifth in the world to do so. If you venture out to the poorer areas (which we definitely do not recommend), you’ll get some nasty comments, but if you’re staying in the more touristy neighborhoods you’ll have an absolute blast!

Is it Safe to Live in Cape Town?

Cape Town is an amazing town, one that is often worth the risks. Ask any local and, regardless of statistics, they’d probably say it’s safe to live in Cape Town, at least, for people with good sense. Living here means you probably won’t be as free as you might be in your own country .  Races may mix without issue in your own country, but it’s still not the case here, unfortunately. Living safely in Cape Town will require living in a fairly upmarket suburb with excellent security. Bloubergstrand is a suburb to the north of the city where you’ll feel safe out at night, even alone at the beach. Constantia and Hout Bay are beautiful places to live in the south, but you’ll need security due to the “informal settlement” of Imizamo Yethu between the two.

Yes, we’d say Cape Town is safe for travel as long as you use your common sense and do your research. It is an amazing town, one that is often worth the risks. Ask any local and, regardless of statistics, they’d probably say it’s safe to live in Cape Town, at least, for people with good sense.

Bad things can happen anywhere, but when it comes to staying safe in Cape Town you can lessen your chances of being a victim by simply being vigilant. Pay attention to your surroundings – that’s our number one rule. 

Follow our advice, fellow broke backpackers, and you’ll find Cape Town a much more manageable and fun place to be.

Looking for more info on traveling to Cape Town?

• Let me help you choose where to stay in Cape Town
• Swing by one of these fabulous festivals
• Don’t forget to add an epic national park to your itinerary
• Get inspired by these EPIC bucket list adventures !
• Plan the rest of your trip with our fantastic backpacking Cape Town travel guide!

Disclaimer: Safety conditions change all over the world on a daily basis. We do our best to advise but this info may already be out of date. Do your own research. Enjoy your travels!

And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links . That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!

Lerato Bambo

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28 Comments

Hello there. Good article. I would very much echo what you’ve said about trying to blend in – don’t dress like a tourist, don’t distract yourself with headphones, mobiles etc. and don’t have expensive jewellery and tech in plain site. I stayed for almost three weeks at the Peninsular Suites in the Queens Beach area and felt quite at ease – didn’t feel threatened or endangered. However, a female acquaintance was staying literally at the hotel next door and was the subject of an attempted abduction on Regent Road – some people tried to bundle her into the back of their car but she was able to break free and run into the garage and shop where, to be fair, the staff were very protective of her. I have one other comment, not specifically about safety: since you mention the water shortages of a few years back, you might also want to mention load shedding, i.e. the scheduled, localised power cuts that are currently currently in play.

Safe?? I suffered an attempted mugging on the platform of a bus in the centre, and saw guns and many houses with wire fencing…..Guys on horseback in the shopping area to give an impression of security… no police as such, just security people ….Loved the swimming pool alongside the sea…..but never felt safe…Capetown looked liked it had been a lovely city once, but not so now……Solution? Spend as little time as possible there…surely the rest of the country can’t be as bad??

Thank you for your great article. It’s put my mind at ease as we’ve booked 5 weeks out there starting in late November and was worried about how safe it was. But now I’m really looking forward to my holiday.

I have been to 140 countries and Cape Town was probably one of the most beautiful cities I have ever been…! And never had a single problem while roaming around, including at night. I really wish the city can get much safer, and should it be the case, I would seriously consider moving there. Re blaming the apartheid for the current problems I think it’s “too easy”: the ANC has long been recognized as a highly corrupted political machine, and several of its leaders are currently serving time for this. It’s just too convenient to use the apartheid as a scapegoat for everything bad. The apartheid belongs to the past and ended almost 30 years ago. That’s history. The mis management of SA can only be imputable to those that have ruled it for the last few decades, and so, the ANC. Period. I really hope the country can move forward, looking at the future, as Mandela wanted, follow a path to prosperity, and show the way to the entire continent, instead of conveniently blaming something that ended more than a generation ago.

