My first visit to South Africa was in November 2018, with my husband Brian, and it certainly won’t be my last. It was a destination I had wanted to visit for many years, with a Safari right at the top of my bucket list. We had the most amazing adventure, and now it’s a destination I love to recommend to my clients, and they’re never disappointed!
We started our adventure in Cape Town – the city is just stunning. It’s a place like no other where cultures, cuisines, and landscapes come-together, under the gaze of the majestic Table Mountain. My top three highlights in Cape Town were a visit to Table Mountain (via the cable car) where we enjoyed clear views and a wonderful walk marvelling at the scenery below; a visit to Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden; and a timelessly indulgent afternoon tea at the Mount Nelson Hotel.
Getting around Cape Town is very easy, and Uber is the way to go, as it’s cheap and reliable. We also had a hire car and drove to the beautiful enclave of Camps Bay, just 10 minutes’ from our central Cape Town hotel. You will not be disappointed by the white sand beaches, hiking trails, and beachfront restaurants serving seafood and local wines, best enjoyed at sunset!
Gilly Bachelor
A drive to Cape Point National Park, around 60kms from Cape Town, is also a must with its rugged rocks and sheer cliffs towering more than 200 metres above the sea. I recommend going via Boulders Beach, as you’ll get to meet the African Penguins, one of the real highlights of our trip.
Next stop was the winelands - Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Paarl – my personal favourite is Franschoek, with its French history, and its famous Wine Tram. It’s also the perfect destination for food lovers, as it has a renowned reputation for being a ‘foodies’ paradise… and I couldn’t agree more!
If you’re travelling between June and December, a few days in Hermanus is highly recommended as it’s during the whale watching season. Our hotel had stunning sea views, where we sat on the balcony with a glass of wine (local of course!) and watched the whales dance for us… unbelievable.
Leaving Hermanus behind us (reluctantly) we drove the Garden Route – the 300-kilometre stretch of the south-eastern coast of South Africa. We stayed in a country lodge, set on the edge of an indigenous forest with breath-taking views of the surrounding valleys and Tsitsikamma Mountains. From here, it was an easy walk to The Crags Elephant Sanctuary where we were guided through an unforgettable experience with these magnificent creatures.