Digital Nomad Guide to Cape Town

1. Digital Nomad Guide to Cape Town

2. Africa is possibly the most overlooked continent in the world for digital nomadism. Sadly, nomads who refuse to consider Africa miss out on a diverse continent filled with beautiful nature, amazing wildlife, fun activities, rich cultures and hospitable people. For those planning their very first digital nomad travel adventure in Africa, look no further than Cape Town! The second most populous city in South Africa, Cape Town has been consistently ranked as the top African city for nomads, and with good reason. A beautiful nomad-friendly city, Cape Town is the perfect place to begin exploring South Africa. It’s also a great place to work remotely, and boasts a delicious restaurant scene with vegan/ vegetarian options, coworking opportunities and endless activities both within and outside the city limits. Read on for the ultimate guide to digital nomadism in Cape Town. Why Cape Town? A vibrant and diverse city, Cape Town is the ultimate destination for digital nomads seeking the perfect work-life balance. Bursting with color, creativity, culture and a distinctly metropolitan vibe, Cape Town is famous for its pleasant weather, beautiful beaches and unique activities. •As Africa’s largest tech hub, Cape Town has the best infrastructure to accommodate digital nomads, remote workers and entrepreneurs.

3. •As the cultural hub of South Africa, Cape Town is the best place to experience and appreciate the country’s rich diversity. •As an economic hub of southern Africa, all major roads and flight routes lead into and out of Cape Town, making it a great base from which to explore the rest of the country and the region. The Best Time to Visit Cape Town The best time to visit Cape Town is during its shoulder seasons that stretch from March to May and from September to November. These two periods of the year boast great weather, fewer crowds, and lower prices. Cost of Living Cape Town enjoys access to most things so you can buy almost everything you need here. The city is pretty affordable for general lifestyle purchases such as food, transport, accommodation and entertainment. The average cost of living in Cape Town ranges from US $1,800 – 2,200 per month. Getting Around Cape Town is relatively easy to walk around and navigate. You can get almost anywhere in the city using the MyCiti bus service and Uber. The commuter trains are also reliable. For exploring, it’s best to rent a car that will cover the long distances between major attractions.

4. Internet Cape Town has reliable internet connectivity with fast internet speeds of up to 200mbps. Most accommodation and coffee shops around the city offer strong Wi-Fi free of charge. As such, nomads visiting Cape Town can work from their Airbnb apartment, their favorite café or coworking space. Coworking Spaces Cape Town boasts many coworking spaces where nomads can connect with diverse professionals and share ideas, skills and knowledge. There are also opportunities for networking and collaborations that could foster professional development. The best coworking spaces in Cape Town are: •Workshop17 Watershed: Located inside a former warehouse in the V&A Waterfront area, Workshop17 Watershed offers over 100 hot desks, standing desks and dedicated seats. It welcomes both start-ups and experienced businesses, groups and individuals. •The Bureaux: This is a coworking space with 3 offices located in the Woodstock and Sea Point neighborhoods. The Bureaux offers high- quality facilities for remote workers, including hot desks, personal desk spaces, as well as private office suites. •No 80 Hout Street: Located in the city center, No 80 Hout Street is an open-plan coworking studio space that is ideal for networking among

5. creative professionals. It offers fiber optic internet, a variety of desks and meeting rooms. Community There are various ways to meet other digital nomads in Cape Town. Many coworking spaces in the city organize events on a regular basis, so be sure to sign up. You may also join the Cape Town Digital Nomads Facebook group which organizes regular meet-ups. Digital Nomad-Friendly Cafés Digital nomads who prefer to work from cafés can choose from a variety of spots in Cape Town that perfectly meet the needs of remote workers, with good coffee, a decent ambience, abundant electricity outlets and fast, reliable internet. The best digital nomad-friendly cafés in Cape Town are: •Yours Truly: Popular among locals and international hipsters, Yours Truly has 4 shops located around the CBD. The café offers fast, reliable internet, comfy chairs and desks, pleasant interiors, delicious coffee and food. •Hard Pressed Café: A haven for coffee lovers, Hard Pressed Café is perfect for nomads who like to get their work done over a steaming cup of coffee. Foodies can choose from a selection of tasty bagels, sandwiches and healthy salads.

6. •Truth Coffee Roasting: A world-famous, award-winning steampunk- themed café, Truth Coffee Roasting attracts both tourists and local creatives. Mostly thronged by early commuters, the café offers good coffee and one hour of uncapped Wi-Fi. Vegan/ Vegetarian-Friendly Cafés & Restaurants Cape Town is a vegan/ vegetarian-friendly city with an array of fantastic restaurants and cafes that cater to vegans and vegetarians with delicious food options. From breakfast to brunch, dinner and lunch, Cape Town’s selection of eateries is guaranteed to deliver the best plant-based dining experience. The best vegan/ vegetarian restaurants and cafés in Cape Town are: •Lekker Vegan (Vegan): Lekker Vegan is a vegan fast food restaurant that serves 100% plant-based options. The gourmet junk food joint offers a selection of burgers with fries, sandwiches, nuggets and samosas, chip rolls and soft-serve ice cream. •Ground Zero – Marley Coffee (Vegetarian): Ground Zero is a vegetarian café that specializes in vegan breakfasts, lunches and snacks, paired with freshly-roasted Marley Coffee. By evening, the popular meeting spot hosts soul music sessions and movie nights. •Plant (Vegan): Plant is a gourmet vegan restaurant that serves quality ethical vegan meals that will sway even the most committed carnivore. Choose from their selection of burgers, wraps and salads, desserts, smoothies, cold pressed juice, beer and wine.

