My Cape Town South Africa

Central Cape Town

Cape Town is a mix of historical buildings, scruffy shopping (Golden Acre), funky shopping (Long Street & Greenmarket Square), trendy De Waterkant, tourist shopping (the Waterfront), the Foreshore (financial & business), and surrounds. Long Street & the Cape Quarter (De Waterkant) have a vibrant night life. Life in the Cape Town city bowl is a vibrant cosmopolitan experience. City dwellers are lucky that they don't have to experience the daily traffic jams on the N1, N2 and M3.

Cape Town Areas - Safety in Detail

Choose safe Cape Town accommodation to the west in Tamboerskloof, Higgovale or Oranjezicht.

Central Cape Town accommodation offers access to top Cape Town restaurants, Cape Town night life, Cape Town tourist attractions eg. Cape Peninsula & wine route tours, V&A Waterfront, and Table Mountain cable car.

Long Street & Greenmarket Square

Long Street and Greenmarket Square are a tourist mecca. Great to amble around during the day. Long Street has a vibrant night life as well. Enjoy yourself!

Long Street and Greenmarket Square are completely safe during the day. Upper Long Street is fine at night as well. However always steer clear of unlit and deserted areas and side streets. Don't carry valuables on you.

Tamboerskloof / Oranjezicht / Higgovale

There are good residential areas. There are a number of great restaurants, coffee shops and wine bars in this area. The higher up the slope of Table Mountain and Signal Hill, the more affluent the areas become.

Kloof Street is safe to walk around in the evening. The usual 'Be Alert' caveats of any city apply.

Cape Town Foreshore

The Cape Town Foreshore is home to Cape Town's business and financial district. Note: This is no Wall Street. The Cape Town International Convention Centre and some really posh hotels are also located here.

Cape Town Foreshore safety - The Foreshore is safe to walk around by day. Don't walk around alone after dusk. If you must, then stick to well lit, populated areas.

V&A Waterfront

The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront is a great shopping area and has a wonderful ambience. Shopping at the Cape Town Waterfront (as it is commonly known) is a great way for a shopaholic to spend the day.

Cape Town Waterfront Safety - The area is safe by day and safe by night.

De Waterkant / Cape Quarter

De Waterkant is characterised by charming Cape Malay residential buildings, the most interesting street being Loader Street.

It is home to many artistic and media professionals.

The Cape Quarter is a block of interesting restaurants, interior design shops, wine bars and gay clubs.

It is a great place to spend some time during the day as well as to enjoy the night life.

This area is considered extremely trendy by those in the know.

Cape Quarter Safety - The Cape Quarter area is safe during the daytime. It is OK to walk around Somerset Rd after dark as long as you stay in well lit and populated parts. Don't go off into unlit, deserted area.

Upper Woodstock / Lower Woodstock / Salt River

Moving east, things get run down. Parts of Woodstock & Salt River, although charming architecturally, are crime-ridden and to be avoided.

Upper Woodstock is a residential area. It isn't the richest area, but I would feel OK staying there (above the freeway). I wouldn't be OK with leaving my car parked in the street. But then again I am paranoid about safety.

I don't know all that much about safety in Upper Woodstock, but I can say that I wouldn't walk around Upper Woodstock on foot late at night.

Central Cape Town - Key Tourist Information

• Rush Hour: 7 am to 8.30 am; 4.15 pm to 6 pm.
• Drive time to/from the Airport (rush hour): 50 mins
• Drive time to/from the Airport (non rush hour): 15 mins
• Attractions: Cable Car up Table Mountain, night life, restaurants, bars, shopping.
• Type of neighbourhood: Affluent to Poor (area dependent).
• Public transport: Train / Taxis / Tour Buses / Golden Arrow Buses.

Here are your options for getting around in the city centre itself. It's fine (and fun) to walk around the central areas (Greenmarket Square, Long Street, Kloof Street, Company Gardens, Convention Centre, Cape Quarter) during the day. From the centre, it's best to take some form of transport to get to the V&A Waterfront.

Always use some form of vehicular transport after dusk.

General Remarks About Safety in Cape Town

Be sensible. Petty crime is common unfortunately. So don't carry valuables and large quantities of cash around. Ladies, don't wear expensive jewelry as the street kids will occasionally snatch things such as necklaces off your neck. Be extremely alert to ATM scams. Don't leave anything visible in a parked car.

Don't leave your handbag on the seat next to you in the car whilst driving. A friend of mine had her window smashed and her bag snatched at a traffic light (in Woodstock).

It's OK to walk around the top end of Long Street at night. Car guards are around which helps. Don't venture into any unlit, deserted areas on foot at night even if the area is just around the corner from a populated area like Long Street.

Crime in Cape Town - Be Safe in Cape Town

Safe Cape Town Accommodation

A Selection of Places Where It Is Safe to Walk Alone In Cape Town

Is It Safe Walking On Foot Around Cape Town?

Cape Town Crime Stats (Jan 2009)

Areas to Avoid (with a Map)

Tourist Safety in Cape Town



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