skip navigation

Get to Know South Africa

Each year riders travel from around the globe to join us at the Absa Cape Epic. With travel, comes planning, and so we've taken some time to put together some tips and information for first time travellers visiting Cape Town.

International Travel

Visa Requirements

Due to the current global uncertainty regarding travel, we will keep you updated if any changes in the below information arise:

Every rider (and every supporter) must be in possession of a valid passport in order to enter South Africa. For some countries, you may also need to apply for and be in possession of a visa.

Please be sure to contact the South African embassy in your country and confirm whether or not you require a visa to enter South Africa. Ensure that your passport is valid over the duration of your stay. It is vital that you check and confirm these details prior to your departure as you will not be allowed to enter the country without the necessary documentation. You can visit the website of The South African Department of Home Affairs for more information on visa applications.

If you require a letter for your visa application stating that you will be attending the Absa Cape Epic, please send us an email at registration@cape-epic.com and we will gladly assist. A form visa letter will be available for download from your online profile from October.

table mountain

Travel Insurance, Bike Insurance, Medical Aid/Insurance 

Travel insurance is there to assist travelers by covering any medical expenses and/or losses incurred whilst on their travels.  Travelling always involves some form of risk and it is important to note that you will be taking part in a high-risk sport during your stay here.  Therefore, it is highly recommended that riders take out appropriate travel insurance (that includes medical aid/health insurance) for the duration of your trip here that will cover both you and your bike in the unfortunate event of injury/illness or damage to equipment etc.  

We also recommend that you have credit card with you at all times in order to facilitate swift treatment in a medical emergency that requires hospitalisation.

Customs Restrictions

South Africa has specific customs requirements regarding items that need to be declared. Be sure to familiarize yourself with these rules and items so that your arrival into South Africa is seamless.

Currency and Typical Exchange Rates

In South Africa, the South African Rand (ZAR) is used. Be sure to check the exchange rates prior to your departure. All major credit cards (Visa and MasterCard) can be used in South Africa. Make sure you notify your bank that you will be travelling and using your card in a foreign country.

 

All major South African banks have branches in Cape Town and you will find ATM’s in many locations around the city (airports, shopping malls, etc.). If you want to exchange your currency for Rands at a bank or foreign exchange dealer, make sure you have your passport with you. There are kiosks available for you to exchange foreign currency at all of our international airports and most shopping centres/malls.

Please note that you cannot use foreign currency in the Absa Cape Epic race villages. ATM’s will only be available at the Prologue and Grand Finale. We will be travelling to remote areas so please ensure you are prepared with enough cash in Rands as well as your credit card in case there is no ATM available in the immediate vicinity.

photo op biker

Avis Vehicle Rental

Our official vehicle rental sponsors at Avis have arranged preferential package rates with multiple benefits, exclusive for our riders.

Special inclusions in the per day rate are the following:

  • 100 km per day free
  • Super Collision Damage Waiver
  • Super Theft Loss Waiver
  • Windscreen Tyre Damage Waiver
  • Additional Driver up to 3
  • VAT
  • Airport Surcharge and Tourism Levy

All Additional Charges are extras. 

BOOK HERE


Safety and Security

We recommend that the below tips are taken into account when it comes to safety and security in Cape Town:

  • Make sure all valuables, passports, cameras, etc. are locked away safely in your accommodation. 
  • Be sure not to leave any valuable items (such as the above) visible in your car when unattended.
  • Avoid having valuable items on display when walking around the city (i.e. cameras around your neck, phones, wallet, jewelry, etc.).
  • Be cautious when embarking anywhere by foot or bike at night. Stick to well-lit, busy areas.
  • Always be vigilant when drawing money from an ATM.
  • Keep the number of valuables that you bring to the race villages to a minimum. Avoid bringing laptops, large cameras, jewelry, etc. but make sure that you have your passport/ID, credit card and cellphone with you during the event.
Service Contact Number
ER24 084 124
Police 10111
Fire 10111
Ambulance 10117
Arrive Alive Call Centre 0861 400 800
Netcare 911 082 911
Cell Phone Emergency Number 112

Communication and Connectivity

Phoning Overseas From South Africa 
The access code for making international calls from South Africa is 00. To make a call, you must first dial 00, then the country code, then the area code and then the number you wish to call. 