Hopefully, this is useful to those asking about travel there. I am from the US and married a Captonien. This article is good but a bit general. Yes, it says to stay away from the cape flats for example. However, the cape flats are huge and some areas have lower crime than the so-called “safe” areas mentioned. We have stayed with family there and were just as safe if not more in their home in the cape flats. The neighbors all know each other and everyone welcomed us, had briaas (BBQs) with us, etc. A lot of unique places to eat or order out, great food for great prices. Try a Gatsby Sandwich. That said, perhaps tourists not knowing the area well should avoid it, as it’s mainly locals and not a lot of tourist stuff to do. If you are spending some time, go to Stellenbosch. We got married in Stellenbosch back in 1999-which is lovely. We have gone back at least 4 times since. It just gets better each time. Franshoek is another must-see town. Our favorite place in the wine route is Fairview wine farm. Wine tasting is relaxing and fun. In the city, Camps Bay is excellent as well. We stayed there on several visits. We always felt safe in Camps bay. Surprised the article did not mention the Northern Suburbs? I guess it’s not touristy, but we have lots of family and friends in that area of Durbanville, Tygervalley, etc. Personally, I love it there. I ran every morning up down the tree-lined streets with lots of big hills. There are lots of places to go out for drinks and great food and shopping. Add to that, out of the city we went to Ceres on a few trips, the drive is beautiful. We once stayed at a campground/lodge there near Du Tuits Cliff. Fishing, outdoors, fresh air….so worth it. Finally, the west coast was great. I make sure to visit Laangaban every time we go as I have a friend there. If my wife ever follows through on her threat and forces me to move “back home” with her, I told her that we are going to live in Laangaban on the golf course. Very close to the sea and not a far drive to Capetown. Just my ‘merican perspective. Enjoy your trip. You will love it and its very safe, if you travel smart.

I actually wonder…if you live in south Africa or in cape Town self, seems to me you don’t have a damn CLUE as to the “apartheid” side! What on EARTH has “APARTHEID” got to do with safety, if its to do with because people were so badly done by because of their circumstances what then has 25 years now brought them, hmm? So DON’T GIVE ME THAT BS! i am a south African and definitely not proud of it. A LOT of people here say that the apartheid years were better off than what we now face. At LEAST we had continued ELECTRICITY! So your article makes absolutely no sense because of your attitude around apartheid. Absolute bs. Oh, its taken so long to get people out of “poverty” because apartheid was so “bad”, oh REALLY now????? I wonder if you have checked lately the latest on cape Town hmm? Its one of the best cities…IN THE WORLD (NOT in south Africa or even Africa), who the hell MADE it one of the best, ever thought of that? Ever since “your beloved ANC (who so pushes the apartheid agenda because its the best and ONLY ticket they have…to stay in power) lost power in cape Town to the DA that city has now flourished, it took them under 10 years to do this. Geesh, i wonder WHY…your beloved ANC has taken so long???? Oh, sorry, its apartheid, hmm, yeah, and there was no apartheid in cape Town right???? You APPAUL me with your attitude towards apartheid. Yes, theres crime there, but its not just there, the whole of South Africa is riddled with it! NOT just cape Town so don’t give me your bs…everywhere you go in south Africa is crime so you need to be vigilant EVERYWHERE, not just cape Town. Your article just sickens me

Go fuck yourself (learn to spell whilst you’re at it)

You are wrong about apartheid being cause of crime in South Africa! Totally the opposite. It was a a very economically sound economy and MUCH safer under apartheid. Since the ANC took over total mess. Rampant corruption and crime. Where did you get your info or education!?

You sound almost nostalgic for Apartheid.

We’re going to have to agree to disagree with you on this.

Thanks for commenting though.

Hi All, Just to add to all the useful comments, I was born in Cape Town, I live and work here all my life. For the visitor, and in addition to all said so far, I’d love to encourage any visitor to consider doing route 62, and visit towns like Robertson, Montagu and it’s Avalon Hot water Springs, ( wine tasting, tractor trips up the Mountain with Potjiekos, Barrydale and Oudtshoorn, where there is so much to see ( animals, cango caves) and do. Montagu, e.g. is 180 km from Cape Town, less than 2 hours drive. Safe travel and enjoy.

It wrong to say apartheid is somewhat to blame for somethings that going wrong it the politicians that causing this poverty and let the crime get out of control so they can Blame apartheid… I’m a cape coloured I’m proud of it..and proud Southern African

Thanks for sharing your perspective. All the best.

Great Information. Love the detailed explanation. It feels the author has done a lot of research of the city and has experienced it to the fullest. Way to go.

useful tips here. thank you for it all.

