Will it Rain? and other Cape Town, South Africa General Tips

Favorite Thing: The locals have a very accurate way of forcasting whether rain could be expected within the next few hours.

Simply look at Lions Head, that's the peak to the right of Table Mountain.
If there is a cloud obscuring the tip of Lions Head you can bet your bottom dollar that rain is well in it's way. If no cloud, leave your brolly at your hotel!


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Favorite Thing: Take a stroll up St Georges Mall. It starts at Thibault Square near the Station and runs up all the way to St George's Cathedral. There you can cross the road turn left for a few metres and continue up into the VOC Company gardens.
Continue up Government Avenue to the Natural History Museum and Planatarium.
The sights & sounds you'll see on the way will be entertaining.


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Favorite Thing: Strand (meaning Beach) Street gets it's name from the fact that when the Castle was built the shoreline ran where this street is now.
Gradual reclamation of land (probably out of habit due to the Dutch ancestory of our city fathers) has moved the sea back a few kilometres to where it is at present


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Favorite Thing: How to Claim your Tax Refund

Documentation

Simply identify yourself as a tourist to shop assistants, and request a Tax Invoice for the goods you have purchased.
A valid Tax Invoice must contain all the following information:

The words "Tax Invoice"
A Tax Invoice number
The seller's VAT Registration number
Date of Issue of the Tax Invoice
The seller's name and address
The buyer's name and address
A full description of the goods purchased
The cost of the goods in Rands
The amount of VAT charged, or a statement that VAT is included in the total cost of the goods

Inspection

Goods in respect of which a VAT refund is claimed must be presented for inspection on departure from South Africa.

Remember: No Inspection - No Refund!

When departing from Cape Town International Or Johannesburg International Airports the following procedure is to be followed.

Procedure
Produce goods prior to check-in at the VAT Goods Inspection Desk or Customs Counter clearly sign posted in the Departure Hall. Hand luggage may be inspected at the VAT Refund Office situated after immigration control. Claims are received at the VAT Refund Office. Cheques issued may be cashed for foreign currency at the airport banking facility.

For further info call at the VAT refund desk in the Clock Tower precinct of the V&A Waterfront or go to www.taxrefunds.co.za


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Favorite Thing: How to Claim your Tax Refund

Documentation

Simply identify yourself as a tourist to shop assistants, and request a Tax Invoice for the goods you have purchased.
A valid Tax Invoice must contain all the following information:

The words "Tax Invoice"
A Tax Invoice number
The seller's VAT Registration number
Date of Issue of the Tax Invoice
The seller's name and address
The buyer's name and address
A full description of the goods purchased
The cost of the goods in Rands
The amount of VAT charged, or a statement that VAT is included in the total cost of the goods

Inspection

Goods in respect of which a VAT refund is claimed must be presented for inspection on departure from South Africa.

Remember: No Inspection - No Refund!

When departing from Cape Town International Or Johannesburg International Airports the following procedure is to be followed.

Procedure
Produce goods prior to check-in at the VAT Goods Inspection Desk or Customs Counter clearly sign posted in the Departure Hall. Hand luggage may be inspected at the VAT Refund Office situated after immigration control. Claims are received at the VAT Refund Office. Cheques issued may be cashed for foreign currency at the airport banking facility.

For further info call at the VAT refund desk in the Clock Tower precinct of the V&A Waterfront or go to www.taxrefunds.co.za


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Favorite Thing: Just a few pictures of a bygone era. From some you'll notice just how much of Cape Town is situated on reclaimed land. It seems that we inherited this need to reclaim land from our Dutch ancestors! lol


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Favorite Thing: There's nothing that compares to a fresh linefish straight from the boat and Kalk Bay is the place to get it!

Fondest Memory: The Kalk Bay community has it's roots in fishing and many colourful characters can be seen if you pop in to the picturesque little harbour.

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Favorite Thing: The Mouille Point lighthouse was declared a National Monument in 1973 and is a popular landmark, the light was lit for the first time on the 12 April 1824.
The original installation had two fixed white lights on the top of the masonry tower, it was upgraded in 1865 when the tower was increased to its present height of 16 meters and a 3rd order light replaced the two fixed lights which is still in use today. There is a great promenade stretching along the beachfront from Seapoint till the end of Mouille Point overlooking the Atlantic Ocean which is ideal for taking long walks or a jog


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Favorite Thing: Capetownians are very fond of their mountain and have good reason to be. Table Mountain is instantly recognisable and it overlooks thge city like a mother looking over her children.
For those of us travelling in to work from the "Northern Suburbs", the mountain is never the same as it was the day before. There is always a subtle change in colour or the way the clouds roll over its face when the Cape Doctor is blowing.


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