Getting around

Airport transfers

For Cape Town International Airport (CPT), a pre-booked shuttle suits travellers who need a confirmed child seat, extra luggage space or an agreed meeting point. Ask explicitly for meet-and-greet, flight-delay handling and the full fare. EZ Shuttle, an airport-transfer operator, describes arrivals collection with a paging board and offers child seats subject to availability. Confirm these in writing (check before you go).

Ride-hailing is flexible, but the fare and vehicle availability depend on demand. The airport publishes a list of authorised transport operators. MyCiTi, Cape Town’s municipal bus service, currently marks its airport service as suspended. Do not plan around the older airport-bus timetable still visible on its page (check before you go).

Uber and Bolt at the airport

Uber and Bolt are app-based ride-hailing services. Request through the app after collecting your luggage and follow its pickup directions. Uber’s current CPT page directs passengers to Parkade 1, pillars C and D; Bolt tells passengers to use the pickup point shown in its app. Locations can change (check before you go).

Match the registration, car and driver to the app before getting in. Decline unsolicited offers and off-app rides, keep communication in the app and share your trip with someone you trust. Do not assume a standard car has a child seat or can take an occupied wheelchair; arrange the vehicle you need beforehand.

Hiring a car

Bring the original driving licence, passport and a credit card in the main driver’s name with enough available credit for the deposit hold. Requirements differ by rental company and vehicle class, even when you have prepaid. Avis, a car-hire company, explains its card hold and accepted payment methods in its rental conditions. Confirm your own supplier’s conditions (check before you go).

An International Driving Permit (IDP) accompanies your national licence; it does not replace it. Avis accepts qualifying English-language foreign licences and requires an international permit or an accepted embassy-stamped translation alongside a non-English licence. Check the rules for your issuing country and insurer before leaving home. Reserve child seats by the child’s size and check the fit before driving away.

Driving and parking

Drive on the left. Locals call traffic lights “robots”. If lights are out, treat the junction as a four-way stop and proceed cautiously. Plan routes in advance, keep to major roads and avoid unfamiliar roads after dark; do not follow an unexpected navigation shortcut without checking it.

Petrol stations have attendants: tell them the correct fuel and amount. Use signed parking, obey time limits and keep belongings out of sight. An informal car guard’s tip is separate from an official parking charge and does not guarantee security.

Chapman’s Peak is a toll road between Hout Bay and Noordhoek. Its official status displayed CLOSED when checked on 14 November 2026; check the live status and tariff before setting off (check before you go). If shut, use the inland route via Constantia Nek and Ou Kaapse Weg instead of attempting the coastal leg.