Cape Town

Guide for dating in Cape Town helps you to meet the best girls. This dating guide gives you tips how to date South African women. You will learn rules where and how to flirt with local South African girls. We advise how to move from casual dating to the relationship and find the real love. We also tell the best dating sites in Cape Town. In this article below you will find more information where to meet and date girls in Cape Town, South Africa.

Hot girls of Cape Town partying at the Reset bar

Girls in Cape Town:

Looks of girls: 4.5 / 5

Attitude of girls: 4 / 5

Loyalty of girls: 4 / 5

Education level of girls: 4 / 5

Dating in Cape Town:

Chance of arranging dates: 3 / 5

Casual dating culture: 3 / 5

Online dating popularity: 3.5 / 5

Sex in Cape Town:

Women's sexual activity: 3 / 5

One-night stands: 3 / 5

More about Cape Town:

Nightlife in general: 4 / 5

Locals' English level: 4.5 / 5

Moving around the city: 4 / 5

Budget per day: US$50 - $400

Accommodation: US$30 - $300

Dating

Cape Town is exciting. Not only is it a beautiful place, but it holds so much opportunity. There is so much to learn culturally, with different girls from different cultures placing varying emphasis on certain character traits and virtues. As a result, the bachelor can really take his pick of the many beautiful women in the city.

One trait that is universal in South Africa is loyalty. If a girl chooses you as her partner, you’ll find her loyal and protective in a sweet and caring way. There is also a lot of importance on the matter of family, so dating a girl automatically means that you’ll be subject to family scrutiny. If you pass the examination, you’ll be welcomed with open arms. If they don’t like you, kiss your relationship goodbye or live in misery as the girl chooses between her family and you.

There are plenty of single women out there, so all it takes is a bit of confidence and the right place. Fortunately, there are a variety of beaches, bars, and malls for you to visit. Heading into the dating game, why not ask your potential girlfriend to show you around the city.

Dating Culture

The culture of dating has become more open to liberal ideas of late. Twenty years ago, the idea of hooking up was extremely taboo and sex before marriage was frowned upon. Today, you will find more non-married couples living together and a larger number of girls who are keen to try new things. Race was also once a massive barrier. Girls (or anyone for that matter) would never date outside of their racial group. Today, a larger number of people are ready to adapt.

Due to the conservative culture, public displays of affection are kept to a minimum. Kisses are short and touching is definitely a no-no. However, there is a lot to do outside of the house, so a lot of your dates will occur outdoors. Be sure to involve her family. South Africans enjoy a sense of community, especially around a braai (barbeque).

Sugar Dating

Sugar dating is one of the best ways to find a date in 2023. Men who are willing to buy gifts for sugar babies, will get physical or emotional pleasure for a return. Take a look of the wide selection of girls from SecretBenefits.

Online Dating

Dating in Cape Town can be a bit tricky due to not knowing if you have a solid connection, so your best bet is to sign up for a dating site before you venture to the night club or bar, so you can meet a few locals ahead of time. AdultFriendFinder.com lets you meet local members in Cape Town and get to know them on a personal basis before you meet in person. Take advantage of site features like live chat and member to member webcams so you can begin flirting before arranging a face-to-face meeting.

Webcam Dating

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Women

As you will see in the sections below, Cape Town is diverse with many different types of girls and an assortment of cultures to match. Of late, the younger generations have become more open to crossing barriers that were viewed as taboo. Girls are now more open to sex and meeting strangers online or in bars.

When choosing a woman, it really boils down to taste. If you prefer tanned girls, mixed race girls are the way to go. If you are in to curvier white girls, the Afrikaans women are your thing. Perhaps you're into more plain girls or black women. Whatever you like, South Africa has it - even Asians. It's a buffet and it's always fully stocked.

South African Girls (age 18 - 29)

This age group may be split into two. 18 – 25-year olds are usually in university or starting out their careers. These girls are keen to have fun and explore, maybe not to get into a serious relationship just yet. You can find these girls around universities and clubs. Some of them are really sexy, but get to know them properly before you engage anything with serious attachment. She may change her mind and leave you hanging. It is important to note that the more religious girls look to get married at an early age, so get to know the individual first.

