Monday, June 7, 2010

Cheap Car Hire Cape Town

Cape Town is blessed with as many discount car rental companies as Johannesburg has, although the market is not as large. We have searched for a cheap car rental company that has discounted car hire in Cape Town, which will also let you rent a car with no credit card even if you are a backpacker/student and only 18 years old and have just received your drivers licence. Discount Student cars are hard to come by, as the norm in Cape Town’s car rental industry has been that you were only able to rent a car if you were 23 years of age or in some cases 25 years old and in the possession of a credit card. On top of that, you had to be the owner of the credit card. Now, some car renters have tried to get discount car hire using someone else's card, yet this is deemed as fraud and can not be accepted by any car rental company. We found no cheap car rental for cash in our internet search. We have however, identified a need for hiring cars with no credit card and did some research. We discovered that people were searching for 'credit card car rentals in Cape Town', as well as 'cash car rental Cape Town airport'.

There is a new trend in Europe, one that is spreading to other parts of the world. Shops, retailers and international companies are accepting fewer credit cards; instead they prefer you to pay by debit card or cash. A recent survey from major international retail stores in Europe revealed that this trend is increasing with the result being that a growing amount of visitors to Cape Town and South Africa are in need of a discount car hire in Cape Town; and are not able to rent a car as they do not own a credit card. Drive Africa has made it our mission to source and find reputable companies in Cape Town that can offer either discounted cash car rentals or debit card car rentals at very attractive prices ( in addition, to also keep their cash deposits to a minimum). To rent a car in Cape Town with discount was difficult to find.

This in itself was quite a mission, as every car rental company we approached was reluctant to offer their cars for rent to backpackers or students in Cape Town without the security of a local or international credit card. We approached some of the smaller cheap car hire companies in Cape Town and convinced them that this product is needed in Cape Town. This is a trend which stems from Europe and it is only going to increase. An increasing amount of foreign visitors to Cape Town would be looking to make use of discount car hire for cash or would like to use their debit cards for paying their rental car. Some rental companies listened to us and we were able to convince them to allow cash car hire for students and backpackers for discounted car hire in Cape Town with a few provisos’ that they set. Click here for further information pertaining to cheap car hire in Cape Town.

The discount rental company would need proof of residence while visiting Cape Town, as they will take a copy of the air ticket, ID or passport and take cash deposit to secure the cheap car hire with no credit card. We have therefore identified some companies and are now able to exclusively offer discount car hire to our clients, namely students in Cape Town, a package only available to Drive Africa at this stage. We have made sure that even the cheapest car hire or low priced car rental that we offer on our website has all the correct, government approved insurances that come with the rental, so that if you have an accident or your car is stolen while you are renting it, it is always correctly insured to completely covers you. Remember, these are not 4x4 rental cars. Please go to 4x4 hire South Africa and choose the car of your choice that suits your needs.

So if you hire a car from Drive Africa using cash or your debit card, you can hire with peace of mind knowing that that the cheap car rental in Cape Town that you were searching for is right here, allowing you to book with confidence. Drive Africa also has a financial guarantee in place as well as being proud members of Cape Town Tourism and members of the Tourism body SATSA (Southern Africa Tourism Services Association) that has a financial guarantee in place for renters of Drive Africa and they in turn have bestowed our site with the international website body Dot Travel approved sites stamp. They assure through their accreditation, that we are a fully fledged car rental company offering discount car hire and are not just a virtual company on the internet. A bonus is that the minimum age for student car hire in Cape Town or a backpacker car rental is 18 and all you need is a valid driver’s license; as there is no minimum time that you have had to have your driver’s license for.

We welcome you to Cape Town, and especially to come and rent a discount car in Cape Town from us. This will definitely make your stay an unforgettable one.

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Cape Town Car Hire

Monday, May 31, 2010

Beauty is in the eye of the Stroller:

Calling all visitors to Cape Town... Fancy walking in the foothills of the Himalayas or Andes for a paltry 25 Rand - the price of a sandwich? You can leave home at a not too disagreeably early hour and be back home in time for tea.

