Cape Town is situated at the southwest tip of South Africa. The original city is now known as the 'City Bowl' and is surrounded by Table Mountain, Signal Hill and the sea.

Due to the forced movement of non-Europeans during Apartheid, Cape Town has expanded across the Cape Flats towards Stellenbosch.

Table Mountain
This magnificent mountain supports incredible flora and fauna and boasts hundreds of beautiful walks and climbs. See here next month for a link to Table Mountain.

Accommodation
Many backpackers on Long Street (about R40 pp for dorm, R60 pp for double). For more peace but only 5 mins from centre try:

Cloudbreak
219 Upper Buitenkant Street, Vredehoek
(021) 461 6892

Ashanti Lodge
11 Hof Street, Gardens
(021) 423 8721

Both of above have Travel Booking Centres.

Transport
Public transport isn't great. Most people use minibus taxis - all the ones I have taken have seemed safe but that doesn't mean they all are (depends on their destination too).

Buses seem to be a good option for long distance travel (but bear in mind that South Africa is big). All bus sales offices are located near the train station on Adderley Street.

Prices
Food is generally cheap in supermarkets (Pick 'n' Pay and Shoprite). Try Fruit and Veg City (Roeland Street) for super vegetable bargains.

Light lunches should cost between R6 and R20 depending on what and where.

Very good Cape Wines can be found for under R30 a bottle, many under R20. Look out for Tassenburg ('Tassies') - about R8 a bottle - a fine tasting student classic.

Some favourite restaurants

The Author
I am a British Environmental Consultant living in Cape Town for 2 years. Although not probably my first choice of destinations (circumstances sometimes dictate where you end up), I have been on a huge learning curve since arriving. The wildlife (although not Big 5) is wonderful.

Welcome to Cape Town in September - month of flowers and whales. See below for information on spotting the above. But first...

Tourist Information
The Cape Town Tourist Office has moved from Adderley Street to new premises within the last couple of months. You can find them now at: Cape Tourism
Burg Street. (021) 426 4260

For super information on travelling, tours, African music and information on places to stay, go to:
One World Travellers Space
309 Long Street, Gardens. (021) 423 0777

International Driving License
Although it is suggested in travel guides that an International Driving License is required in South Africa, it seems that many Car Hire companies are willing to accept a UK driving license (and presumably other nationalities).

However, this week I was told by the AA South Africa that this can cause problems with the insurance if anything happens to the vehicle. They recommend having an International Driving License.

Table Mountain Cableway
Remember this is the last month of the winter season and tickets for the Cableway are at the discounted price of R45 return until 30th September.

Flower Season
For the most part of the year, the west coast of South Africa is very dry and barren. However, visit after the rains and you'll witness a botanical wonder. Many plants survive by being 'geophytes' (bulbs) and the rains each year trigger off their growth into acres of iridescent flowers. It is an incredible sight that I can't do justice to.

Best places to visit are:
West Coast National Park (Postberg Reserve); around Darling; Namaqualand. Accommodation is booked up well in advance but for help and more info call the Flowerland Hotline 083 910 1028.

Whale Watching
Whales can be seen from all around False Bay (the Indian Ocean side of Cape Town), but the best viewing can be had from Hermanus and further along the south coast. Hermanus is approximately 1-2 hour's drive from Cape Town and is on major bus routes.

September 1st marks the beginning of the Whale Watching season so be warned - prices will be largely inflated for the next couple of months. There is a campsite in Hermanus but it is essential to book. Many Capetonians travel to the south coast for the weekend, so weekdays will be much less crowded.

Sarah's Guide to Whale-Watching
The whales most often seen are the Southern Right Whales which migrate from the Antarctic feeding grounds to sheltered bays off the southern and western coast of South Africa in May to October.

They are easy to identify and are the only large whales regularly seen close inshore on southern Africa. They are 14-18m in length, have no dorsal fin, large tail flukes and white lumpy growths on the head.

I spent a few days in Witsand (south coast) in July and saw plenty of Southern Rights rolling on the surface with their flippers fully exposed and occasionally breaching - an amazing sight. Also saw a couple of Orcas - look out for very large (up to 2m high), black dorsal fin.

Everything has been a little rushed this month as my car has just been stolen (it could happen anywhere!). Watch this space next month for far more Cape Town information and "Sarah's Guide to Buying a Car".

Questions?
If you want more information about this area you can email the author or check out our Africa Insiders page.