26 – 29-year olds somehow spring into looking for a husband stage. It’s like clockwork. Most women have been working for five years or so and they now start to think about having a family. During this age, there are a few more factors which girls consider such as your emotional and mental stability, ability to contribute financially and paternal skills.

Girls within this broad category are considered extremely hot, and Cape Town is considered a haven for students and young professionals, with many exchange and international students coming from all over the globe. Moreover, you are most likely to find a spicy sexual relationship in this age bracket as the new wave of liberalism has injected a lot of sexual reforms amongst the younger generations.

Hot young girls of Cape Town partying at the Madison Avenue

South African Women (age 30 - 45)

It is more than likely that you will either be getting with a woman who has been divorced or someone who is chasing a career and lives a life alone. Either way, this category is not going to lead to a long-term relationship (most of the time). Instead, enjoy the experience on offer.

Most women in this category have had time to come to grips with their sexuality. In short, they could teach you a few things, which makes for a great summer fling. However, if you were to try and extend the romance, you may find that the culture frowns upon such a relationship. If it is what you both want, don’t let that stop you, but be sure to talk about all issues and potential problems thoroughly before moving forward.

South African Ladies (age 45+)

This takes extreme guile. The South African culture, especially amongst older women, is one that frowns upon liberal sex. Moreover, you are actually required to respect older people in the way you would speak and interact with them. This practice is still alive within the Afrikaans, black and mixed-race communities.

Again, this age group has many women who are looking for short-term romances and flings, especially if you are a younger guy into older women. A dating app is recommended. Use something like Tinder and set your age range to 45 +. This will assist you in a discreet search as well as locating the best options in the more mature range.

Foreign Girls (tourists, expats, students, etc.)

Due to a favourable exchange rate, many Europeans choose South Africa as a holiday destination in the summer. There is also a massive influx of tourists from South America, the U.S.A. and Asia. Some of them head straight to Tinder when they land in search of a holiday fling. Be attentive to this. A great physical location to visit is the V&A Waterfront. As you will read later, it is the most visited tourist attraction in Africa.

The universities have an extensive exchange programme, swapping students with many different countries. Thus, if you go to the university districts such as Rondebosch and Claremont, you will be able to meet girls of many different ethnicities. Furthermore, the clubs in these areas are also ways to hookup with international girls.

Cape Town is not really a place for expats to settle down, as the economy does not have a surplus of jobs. Therefore, any relationship with an international visitor is more than likely a short-term fling, which has a romance of its own. It also allows for you to explore the many different ethnicities that the city has to offer.

File:The V&A Waterfront, Cape Town City.jpg

The V&A Waterfront is a international tourist and citizen attraction

Sex

Asking what sex is like with South African girls is like asking what sauce tastes like from a certain grocery store. It depends on which type of sauce you pick! There are so many differences between the cultural groups that it’s hard to break it down to one definition. However, here are some generalizations that have, more often than not, proved to be true.

White girls are boring in the sack. Plus, they’re more conservative in upbringing. If you’re looking for a girl to keep you hanging and when you finally get the chance, she just lies there like a dead fish, you’ve found your target market. Again, not all but most.

Mixed race girls are the absolute bomb. The analogy is perfect. They’re exciting, great and passionate in bed. However, they also come with short tempers and a fiery personality which may take you by surprise. Also, you will have to search quite a while before you find a pretty one. They tend to be a bit ghetto, but the light skin girls with light eyes are definitely worth it.

Black girls are unique in Cape Town. They live by a more traditional culture that doesn’t merge too much with western thought. This has been a barrier in previous generations, but less so today. There are many black girls with good education, speak English and beautiful figures – worth a try.

Afrikaans girls are the exception to the white girl rule. Most of them have stunning figures, a great sense of loyalty and they are great in bed. They are definitely worth the hunt, but dating one is harder than it may seem.

Sex Culture

Sex has become increasingly liberal over the last twenty years. However, due to a Christian influence that dates back a couple of centuries, sex is still taboo for a large percentage of the country. Most girls grow up with the idea of remaining a virgin until marriage, but that perception has decreased in popularity as the years roll by.

