Cape Town: Advice Wanted

We're going to be in Cape Town in October and have some questions

1) We have a large house (in Constantia) and Mercedes at our disposal. I'm getting some mixed messages about safety in Cape Town. Some people tell us that we should on no account drive around in a Merc as that is inviting trouble. They say we should hire a beat-up old car instead. However the people who own the car obviously don't have a problem driving it so what is the truth.

2) We've been told not to drive around at night and that taxis are not available (or safe) at night. If this is true then are we supposed to eat in every night. (Terrible!) I want to try every restaurant I can so how do we get around after dark?

3) On a more positive note we want to do lots of things when we're in CT (whale watching, wine country etc). The big thing we want to do is go on a safari. What are our options from CT. We'd give up 3 days to spend a night or two in a park. Presumably we'd have to fly somewhere, or can we drive in a few hours? Are internal flights expensive or are they cheap because of the low rand x-rate (to sterling)?

Thanks for any help

Paul Smyth

Hi Paul!

Constantia is a very safe place, you can even walk but there are no boardwalks and no nights at night.

There are some great restuarants arround, but do a reservation. It is impossible to get a place in the good ones like Buitenverwachting or Constantia Uitsig spontaneous. Steenberg Restaurant is great and try the Warthog Curry in 'Zansibar' next to the Constantia Shopping Mall.

There is a Game Farm between Swellendam and Mossel Bay, where you can see the Big Five. I haven´t been there, here is the web page: http://www.grgamelodge.co.za/

Greetings from Cologne /Germany