Travelling to Cape Town by sea.

Posts : 63 Join date : 2010-12-06

Hi
Does anybody out there in forum-land know how long it would take to sail from the UK to Cape Town? I know back in 1879 it took the reinforcements about 3-4 weeks, but now with modern ships, I was wondering, that's all.
Thanks

Guest

There is one member here that I've seen who appears to be based in Cape Town, but whether they have travelled by ship (sailing or engine-powered?) between there and the U.K. I know not. Mostly planes now I think. Aren't the waters around South Africa quite dangerous, even for modern craft ?

Posts : 2558 Join date : 2009-04-06 Age : 62 Location : UK

1902 steamer journey details from Gravesend to Capetown down near the bottom of this page:

Evening Post, 8 December 1902, Page 4

GOTHIC, FROM LONDON.

She left Gravesend on 23rd. October, made a fine passage down channel, and arrived at Plymouth on the 24th. Embarkedl the remainder of passengers and mails and proceeded to sea on the 25th. Experienced fine weather, with light fresh to variable winds, to Teneriffe— reached on 30th October. After coaling the steamer left again the same day, mid to Capetown had a very flue passage, with light trade winds and smooth to moderate sea until arrival in Table Bay on 14th November.

Subject: Re: Travelling to Cape Town by sea. Fri Oct 28, 2011 7:14 am

Absolutly no problem at all in travelling by sea to Cape Town. The area of danger is off the Somalia and Kenyan coast lines with the pirates, thousands of miles to the North. There are cruise ships that do the run then moving on from Cape Town to Durban and across the Indian Ocean to the islands. Mediteranean Shipping Company MSI is one operator I see advertising on a regular basis. I would think travelling time would be some where around 10 days. Cost, astronomical.
Much better to fly in, assuming of course that Heathrow isnt on strike. :lol!:

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