The sexual experience itself and its connotations can also differ greatly depending on which culture the girl comes from. Native cultures are known to be a bit of an anomaly; however, these girls are extremely focused on pleasing men. Mixed race girls are renowned for being the best in bed, displaying passion and vocal talent. Afrikaans girls are also known to provide a unique experience, but actually dating one is a tough ask, especially because you have to get through a close-knit family first. Those of more British decent are known to be quite vanilla and more on the conservative side when it comes to sex.

One-Night Stands

South Africa has come a long way over the last 30 years or so. In the past, hookups were frowned upon and extremely taboo. It was something reserved for prostitutes. However, sex has become a more liberal affair, particularly amongst the younger generations. Due to the pressure from culture, parents and religion, you will probably still have to work quite hard to get one.

Most girls refuse to have sex on the first date. Depending on the girl, you’ll have to wait for three to four dates before getting any action. As will be stated later, the best way to search for one-night stands is to get on some form of dating up such as Tinder.

Best Places to Meet Single Girls

Without beating around the bush, the easiest place to meet single girls would be through a dating app. Cape Town can be a bit harsh to the single lad, as the crime makes many women hesitant to open up to a stranger in some cases. The best way to get through this barrier is to open up your phone and download either Tinder or Bumble. These are the most used apps in South Africa, the former being by far the most profitable for most guys.

If the internet isn’t your thing or you leverage on your ability to create sparkling first impressions in person, then rest assured there are some options available. Try and avoid approaching girls on the street. Rather look for a mall, bar or club to make your first move. Make sure she’s relaxed. The reason behind this is crime. Unfortunately, the presence of gangsterism and high gender-based violence has led to women feeling unsafe – even at universities.

Beaches are great outdoor locations to meet single girls, especially if you have a nice beach body. South Africans love rugby players, and girls flock to them. They are muscular, so any sort of athletic build will serve you well on the beach, which brings us to our next pickup location: the gym.

Gyms in South Africa act as central hubs for entire neighbourhood. Unlike other countries where there’s a high level of competition in the fitness space, South Africa only really has two gyms: Zone Fitness and Virgin Active. A few rules for gym introductions: don’t stare. Smile. Talk to the girl as soon as possible. Actually workout.

Bars, Pubs and Nightclubs

Alcohol is a core feature of the South African diet, and no matter where you stay, there is always a bar around the corner. Most Western visitors enjoy South Africa due to the relatively cheap prices of alcohol. This is partly due to the SAB and Distell, companies which exports a lot of alcohol brands all over the world. Getting this locally saves a small fortune during a night out.

Nightclubs are good places to meet girls, bars too. However, nightclubs are geared more towards hookups and not long-term relationships. Bars tend to be better places to meet girls if you are keen on talking and getting to know her i.e. something more serious than a hoookup.

Cape Town has three main party areas. One is located in an area called Claremont. This is close to the University of Cape Town and is therefore a favourite with students and people fresh out of high school. Second is the city centre itself, with the main party road called Long Street. Lastly, Stellenbosch also forms one of the wildest party destinations in the country.

Best Clubs in Claremont:

Boogies – One of the mainstays of Capetonian party culture. Boogies has served as a haven for slightly older students and young professionals. The alcohol is a bit on the pricy side, but there are specials now and then. Thursdays and Fridays are 80s, 90s and 00s music, while the weekend is a fun set of remixes by the resident DJs.

Tin Roof – Popular with students, Tin Roof is a medley of pop music, cheap booze and a bustling atmosphere. 11 – 12 is the famous two-for-one special, so be sure to take full advantage. It is probably also the number one hookup spot in town.
Ubuntu – a local flavour mixed with unique beats and a bar that holds an impressive amount of cocktails, mixers and shooters. It’s a slightly more chilled environment with a pool table and a hip hop heartbeat.

Best Clubs in the City Centre:

Bob's Bar– a small bar with lovely electro music. They also sell extremely cheap alcohol, sometimes as cheap as 50c a shot!

Fiction – Another small club that often features a unique taste of music. The genres range anywhere between trance, drum and bass and rock. Their hip hop nights on a Friday are the treat of the town and often draw students in swarms.

