Our flight EgyptAir 851 from Cairo to Addis Ababa touched down around 3:15 AM. The airport was quiet in the pre-dawn hours, with only a few weary travelers wandering the terminals. Thanks to my United MileagePlus Gold status, we were able to access the Star Alliance Gold Lounge. While there was a separate Ethiopian Airlines Cloud Nine Lounge reserved strictly for Business Class passengers, the Gold Lounge provided a welcome sanctuary. We found some comfortable chairs and managed to catch a few hours of sleep before the sun came up. Around 7:00 AM, we enjoyed a light breakfast as the airport began to buzz with morning activity.
Our flight Ethiopian Airlines 847 to Cape Town was scheduled for 8:30 AM. This was our first time flying with Ethiopian Airlines, and I was curious to see how Africa’s leading carrier would compare to our previous flights.
The most exciting milestone of this leg was the moment we crossed the equator for the very first time. I kept a close eye on the flight tracker, watching our progress as we moved into the Southern Hemisphere—a simple but significant “bucket list” moment for any travel enthusiast.
Lunch was served around noon as we traversed the vast African continent from north to south. The meal was hearty, providing the fuel we needed for our arrival in South Africa.
We landed at Cape Town International Airport around 2:15 PM, parking right next to a Turkish Airlines flight that had just arrived from Istanbul.
After clearing immigration and reclaiming our bags, we headed out. While I was initially skeptical about airport taxis, we decided to use the MyCiTi bus service. It’s a clean, efficient, and cost-effective way to get to the city center. We took the bus to the Civic Centre bus terminus, which left us with a roughly 1 km walk to our hotel. The hotel staff had been incredibly helpful beforehand, providing the formal confirmation letter we needed for our visa applications.
I had booked a standard double room at HomeBase Cape Town Backpackers via hotels.com, specifically selecting an ensuite bathroom. However, check-in proved a bit tricky; we were told that all ensuite rooms were occupied and that our reservation didn’t explicitly guarantee one. With it being late in the day, we decided to settle in anyway. The room was nice, featuring a large window that overlooked the bustling street below, but since we were on a higher floor, the city noise didn’t disturb our rest.
Once we had freshened up, we headed out for a stroll along Long Street. Known for its Victorian-era buildings and bohemian vibe, the street is the heartbeat of Cape Town’s nightlife and shopping. We eventually reached Green Market Square, one of the oldest social hubs in the city. The square is usually a bustling flea market during the day, but in the evening, the historic cobblestones and surrounding architecture offer a more peaceful, atmospheric look at the city’s heritage.
For dinner, we visited The Diplomatic Bar and Restaurant to sample some authentic African cuisine. The flavors were bold and distinctive—entirely different from anything we had tried back home. It was the perfect way to immerse ourselves in the local culture on our first night.
Exhausted from the long journey across the continent, we walked back to our hotel—just a short block away—and called it a night. We needed every bit of rest for the big adventure planned for tomorrow.
🚍 MyCiTi Airport Service
🛏️ HomeBase Cape Town Backpackers
🍽️ The Diplomatic Bar and Restaurant