Just a quick fix – there’s no such thing as Afrikaan. It’s Afrikaans.

I would also recommend basic Xhosa phrases – Xhosa, Afrikaans and English being the big three in the city.

Corrected! Thanks Jc!

Hey Lerato my name is Connor Auten and I just read your article on Cape Town and got a ton of value from it as I’m looking to go in February! I run a travel company called Perfect Voyage and we strive to connect the world through providing cheap flights and help members travel affordably 🙂 From your writing you seem very knowledgeable about the travel industry and I wanted to see if we could give you a free membership through Perfect Voyage and get some honest feedback from your standpoint on things you like and things we can improve. We’re taking on a huge expansion going into 2020 as we re-vamp our site & service to improve everything, and would love to hear your expert opinion as we grow. If this isn’t something you have time for we completely understand, but we believe we can provide you great value through Perfect Voyage as we do for our members. We would love you to experience the service and believe your feedback would really sharpen our service! Our website is http://www.perfectvoyage.co but thanks again for the tips on Cape Town and we look forward to hearing back from you!

Best Wishes,

Connor Auten

CEO, Perfect Voyage

Please contact us @ [email protected]

This is extremely helpful, thank you so much for the detailed information on safety. I’m traveling to Cape Town for work in 2 weeks by myself. Is the area around the Convention Centre safe to walk? I’m staying at the Onyx which should only be a few minute walk to the Convention Centre. I’ve also heard great things about Clifton Beach 3 and Sandy Bay, but hear it’s not too safe. Any advice on visiting those beaches during the day by myself? Or should I avoid?

Wow, thanks so much for this great article. I’ve been to SA approx. 13 times now and felt safe all the time. Next year I’m doing a roadtrip throughout SA again with a friend that hasn’t been there before and who is a bit worried about safety. I will make sure that she’s reading your article. It’ll help for sure! Thanks again!!!

I read your blog it’s a very useful for the reader. Thanks for sharing useful information with us.

hi thanks for this great overview of Cape Town. I’m thinking of doing a group trip there as part of the Unsettled travel experiences for 2 weeks in November but haven’t been able to find much information about the reality of it and you’re article is factual and unbiased. Very helpful!

I’ll be in Cape Town in November (last week) with wife and 8 year old child. Where do you recommend we stay?

We think the Bay Hotel is great with kids, but you can check all our favorites here !

I plan on holidaying in Cape Town in February 2020.

Just wanted to know if Camps Bay is safe and how much Rand is recommended for 10 nights?

Thanks you.

Camps Bay is definitely one of the safer parts of Cape Town; just remember to be smart and aware during vulnerable situations, like when you’re out at night or alone at the beach.

Budget-wise, I’d say about 8000-10000 rand for 10 days should be enough for Camps Bay. Just know that it is a bit more expensive than the rest of Cape Town.

Thanks very much for writing this absolutely great article. I’m visiting South Africa for the second time and was thinking of a 3-day stopover in Cape Town (which would be my first). This article really helps keep things in perspective for me and know what to expect. Great job!

Thank you very much! We hope you have a safe trip in Cape Town!

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Travel, Tourism & Hospitality

Tourism in Cape Town - statistics & facts

Post-pandemic recovery of tourism, performance of accommodations in cape town, natural tourist attractions received the most visitors, key insights.

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Cape Town Launches a Virtual Game for Biggest Tourism Campaign Yet

Lebawit Lily Girma , Skift

March 31st, 2022 at 10:45 AM EDT

Tourism campaigns out of the African continent are getting creative and breaking stereotypes in a way never before seen. We're here for it.

Lebawit Lily Girma

Hop on an interactive platform and pick a game character — Thabiso the Fearless Foodie, Storm the Nature Warrior, or Anathi the Urban Adventurer. Then follow your chosen virtual tour guide down a rabbit hole of short and vibrant real-life videos that immerse you into Cape Town’s diverse sceneries and cultural draws. For each guide selected, multiple journey options emerge, from graffiti to wine, drumming to art and history among others, turning the exploration into a dynamic, virtual experience.

At the end of the game, a South African storyteller figure — played by born and bred Capetonian Thony Gum — reappears against the backdrop of a neon purple lit, futuristic-looking Cape Town, reminiscent of Wakanda in the movie Black Panther, as she invites the viewer to “come, your freedom awaits.”  

