Copyright South African Tourist Board
Cape Town Public Transport
For All That Cape Town Is Wonderful Her Public Transport System As A Whole Is Poor. That Said It Is Quite Possible To Get Around The City Safely At Minimum Cost And Genuine Efforts Are Being Made With The FIFA World Cup Coming To The City In 2010.
There Are A Number Of Different Taxi Companies Operating In Cape Town However Not All Cars Are Certified. Unlike The UK & America All Taxis Are Saloon Rather Than Traditional Black Or Yellow Cabs And Generally Can Not Be Hailed On The Street. That Said You Will Find Them Lined Up Around Major Tourist Attractions & Busy Nights Spots.
If You Take One Of These Taxis Ask The Driver In Advance The Cost Of The Journey. Typical Prices Within The City Should Not Exceed R 40 - R60.
A Recommended Alternative Is To Simply Phone A Reputable Taxi Company Such As Excite Taxi`s. Their Fleet Of Cars Are Red In Color And Spotless Inside & Out. The Drivers Do Not Take Tourists “The Scenic Route” & Pride Themselves In Their Personnel Appearance.
- Excite Taxis: Tel 021 418 4444
Rikkis
This Inventive Company Started Out With Clapped Out Mini Vans Which They Loosely Speaking Converted Into People Carriers. Once The Transport Of Choice For Backpackers This Company Have Gone Up Market And Now Boast A Fleet Of Traditional Black UK Style Taxis. They Have Installed Free Phone Telephone Boxes At Some Of The Most Popular Entertainment Spots In Town.
Rikkis Operate A Door To Door Service Within A Zonal System Were Customers Share The Ride With Other Customers Going To The Same Area. This Means The Journey Takes Longer However The Prices Are Extremely Cheap.
This Company Is A Cape Town Success Story, Fun, Reliable & Cost Effective Rikkis Are A Great Way To Buzz Around The City.
- Rikkis: Web Site
Minicab Taxi
This Is The Preferred Transport Of The Local Populace. Within The City Each Mini Cab Has Its Own Set Route Of No More Than 3-5 Miles, Essentially All Routes Lead To The City Center.
The Mini Cabs Are Hailed On The Street And Will Stop Anywhere On The Route You Wish. When You Get On You Find A Seat And Pass Your Fare Down Via The Other Passengers. Its Always Best To Have The Correct Change, 2-3 Rand Coins However If You Require Change That Will Come Back Via Your Fellow Passengers.
This Is A Very Cheap And Very Quick Way To Get Around The City However Many Of The Mini Cabs Are Not Fit To Be On The Road And The Drivers Tend To Try And Take On Board Many More Than The 12 Passengers They Have Room For. Longer Routes From Clifton Beach Back To The City Center Where The Driver Can Put His Foot Down On The Accelerator Can Be One Of The Most Hair Raising Experiences Of Your Life.
All In All Mini Cabs Are Fine For Very Short Trips During The Day Time, Longer Journeys Should Be Left To The Locals & The Brave At Heart.
Cape Towns Very Own Bus Service. A lot Of Investment Is Being Made To Improve The Transport Infrastructure Of Cape Town & It Is Hoped The Golden Arrow Bus Company Will Play A Pivotal Role In The Years To Come.
At Present However The Buses Are Few In Number And The Rolling Stock Is Very Tired. Buses Are More Often Than Not Late & As A Whole Not Ideal For Tourists Looking To Make The Most Of Their Time In Cape Town. On The Plus Side Fares Are Heavily Subsidized And Consequently This Is The Cheapest Way To Travel Around The Greater Cape Town Area.
- Golden Arrow: Web Site
The Main Train Station In Cape Town Is Located On Adderley Street And Is Always A Hive Of Activity. Much Like The Bus Service The Trains & The Station Itself Have Seen Better Days However Investment Is Being Made And Standards Are Improving.
There Is A Fantastic Train Journey From Cape Town To The Brass Bell Restaurant At Simon’s Town. The Route Hugs An Incredible Picturesque Coast Line And It Is Not Unusual To Sea Whales Playing In The False Bay. There Is A Dinning Carriage On This Route Called Biggsy So Named After The Great Train Robber Ronald Biggs.
Tourists Should Be Mindful To Book First Class Tickets & Sit In A Busy Carriage. Avoid Using The Trains At Night.
