Study Abroad Spotlight: Cape Town, South Africa

This article was written in collaboration with one of The Edge’s videographers, Zoe Doyle. Find her accompanying video here.

It is pretty common to see Elon students go abroad during their fall semester of junior year. It is also extremely common that everyone heads straight towards Europe, so they can mark off as many countries as possible. Don’t get me wrong, Europe is incredible, and I am very fortunate to have spent some time there during my study abroad. However, most students are unaware of other, less-popular locations, like Cape Town, South Africa. 

I spent months surfing the GEC website for the best study abroad program, as I had lots of needs that had to be met during my semester away. One of them was that I wanted a big city, another was that I had to complete an internship in my major and, lastly, I wanted to really push myself outside of my comfort zone and go somewhere that I couldn’t easily get to otherwise. I stumbled upon CIEE (Council on International Education Exchange) and their Open Block program. 

The program consists of three, six-week blocks where you take two classes at a time and then start new classes once a new block begins. The best part is that you can move locations every block switch. Elon only allows you to move between Berlin and Cape Town, so I stayed in Berlin for the first two blocks, and then decided to do a graphic design internship during the last block in Cape Town. And I loved it.

So, I am here to encourage you to break away from the “typical” study abroad experience and head down to the ‘Mother City,’ as it is so commonly referred to as, in beautiful South Africa for the experience of a lifetime. Cape Town is a city with endless opportunities─from amazing outdoor opportunities, to city life, to a quintessential college area for a way to connect with locals that are the same age. When I think about my time in Cape Town, I think about the incredible markets, weekend adventures on safaris, and the opportunity to have a family invite me into their home for a meal. Here are a few of the reasons why we think you should consider studying abroad, or even just visiting, Cape Town, South Africa.

Access to the city, the mountains AND the beach.

I remember flying into Cape Town and just staring out the window, unable to close my jaw. Cape Town is situated right on the coast of the southern Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the gorgeous Table Mountain National Park. And, nestled in the center is a bustling city full of life, color, music and tasty food.

It’s easy to meet people.

South Africans are some of the friendliest people that I have been fortunate enough to meet. They love making tourists feel as welcome as possible and are constantly wanting to form connections with you. Every time I got in an Uber to head somewhere, I swear I became best friends with the driver. They would make sure to inform me of important safety information, as well as top secret places to visit and things to do.

There is always something to do.

Personally, what I loved most about Cape Town is the endless opportunity to do something. Bored and trying to kill time? Go shopping at one of the many incredible local markets. Ready for a workout? Hike one of the stunning trails in Table Mountain National Park. Hungry? Well, you are in luck, because food is delicious and cheap! Want to try something new? Go sandboarding, skydiving or on a safari. Cape Town, South Africa, is truly a place like no other!

Do you ever just—go shark cage diving? Yeah, us too. Photo by Emma Scott Singletary.

The cultural exchange is incredible. 

A big part of studying abroad is the ability to experience cultural exchange. For most people, studying abroad is the first time they have this opportunity. One of the first things you will learn is how open people are to help you understand South African culture─whether it is teaching you a word in their main language (IsiXhosa), or letting you know what the meaning of the word “lekker” is (to sum it up, “good”). South Africans love to talk about their culture and share it with you so that you can feel connected to their beautiful community. A big thing for me was that South Africa has been in a drought for a long time, so water usage is taken very seriously. This was something I never really had to think about while growing up in Louisiana, but it was important to actively engage in the South African cultural tradition of being cautious and conservational with water.

The weather is unmatched. 

Something I did not take into account at all during my “research” phase of study abroad was what the weather would be like. I am someone who is super sensitive to the seasons changing, and as soon as it started to rain all the time and get dark at 4 p.m. in Berlin, I had to get out of there. Cape Town is a city of warmth and sunshine, cool breezes from the beach and crystal-clear skies almost every day. I think it may have rained three times during my six weeks there (keep in mind, there was a drought).

Will someone please pinch us? This shot of Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden has us dreaming. Photo by Emma Scott Singletary.

Overall, Cape Town, South Africa is a city with endless opportunities to learn, explore and grow. Cape Town makes you aware of your surroundings, challenges you to try new things and inspires you to treat the environment better. It is a place of instant comfort and community, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a study abroad destination─or for a vacation.

Featured image and all photos pictured in this article were taken by Emma Scott Singletary.