Adventures – South Africa

• Day 1: City center and Woodstock
• Day 2: Robben Island, Nelson Mandela Jail and Waterfront
• Day 3: The Cape Tonian coast ’till Camps Bay
• Day 4: Simmon’s town and Pinguins in Boulder’s beach
• Days 5 & 6: Wine tasting in Stellenbosch valley
• Day 7: Cape of good hope, Cape point and Hout Bay
• Day 8: Table Mountain and Kirstenbosch botanical gardens

Driving the coast around Cape Town

There is so much to see on the shoreline… All of the following are a must.  Order a dish and chips at the harbour in Hout Bay. Watch the sunset while sipping a cocktail in Camps Bay. Head to Kalk Bay and stop en route at St James Beach to shoot the historic bathing boxes.  Observe the African pinguin colony – you can choose to walk next to them or to swim with them – in Boulder’s beach. Reach Cape point and Cape of Good Hope: the scenery is wonderful, and both sites are part of the world history.

Stellenbosch surroundings

Head to Stellenbosch for a day or two. We enjoyed the scenery on the road between Stellennbosch and Franschoek. Don’t miss the wine tasting sessions in the numerous wineries of the region. We tried three of them, each one with its own style. Blaauwklippen worth it especially on sundays, when a local market takes place. You will be able to taste wine and eat local food on wooden tables, outside, while listening to live music. Neethlingshof is characterized by the typical building at that time, the rose garden and the shabby chic restaurant. If you are not that hungry, try the paired wine and tapas, that’s delicious. Delaire is more upmarket. Go for it to enjoy the shady terrace and the magnificient view on the valley.

Table mountain

Don’t miss it at any cost. On a clear day, queue to buy your cable car tickets (or put your trekking boots on to climb the mountain). At the summit, enjoy the scenery of the town on one side and the coast as far as Cape Point. That will be lovely. Up there, you can go for a walk and probably will meet some mongooses. When going down, have a rest in the luxuriant Kirstenbosch gardens (if you are going on a sunday afternoon in summer, you might enjoy a show)- the biggest and best we ever saw.

Going out for dinner or have a drink

Cape Town is full of bohemian and trendy places to go out. Woodstock might be your best best: The Old Mill Biscuit is sooo cool. You need to book a table (in advance) at Test Kitchen, a 5-courses meal paired with wines for less than 50 euros. Superette is also nice to grab something for breakfast or lunch, and to shop around. Closer to the city center, Bree St. would be the avenue to shop and to visit the artists galleries – be alert, there are night openings on some thursdays. For coffee enthusiats, Truth Cofee is a brand-new location we higly recommend.

Find all the pictures from Cape Town here

Population

46,6 millions

Urbanization

62 %

Life expectancy

49 YO

Literacy

93 %

GDP / capita

11600 $

Exports

Gold, diamonds

1. Savoring delicious food and tasty wines in trendy restaurants or wonderful settings
2. Being near the sea and the moutain all the time. Unique setting …
3. Founding wildlife everywhere – nice surprise to see the whales jumping on the shore along the road.

1. Feeling unsafe, when you see the alarms and closed doors of every house or shop
2. Being in a full of tourists bus during Nelson Mandela excursion

• Rent a car on your own. That is cheap (30 euros a day) and it gives you the freedom to travel around and to stop whenerver you want to admire the landscapes and take picture.
• Avoid going to Stellenbosch Valley on Mondays. Some wineries are closed and almost all the restaurants in Franckoesh don’t serve dinner.
• Book in advance all the restaurants you absolutely want to go to. Might be difficult to get a table otherwise.