South Africa’s country code: +27

Should you wish to buy a sim card or enquire about cellphone service providers available in South Africa, the following service providers are the most popular in SA:

These service providers have multiple shops and info desks in Cape Town, including branches at the airport and in shopping malls.

WIFI Connectivity
Most restaurants, shopping malls, and accommodations have wifi available. Cape Town also has multiple public wifi zones which are free, you will see signs around Cape Town where this service is available. Should you require wifi during your stay before/after the race, be sure to confirm with your accommodation beforehand if they have this facility available for you.

Wifi will be available at each race village during the event compliments of Official Technology Partner, Dimension Data.

pic with medals

Shopping and Restaurants

Bike Shops
There are many bicycle shops around Cape Town that can be found with a simple Google search. If you are a part of our pre-accommodation package, Manic Cycles will be based in the hotel and available to you for all of your bike’s needs before the event.

Shopping
Cape Town hosts some of the best shopping experiences in the country and there is no doubt you will be able to find everything you need.

A few of these include: 

Stores like WoolworthsPick n Pay & Checkers are popular supermarkets where you can buy a wide variety of goods such as food, clothing, electronics, tools, and various other supplies.

Restaurants 
Cape Town is well known for its variety of restaurants which catering to all taste buds. Whether it’s a quick bite to eat or a fine dining meal, the following directories will be able to help you find what Cape Town has to offer.

Tipping your waitron/bartender at restaurants is customary in South Africa. 10% gratuity on your bill in restaurants is accepted.

water boats ferris wheel

Discover Cape Town and the Western Cape

Absa Cape Epic riders enjoy a rare opportunity to explore some of the most remote and spectacular parts of Cape Town and the Western Cape during the race. For riders wishing to experience more of the unrivaled natural beauty this area has on offer the Absa Cape Epic makes for an ideal launchpad. Whether they arrive before the race to familiarise themselves with the climate and terrain, or decide to stay after the event to relax and unwind.

Cape Town is the tourism capital of South Africa and the city is famous for its incredible beauty, set amongst towering mountains, historic vineyards, turquoise waters and white beaches. The wider Western Cape is picturesque and caters for all travelers, be it five-star luxury or wild adventures they seek. The weather is very enjoyable during the month of October with an average high of 24 degrees Celsius and an average low of 14 degrees Celsius (similar to March). Rain is unusual but not unheard of.

For more tourist information on Cape Town and the Western Cape:

Cape Point

Cape Point is in the Cape of Good Hope nature reserve within Table Mountain National Park,  which forms part of the Cape Floral Region, a World Heritage Site. It includes the majestic Table Mountain chain, which stretches from Signal Hill to Cape Point, and the coastlines of the Cape Peninsula. This narrow stretch of land, dotted with beautiful valleys, bays and beaches, contains a mix of extraordinarily diverse and unique fauna and flora.

Named the ‘Cape of Storms’ by Bartolomeu Dias in 1488; the ‘Point’ was treated with respect by sailors for centuries. By day, it was a navigational landmark and by night, and in fog, it was a menace beset by violent storms and dangerous rocks that over the centuries littered shipwrecks around the coastline.

In 1859 the first lighthouse was completed; it still stands at 238 metres above sea-level on the highest section of the peak and is now used as the centralised monitoring point for all the lighthouses on the coast of South Africa. Access to this historical building is by an exhilarating three-minute ride in the wheelchair-accessible Flying Dutchman funicular that transfers visitors from the lower station at 127 metres above sea-level, to the upper station.

Cape Point

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden lives up to its reputation as the most beautiful garden in Africa and one of the great botanic gardens of the world. Few gardens can match the sheer grandeur of the setting of Kirstenbosch, against the eastern slopes of Cape Town’s Table Mountain.

Kirstenbosch was established in 1913 to promote, conserve and display the extraordinarily rich and diverse flora of southern Africa, and was the first botanic garden in the world to be devoted to a country's indigenous flora.