“ Find your freedom ” is Cape Town Tourism’s new global campaign and its game-style approach blending the virtual with the real is the first of its kind in the travel industry. It’s also the biggest campaign Cape Town Tourism has launched in its 40 years of existence, and it comes in less than a month following South Africa tourism’s first national tourism campaign since the pandemic.

But Cape Town’s computer-generated imaging focus also aims to draw a specific audience: the purpose-seeking, adventure-driven, digitally savvy Millennial.

“It’s an interactive experience from start to finish. We can’t engage with Millennials like we have always done as brands and destinations,” said Enver Duminy, CEO of Cape Town Tourism , at the campaign launch. “Posting on Facebook or advertising on TV may have worked with older Baby Boomers or Gen Xers, it won’t work with Millennials. We need to understand that this generation are truly digital natives and pioneers of the digital travel journey.”

Duminy said that Millennials use social media to experience a destination before they arrive and value the opinions of their friends and influencers above anyone else.

At the end of each virtual journey, the viewer is presented with two options: book now, which leads directly to Expedia, and guided journeys, which leads to itineraries that can be downloaded and list all the themed experiences featured in the video clips.   

“We looked at gamification and Afrofuturism and we wanted to combine those together, also with an element of reality in actually seeing the exact experiences in Cape Town, the exact product, and blend it all together in a really nice interactive experience,” said Leigh Dawber, marketing executive at Cape Town Tourism.

Dawber said that the concept came about within the internal creative team at Cape Town Tourism, and a videographer and VFX creators were then brought on. South Africa’s multiple delayed openings due to surprise pandemic waves meant additional time to perfect the concept.  

“Our goal is to fuel faster recovery in the visitor economy,” said Alderman James Vos, Cape Town city mayoral committee member for economic growth, in a release. “This new campaign really hits the mark not just in terms of being something original and fun, but most importantly, being enticing enough, I believe, to result in actual bookings.”

Eko, the interface used to host the game , simply enables the choice driven journey, Dawber said. “We plug in our content separately; we plug in the intro, we plug in the outro and then we plug in all the experiences separately. So eko is really a platform to enable us to make a choice driven experience at very little cost.”

The entire campaign budget is about 13 million rand, not big as far as campaign budgets have gone in the industry but big for Cape Town. “It is the biggest campaign Cape Town Tourism has ever done in our history of 40 years, so for us it’s big, 13 million rand is real bucks,” said Dawber.

The team will begin actively marketing this campaign in three ways, including a conversion campaign that drives bookings to Expedia, which will kick off on April 27 or Freedom Day in South Africa, with a customized “Find Your Freedom” landing page integrated with specific offerings. A partnership with GoPro ambassadors heading to Cape Town to “find their freedom” and personalize their storytelling is also set, plus a partnership with TikTok to drive branded content.

“So we’re not just producing this game and hoping for people to play, because the reach doesn’t come through tourism boards,” said Dawber. “It comes through really strong partnerships and a very targeted marketing approach. So we mainly target the UK and Germany, but also the U.S. as well.”

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Tags: cape town , coronavirus recovery , south africa , tourism campaigns , tourism marketing

Photo credit: "Find Your Freedom" is Cape Town Tourism's new virtual game campaign aimed at luring Millennials back to the Mother City. Cape Town Tourism / Courtesy of Cape Town Tourism

CAPE TOWN FOR CAPETONIANS

Will it be a better year for tourism in Cape Town?

The tourism rebound in Cape Town is surpassing all expectations, and the outlook remains positive as sporting events make a comeback. Looking at Sojern’s latest hotel data comparing January 2023 to January 2022, the volume of weekly hotel searches has increased significantly this year.

The leading travel marketing platform illustrates below how Cape Town’s tourism is recovering in its first ‘normal’ year since Covid halted tourism to the city. Take a look at a few of the key Sojern findings, and find out what this means for the industry as big events like the Formula E-Prix draw ever closer at the end of this month.

Search/Book to Travel Lead Time (in Days):

The majority of domestic and international travellers are searching for or booking trips to Cape Town more than three months in advance (37%), with a third (31%) booking between one and three months ahead of their travel dates.

Opportunistic planners are currently in the minority – only 14% are booking to travel to Cape Town and then setting off within seven days.