Madison Avenue – An upper class venue with lots of allure. Madison Avenue attracts a wide range of age groups and is often the platform of choice for famous DJs. Names such as Black Coffee, Hardwell and Swedish House Mafia have performed here, and it’s not difficult to see why. Expect an entrance fee and make sure you wear a collared shirt and trousers.

Sgt Pepper – Each night of the weak has a different ethnic taste in music. Wednesday is Latin music. Thursday holds a bit of K-pop and the weekend switches between contemporary hits, EDM and R&B. Drinks here aren’t cheap, so for a local’s secret, visit bobs down the road, fill up on cheap shots and enjoy the buzz at Sgt Pepper.

Club 169 – A hip hop and R&B staple. This club often has specials such as free entry nights or free drinks on entry. The layout is suited for comfort with large booths and indoor and outdoor seating areas to enjoy. It’s a good, chilled environment to meet people and maybe chat up single girls.

Reset – a pure rave rolled into a great club that boasts both great resident DJs and an impressive audio visual system. If you are keen on a night of fun, Reset is eager to provide.

Beer House – The main attraction is the many different types of beers on offer. You can choose between almost any international brand of beer as well as many locally-brewed craft beers. They’re all sold at a reasonable price. You can also find a dance floor where you can go crazy to your favourite contemporary hits.

Best Clubs in Stellenbosch:

De Lapa – A more old school approach to the bar scene. De Lapa is always fun and often functions as a good option to fill up on a few adult beverages before heading out to dance. Expect to run into many students and young professionals after a long day at work/college.

Catwalk – a multi-layered club that pumps music well into the early morning. You’ll find plenty of hot students as well as enough booze to keep you partying until the sun comes up. The first floor is usually EDM, the second floor is hip hop and the top floor is local genres.

Entourage – After Parties. EDM. Stellies University girls. Wild parties. A few things which you can expect at entourage. The night is sure to be a blast, as the resident DJs blast your favourite rave music on a sound system that will teleport you to another world.

Nu’Bar – a hangout bar that turns up the volume after dark. It’s a great place to grab a beer with your mates or even make some new ones.

Terrace – what was once just an abandoned warehouse has been transformed into Stellenbosch’s main EDM destination. Terrace often has up and coming and semi famous DJs on deck, so get your dancing shoes on for this club.

A party at the Madison Avenue

Shopping Malls

The malls in Cape Town are a good platform to meet people. In the city, people tend to keep to themselves so it isn’t always easy creating relationships. This is largely due to a large presence of crime and a natural suspicion that has emerged from that. Therefore, malls end themselves to meeting new friends, as most people tend to relax in secure environments. Malls provide a great platform to approach girls – even if it’s just to get a phone number.

The best malls are listed below:

V&A Waterfront – The most popular mall with arguably the best looking girls, including foreigners from almost every country. The Watefront is Africa’s most visited tourist destination, with lots of stores, a Cinema, and Aquarium, state-of-the-art hotels and South Africa’s largest contemporary art museum. It’s location A1 for meeting girls or just networking.

Cavendish Square – This mall is located in the middle of a student hot zone and offers a lot of fashion outlets. Furthermore, it probably has the best cinema in the city and is located close to the nightlife. This translates into a busy mall which has lots of shoppers, ergo lots of girls to meet.

Canal Walk – The largest mall in the city. It has everything you could ask for, including live shows and performances. While you may think that this mall is the best option, it does not have the same amount of good-looking girls as the Waterfront and Cavendish. However, it is still a viable option for meeting people.

Other notable malls are:

Blue Route Mall
Eden on The Bay
Bayside Mall
Somerset Mall

Inside the Canal Walk Shopping Centre

Outdoors

If you happen to find yourself in Cape Town, consider yourself lucky to have so many outdoor adventures in store. The city is beautiful and centres around a few natural cornerstones. These attract thousands of tourists each year and make for remarkable date ideas. Listed below are some of the best outdoor destinations

Clifton Beach – On a warm day, nearly every Capetonian flocks to the seaside. Clifton is considered the beach to see and be seen. The fine white sand hugs the turquoise waters and the sunsets are something special. Impressive architecture is also something to see, as Clifton is the setting for Africa’s most expensive real estate. You won’t find a house for less than $5 million – and that’s extremely cheap.

