Cape Town is beyond breathtaking. It has a landscape like no other place on earth, from the mountains to the city to the beach. Since marrying a South African man, I’ve been lucky enough to look forward to semi-annual missions to the Mother City. While my husband yearns for the easy familiarity of home, I fell in love with Cape Town for a litany of reasons all my own, not limited to its wide variety of activities and the hopeful feeling the city has as part of post-apartheid South Africa, teeming with life as new generations flock to the creative and cultural hub.
Hitting the ground running—or hiking, surfing, or wine-tasting—in Cape Town requires a few key essentials. Whether you want to take advantage of the city life or nature—or both!—I’ve rounded up the travel essentials I wish I’d packed on my first trip. From a sleep mask that helps me beat jet lag to compact binoculars to see all the amazing wildlife, these are the must-pack items I recommend for your Cape Town packing list.
My Cape Town Travel Essentials
Adjusting to jet lag on a trip to Cape Town is all about preparation. Give yourself your best shot at in-flight rest and tuck a comfortable eye mask, like the Quince Mulberry Silk Beauty Sleep Mask, in your carry-on. If you run hot at night or have sensitive skin, this silk eye mask won’t break you out, and it won’t feel uncomfortable pressed against your face. Once you touch down in Cape Town, keep using the eye mask as a hack for readjusting your rhythm. I take a page from my father’s book, who is an international pilot, and take a strategic 90-minute nap upon arrival. The eye mask helps block out any extra light in my room when napping during the day.
The journey to Cape Town is an odyssey, and dehydration is a sure-fire way to compound the negative effects of jet lag. Pack a generously-sized water bottle (in my opinion, this means 32 ounces at least!) in your carry-on and make a point of finishing it before you land in Cape Town. I personally opt for the tried-and-true Nalgene water bottle (mine is decorated in stickers from my travels). I’m a fan of the secure, leak-free screw top, so I can pack the bottle into my bag without worrying about spills. This particular bottle is special, as a portion of the proceeds are directed toward the Naglene Water Fund’s support of Dig Deep’s Appalachia Water Project and other water scarcity initiatives.
Power outages are not a cause for alarm, but a part of daily life in South Africa. Known as loadshedding, these outages conserve electrical power on the national grid. Travelers to Cape Town should be prepared, as loadshedding schedules are subject to change with little notice.
While I recommend business travelers and digital nomads who need steady, reliable internet to prioritize accommodations that offer generator or inverter power, most travelers can get by with keeping a portable charger always powered up. This nifty little Anker portable power bank can juice up small devices (think AirPods, iPads, and phones) in a pinch. If you are looking to power larger electronics, like a laptop, consider a power bank with over 25,000mAh.
The go-to resource for mapping out those periods is the app EskomSePush (the name of which is a cheeky double entendre in Afrikkans, betraying the public annoyance). Download it ahead of your trip to Cape Town for real-time updates to the loadshedding schedule, which varies by neighborhood.
South Africa uses two kinds of outlets, Type M and Type C, the former being the most common. Rather than packing a traditional Type B to Type M and C converter, find adapters that have USB and USB-C ports as well to minimize electronic bulk in your suitcase. For under $10, the Orei South Africa Power Plug Adapter is a streamlined choice, with two inputs and both USB and USB-C ports. Make sure to bring both the Type M and Type C, just in case.
Whether or not you are adding a safari to your Cape Town excursion, you are going to want to pack a pair of binoculars to take in the natural splendor. The city is teeming with wildlife, and taking it in is a spectator sport. From penguins at Boulders Beach to whale spotting on the coast, packing a pair of binoculars ensures you a front-row seat to the diverse wildlife of South Africa. There’s an array of binoculars on the market, but the high-end pairs can cost a venerable fortune. For purposes of Cape Town travel, I recommend a compact pair like these Nikon Trailblazers, which pack a punch without dominating your suitcase.
Cape Town has it all—the real challenge is packing for it. A single day might start with a cold plunge swim on Muizenberg Beach, progress to relaxing on the lush lawns of Kirstenbosch Gardens, and round out with sundowners (a local rite of passage!) on Clifton 3rd Beach.
One thing you’ll be grateful to have on your trip to Cape Town is a multi-tasking, lightweight blanket. Opt for one that can pull double duty and just as easily be an impromptu table setting for a Woolworth’s (affectionately Woolie’s) as it is a beach lounger. The Nomadix Festival Blanket is amply sized for a full Cape Town itinerary, but folds to the size of a coffee table book. Stash one in your backpack or beach tote as you adventure through the Mother City. In fact, it was named the best overall beach blanket by Travel + Leisure testers.
The Cape Town sun is notorious for its high UV levels that can sneak up on the uninitiated. Don’t let your trip be interrupted by a gnarly sunburn, and come prepared with sunscreen—especially for your face, which will likely get the most exposure. I have a fairly edited skincare routine and have paired it down to a few stellar products and this Avène SPF 30 Hydrance Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion is a mainstay in my toiletries bag. The barely-there texture is surprisingly effective; the facial sunscreen is your secret weapon against the intense rays of the South African sun. Don’t forget to reapply!
By now, it’s not hard to imagine that the secret to packing optimally for Cape Town is versatility. I find myself living in activewear that can take me from tennis to Table Mountain, and my go-to is a versatile onesie like the Aritzia Life Divinity Romper. But, because it’s nearly sold out, another option is this Amazon romper made of rayon and spandex so it’ll feel lightweight and breathable and comfortably stretch during a busy day. Throw a linen shirt over the look and—voila—an adorable daytime look for bopping around Seapoint Main Road. I love the way a romper can be dressed up or down for a full itinerary.
As I mentioned, the UV here is intense, so it’s not a bad idea to take extra precautions. While sunscreen is a minimum, a sun hat also offers another buffer layer. Straw hats embody the laid-back sophistication of Cape Town style, a functional elevation of any beach ensemble. I’m a fan of traveling with straw hats from Free People; the packable design is squish-resistant, key for enduring long-haul flights in a carry-on.
With a selection of over 70 beaches across the city, chances are you will be spending some time in the sand during your Cape Town trip. Opt for a beach bag that can go from surf to sushi without looking out of place. I am a big fan of open-weave totes, which let sand through the satchel without compromising on style. There are a lot of options for woven bags on the market. I am currently obsessed with the Handwoven Leather Tote from Madewell; but this similar Amazon beach tote will get the job done—and is only $20.
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