Unlocking your inner Capetonian

Cocktails at Caprice, a cat on a leash, weekend markets, thrifting and fitness. The list of essential Cape Town living is endless. In a city of over four million people, lifestyles differ from one Capetonian to the next. It is this contrasting nature that makes exploring this city such a cultural experience, and naturally, why Namibians love it so much.

Undoubtedly the best way to go about Cape Town (or travelling in general) is by doing it like a local. Fortunately for the vagabonds, the only way to immerse yourself in the local lifestyle is by spending enough time in one place to pick up the subtle nuances, the comings and goings of the people who call this place home. I recently spent a week in the Mother City, and here is my take on how to unlock your inner Capetonian.

THE WENGEN

Before you go anywhere or do anything, establish where the nearest Wengen is. A Wengen is an Engen fuel station with a Woolworths 24-hour shop. Probably the most Cape Town thing I can think of is a 24/7 Woollies. Locals grab convenient lunches here during weekdays, quickly stock up on a few essentials for dinner before heading home, stumble in for a midnight snack after clubbing, and get drinks and food supplies for a beach picnic.

As a visitor to Cape Town, a Wengen is invaluable for its convenience, affordability and the fact that it won’t take you 20 minutes to find parking, unlike a real Woolworths in one of the city’s many malls. Since exploring burns a whole lot of energy, a Wengen might just be your saving grace, but not simply as a refuelling exercise, because these shops truly encompass the food scene in Cape Town, albeit in a quickshop fridge.

THRIFTING IN OBSERVATORY

I have written fondly of the open markets in Namibia’s north, where thrifting is a cultural, bend-over experience. In Cape Town, it is a hipster’s dream. On Lower Main Road in the Observatory suburb is a single street lined with uber-cool vintage and thrift shops, cafes and record shops. These thrift shops pump music on vinyl and offer fitting rooms and rails on rails of well-priced, pre-loved clothes.

While both the open markets and Cape Town’s thrift scene get their clothing from the bales of unwanted fashions from the west, in this city it is a lot more curated. The best part of thrifting here is not just the great second-hand shops, but the buzz of locals on the hunt for Doc Martens and buskers drowning out the city’s white noise, elevating Cape Town into people-watching and picture-taking heaven.

SPAZA SHOPS

In Namibia we fondly call them Portuguese corner stores. In Cape Town they are called spaza shops. Whatever you do, do not call them superettes, no matter what is written above the door. I made the mistake of asking a waiter where the nearest superette is, and he had no idea what I was talking about. Faux pas!

Spaza shops are the real, gritty convenience stores. And while they might not stock Angus beef fillets like the Wengen does, their offering is impressive. Great home-made samoosas, cooldrinks, chips and cigarettes are their forte. But it seems only true locals know about the genius in their midst: Paaper bites. These are little packets of crisps, cut-off excess wrappers from samoosa dough, spiced to MSG perfection. Rumour has it that the “secret” signature flavour is Aromat. And it doesn’t get more South African than that!

BEACH MISSIONS

The greatest intersection of travellers and local Capetonians is flocking to one of the many beaches on offer in the city’s western peninsula. But naturally, locals have insight to the lesserknown spots, like Bakoven. Not so much a beach as massive boulders stretching into the Atlantic from classic surfer cabins on the shore.

My local friends and I happened to miss the right turnoff (Cape Town driving is not for the novice) and stumbled on a secluded beach, from which we could spot a group of Capetonians celebrating some kind of special occasion. And then we packed out onto the picnic blanket our own spread of Wengen goodies and Paaper bites.

CAPTURING IT ALL ON FILM

Unfortunately for the alternative kids in Namibia, having no place to get film developed means film photography is not viable. Which is why I jumped at the first opportunity to buy a disposable camera the moment I arrived in Cape Town. Here, rolls of film are developed in less than 24 hours at almost every camera shop, and a WeTransfer link to your images lands straight in your inbox.

Few things capture Cape Town’s street art, beaches and people like the soft, grainy filter of film. And what better way to sum up your week’s worth of gallivanting through the Mother City than with an album of 36 aesthetically vintagelooking photos.

Charene Labuschagne