07 November 2017 | Alyx Carolus
The City Sightseeing red bus is a regular sight on Cape Town’s roads. You’ll see the double-decker bus driving through the city centre as you walk to get lunch or grab a cup of coffee.
Making sure City Sightseeing runs smoothly is no easy feat and involves a stellar team.
Visitors on the bus often mention the friendly interactions with guides, helpful customer service from the front of house, and warm welcomes from bus drivers. We spoke to three people who help make the magic happen at 81 Long Street (stop 5).
With a bubbly personality and a warm smile you can’t miss, Nyami is a firm fixture at 81 Long Street. She’s one of the kiosk managers at stop 5 and is responsible for a variety of tasks, from getting the tour office ready to interacting with customers. She has close to four years of experience at the ticket office and many visitors have complimented her swift customer service and friendly personality. Her favourite part of the job? Making someone’s day a little bit brighter.
A familiar face at the City Sightseeing tour office, Robin Lee works alongside Nyami at the Long Street stop. Her daily duties include ticket sales, making sure the shop is well stocked , and visiting the downstairs section of 81 Long Street, the Travel Depot. “I try to make sure that everything is running smoothly , as we have a lot of people working with us and it can get quite busy,” Robin Lee explains. Her favourite parts of her day-to-day activities are the experiences she shares with people travelling, and getting to know more about different cultures around the world.
Elliot, from Mitchells Plain, is one of the bus drivers you might encounter on your City Sightseeing trip. His daily duties include coming in, doing a pre-trip inspection, and driving his bus to the V&A Waterfront tour office (stop 1) or 81 Long Street (stop 5) to commence tours. The rest of his day includes making sure all the allocated passengers embark on his bus and driving his tour route. The best part of his job? “It’s all about interacting with the customers and different people on a daily basis.”
The Travel Depot is also situated at the 81 Long Street office and is a one-stop tourism spot for visitors who hop off the red bus. Come downstairs and see the selection of tourism offerings, from shark cage-diving to luxury safari tours.
Visitors can purchase one-day or two-day passes online, at ticket offices at stop 1 or stop 5 or stop 8, or from your bus driver. City Sightseeing has three tour offices in and around Cape Town.
Visitors can hop on at the V&A Waterfront (stop 1), 81 Long Street (stop 5) and Camps Bay (stop 8).
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