My website is now one year old and I am glad so many of you come back to me with valuable input. Thank you for all your support and interest.

ExpatCapeTown’s Top Five Travel Tips:

What is essential when preparing to come to South Africa?

• Get your documents like IDs, drivers licence etc. photocopied, certified by an authority in your country and keep them in separate luggage.

• Take some money in travelers cheques in Dollars, Pound or Euro along. This way your money will be insured should it get lost or stolen when travelling. You can exchange your cheques in banks and exchange buraux really easily. More banking tips here.

• Take a good sunscreen and your favorite cosmetics with you if wish to use branded products. Cosmetics are often more expensive here. Do not forget to take a supply of any mediation you need. Take the leaflets with you in case you need to get more of the medication and the name of the product is different here.

• When moving here, take bank statements of the last three month with you, which you need when want to open an account here. Get copies of our car insurance certificates from overseas, when you want to apply for new insurance here. •

Suburb of the Month: Milnerton

Why Milnerton? This suburb lies to the North of Cape Town and borders the Atlantic Ocean. It is a popular suburb for tourists and expats as the travel to Cape Town City Center is short and the area has got excellent shopping and amenities.

The huge shopping and entertainment complex at Century City and the constantly expanding weekend flea market are drawing lots of Capetonians to the suburb. There is great housing to be found for any taste and pocket and there are good public schools and health facilities in the vicinity. For more info click here.

Where to stay? There are many bed and breakfasts as well as great hotel and self-catering options around Lagoon Beach and Woodbridge Island.

Where to go? Enjoy the Milnerton Beach, have a round at Milnerton’s famous Links Golf Course with spectacular views of Table Mountain, join the canoe club or enjoy an evening out to watch a great show at the Milnerton Playhouse Read more about Milnerton

Event of the Month:

Typical South African terms:

This is the South African term for aubergine or eggplant.

You can grow them easily in your garden. In the mild Cape Town climate these vegetable grow easily. You can get either seeds or young plants from Gardencenters in Cape Town. Just water them and they thrive in well drained soil. We recently harvested a brinjal with a weight of 1,070g and in 22cm length. That made lots of great vitamin packed food for the following recipe which is a great South African dish and a firm favorite with my family.

Try the recipe of the month, which is a delicious brinjal-ostrich curry.

Did you know…

… South Africa has got four Nobel Prize Winners?

These are Albert Luthuli, Desmond Tutu, Frederik de Klerk and Nelson Mandela. The city got them a monument at the V&A Waterfront.

If you want to know when and what for they got the Nobel Prize, read more about these great men here.

Cape Town Insider Tips

Where to get spelt bread in Cape Town? Try Dinkel Bakery in Kloof Street in Constantia or bake your own with Spelt Flakes from Dischem.

What to do on a sunny windfree day? Take a beachwalk from Milnerton Lighthouse to Dolphin Beach and back. Have lunch either at the Golfclub or at Blowfish in Dolphin Beach. Watch colorful kites, feel the sand and listen to the waves.

Where to watch a great play in May? “The Insatiables” was voted best play at the SA Comedy Awards 2008. More info here. www.theatreonthebay.co.za

What’s coming in the Next Newsletter?

As ExpatCapeTown wants to bring you the most up to date stories and insights, please be patient and let me surprise you with more great news about the Mother City.

Just be assured, there will be lots of more great tips and advice, so be sure to subscribe my newsletter and take a look at my website which is ever expanding.

And please come back with more great tips from your site, all kinds of comments very welcome! Contact me here.

Have a great time in Cape Town or wherever you are!

Regina