Camps Bay – Located further down the coast – about ten minutes’ drive from Clifton – is the little yet upmarket town of Camps Bay. It has a great beach, buzzing restaurants and a few outdoor bars and clubs for later in the evening. It’s a great place to take a walk, go for a swim or buy an ice cream.

Kirstenbosch – The largest commercial garden in the country. Kirstenbosch is an expertly landscaped home of the most beautiful indigenous plants, bushes and shrubs. There is a lawn to have a picnic and a marvellous architecture bridge that allows you to see the entire garden and spectacular views of the entire city.

Table Mountain – Officially one of the new seven wonders of the world, Table Mountain is an experience of a lifetime. Most people opt to take a cable car up; however, there are hiking trails for those brave enough to try it. The top holds a view of the entire city, including the Atlantic Ocean and beachfronts.

Boulders Beach – Penguins! Who doesn’t love them? Well, Boulders beach is home to a penguin colony in Africa. The water is warm, fed directly from the Indian Ocean and you’ll often find yourself swimming with the penguins. There are restaurants and cafes close by, so there’s plenty of food for a date.

Cape Town Gardens – In the middle of the city centre, there is a garden with a few cultural additions. The Cape Town Gardens includes a museum, planetarium and an assortment of cafes as well as the official parliamentary houses. There is a farmer’s market a few times each year. Needless to say that the central location combined with the many different cultural and cuisine-based elements make it a great place to pass the time, spend time with family or go on a date.

Cape Point – A location where two oceans meet at the tip of Africa. It’s a nature reserve with a few upmarket restaurants thrown together. The walk to the tip of Africa is not to be missed, and the very southernmost point has a special feel about it – even more so when you see the Atlantic and Indian ocean meet before your very eyes. Take in the wildlife. There are buck, turtles, wild cats, mongooses, snakes and even a leopard. It also happens to be a popular spot to go diving for lobster.

Bloubergstrand - Picture white, sandy beaches with views of Table Mountain. Throw in a keen kite surfing community and gorgeous shopping malls and hotels along the beachfront. Add a bit of sunshine and 30-degree Celcius weather and you have Bloubergstrand, a name translated as 'Blue Mountain Beach'.

The scenic Clifton Beach

Universities and Colleges

There are two main universities to look out for in Cape Town. While you may see a few others scattered around the city, they are definitely not as packed with potential and some are in poorer communities which has safety risks. Poorer universities are subject to political strikes and riots for the last few years and, to be honest, the girls are not nearly as pretty.

University of Cape Town – By far the best university in Africa. The University of Cape Town is the college of choice for almost anyone who gets decent grades in school. Naturally, it also becomes a house to many different cultures and backgrounds. The campus itself is picturesque, nested between the back of Table Mountain and the upmarket suburb of Rondebosch. It’s a student area where you can find a range of cafes, bars and clubs when the sun goes down. This university is definitely the best place to find friends and girls for tourists. English is the language of choice and you can access the campus without actually being a student. You just can’t access lectures or class rooms.

Stellenbosch University – A local and culturally distinct university located just 30 – 40 minutes’ drive from the city centre. Although it may not be as academically impressive as UCT, it is still one of the best universities on the continent. Furthermore, Stellenbosch is renowned for a crazy party lifestyle – whether it be in the residences or out in the clubs nearby. The town is Stellenbosch is centred around the university and there is a lot to keep busy. There are a multitude of cafes, wine tasting trips, strawberry picking or taking a ten-minute drive to the seaside. The one drawback is that Afrikaans is the language spoken by most students. Afrikaans is a weird derivative of Dutch, but the Afrikaans girls are gorgeous.

Entrance of University of Cape Town

Relationship

Unfortunately, there is no golden rule to follow that automatically leads to a favourable outcome. Dating in Cape Town can be extremely exciting because there is the magical compound of a gorgeous landscape combined with an assortment of girls with different cultures, looks, backgrounds and nationalities. Thus, the potential and permutations are enough to get anyone excited. There is also enough culture to keep couples entertained. There are world-class coffee shops in the city centre, a good art industry and the many norms of western inventions at shopping malls.