Of course I'm joking, but a day's hike in the extraordinary Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve - an hour and a bit outside Cape Town - comes pretty close to delivering such a massive mountain hiking experience: huge, straining peaks and tumbling river valleys against a backdrop of silvery blue sky.

And then there's the plants.

Kogelberg is at the heart of the Cape Floral Kingdom, a unique sliver of vegetation restricted to South Africa's Cape region.

Compared to other global plant powerhouses - the Holarctic Kingdom covers most of the Northern Hemisphere - the modestly-sized CFK is only the size of Portugal but contains 1 in 5 of every plant in Africa (including 50% of those found south of the Zambezi) and is the most diverse of all the 6 floral kingdoms, even pushing the tropical rainforests into second place.

The Cape Floral Kingdom is made up of a number of biomes - areas of environment-adapted vegetation - of which the fynbos (Dutch for 'fine bush' - named after the small, needle-like leaves characteristic of much of the flora) is by far the largest.

Essentially a mix of shrubby ericas (heathers) and bushy proteas plus the reed-like restios, the fynbos is also packed full of some of the most bizarre-looking plants you'll see.

Fleshy-leaved stalks finish with a startling flourish of colour; wildly extravagant bushes burst into sunshine yellow flowers; alien-looking orchids and lilies push their way out of the sand - it's an explosion of colour and form that is utterly bewildering.

Equally as jaw-dropping is the endemism involved: of the fynbos' 9 000 or so species, some 70% are found nowhere else - and in the Kogelberg Reserve a handful of plants are restricted to just a few boggy mountain tops.

What does all this mean? Well, see for yourself - it's easy enough. Take the ridiculously scenic R44 - Clarence Drive - from Gordon's Bay to Kleinmond on the other side of Cape Town's False Bay.

Try not to steer the car off the road as you gape at the sea views, pass Betty's Bay and turn inland on a signposted gravel road a kilometre before the Palmiet River dam.

It's pretty quiet around these parts. The official at the entrance gate was fast asleep when I arrived and the only sounds were the distant artillery-like rumbling of the ocean and over-excited birds in full song.

There are various trails - some a couple of hours; others a full day's hike. I set off on the latter, a 24km circuit that takes you on a most extraordinary journey: damp valleys, silent, sun-dappled forests, steep slopes and wide, tumbling rivers.

It was about 6 hours before I saw anyone - 2 walkers with whom I swopped cheery hellos and how fars - and that was it for the whole day. No radio masts, no pylons, no vehicles - just endless views and captivating scenery.

That's not to say I was entirely alone: the path is scored with animal tracks - antelope, porcupine and the heart-fluttering sight of perhaps a Cape Leopard's pawprint.

A pained squeal alerted me to the presence of baboons and sure enough there they were, a troop down in the river bed casually stripping the fibrous skin off a stand of sedges and chewing the stalks like sugar cane.

I thought I had their number and settled down to spy on them, until my binoculars took me into the yellow eyes of a pair of enormous males who had (predictably) spotted me long before I had seen them and were watching me carefully; one with a long white cigarette-like stalk hanging casually from its mouth like a 1930s New York cop.

Adopting primate decorum, I lowered my gaze and walked on and the 2 hairy security men stretched back in the sun and resumed chewing.

Don't expect vast, milling herds of animals: the fynbos sits on ancient, sandy, wind and sun-blasted soil - and the result is a low animal biomass (the big stuff used to live in the neighbouring Renosterveld before its fertile soils were ploughed up for wheat and apples).

The Kogelberg is however great for birds, or at least some highly endemic species. In fact, nearly every bird I saw was either unique to the fynbos or to Southern Africa - and the lack of disturbance means that the birds seem bolder and more conspicuous - maybe I'd just had too much coffee.

A neatly painted house - the park ranger's cottage - peered around the corner as the late afternoon sun covered the mountains in shady swathes of purple - the end of the trail.

I can't say I wasn't looking forward to putting my feet up for a bit - although the hike doesn't involve any serious climbing, it's 8 hours on the go - and I wouldn't particularly want to be marooned up there at night.

The Kogelberg may be eminently accessible from South Africa's 2nd largest city but it was starting to look mighty wild up there as the sun's warmth ebbed.

