Cape Town medium term apartment rentals: Choosing your apartment

Planning on where to rent an apartment can often be a difficult and tedious process, especially if you’re only going to be in area for a limited time and can’t afford to make mistakes to learn from. Cape Town has a variety of accommodation on offer for short-term holiday makers and professionals on business, however if you’re planning on staying for several months, finding an affordable and appropriate apartment to rent can become unpleasant. Here are a few pointers to take into consideration when looking for Cape Town medium term apartment rentals.

When looking for a temporary apartment to stay in for only a few months, it is important to find a balance between everything that you want this apartment to be and have. Location and number of bedrooms are often important and non-negotiable, however you may have to forgo your balcony with a view, garden, off-street parking and swimming pool to get them. Depending on the nature of your trip, you will have to prioritise some qualities over others. Cape Town medium term apartment rentals each have a range of different features, many with stunning views of the city and mountains, some of the beach front, and others in security complexes. Before you set out to look for an apartment you must decide what your non-negotiables are and what you’re willing to sacrifice to get them.

Another important factor to consider is transport and travelling. Unfortunately Cape Town doesn’t have a very reliable public transport system so you may have to hire your own car or rely on calling taxis. Although the trains can take you out of the city centre towards Kalk Bay or even Stellenbosch, they are not the safest way of travelling. If you are here on business, if would be advisable to rent an apartment that is close to where you will be working. Traffic is particularly bad and time consuming travelling towards the CBD in the mornings and away again in the evenings. If you are here on holiday, many tourist attractions are easily reached on foot around the business district in Cape Town. Medium term apartment rentals in Milnerton, Green Point and Sea Point, however offer stunning sea views and are far enough outside of the CBD to get away from the hum but still feel the city’s vibe. If you rent an apartment in one of these areas it would be wise for you to hire a car to be able to get to the tourist
destinations in the CBD and around the peninsular.

Renting a furnished house will help your budget and save you from the stress of having to sell furniture and appliances when you need to leave. Off-street parking is vital if you are renting in the CBD as there is very little parking available on the roads, however if your apartment is outside of the city you should easily find a place to park on the streets but will need to remain aware that this may not be the safest option. Gardens and swimming pools are also added bonuses, especially if you have a big family and you’re here during the summer. However these also mean added responsibilities, costs, and can become a hassle. If it’s hot, you’ll probably want to go to one of the many beaches surrounding Cape Town.

Medium term apartment rentals can be a nuisance to find, however the process can be easy and exciting once you know what you’re going to be looking for. Online websites and agencies mean that you can find your perfect apartment before you even reach your destination. It is important to be patient however and eventually you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for.

Source: Cape Town Apartment Rentals

Types of Transportation in Cape Town

Cape Town is an exciting city to explore and getting around shouldn’t pose too much of a challenge for those who study the bus and train routes in advance. However, traveling by public transportation comes with certain risks, especially at night, at first time visitors to the city often opt to travel by taxi or arrange car hire through their cheap Cape Town hotel.

Quick and Convenient

By taxi
Available to hire by phone or at special taxi ranks, metered taxis are monitored by the city council and are usually very safe and reliable. While the average rate is around R4.50 for each kilometer, those embarking on a longer journey should be able to set a fixed price with the taxi driver. Taxi ranks can be found all over the city and there is generally one within a few minutes walk of most cheap Cape Town hotel.

Car hire
The ideal option for those who put a premium on freedom, car hire in Cape Town can be arranged easily. The city is served by a large number of internationally recognized car hire companies, most of which have booths at the airport and at large hotels. Driving around Cape Town is fun as traffic density is low and this is a great way to really get a feel for the city.

Hiring motorbikes and bicycles
Popular with those who are traveling alone, bicycles and motorbikes can be rented quite easily from a large number of hotels and guesthouses in Cape Town and are also available for hire in special bike shops. While the vehicles on offer are usually in good condition, it is advisable to check them over thoroughly before signing any papers as existing dents that go unnoticed at the time may end up costing the driver a lot of money upon return of the bike.

Cheap and Cheerful
On foot
Wandering through the heart of Cape Town serves as a good introduction to the city. Although it is impossible to explore the whole of Cape Town on foot, those who want to take a tour of the center of the city should be able to walk around this area in a few minutes. Featuring pretty parks, bustling markets and world-class attractions such as the Natural History Museum, walking through the heart of the city is an uplifting experience.

By bus
Although not exactly extensive, bus routes cover most of Cape Town’s most prominent attractions, including Table Mountain and the main museums. The best place to catch a bus is at the terminal, which can be found on Grand Parade. Buses tend to arrive every ten minutes or so and while this may not be the most convenient way to explore Cape Town, bus travel is certainly cheap.

By minibus/Rikki
Hiring a Rikki is a good and also cheap way of getting around Cape Town. This open sided minibus travels from place to place very quickly, covering most popular places within the city. However, while Rikkis run regularly during the daytime, they don’t operate after dark and visitors who are exploring the city in the evening will need to search for an alternative form of transportation.

By train
While train travel in Cape Town has a reputation for being dangerous, those who take a few precautions will find that this is an interesting way to get around. It is best to stick to the scenic Simon's Town line and avoid traveling by train after dark. In addition, visitors should avoid carrying anything of value with them and get belongings hidden.

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Cape Town Car Hire

Boat Trips - Tips On Choosing The Right Destination

Once you have decided that you would be taking a holiday on a cruise, sailing through small cities and ports, your next step would be to decide on which cruise you should opt for. One is spoilt for choice with the luxurious spread of boat trips that one can choose from. Knowing about a few simple trends and measures, could help you choose that perfect ship which would be ideal in every respect for you and make your journey a memorable one.