7. Health Food Stores & Markets Health conscious nomads will be satisfied by the choice of natural foods and products available at Cape Town’s various health food stores. Cape Town also hosts a slew of markets where you can find fresh produce, including seasonal fruits and vegetables. The best health food stores and markets in Cape Town are: •The Oranjezicht City Farm Market (Farmers Market): The Oranjezicht City Farm Market is a wonderfully festive place to do your weekly grocery shopping. Here you’ll find fresh fruit, patch-to-table vegetables and herbs, organic dairy products, bread, raw honey and muesli. •Vegan Goods Market (Vegan Market): Held twice a month at Woodstock and Constantia, the Vegan Goods Market is a great place to shop for plant-based foods, local produce, healthy beverages, home and body products, clothing and zero waste alternatives. •Wellness Warehouse (Health Food Store): Wellness Warehouse is a natural and health food market chain that stocks a wide selection of natural, organic and healthy food, lifestyle and beauty products. Their store in Kloof hosts the Wellness Café, which offers vegan options. Accommodation Cape Town has several good neighborhoods for digital nomads to stay. These are the nicest and safest parts of the city that boast good infrastructure, while remaining affordable and offering a myriad of spaces to work from.

8. The best neighborhoods in Cape Town for digital nomads are: •Sea Point: This is a great location for nomads visiting Cape Town for the first time. The neighborhood has good public transport and general amenities, as well as easy access to other neighborhoods that have lots of coworking spaces and activities. •Green Point: For nomads who want to be at the center of the city’s fantastic nightlife, Green Point is the place to stay. Dubbed the “Soho” of Cape Town, Green Point boasts a vibrant atmosphere with lots of bars, nightclubs, restaurants and cafes. •The V&A Waterfront: Popular among nomads, the V&A Waterfront area comprises of both residential and commercial buildings, and is filled with bars, restaurants, coworking spaces and a host of entertainment opportunities. That said, it is a rather expensive neighborhood. Fitness A fitness lover’s dream, Cape Town has something for everyone when it comes to gyms and workouts. Staying fit is easy thanks to the many activities available, such as hiking, biking, running, swimming, kayaking, rock-climbing and paddle-boarding. For those that prefer the structure and convenience of a gym, Cape Town boasts a plethora of good venues that will inspire you to work-out every day, so as to keep you fit in between working and exploring. The best gyms in Cape Town are:

9. •Cape CrossFit: Located in the CBD, Cape CrossFit is not just a gym, it’s a fitness regime and a lifestyle choice. Most of their workouts focus on exercises that employ the full range of movements using weightlifting, gymnastics and metabolic conditioning. •Virgin Active: The largest gym franchise in South Africa, Virgin Active has several branches in Cape Town. The gyms vary in size, but are all fully-equipped to offer a wide range of fitness activities, ranging from classes, swimming and squash facilities. •Planet Fitness: Planet Fitness offers world-class facilities including a state-of-the-art cardio room. Innovative workout classes enable enthusiasts to make fitness fun by trying out new trends such as power boxing, aqua-thai-chi, or bosu (workouts that utilize a stability ball). Things to See & Do The digital nomad lifestyle is all about the perfect work-life balance and Cape Town is one of the best destinations where you can get this right. Cape Town is a fun city with plenty of opportunities for play after work. The best things to see and do in Cape Town are: •Table Mountain: Hiking enthusiasts can head up to the summit of Table Mountain, the city’s iconic landmark. Be dazzled by panoramic views over the Twelve Apostles, and then enjoy a scenic descent via cable car.

10. •Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens: Nestled at the foot of Table Mountain, the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens is a great spot to spend the day wandering through beautiful landscapes, across treetop walkways or have a picnic against the backdrop of majestic mountains. •Robben Island: This is the former prison island where Nobel Laureate Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years before the fall of apartheid. Today, former inmates give insightful tours to help visitors understand the painful history of the place. •Bo-Kaap: One of the most distinct neighborhoods in Cape Town, Bo- Kaap is world-famous for its colorful houses that are very Instagram- worthy. A great way to see Bo-Kaap is by joining the Cape Town Free Walking Tour. •Cape Town Beaches: Cape Town is famous for its gorgeous beaches that stretch along the pristine coastline of the Atlantic Sea. The city’s most beautiful beaches are Clifton Beach and Camps Bay, which boast white sands, turquoise waters and breathtaking mountain vistas. •Lion’s Head: A great alternative to the Table Mountain hike is Lion’s Head, which is particularly spectacular when you go up in time for sunrise. It takes roughly an hour to reach the top where you can enjoy the best views of Table Mountain. •The Neighbourgoods Market: Held every Saturday inside the Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock, The Neighbourgoods Market is a cool hangout spot that brings together Cape Town’s finest designers, artisanal producers, organic merchants and local farmers to sell their delicious wares.

11. Beyond Cape Town Nomads eager to venture outside of Cape Town will be spoiled for choice when it comes to tourist destinations in South Africa. If you have a weekend to spare, leave the city and explore the rest of the Western Cape Province. The best daytrips from Cape Town are: •Cape Peninsula Tour: Rent a car and take a scenic drive along the Cape Peninsula and back. On your way to South Africa’s southernmost tip, stop at iconic sights, such as the penguins at Boulders Beach and the seals at Hout Bay. •Winetasting at Franschhoek: Wine lovers must visit Franschhoek, an area famous for beautiful vineyards and high-quality wines. Spend the day exploring some of the world’s best vineyards, visiting local winemakers and tasting their delightful products. •Whale-Watching at Hermanus: Between July and November, go whale- watching off the coast of Hermanus, a renowned hotspot for the majestic marine mammals. From your boat, you may spot southern right whales, humpback whales and Bryde’s whales. •Shark-Cage Diving at Dyer Island: If you’re looking for an adrenaline rush, go shark cage-diving in Gansbaai. The cage will be the only thing standing between you, your guide and the sharks swimming around you!