The car park was deserted, as it was when I arrived. I sat for a while and watched birds flitting and darting about like garden fairies on whirring wings. Strands of silvery spider web drifted past on a breeze and the air seemed to glow - a fitting final chapter to a magical destination.

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Discount Car Rentals Cape Town

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Cape Town Festivals and Events

Cape Town is a spectacular destination to visit at any time of the year, combining natural splendour and vibrant local culture, a buzzing nightlife with a fascinating recent history. But it is also notable for the sheer number of festivals and events that take place all throughout the year. Here are a few of the highlights to watch out for on your Cape Town holiday...

For Sports Enthusiasts...

There's one event that a sports nut on holiday in Cape Town won't want to miss out on. The Cape Argus Cycle Tour is the world's biggest cycle race, with over 40,000 amateur and professional cyclists taking part each year. Starting in the centre of town, the 109 kilometre route passes through the highlights of the local scenery, including False Bay, Chapmans Peak, and Suikerbossie Hill, before finally ending up in the Green Point district of Cape Town. It is one of the most beautiful cycle rides in the world, held on the second Sunday in March every year - book your place early if you want to take part!

If you are a runner rather than a cyclist, the Two Oceans Marathon could be your event of choice. Taking place on Easter Sunday and following the stunning scenery of the Cape Peninsula, this is known as "the world's most beautiful marathon." The main event is a 56 kilometre ultramarathon that runs from Greenlands to the Cape Town university, but there is also a half marathon and a number of fun runs for those who want to run a shorter distance.

For the Party Crowd...

One New Years' Celebration not enough to you? In Cape Town, they celebrate the New Year two days in a row! Taking place on the 2nd of January, Tweede Nuwe Jaar (also known as Kaapse Klopse) is a celebration unique to Cape Town. Originally a celebration held by freed slaves, the event has evolved into a colourful carnival, featuring live music, dance, food and drink stalls, as rival troupes from different parts of town compete to put on the very best show.

For the Fashionistas...

If you you are planning on having a Cape Town holiday and know your Gucci from your Gautier, try and time your visit with Cape Town Fashion Week. Held in late August, it showcases the best local design talent in a proudly African week of fashion, eschewing the big name international designers and focusing instead on homegrown talent and practical fashion.

For Gourmets...

If good food and fine wines are your thing, make sure you start you South African holiday in Cape Town. The Cape Times V&A Waterfront Wine Affair, held over three days in early May, is a showcase of over 70 vineyards, held in a picturesque waterfront location, giving visitors to sample the very best South African wines.

Another essential event is the Cape Gourmet Festival, a fortnight of culinary events focusing on wine, spirits, and traditional South African food that concludes with The Good Food and Wine Show on the last weekend of the festival.

Whether you are a sports nut, a discerning gourmet, a fashion fan, or are just looking for a good party, your are sure to find a festival to suit your taste, so make sure you time your Cape Town holiday to coincide with one of these great events.

Monday, April 12, 2010

Cape Town: The Must-see City Of Africa

Mention Cape Town, South Africa, and perhaps the first thing that comes into your mind will be the growling lions and the running gazelles. It could be true that much of the popularity South Africa is brought by its safari, but there is definitely than meets the eye whilst visiting Cape Town.

And the Adventure Begins

Cape Town has something in store for adventure lovers from all over the world. For one, the beaches are very inviting, especially when it comes to various water sports activities such as kayaking, parasailing, water skiing, scuba diving, and snorkeling. In fact, you can just simply ride a yacht or a chartered boat and watch the dolphins and whales having fun, and enjoy the bounties of the sea.

Your Cape Town travel will also never be complete without taking the off-beaten paths and hiking trails that lead up to the gorgeous Table Mountain where you can see lush vegetation and exotic floral and animal species. Do you want to be the next Tiger Woods? You can also take delight in a quiet tee time amongst the vast greens of Cape Town golf courses, which are actually some of the best if not the best in the entire world.

The South African arts and culture will be one thing that you do not want to miss. In Cape Town, you can take your pick amongst the wide varieties of cultural and entertainment performances of different artists. You can amuse yourself to real African music, humor, dances, and arts. At daytime, meanwhile, you can feast your eyes amongst the historical galleries, museums, and exhibits found all over the city such as the Gold of Africa Museum, or Robben Island Museum. You can also proceed to Hout Bay and Kalk Bay in Cape Town if you would like to take some paintings or souvenirs back home.