This is a very different picture to 2022, where the majority (65%) of searches or bookings were followed by trips within a seven-day window. For extra context, consider this: in 2022, only 0.08% of travellers were booking trips one to three months in advance.

This demonstrates that consumer confidence in planning trips in advance has returned after a few years of erring on the side of caution.

Trip Duration (Days):

Travellers are giving themselves more time to plan a trip to the City, and it’s no surprise then that they’re planning a substantial stay – as opposed to an impromptu quick visit.

44% of travellers are maximising their time in the Mother City and choosing to stay for up to a fortnight. Short days (three days or less) are only just above 10%. By contrast, in 2022 more than half of travellers were in town for a week or less.

Over three quarters (77%) of travellers are coming to Cape Town from destinations over 3,000 miles away, versus just over half (52%) last year.

A far greater number of travellers are now families (15% in 2023 vs 7% in 2022), while the percentage of solo visitors perhaps on business has dropped (65% in 2023 vs 76% in 2022).

It appears that the reopening of the city post COVID restrictions – and also taking into consideration the greater number of events taking place in the city this year – has whetted the appetite of tourists.

The fast-approaching Formula E-Prix is bringing its singular brand of motoring entertainment to the Mother City on 25 February before heading to far-flung cities such as Sao Paulo, Portland and London later in the year.

Sojern’s latest data shows that hotel demand for Cape Town is up from 2022 levels (and 2019 as well), and that presents an opportunity for the City’s hospitality sector.

As recent report looking at how to take advantage of this year’s increase in tourism, gives the following tips:

• Local hotels, attractions and tour operators should be getting in front of customers and offering up their services and unique selling points to travellers ahead of their arrival.
• Hotels in the Green Point area fully booked for the Formula E-Prix, or any upcoming events this year, should continue to maintain their digital marketing presence. Now is the time to share the details of amenities, such as restaurants, pools or spas, so guests are fully aware of offerings, and where they can spend their time when they aren’t at the circuit or otherwise.
• Travel intent data should be used to entice domestic travellers who might still be on the fence. Do they know the Formula E-Prix is on the horizon? Are they aware of the other great events the city will play host to this year that might inspire them to make a last-minute trip to Cape Town?

BA partners with Airlink to boost connectivity with Southern Africa

Picture:  Getty Images

Article written by Tauhira Ajam

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40+ Cape Town Tourism Statistics, Numbers and Trends

Updated on June 27, 2022 by Axel Hernborg

Tourism adds major value to Cape Town’s economy and is a job-intensive industry. Over the past decade, the sector has directly contributed between 2% and 3.5% annually to the local economy and has directly sustained between 3% and 5% of all jobs in the city. Currently, the tourism industry employs around 45,000 people directly, and adding to this indirect and induced employment, the tourism economy sustains around 150,000 jobs in total. Tourism is arguably the economic sector with the best growth and employment potential in Cape Town.

Cape Town city has a rich diversity of assets and features that speak to the statistics and trends highlighted below. The city has been able to offer sustainable, authentic and varied travel experiences and tourist satisfaction. We have compiled essential and recent statistics of the city tourism sector.

