Touring Cape Town By Rail Provides A More Authentic Experience
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The Mother City in South Africa is one of the country's and indeed the world's favorite travel destinations. It is breathtakingly beautiful and the weather is perfect. There are great beaches and lots of adventure. Capetonians are diverse and interesting people and to meet them and have a more fulfilling visit, you may want to consider touring Cape Town by commuter train.
Cape Town has an extensive rail system for an African city. Taking the train is a popular mode of transport for many Capetonians, since it's cheap and a great way to avoid the notorious rush-hour traffic. The city is big and there are train lines serving different areas, from the suburbs near the City Bowl to the townships further afield on the Cape Flats. You can even take the train to the beautiful wine region of the Boland. For visitors, one of the most unforgettable journeys is the Southern Line to Simon's Town.
The Southern Line serves the city's Southern Suburbs, the False Bay area and the Peninsula. At first you travel through industrial areas and then through quaint suburbs such as Observatory and Rondebosch with their Victorian houses. At Muizenberg the line becomes one of the most scenic in the world, going along the coast all the way to Simon's Town. On windy days the spray from the ocean hits the train and at times you may feel as if you're traveling on the water or across the beach. You may see seals, dolphins and even whales along the way.
The suburban trains have two classes. First class is officially called MetroPlus while third class is really called Metro. The informal names are a leftover from apartheid, when white people could choose between first and second class while third class was for non-whites. After all these years there is still a racial divide of sorts, with white people usually traveling first class. For a truly authentic Cape Town experience, however, third class is the way to go.
Many visitors are worried about the safety of train travel. However, there is no need to be afraid if you take the usual precautions of not traveling alone after dark or flashing jewelry and cameras. In third class, the people you meet are mainly commuters who are simply going to work or returning home and they usually look out for the safety of visitors who take the time to see how they live.
What makes third-class travel so much more interesting is everything you'll experience during the trip. Lay preachers are a common sight and no journey is complete without vendors coming through and selling everything from crisps to socks. It's not unheard of for buskers to get on board and everyone in the carriage spontaneously dancing to the music either.
Outside nearly every station you'll find some minibus taxis waiting to take commuters further. These taxis are a truly African experience too. When you reach Simon's Town, flag down a taxi to take you to Boulders Beach, where you can swim among African penguins.
The most convenient way to get around in Cape Town is by car and for some destinations, such as Cape Point or Chapman's Peak Drive, you may want to hire a car for the day. However, to truly experience the city's character and meet its people you need to try the public transport. Just be sensible and you'll be perfectly safe too.
Cape Town has an extensive rail system for an African city. Taking the train is a popular mode of transport for many Capetonians, since it's cheap and a great way to avoid the notorious rush-hour traffic. The city is big and there are train lines serving different areas, from the suburbs near the City Bowl to the townships further afield on the Cape Flats. You can even take the train to the beautiful wine region of the Boland. For visitors, one of the most unforgettable journeys is the Southern Line to Simon's Town.
The Southern Line serves the city's Southern Suburbs, the False Bay area and the Peninsula. At first you travel through industrial areas and then through quaint suburbs such as Observatory and Rondebosch with their Victorian houses. At Muizenberg the line becomes one of the most scenic in the world, going along the coast all the way to Simon's Town. On windy days the spray from the ocean hits the train and at times you may feel as if you're traveling on the water or across the beach. You may see seals, dolphins and even whales along the way.
The suburban trains have two classes. First class is officially called MetroPlus while third class is really called Metro. The informal names are a leftover from apartheid, when white people could choose between first and second class while third class was for non-whites. After all these years there is still a racial divide of sorts, with white people usually traveling first class. For a truly authentic Cape Town experience, however, third class is the way to go.
Many visitors are worried about the safety of train travel. However, there is no need to be afraid if you take the usual precautions of not traveling alone after dark or flashing jewelry and cameras. In third class, the people you meet are mainly commuters who are simply going to work or returning home and they usually look out for the safety of visitors who take the time to see how they live.
What makes third-class travel so much more interesting is everything you'll experience during the trip. Lay preachers are a common sight and no journey is complete without vendors coming through and selling everything from crisps to socks. It's not unheard of for buskers to get on board and everyone in the carriage spontaneously dancing to the music either.
Outside nearly every station you'll find some minibus taxis waiting to take commuters further. These taxis are a truly African experience too. When you reach Simon's Town, flag down a taxi to take you to Boulders Beach, where you can swim among African penguins.
The most convenient way to get around in Cape Town is by car and for some destinations, such as Cape Point or Chapman's Peak Drive, you may want to hire a car for the day. However, to truly experience the city's character and meet its people you need to try the public transport. Just be sensible and you'll be perfectly safe too.
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