Cape Town also never sleeps, as the bars, restaurants, clubs and cafes will keep you entertained, well into the night. This is also a very good opportunity to meet interesting folk and exchange stories. You can dine at fine international restaurants, or sample the local cuisine. The V&A Waterfront is one of the premier attractions in Africa, where you will find entertainment, and activities galore.

The fertile mountains, plains, and valleys all over Cape Town make them perfect for the cultivation of the most delicious wines in the world. During your trip, you can visit the Cape Winelands region which offers rolling mountains and historic wine cellars, offering free samples of local wine. Food, cocktails & other refreshments are also on offer.

Find Cape Town Accommodation Now

There are millions of people all over the world that visit the city every year, so you may want to secure yourself an early spot in one of the fine Cape Town hotels or other accommodation options. Many Cape Town Hotels permit online booking, which saves time & hassle once you arrive. With the most courteous staff and world-class amenities, you are in for a pleasant surprise!

With all this excitement, your Cape Town Travel experience, is something you would not soon forget!

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Top Things To Do in Cape Town

You could spend a full year in this awesome city and visit a different site, or take part in a different activity, every single day – and you still would not have seen and experienced everything Cape Town has to offer!

When out and about in the city and surrounds you can take to the air, the water or keep your feet on the land – there are countless ways to enjoy the city.

Things to do - Air

Experience Cape Town from the air: choose to drift across a sunset in a hot air balloon or tear through the clouds in a jet flight. Experience a Vietnam inspired helicopter flip in an open-door Huey or soar like a bird in a tandem paraglide over the Franschhoek Winelands. The sky’s the limit when you book an Air adventure through Book Cape Town!

Things to do - Land

The land itself offers plenty to keep you occupied.
From hikes through caves, quad biking through vineyards, bungee jumping off bridges to taking the ultimate South Africa road trip on a Harley Davidson, you can experience the Cape in one hundred unique ways.

Things to do - Water

With two oceans hugging her coastline, Cape Town is a water-lover’s paradise. From something as simple as a swim in the ocean to more adventurous activities above, on and below the surface of our seas, lakes and rivers, if you’re a water-baby you can dive with sharks, enjoy a boat ride out to meet the whales, wrestle a giant tuna off a charter around Cape Point or learn a new skill such as kite surfing for high-speed fun!

Things to do - Places / Sightseeing

For those who enjoy more traditional sightseeing, you can explore the city’s best-loved places such as the Cape Town Castle– or the most famous of all Cape Town’s landmarks, Table Mountain. A visit to Robben Island is sure to be one of the most memorable destinations you will visit. From art galleries to museums, shopping malls to casinos, you’ll never be short of places to visit in this city!

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Rental Cars in Cape Town

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Rent A Car For Your Perfect Holiday!

If you are planning a long trip for the coming weekend or a holiday in some exotic destinations, it will be wise to rent a car for the comfort of your traveling. Some argue that hiring a car is expensive. Although this is true, for a long journey it is better to ride a car that is rented rather than your own. Even if you are out for a weekend trip and suppose you have chosen to take the rough mountain trial or the rough roads down the countryside, then the wear and tear that your own car will go through is going to hurt you in the long run.

Moreover, if you are touring Africa, then the terrain requires you to rent a car that is capable of rolling on those tough roads without a problem. Certainly, your minivan or sports car is not meant for that job. You need a tough vehicle, perhaps a jeep to wade through the roads and the terrain. If you are wondering as to how to find the perfect car to rent, then you can check out the various car hire agencies that are there online, which will help you to find the right car at the right price. These agencies are professionals and have a standard market rate that you will find to be just. Moreover, you can be rest assured about the vehicle that you are getting. Before the car hire agencies hand over the keys to you, they will ensure that the car is in perfect condition for the trip you desire to take.

