What to pack for Cape Town in January

UV index of 11.4 burns skin in under 15 minutes.

Glare bounces hard off water and pale sand.

Mosquitoes breed in coastal marshes near the city.

Check ankles and, if there's a dog, paws and ears every night.

Tap water isn't safe and minor cuts need care in heat.

Tap water isn't safe here. A filter bottle beats buying plastic twice a day.

This country runs on Type C, D, G or N. Get one with USB-C so you're not fighting over the single outlet.

Set it up before you land. Signal drops for long stretches outside cities.

Overhead bins fill fast in peak summer travel season.

Table Mountain and nearby reserves sit within day-trip distance.

Fits the overhead on every airline that matters. Skip the checked-bag line entirely.

For the passport, the chargers, and the one dry pair of socks.

Coastal wind cuts through a t-shirt fast.

Wind hits 26 km/h off the coast and sun reflects off water and sand.

Fourteen hours of daylight and 79°F heat mean sweat soaks fabric fast.

UV hits 11.4 here. Long sleeves beat reapplying sunscreen every hour.

The ocean is swimmable and UV index sits at 11.4.

Fourteen hours of sun exposure and a UV index of 11.4.

Treat the clothes once and it lasts weeks.

Heat and unsafe water combine to dehydrate quickly.

Tap water carries pathogens that cause traveler's diarrhea.

One brick charges the laptop, phone, and camera.

Hotel and cafe wifi is shared with everyone else in the building. A VPN keeps your banking and email to yourself.

International airport and crowded summer beaches attract pickpockets.

Bags move through luggage systems and crowded tourist areas.

Two weeks means clothes need organizing in tight luggage.

Coastal salt spray and beach time soak electronics.

Heat and sweat mean laundry every three days.

Planes are loud and city noise runs late into the evening.

Highs reach 79°F and you'll spend most days outside.

Lips crack fast in wind and high UV.

Tap water isn't potable and you touch public surfaces constantly.

Sunburn and insect bites both itch and sting together.

Two weeks of heavy use drains every device you carry.

International border crossings require proof of identity at all times.

Luggage moves through a busy international airport.

Humidity sits at 70% and toiletries dry out slowly.

Long flights and jet lag hit hard on arrival.