Kirstenbosch displays a wide variety of the unique plant life of the Cape Flora, also known as fynbos, including South Africa's national flower, the King Protea. Plants from all the diverse regions and biomes of southern Africa are also grown at Kirstenbosch, including a near-complete collection of cycads (Encephalartos spp.). The Botanical Society Conservatory is a custom-built glasshouse to grow and display plants from the arid regions that cannot survive outdoors. There are over 7 000 species in cultivation at Kirstenbosch, including many rare and threatened species.

One can also enjoy the 'Boomslang" a walkway which takes the visitor from the forest floor into and through the trees and bursts out above the canopy, giving spectacular panoramic vistas of the surrounding mountains, Garden and Cape Flats.

botanical gardens

Tabe Mountain

Table Mountain is the most iconic landmark of South Africa and some of the best views of Cape Town can be found using the Table Mountain Cableway, a unique and 93-year-old method of seeing the wonders of the city. Travel up to the summit of the majestic flat-topped mountain and be astounded by vistas of the Mother City, Robben Island and the Peninsula.

The mountain is also the country’s most photographed attraction and its famous cable car took millions of people to its top.

There are about 2,200 species of plants found on Table Mountain with 1470 floral species, many of these plants and flowers are endemic to this mountain.

The whole area has a biodiversity that is rare to find in other places on earth. Its many valleys and streams make it an idyllic getaway from Cape Town. The national park’s most unique feature is its fynbos vegetation that is displayed here better than anywhere in the world.

The Cape Floral region of the national park is one of the richest floral regions in the world. Over 70% of the flowers are endemic to the Table Mountain. It is no wonder that the mountain was chosen as one of the new seven world wonders.

Its fauna is no less thrilling either. Although animals such as the cape lion, mountain zebra or the leopard are no longer found here, the park is still home to caracals, rock hyraxes or chacma baboons.

Tabe Mtn

V&A Waterfront

Situated at the foot of Table Mountain, within a stone's throw from the Cape Town Stadium and in the heart of Cape Town's working harbour, the V&A Waterfront offers the visitor an abundance of unforgettable experiences. 

Indoor shopping and entertainment venues seamlessly merge with ocean vistas and mountain views and the fresh sea breeze and warm African sun add zest to a cosmopolitan, vibrant atmosphere. More than 80 restaurants bring a fusion of international food, from rustic al fresco fish and chips to starched table-cloth cuisine.

V&A Beachfront

Boulders Beach

Boulders Penguin Colony in Simons Town is home to a unique and endangered land-based colony of African Penguins. This colony is one of only a few in the world, and the site has become famous and a popular international tourist destination.

The Boulders section of TMNP consists of 3 pristine beaches, 1 penguin viewing area and 3 boardwalks. The boardwalks were built as a measure to allow for viewing of these wonderful birds, whilst keeping them safe from poking fingers, so please be sure to stay on the boardwalks at all times within the viewing area.  

This beach is ideal for children as immense boulders shelter the cove from currents, wind and large waves - but please always take care. Don't touch or feed the penguins – they may look cute and cuddly but their beaks are as sharp as razors and if they feel threatened they have no qualms about nipping the odd finger or nose.

Boulder Beach

Robben Island

Robben Island was used at various times between the 17th century and the 20th century as a prison, a hospital for socially unacceptable groups, and a military base. Its buildings, and in particular those of the late 20th century maximum security prison for political prisoners, testify to the way in which democracy and freedom triumphed over oppression and racism.

What survives from its episodic history are 17th century quarries, the tomb of Hadije Kramat who died in 1755, 19th century ‘village’ administrative buildings including a chapel and parsonage, small lighthouse, the lepers’ church, the only remains of a leper colony, derelict World War II military structures around the harbour and the stark and functional maximum security prison of the Apartheid period began in the 1960s.

The symbolic value of Robben Island lies in its somber history, as a prison and a hospital for unfortunates who were sequestered as being socially undesirable. This came to an end in the 1990s when the inhuman Apartheid regime was rejected by the South African people and the political prisoners who had been incarcerated on the Island received their freedom after many years.

Robben Island