South Africa – Living In Cape Town as an International Student

Hanging out at Bo-Kaap, Cape Town

South Africa is a land of complexities as a home to a very diverse landscape and a diverse culture. It’s the country where the rich and the poor, the ocean and the desert, the beautiful and the ugly coexisted.

Seeing how everybody was amazed by their trip to this unique country, I always dreamed of spending a significant portion of my life here.

Here I am, having spent 15 months in Cape Town that is the most iconic and cosmopolite city of South Africa. I have been pursuing a master’s degree at the University of Cape Town.

I can easily tell that living in Cape Town as an international student is an experience to remember. It can be resembled a song that you find strange in the beginning but then keep replaying repeatedly as you listen more and more.

India Venster trail at Table Mountain

My favorite thing about Cape Town is that it’s very nature oriented. I can easily access many hiking trails that take me to the best lookout points of the city. I try my best to take advantage of this by going on hiking trips in every 2 weeks.

The exploration never comes to an end since there are more than a dozen hiking trails alone in Table Mountain National Park. Besides hiking, the city is home to the most scenic beaches I have ever seen. Some of them are even within walking distance from the city and are perfect getaway points on warm weekends.

• Related: South Africa – 5 Iconic Hikes on Table Mountain for Nature Lovers

The city might seem very peaceful and quiet at the first glimpse, but it is much more vibrant than it seems. There are many events, activities and festivals that appeal to every age and taste. The first Thursday of every month is special; many museums and galleries remain open until late hours and offer free beverages.

Regular free museums nights are organized, making it possible to visit museums for free. There are many cool festivals in the city and in the country-side. I try to attend these events as much as possible with the many I save up. I also attend swing, tango and salsa classes during the weekdays after office hours.

Just like every city, Cape Town also has its pros and cons. Although it’s much cheaper than European cities, it can still be expensive in some aspects. Rental fees are an example to this. With the monthly rent I am paying for a tiny room in a suburban area, I could have easily rented a 4+1 apartment flat in Turkey.

Also, I found textile and hospitality to be somehow expensive. In short, if you want to get a high-quality service in this city, you might end up paying much more than anticipated.

Another problem I am facing the inconvenience of public transportation. The most reliable bus service- MyCiti Bus- only goes to certain areas in the city.

Train is not always on time and definitely not the safest option. This makes Uber almost always compulsory, which hurts my wallet in the long run. Otherwise, I will have to rely on my friends who have cars when I go out at night, which makes me dependent on other people.

• Related: South Africa – Bungee Jumping off the Bloukrans Bridge
• Related: Bo-Kaap – Colourful Houses Emerging from a Dark Colonial Past

Overall, I have been living quite an eventful life in Cape Town. Some circumstances make me contemplate my choice of moving here, but I am mostly grateful that Cape Town teaches me how to sustain my life and survive on my own.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article are the author’s and in no way reflect the views and/or opinions of Fat Starfish.