It is better to rent a car in advance before you actually make the trip for various reasons. The first important reason is the availability of a particular vehicle that you may require. For example, you might need a green jeep. However, if you are late, not only you might not get a green jeep, you might not even get a jeep. Another reason is to get the best discounts and packages that are available for advance bookings. So, all you need to do is click a button and find the perfect car hire agency on the internet and rent a car.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Ten Great Things To Do In The Cape Town Peninsula

Cape Town South Africa


Cape Town is the legislative capital city of South Africa and the second most populated city in the nation, and the capital of the Western Cape Province. The city itself offers plenty of attractions and there is much stunning beauty to be discovered along the Cape Peninsula. Interested in visiting this wonderful part of South Africa?


10 Great things you can see and do in the Cape Town Peninsula (in no particular order):

1. Visit Table Mountain.The majestic Table Mountain overlooks the entire city. You can climb it, but if you don’t feel too energetic you can also take a cable car to the top of it! There are plenty of walking trails in the area that will surely interest you!

2. Take a drive around the scenic coastline around Hout Bay, and enjoy the stunning views of Chapman’s Peak Drive, which is overlooked by the imposing Table Mountain. Enjoy the spectacular views of the bay or perhaps take a boat rider to Duiker Island. A visit to Hout May Museum may also interest you, so as to find out about the area.

3. Explore Cape Town City itself. Check out the city itself and visit the attractions such as the Victoria and Albert Waterfront which is a massive shopping and entertainment area which is located between historic Robben Island and Table Mountain right in the heart of Cape Town Harbour.

4. Take a trip to Seal Island, which is off the coast from Hout Bay Harbour. For those with a love of nature, the sight of the seals jostling for position in their natural habitats is a sight to behold.

5. Visit the wonderful beach at Llandudno, which is surrounded by bounders that are huge and made of granite. The mountains that tower imposingly over the peninsula overlook it. Sandy Bay is a wonderful beach that is just a short walk from Llandudno. The beach is private and the tranquility of the beach will astound you.

6. Take a trip to Cape Point and enjoy wonderful vistas of the ocean from this strikingly beautiful vantage point. A visit here is a must for any visitor to Cape Town. Located along the southern end of the Cape Peninsula, Cape Point is located in the 7,800 hectare Good Hope area of the Cape Peninsula National Park. Cape Point runs north south for around 30km at the extreme southwestern tip of the African continent. The Cape of Good Hope is just a short 2km drive away. Be prepared to see some wonderful fauna here: it is home to wonderful birdlife, antelopes, zebras and other animals. Baboons are also to be seen in the park. The scrub like fynbos vegetation which is native to the Cape Region is also apparent here.

7. Ensure to visit Boulders Beach, which has an interesting nature reserve on the beach which provides a safe haven for the wonderful penguins. Located around 30 minutes drive from Hout Bay lies Boulders Beach, which has a wonderful beach and a marvellous colony of the penguin family.

8. Do the Chapman’s Peak Drive which is a wonderful scenic drive between Noordhoek and Hout Bay. You will get fantastic scenic views of Hout Bay, the rolling waves of the Atlantic Ocean, and Long Beach. The drive is just less than 10km in length, and has over 100 winding curves as it winds along the rocky coastline of Chapman’s Peak.

9. Discover the Cape Town Winelands, which are located to the north east of the city. Stellenbosch is perhaps the most famous location in the Winelands Region. It is a perfect place to discover some of the wines like Boschendal and Delheim to name but a few. This was one of the first settlements by the European explorers. Constantia Valley and Franschhoek are other areas to check out if enjoying fine wine is your fancy! Find out more about the Cape Winelands Region.

10. Enjoy Whale Watching at the Cape Peninsula by taking a trip to Hermanus, around one and a half hours from Cape Town. The charming seaside town is noted as being one of the best whale watching destinations in the world. The period between August and November is by far the best time to watch these wonderful mammals. During this time, the bay will be dotted with files. Just walk along the cliff patch that runs for 12km from one end of Hermanus to the other and you should catch sight of these wonderful creatures in action! There are also excellent beaches to be found here. Discover more about Tourism in Hermanus.

So, have we tempted you visit the wonderful attractions of the Cape Town Region? The best way to get around the area is to hire a car, so check out this Car Hire Cape Town page.

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