Table of contents

• 1 PRE & POST PANDEMIC STATISTICS
• 2 HABITS AND MOTIVES
• 3 OTHER TRENDS
• 4 REFERENCES

PRE & POST PANDEMIC STATISTICS

• Tourism adds major value to Cape Town’s economy and is a job-intensive industry. Over the past decade, the sector has directly contributed between 2% and 3.5% annually to the local economy and has directly sustained between 3% and 5% of all jobs in the city.
• In 2016, Cape Town tourist attractions welcomed some 28 million visitors and this number continues to grow year on year. 
• In 2019, Cape Town International Airport welcomed 5.4 million passengers, the third consecutive year that arrivals exceeded 5 million passengers.
• Despite the ongoing pandemic and lockdowns, tourism drove R5.8 billion into the City’s economy in 2021.
• The city has received numerous accolades since 2011, including being chosen as the world’s top tourist city for the seventh time in the 2019 Telegraph Awards.
• Cape Town’s tourism brand has become self-sustaining, with the metropolis regularly making it onto the top ten lists globally.
• Top international Source Market arrivals to Cape Town include the United Kingdom, Germany, and the U.S.A. The international source markets that saw the greatest YOY growth include India, China, and Spain.
• February is the peak month for international leisure tourism and business tourism to Cape Town.
• The natural attractions and wonderful climate of Cape Town contribute to the city being viewed as a destination where tourists do not have to spend a lot of money to have a good holiday.
• Cape Town has the country’s second-largest airport, which makes the destination more accessible than many others in Africa. This level of  accessibility  makes it an obvious choice of destination.
• There is a strong perception that Cape Town is a safer and more enjoyable travel destination than other cities in South Africa.
• The relatively weak exchange rate also works in the favor of international tourists who would like to enjoy a summer holiday and safaris without breaking the bank to do so.
• Top attractions include the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, Table Mountain, Cape of Good Hope, Robben Island, the Boulders Penguin Colony, Zeitz MOCAA Museum, District Six Museum, Groot Constantia, Silvermine Nature Reserve, and Meerendal.
• Cape Town is South Africa’s oldest and most beautiful city.
• Tourism contributed R800 million to the City of Cape Town’s economy in December last year.
• The City’s tourism strategy aims to breathe life back into the tourism sector and help bring about economic recovery.
• Cape Town Tourism (CTT) says despite the positive uptake in numbers, the sector will take some time to recover.
• The emergence of the Omicron variant last few months ago impacted travel sentiments for the festive season and peak season.
• As of December 2021, all of Cape Town’s famed attractions reported a positive recovery when compared to 2019 figures. Cape Point at 33%, Chapman’s Peak Drive at 77%, Groot Constantia at 60%, Kirstenbosch at 49%, Robben Island at 46%, Table Mountain at 57%, and Two Oceans Aquarium at 76%.
• The City of Cape Town is on a mission to reboot the tourism industry and make the Mother City an attractive tourist destination post-Covid-19.
• Experts forecast the direct tourism contribution of Cape Town to the GDP of South Africa for 2026 to reach $3.7 billion.
• “ Find your freedom ” is Cape Town Tourism’s new global campaign and its game-style approach blending the virtual with the real is the first of its kind in the travel industry. It’s also the biggest campaign Cape Town Tourism has launched in its 40 years of existence, and it comes in less than a month following South Africa tourism’s first  national tourism campaign  since the pandemic.
• Cape Town Tourism has reported that, compared to April 2019, 2022 has seen a 74% increase in international arrivals and a 76% increase in domestic arrivals.

HABITS AND MOTIVES

• Most visitors to Cape Town are there for holiday purposes.
• Tourists spend an average of 5-7 days in Capetown.
• 97% of visitors indicated that they were very satisfied or satisfied with their experience in Cape Town.
• International visitors’ spend an average of R1,200 daily, while domestic visitors’ daily expenditure is R260.
• The majority of visitors are visiting for the first time and mostly traveling in parties of two people.

OTHER TRENDS

• Cape Town Tourism is the city of Cape Town’s official Regional Tourism Organisation, responsible for tourism marketing, visitor and industry services.
• According to the 2020 report released by Statistics South Africa, foreign arrivals dropped by 71% from just over 15, 8million in 2019 to less than 5 million in 2020. It is evident that the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the tourism industry quite hard around the world and in South Africa, mainly due to the lockdown.
• Cape Town is fringed by countless stretches of sand, many visitors find the waters too icy for a swim.
• The Mother City has a natural scenic appeal, in part owing to it having Table Mountain right in the middle of the CBD, one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
• South African domestic travelers are looking for discounted rates – where they’re not paying prices targeted at international arrivals – at hotels, bars, events, and other tourism attractions.
• Cape Town has strong policies for the development of tourism as a major engine for job creation and a driving force for economic growth and development.
• The City of Cape Town and Cape Town Tourism is focused on key source cities, Munich, London, and New York, with marketing campaigns to attract international visitors.
• Strategic marketing is ongoing in Germany, Portugal, and other European countries. Efforts are also ongoing in North America and South America.
• The Mother City is fast gaining recognition as a prime destination for cruise lines. Cape Town is struggling to keep up with the demand for the destination coming from cruise lines.
• Cape Town, South Africa’s primary cruise port for international cruises and homeporting cruise lines, is looking to the future and hoping for a strong rebound during the 2022/23 cruise season.
• There are 13 cruise ships scheduled to sail from Cape Town between November 2022 and April 2023 for the 2022/23 cruise season, with 7 of them operating 43 roundtrip cruises.
• The city has a total of nearly 4,000 tourism enterprises, including 2,742 different types of guest accommodation, 389 restaurants, and 424 tourist attractions to cater to international and domestic visitors. In addition, it has 170 conference venues for business and other events.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/795067/south-africa-cape-town-tourism-contribution-to-gdp/