The conservative practices do sometimes place limitations, especially in the more religious circles. However, if you can navigate them well, you can tap into more exotic ethnicities. For example, Cape Town is home to many blue/green eyed beauties whose nationality of origin is Malaysian or Arab. You will need to observe many of the cultural norms to “unlock” the door to these cultures – and it may be a lot of work.

With all of the work out of the way, you will find that the average girls is loyal, loving and passionate about finding love. Exploring a beautiful city has many exciting thrills – even for local people who have lived there their whole lives. Furthermore, there is a rich history and an increasing willingness for people to date cross culturally. There is one warning: it is a small city and girls talk. If you date more than one girl, your actions are likely to be spread around like peanut butter on toast.

Holiday Romance

If a quick fling during your vacation is the thing you’re after, then Cape Town actually competes with any of the best cities around the world. The first pro is that you literally have almost any nationality to choose from - it isn’t called the rainbow nation for nothing!

Second, there are a lot of fun things to do – whether you want a snorkelling adventure, a holiday house on the beach or to hit the parties around town, Cape Town is ready to provide it all. Thirdly, if you are willing to put in the work, the girls are not actually that stuck up and you’ll usually get rewarded.

Foreigners come with a sense of mystery. Most girls love accents, so use this to your advantage. Dating platforms such as Tinder or Bumble are common in Cape Town, and they are probably the best bet for making a holiday connection. Alternatively, you could try picking up a girl at a bar or club in Long Street. Students and girls in their early/mid twenties are the target market here. You may possibly get a divorced cougar or two if you can find them.

Tips for Successful Relationship

South Africa has a really strong Christian heritage. In fact, more than 70 percent of the population state their religion to be Christian. This has its roots in missionaries from both Dutch and British churches as well as the colonization which took place more than 200 years ago. As a result, conservative values need to be upheld. Some girls are progressive, but rather not take the chance. More often than not, you may have to do the following:

Offer to pay for the first date. This shows your intent and that you are a gentleman, willing to take care of a girl if that need arises. Most girls brought up with good manners will offer to contribute, but you must insist and take care of the bill. It is a strange but necessary custom.

Meet her family. Taking your time in meeting her family may be taken as a sign of disrespect. In some cases, you may have to ask her parents for permission to date their daughter; however, these are only really for highly conservative households. Be sure to ask the girl herself what the standard procedure is in her life if you think things are leading somewhere.

Be financially independent. In a country where poverty is a real issue and minimum wage leaves you out on the street – literally – you will have to prove your ability to provide for yourself financially. South Africans pride themselves on work ethic and men are often judged by this yardstick (not so much females). This doesn’t mean rich, but enough to live a respectable lifestyle.

Be respectful of older people. The culture pays an enormous amount of respect to the elderly. Most young people do not use an older person’s first name unless invited to. If you meet her parents or older family members, remember to stick to sir/ma’am until asked to call them otherwise. Failure to do so is not only seen as rude, but highly offensive.

Head outdoors. Cape Town has plenty to do, so you can never go wrong with a date at the V&A Waterfront or heading to the beach for a picnic. Think of creative date ideas that involve getting out and your relationship should thrive.

Love

If you were to conduct a survey, going around asking different people what love is, you would come back with a plethora of answers. There are a number of factors which account for the varying results, most of which have to do with the differences in cultures. For example, cultural values in more conservative and religious cultures equate love in the form of male provision. Simply put: the more money you can give, the better.

In the native cultures, men have quite a bit of leeway. In some circles within this sector, a man may still love a woman while cheating on her, but not the other way around. It’s considered a man’s right. Needless to say, this can be really different to western thought.

In more western cultures, it’s more about sentiment and the sacrifice you are willing to make for your partner. Things such as time spent together, going on dates and your ability to work hard at the relationship accounts for most of the romance. With that being said, there are a few things that almost everyone will agree on. Romance is often felt through a scenic trip around Chapman’s peak or taking in the spectacular views on display around Clifton Beach.

