First things first. We have stayed in at least two dozen AirBnB places around the world. All the hosts have been quite accommodating, but we have never – NEVER – had a host as attentive and responsive as Kath. I think she sleeps with the phone under her arm.
My wife and I are both urban people. We seek out historical or central city locations wherever we are staying, in this case for a month. This apartment in the heart of Cape Town was ideal for us. It presents a wonderful mix of South African races and languages. Yet we found it to be as safe as any central city. It is walking distance from most things we appreciate – historic sites like the Company Gardens, Parliament, the Jewish Museum, Woolworth's for groceries and informal fruit sellers. We quickly were able to find a laundry, a tailor and favorite restaurants. (Be sure to check out Pilcrow and Jenkins ( ask for the “Dorothy and Tom mussels - t.ly/33JjO) and Omega and Primrose’s “Starling” coffee shop in Church Square. Also is Mideastern food court right next to the building is great fun and very cheap. Just about all orders are sufficient for two.) If you look at pictures of the apartment, you will see a triangular “punchout” that looks down on Parliament and the corner of Darling streets. Fascinating, almost cinematic views of the street life unfolding daily.
On the downside. As is typical buildings built ~80 years ago, the water pressure in showers is low. Also, the shower would benefit from maintenance on the door. It simply does not close tight enough to keep water off the floor. The WiFi is probably a DSL line. Consequently, if you need to do any serious online work, the lack of broadband will be frustrating. Finally, if you are spending a fair amount of time in South Africa and Cape town and want to learn more about the nation and its people and cultures, the lack of a TV and local broadcast news is a bit of a problem. (Tip: if you have a smart phone that will utilize dual SIM cards, buy one from Vodacom or Telkom. Service, like Uber, is cheap and available in most of South Africa.)
Overall, we certainly will stay in the same neighborhood and hope for equally gracious hosts.