Fast Facts
Photo © Cape Town Tourism
This section contains facts about Cape Town accommodation, transport, food and water, climate, Cape Town International Airport, language, currency, visas, medical facilities and time zone.
Population
Cape Town has a population of 3.5-million people.
Accommodation
Cape Town will offer just over 70 000 beds in the greater city area by June 2010, ranging from five-star hotels and golf-estate boutique hotels to traditional guest houses and bed and breakfast establishments. There are 27 000 beds within a 15km (8 mi) radius of the city centre.
Meeting/Venue Facilities
There are over 100 multi-purpose venues to choose from in the city. The destination also has an excellent support system for hosting any event, from the largest convention to innovative themed events. Here is a sample of venue capacities. View our venue database for more information.
| Venue Name | Largest Plenary (flat/tiered) | Largest banquet space (sqm) | Number Dels Round Table | Largest Exhibition space (sqm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westin Grand Arabella Quays Hotel | 640 | 584 | 480 | 640 |
| NH Lord Charles | 475 | 480 | 350 | 1,500 |
| GrandWest Casino and Entertainment Centre | 850 | 1,294 | 600 | 1,294 |
| Southern Sun Cape Town | 650 | 624 | 440 | 624 |
| Lagoon Beach Hotel | 350 | 400 | 300 | 400 |
| Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) | 8,500 (flat) / 1,500 (tiered) | 9705 | 5300 | 12000 |
Cape Town International Airport
Photo courtesy Tara Turkington
Delegates to Cape Town mostly arrive and depart through the Cape Town International Airport. The Cape Town International Convention Centre and other conference venues and hotels in the Cape Town city centre are a 20-minute drive (20 km or 12 miles) from the airport.
Sixteen international airlines fly into Cape Town International Airport from global hubs like Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Atlanta and London. Many others fly into Johannesburg, which is a two-hour domestic flight from Cape Town. On average there are flights every two hours between the two cities with a variety of domestic carriers.
The airport has undergone significant upgrades in preparation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.
Transport
Access to ground transport is simple and convenient, with taxis and coaches the most obvious options.
Public transport is being overhauled in the run-up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. The central city and Cape Town International Airport will have a dedicated lane for Bus Rapid Transit vehicles. At present there is no public transport service from the airport.
Water
High-quality tap (faucet) water is available across the city and it is both palatable and safe to drink straight from the tap.
Food
The quality of the food is excellent and Cape Town has some of the top restaurants in the world.
Climate
Photo courtesy Ian Wilson
Summer temperatures range between 15°C (59°F) and 27°C (80.6°F). The average winter temperature: 18.5°C (maximum). Average daily sunshine is 7.5 to 9.5 hours (London = 3.8 hours; New York = 6.9 hours). The long summer is between November and March. Spring (September/October) and autumn (April/May) are good times to visit Cape Town as they are usually balmy in-between seasons, when nature is at its showiest.
Currency and Taxes
The local currency is the South African rand. Foreign exchange facilities are widely available and can be found at the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town International Airport and at bureaux de change in major shopping centres.
Automated teller machines (ATMs) accept most international bank and credit cards.
South Africa has a modern and sophisticated banking and commercial system, and most shops and hotels accept all major credit cards.
South Africa has a value added tax system of 14% on purchases and services. International visitors can reclaim VAT on collective purchases of more than R250.
Medical Facilities
There is an excellent network of both state and private hospitals. Contact Cape Town Tourism if you need to find out more about local medical services.
If you’re an adult, you won’t need any inoculations unless you’re travelling from a yellow fever endemic area (the yellow fever belt of Africa or South America), in which case you will need certification to prove your inoculation status when you arrive in the country.
Language
The business language is English, although French and German are spoken fairly widely because of immigration from Europe and West and Central Africa.
Time
South African time is set at GMT +2 and there is no daylight saving system in summer.
Visas
These are issued by the South African missions abroad and must be in the applicant’s passport before departure for South Africa. Visas are not issued on arrival at South African ports of entry. Please visit http://www.home-affairs.gov.za for more information.
