hi im heading to SA cape town mid November anyone bin before?
got any tips, location reviews, accommodation reviews ??
what size kites to take ?
wetty ?

cheers

You're a brave man if you brave the waters in a 3/4!

Langebaan main beach or Shark Bay you'll get away with a 3/4, but Table View (bloubergstrand), water is cold. Even if the air temp is 30-40deg c the water is chilly. Do yourself a favour and take your steamer.

Kite size wise, 9/7 unless you have space for a 12 also which would be nice if you wanted to get out earlier in the mornings. South Easter generally starts to build late morning and usually gets progressively stronger thru to evening. It can blow its tits off some evenings.

General rule also if its honking in Table View, head up to Langebaan where the wind will generally be a bit less bonkers. Klein Oesterwaal ( Shark Bay), is awesome flat water spot knee deep, whilst Main Beach just up road is deeper but just as good. Beware the strong current at Main Beach- many a board lost here......!

Kites Nest has a good reputation. Brad Simmington bit of a local legend there ( if he's still there), and they and others do the Downwind Shuttle in season which will enable you to downwind from Sunset Beach all the way down to Haakgat if you wish (awesome wave spot but evil shore dump so beware).

http://www.thekitesnest.com/windshuttle/downwindshuttle

Two more local forums if you need more local advice:

forums.ikiteboarding.com/forums/20/ShowForum.aspx

dirtyhabits.org/

Plenty of accoms to choose from either at the kite schools/ centres or private. Depends what kind of accoms you after. Aforementioned Kitesnest has accoms in Blouberg, and Windchasers up Langebaan is nice backpackers type accoms.

hiring a car is a must, even if you plan on only staying in cape town.
if you have the time then do a trip up the west coast (windy as hell and cold water) and/or the east coast (less windy but warmer water). and check out down towards the cape itself for some wild beaches and breaks.
awesome country, great people, insane wind. have fun.

Brrrr......kiting in False Bay/ Muizenberg? That would give me the willies.

Yep, the water is a little warmer being on the Indian Ocean side of things, but the sharks also appreciate this geothermal statistic LOL! I did a GW cage dive in False Bay a couple of years ago. Saw five different GW's- two of them 5-6m

Mind you, you WA lot will be used to looking at your shadows so probably OK!

3/4 chainmail suit will Oh! Suit You Sir here! Ohhhh!

Enjoy your trip! Hoping to be there myself in Feb to see the in-laws....

(Yep, car is a must, BUT be careful with leaving any gear in it at the kitebeaches! The vagabonds are only too aware of the value of some of the gear left un-attended in the car parks. Pay the "car guards", a few Rand if you can if you know what I mean )

IanR said...

Hi Fabienne
Think we meet earlier this year this year at Dolls Point in Sydney
I have a brother that lives in Cape Town and I'm going to visit him in January.
As Stamp said having a Car is a must, its a very spread out city with very little safe public transport. People have already spoken about the Atlantic side where the waters Very cold but no one has mentioned Muizenberg in False bay. Fun on shore with little waves that great bump and jump sailing and the water is a bit warmer. I would also recommend Witsand on the Breeder river. Its about 3 hrs drive East of Cape town. Amazing glassy flat water and some good waves too.

hay, hows it going, not sure how im going to handle the weather of SA if i cant even handle the cold weather of Sydney hmmm maybe i should have done Brazil - might see you in January

Hi Fab
The weathers warm averages about 30c most of summer very similar to Perth just the water on the Atlantic side is frigid. Its good inspiration to land all your tricks.
Are you going to visit Colin in Muizenberg at the Airush head offices. I'm sure they will help if you need a 9m or 12m when your over there.
Get the extra baggage allowance in Writing on a SAA letter head. Qantas and SAA code share on the Cape Town run. When I went in 04 they let me fly there with 40Kgs. When it came time to leave CT they tried to sting me $600 for 10kgs excess luggage. I left a 10Kg bag of clothes with my brother.
Fashion in Cape town is very funky and affordable take the minimum with you and buy there.
This Designer is a very good friend of my brother and an awesome lady that Ive done some amazing adventures with like rafted down the Orange river and Hiked the Whale Trail
http://www.hiphopfashion.co.za/summer-catalogue/spring-2012/
Imported brand Wetsuits can be expensive but local brands are Cheap
PM me your phone number and I'll give you lots of contacts