Decide on the time span of your boat travel. Do not plan a long voyage if you have little time available on hand. Visiting one or two ports over a period of three to four days could be cheap. Fellow passengers on such cruises are likely to be youthful, partying kinds. Short, week-long cruises are more popular, and comparatively cheaper, they usually visit more ports of call. However, seven days, can pass by soon and you might still have fellow passengers who are party animals. Cruises which are longer than a week visit more ports of call and in locations more exotic, like the Mediterranean or the South of America, though your co-passengers are likely to be more restrained. The cost and time involved in such cruises hamper more people from opting for them.

While making your decision, do keep in mind your budget. You have a large range to choose from and you are sure to find one that fits your choice. Web sites and travel agents could offer you great deals at low prices. Be aware of port, cruise cancellation insurance, and airfare charges and whether your cruise is charging you for them or not.

Apart from time and money there are other factors which you should consider before selecting on something suitable. Time of travel, ability to carry out your hobbies, and the number of ports you want to visit, should also be considering factors. There is nothing as frustrating as being stuck at sea, while you are sailing past through beautiful islands. Some places are easily accessible and sometimes more popular during the winter; Mexico, the Caribbean, and the Panama Canal, are such destinations; but visitors should be careful of hurricane seasons. Again European and Alaskan cruises are usually not available during winter months.

Incase you have other preferences apart from that of money, time and itinerary; consider them before you zero in on a particular choice. Though differences between different vessels have been lessened over time, there are a few which are better and much more luxurious than the others. Evaluations of cruise ships are available online as well as in travel journals, ask your travel agent or talk to friends.

As a conclusion, remember that, scouring the available options for your next cruise however is not the time to give up what you actually want; be it an opportunity to watch whales in Alaska or have your hair braiding done in Nassau.

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Cape Town Team Building

Guide to Addo Elephant Nationwide Park

Common Info

Addo Elephant National Park is positioned in an place that is free of malaria and just a 1 hour drive from Port Elizabeth metropolis, which is found along the Backyard Route. The Park as a total is effectively known for its outstanding diversity – with a key variance of game viewing, adventures in the excellent outside, tourist accommodation and wonderful experiences of culture. A visit to the park provides the discerning visitor a unique perception into the wonderful flora and fauna of South Africa.

The Addo Park was initially set up in 1931 through the efforts of renowned naturalist Sydney Skaife, in response to the urgent require to provide sanctuary for the number of remaining elephants in the Eastern Cape location here. These days, there are more than 450 elephants in the park, plus a large assortment of wonderful native South African animals, from Cape Buffalo, Black Rhino, Antelopes these as the Springbok, and the distinctive flightless Dung Beetle that is to be discovered virtually exclusively in the Addo Countrywide Park.

In recent a long time the original Addo Park has been expanded to incorporate the Woody Cape Nature Reserve, which runs from the mouth of the Sundays River to Alexandria and a h2o reserve, which encompasses St Croix Island and Bird Island. The latter is an critical breeding property to gannets and penguins. The planned expansion is aspect of the preparing approach to enlarge the current 1,640 km2 Addo Countrywide Elephant Park into a 3,600 km2 Larger Addo Elephant Nationwide Park.

This expansion will mean that the park will have five of the seven primary vegetation zones of South Africa. Much more importantly, the park will most likely be the only park in the world to contain the “Large Seven” of animal species: Elephants, Rhinos, Lion, Buffalo, Leopard, Whale and Great White Shark in their natural habitats. The park also has a prosperous heritage of websites of that are critical in the archaeology planet.

Animals at Addo
In whole, the park is property to more than 450 Elephants, virtually 50 Black Rhinos, and some amazing species of Antelopes this kind of as Red Hartebeest, Eland, Buschbuck, Gemsbok, Springbok, Buffalo and Black Wildebeest. Game species contain Cape Mountain Sebras, Hyenas, Reedbucks, Baboons, Aardwolf and Red Rock Rabbits.

Extremely scorching days at waterholes are greatest for viewing the elephants. The early evening is the very best time to see Black Rhino. Lions and Hyena are best spotted early morning or early evening.

Pets are not permitted into the park, and you are not allowed to feed the animals.

Accommodation at Addo
It is possible to book accommodation at Park, equivalent to other Countrywide Parks all around South Africa. There are two restcamps that are located inside the park:

&middot Addo Main Camp – close to the entrance gate, and presenting more than 60 units of accommodation to reserve.
&middot Camp Matyholweni – positioned near the Eastern Cape town of Colchester, which is located along the N2, around underneath an hour’s drive from Primary Camp.

It is also possible to reserve private Sport Lodges at Addo Nationwide Park:
&middot The Gorah Elephant Camp found inside of the park and that contains luxurious tent camps.
&middot Darlington Lake Lodge – positioned in the Darlington Dam area of the park.
&middot River Bend Lodge – this is locatred in the Nyathi region of the park, with eight rooms.
&middot Nguni River Lodge – 8 luxurious suites with wonderful views of the Zuurberg Mountains

There are other accommodation choices obtainable in the Fantastic Addo Region, this sort of as Private Game Reserves, B&ampBs and Guesthouses.

Activities at the Park
It is feasible to organize hiking, horse trails, and arrange organized bird watching at the park. The principal game location of the park has nearly 200 bird species. You can also partake in Discovery Trails of the location. If you consider the path amongst Kabouga and Darlington, you will learn all about the main battles that transpired in the area in between the British and Boer forces in the course of the Anglo-Boer War in the early twentieth Century.

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Addo Elephant Park