Accessible Tours & Transport in South Africa
With transport options in Cape Town and in South Africa generally being rather limited, one of the best ways of seeing the city and region is to take a tour.
There are various tour operators, some operating from Cape Town, who can adapt tours to your specific needs and desires. You can get anything from a bus ride around the city and a trip to the winelands to a full-blown safari experience.
The following tour operators offer specialised tours for travellers with disabilities:
You should also check out what Cape resident Hilton Purvis has to say about tours and weekend breaks around Cape Town. He and his wife Loretta have travelled independently around the Western Cape region and generously share their experiences, tips and information.
Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
General: The usual hop-on, hop-off affair, these accessible tour buses are a great way to see the sights and to get around the centre. They run daily throughout the year, with extended hours in summer. There are two routes: the city centre 'red route' runs every 20 minutes or so, and the 'blue route' heads further afield to Camps Bay and Kirstenbosch gardens, running every 45 minutes or so. The ticket kiosk is at the V&A Waterfront, near the Two Oceans Aquarium.
Access: Buses are modern and accessible, with an extending ramp and a wheelchair space on the lower deck. Ushers will help customers on and off the bus. There is no need to book the wheelchair space in advance.
Contact:
- Name: City Sightseeing Bus
- Departure point: Kiosk outside Two Oceans Aquarium, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
- Tel: 021 511 6000
- Web: www.citysightseeing.co.za
Garden Route Tours
General: Several tour operators offer tours around Cape Town and the Garden Route, the beautiful lush coastline running east from Cape Town towards Port Elizabeth.
Tours typically include a trip to the Winelands (including wine-tasting), a stop in Hermanus (whale-watching capital of the world), and a visit to the beautiful coastal towns of Knysna (great for souvenir-shopping) or Mossel Bay.
Trips up into the interior (known as the Klein Karoo) are also popular, where you can visit an ostrich farm and a cheetah outreach park. A day in Addo Elephant Park adds a safari-like dimension to the trip.
Access: Tours are operated by specialists who have experience and proper facilities to offer. Vehicles are accessible for wheelchair users and accommodation is carefully chosen to suit a client's needs. There are also tours available for those with visual or hearing impairments and other disabilities.
See the list of tour operators above.
Safari Tours
General: Several tour operators run safari tours where you can get up close and personal with South Africa's Big Five - lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo. There is a huge variety of tours on offer. Staying near Cape Town is one option, but game reserves are small, private affairs and not the 'real deal'. Far better to opt for a tour to the famous Kruger National Park (northeast of Johannesburg) or Hluhluwe National Park in KwaZulu-Natal (near Durban). You can also request tours to Botswana and Namibia.
Access: Tours are operated by specialists who have experience and proper facilities to offer. Vehicles are accessible for wheelchair users and accommodation is carefully chosen to suit a client's needs.
However, note that safaris are not for the frail or unadventurous - some nights you will be camping in accessible tents, facilities are often rather makeshift, the weather is often unpredictable, and roads are almost always bumpy. Don't expect luxury out in the African bush!
There are also safari tours available for those with visual or hearing impairments and other disabilities.
Note that safari tours to the Kruger or Hluhluwe national parks will require a flight from Cape Town.
See the list of tour operators above.