How to Make Sure She Is the One

Love is a concept which most girls chase in Cape Town. Every girl grows up with the dream of meeting that one person who can sweep them off their feet and give them butterflies. Thus, the idea of finding love is truly alive.

You can usually test whether a girl is really into you by the way she acts around you. Capetonians equate love with a sense of exclusivity. You can usually tell whether a girl loves you or not by the amount of distance she has with other guys and her willingness to sacrifice for you. If she’s still too close with her guy friends and isn’t willing to change… sorry bro… she is not the one.

Age also has a lot to do with a girl’s readiness to find the one. Most girls look to go through their early twenties without long-term commitment. This is merely the culture, so if you are dating around in the university age group and you are expecting something long-term, make sure you talk about it and that you’re both on the same page. However, once girls start getting to their late twenties, the marriage fever usually takes over.

More often than not, however, if she is the one, you will know. It is just one of those things that cannot be artificially manufactured. It just happens. Sometimes, it’s as simple as a quick lookup and asking yourself, “Do I want to spend the rest of my life with this person?”.

Marriage

Married life in South Africa is increasingly becoming a mirror of most western societies. The native and Islamic communities still differ a bit in their customs, particularly when it comes to the gender roles. Moreover, many South Africans still believe that the main purpose for a woman is to rear children and take care of the home. However, more progressive influences from the West are changing that with more women attending universities and getting out into the workplace. Thus, depending on which girl you pick, you may find someone who is happy being a housewife and someone who wants to pursue a career. Talking about that before starting a marriage is key.

Culture also plays a huge role in the everyday activities of the family. For example, more native cultures will expect the family to put the needs of the extended family above its own. For this reason, relatives may move in with you without much notice or ask for money. Culturally, you would be expected to help. However, the more western and European families place a greater importance on privacy i.e. the immediate family comes first above all else.

One important aspect of marriage, legally speaking, is that all marriages are in community of property by default. This means that everything you have is halved with your wife and vice versa. You become joint partners in all assets. If you are coming from another country and wish to safeguard your assets, consider this beforehand.

Wedding

South Africa is a melting pot for many different cultures. Each has a different view of weddings and an array of customary practices emerges as a result. For example, a traditional African wedding will consist of the man paying a dowry and providing enough cash for a huge feast, too.

Those of a more European heritage would have a more Hollywood affair – with a traditional service run by a minister in some church. There would be a celebration for family and friends afterwards and it would be over one day. Traditional African weddings will sometimes last for many days.

Cape Town is also home to a large Muslim population. In this instance, one must be prepared for a dowry, a religious ceremony and another celebratory ceremony after that. It will be a highly costly affair, as the entire extended family is expected to be there at the expense of the groom.

For the more European cultures, alcohol is a massive part of the event. In most cases, an open bar is to be expected. May guests will feel insulted if they are asked to pay for their drinks. However, the number one factor in all of these weddings is the involvement of the extended family, an important part of the South African culture.

Family Life

South Africa has many advantages to family life. Cape Town, in particular, has many natural beauties for anyone to enjoy. There are public parks, a plethora of beaches, many good schools, and enough work in almost any industry one can think of.

There is a worry with the crime, as the murder rates are worryingly high depending on which area one goes to. Cape Town is also host to gang activity, which has spiked crime rates even in upmarket neighbourhoods. Thus, Cape Town is a lovely place for the wealthy and middle class. If you don’t have a degree, the neighbourhood you stay in could be too dangerous to be comfortable.

However, on the wealthier side of the economy, life is bliss. There is an assortment of fantastic schools, the Cape Town city centre offers all the shopping and industry one could look for and the houses are first class. Raising a family is not much different from the European lifestyle. In fact, many Europeans come to Cape Town for the summer.

When it comes to a marriage or long-term relationship, most South Africans will agree that faithfulness and family orientation is paramount. There is a great tradition of the family being the core of society, with the government even encouraging the nuclear family as a model to follow. Extended family members are also quick to adopt spouses into the tribe. However, this only occurs in the higher socio-economic brackets. Unfortunately, money is a barrier between a good and a bad lifestyle. In Cape Town, minimum wage means starving in an informal settlement.