Ahhh, the beach lifestyle. Who hasn’t gone to the beach on their holidays and dreamt of making it a permanent move? What’s not to love about living near the beach? The beautiful scenery, amazing opportunities for water sports lovers, and the chilled-out pace of life. Cape Town has it all. It also has a bustling economy, vibrant arts and cultural scene, as well as world-class facilities.
However, before you call up the movers, it’s important to know a bit about the history as well as what it’s like to live in South Africa’s oldest and second-largest city.
Long before European arrival, it was the Khoisan people who called Table Mountain and the surrounding area home. An adept and adroit people, with unsurpassed knowledge of local wildlife, they gave Table Mountain the name “Hoerikwaggo” which means “Mountain in the sea”. The modern city of Cape Town can trace its roots back to 1652 when the East India Company founded it as a port for its trading ships to replenish before setting sail once again. What the city’s founders had just discovered at the most southwestern point of Africa was an amazing location. Replete with rich, fertile soil, and lodged beneath the precipitous walls of Table Mountain the outpost quickly grew to become a gateway for Europe’s expansion into the interior of South Africa.
The cultural ties with Europe are still very evident in the city today in its place names, languages spoken, and cultural traditions observed.
Today, the city’s skyline is full of high-rise office buildings and working cranes, the symbol of more building and development to come. Even though Cape Town is a major hub of political and economic activity, its beautiful scenery and location, lodged between mountain and sea, is what makes it world-famous.
However, what many outsiders don’t realise is that Cape Town has a very cosmopolitan populace whose liberal attitudes and welcoming nature make it a very attractive and interesting place to live.
There are so many reasons to move to Cape Town, but here are a few highlights!
Many people journey to Cape Town to experience its beaches. And why not? The place is certainly home to some world-class swimming, diving, and surfing spots. The best beaches not to be missed include Camps Bay and Crayfish Factory. Spending any time at these locations will be sure to melt away the stresses of city life and confirm the exact reason why you decided to move to beautiful Cape Town in the first place.
Cape Town is widely regarded as a foodie’s mecca. With a dazzling array of world cuisine on offer, you are sure to find something to suit any food craving you may have. Fish and chips? Check. Paella? Check. The best boerewors. Check. Plus, Cape Town is also home to world-class restaurants like The Test Kitchen. Hailed as South Africa’s finest restaurant The Test Kitchen is a multi-award winning establishment that takes a good three months to find an open table at, so be sure to book well before you move to Cape Town!
Cape Town’s soundtrack is a heady mix of indie, pop, rock, afro-funk, and hip hop. The city comes alive with the sound of music pouring out of suburban hotels, inner-city clubs and moody jazz venues alike. If you are a music lover, you will never have to go far to find some tunes to delight your ears. Here, in this multicultural melting pot at the bottom of Africa, you’ll find it all.
Ok, if you’ve decided that Cape Town is the right city for you. What is left to do? Start calling moving companies Cape Town, of course! But wait a second. What things do you need to do and consider when getting ready for a house move?
Create a “moving house” folder on your computer in which you will store such things as relevant notes, paperwork, your timeline, and of course, your very important moving checklist. This is an important first step that helps you keep track of all the things you must do to have a successful move. It is also a place where you can store copies of important personal documents you may need in your new city (i.e. birth certificate, passport, qualifications, financial and insurance details, etc.).
It’s important to get a good understanding of what your big move will cost you as well as what you can afford. The best advice is to get several quotes from Cape Town moving companies first. Obviously, you shouldn’t go with the cheapest option just because they cost less. You need to match up a moving company’s service and reviews with how much they are quoting you. Following this, you need to also figure out how much extra you’ll need for things after you’ve arrived, like new furniture, any repair costs, etc.
As the moving date draws near, it’s time to begin boxing up all your worldly goods. The more time you give yourself to pack in advance of the day, the more effort you can put into making the whole packing process as neat and organised as possible. That way you can ensure you aren’t left randomly throwing things in boxes the night before! If you really want to pack your house like a professional, why not secure the services of one? Most Cape Town removal companies also offer to pack and unpack your house as part of their overall service.
When a new life and set of opportunities is calling you to Cape Town, it’s time to pack your things and call in the movers. Soon, you won’t have to wait until the holidays to enjoy the beach as you’ll be living right around the corner from it!
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