https://www.capetown.travel/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Annual-Report-2019-Final-1.pdf

https://www.traveldailynews.com/post/cape-town-tourism-releases-latest-travel-figures-positive-uptake-of-domestic-travel

https://skift.com/2022/03/31/cape-town-launches-a-virtual-game-for-biggest-tourism-campaign-yet/

https://www.investcapetown.com/opportunities/visitor-economy/

https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/26233-demand-for-cape-town-and-south-africa-cruises-growing-too-fast.html

https://www.capetown.travel/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/CTT_Industry-Performance-Report-Oct-2016-Mar-2017_Final.compressed.pdf

Hello! I am Axel, tripplo.com’s travel savings, deals and discounts expert and founder. I have been in the travel deals and discounts industry for almost a decade now. It’s me who publish and update most of the content and discounts on tripplo.com! I also have a podcast in which I share valuable information about how to get the best travel deals and discounts.

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Cape Town tourism recovers to pre-Covid levels, as another US airline lands in the city

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Wesgro CEO Wrenelle Stander

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2nd December 2022

By: Rebecca Campbell

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

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Cape Town’s tourist sector was nearly back at pre-Covid-19 pandemic levels. “In all our key [tourism] markets, in Cape Town, we are nearly recovered,” reported Western Cape tourism, trade and investment promotion agency Wesgro CEO Wrenelle Stander on Thursday evening. She was addressing a function to mark the start of direct flights by major US carrier Delta Air Lines (Delta) between its hub airport, in Atlanta in the US State of Georgia, and Cape Town.

She highlighted that the numbers of US tourists expected to visit the Mother City (as it is known in South Africa) during this peak summer (US winter) holiday season would actually exceed pre-pandemic levels. With the start of direct flights by Delta, Cape Town would now be directly connected to three destinations in the US.

She further stressed the role of the Cape Town Air Access initiative in attracting international airlines to Cape Town. It had brought three new airlines to serve the city, creating four new routes, over the past year. “The hard work has certainly paid off. The competition to attract airlines to a destination is quite intense.”

The Western Cape government was committed to strengthening the city’s and the province’s international connectivity, For every 100 passengers who arrived in Cape Town, one job was created. Western Cape Finance and Economic Opportunities Minister Mireille Wenger pointed out that the new route would create jobs and opportunities throughout the region, and not just in Cape Town. The launch of the new connection with the US was the result of years of hard work by all the concerned enterprises and agencies. It would further strengthen the already strong trade and investment relationship between the Western Cape and the US.

Cape Town Executive Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, in his address, highlighted that, this month, some 30 000 domestic and international air passengers would be flying into and out of Cape Town International Airport (CTIA) every day. He (as did other speakers) praised CTIA and its personnel for their hard work and commitment in making this possible.

He pointed out that the latest national employment statistics had shown Cape Town to be the city that had seen the biggest decline in unemployment, “We’re passionate about creating jobs,” he affirmed. He reported that the city had launched an initiative to increase security this holiday season, particularly in popular tourist areas like Table Mountain and the central business district. He also noted that Atlanta was an “enormous” hub, meaning that most people in the US and Canada could now access Cape Town with the need for only one connection, Atlanta.

US Consul-General in Cape Town Todd Haskell observed that five years ago, there had not been a single direct flight between the US and Cape Town. Now there would be 12 a week, provided by two carriers. Moreover, Americans were the fastest growing tourist demographic into Cape Town. Nor should the US business people coming to check out business opportunities in the Mother City, the Western Cape, and the entire country, be forgotten.

“We’re very proud of the product that we have to offer to our customers,” affirmed Delta director sales Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India Paul Hassenstab . “We stand for bringing people together. We take that very seriously.”

The new service would be operated using Delta’s flagship airliner model, the Airbus A350, reported Delta GM Southern Africa Shareen Akoodie . In addition to passengers, the aircraft would carry cargo in their belly holds. The new direct Cape Town service would increase Delta’s number of weekly services between the two countries to ten (including the route from Atlanta to Johannesburg). “We remain committed to connecting the [African] continent with the US.”

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter

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