Cape Town Airport Transfers: Early Pickup, Wi-Fi & Bottled Water

4.88

(147 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

“You look tired — long flight?” That’s what Sipho said as soon as I spotted him outside Cape Town airport, holding up my name (which he pronounced better than most). I was honestly relieved to see someone waiting — you know that weird mix of nerves after landing somewhere new? He grinned, took my bag, and led me through the morning bustle. The air smelled a bit salty, kind of dusty too, and there were these sudden bursts of laughter from other drivers nearby. I remember thinking: okay, this is already easier than I expected.

The drive into Cape Town was smoother than I’d guessed — no endless detours or awkward small talk. Sipho pointed out Table Mountain peeking through the clouds (“Some days she hides all morning,” he joked) and asked if I wanted the AC up or down. The bottled water was cold (small detail but felt huge), and the Wi-Fi actually worked — not just a sticker on the window. We passed rows of jacaranda trees just starting to bloom purple. He told me about his favorite spot for bobotie but laughed when I tried to say it back. My pronunciation needs work.

I didn’t expect to feel so… looked after? Even when we hit a patch of traffic near the city center, Sipho just shrugged and put on some local radio instead of apologizing. It felt normal, like being in a friend’s car instead of a taxi. For my return transfer back to the airport a few days later, booking was easy — just sent my hotel name and pick-up time, no drama about flight numbers or anything. I still think about that first drive every time I see Table Mountain in photos now.