Driving Through Cape Town

By Author: Dee Rheeder
Total Articles: 3698
Comment this article

Visiting South Africa's Mother City? Take it from a local - you're going to need an independent set of wheels. When you're on holiday in this city the sites are scattered far and wide, and you don't want to miss out on anything special simply because you haven't got your own transport. Cape Town car hire is an imperative part of planning your vacation, right up there with accommodation.

Renting a car in Cape Town is not difficult but you need to book in advance if possible as this place gets ultra busy when the end of year party season and the heat of summer collide.

You may want to collect your hired car at Cape Town International Airport when you land so as to avoid costly shuttle fees. We advise you have a map and directions to your hotel at hand. Cape Town city centre, the V&A Waterfront and the Atlantic Seaboard are the most popular accommodation locations, and all are within 25 to 35 minutes drive of the airport.

Once you've settled in, unpacked and enjoyed perhaps a few hours relaxing while taking in spectacular sea and mountain views that are to be found from most good establishments, you'll ...
... be ready to start your explorations of the city.

Cape Town's best known landmark is Table Mountain - a pleasant drive to the cable car station precedes a ride to the top of this geographical icon, from the top of which extensive views of the city and beyond can be enjoyed.

On another day, relax in the comfort of your air conditioned rented car and take a scenic drive along the Atlantic Seaboard, past the renowned beaches of Camps Bay and Clifton, to Hout Bay - a picturesque fishing village. Enjoy a delectable lunch at the Marina before continuing your drive along the world famous Chapman's Peak drive at a leisurely pace, stopping as often as you wish to take photographs of the spectacular scenery - something you can only do when you're traveling under your own steam.

The drive takes you to the long white beach from Noordhoek to Kommetjie, then around past Scarborough to Cape Point Nature Reserve where you can easily spend many hours hiking, swimming or just admiring the indigenous flora and fauna.

One must-take-trip for visitors to Cape Town is to the Cape Winelands. Once again, while tours have their place, nothing can beat the freedom of exploring smaller wine farms, stopping for lunch wherever you wish on the spur of the moment and lingering among the vines between wine tastings as long as you desire.

Do yourself a favour and organize your Cape Town car hire as a number one priority - you won't regret it for an instant.