A week in Cape Town
I was lucky enough to spend some quality time in Cape Town, South Africa this past December and the Mother City never disappoints. Firstly, the United Airlines direct flight from Newark to Cape Town is a game changer, as you arrive ready to explore this wonderful city! (Delta Airlines have also started flying direct to Cape Town now.)
Table Mountain & the Waterfront
A quick trip up the Table Mountain cableway gives you the most spectacular views of the city bowl and out across Table Bay to Robben Island and up the west coast. You literally feel like you are on top of the world, gazing at life below.
Cape Peninsula trip with the Penguins
The Cape Peninsula has much to see, so we drove along the coast through Camps Bay up Chapmans Peak drive for the most spectacular views, and then continued down the other side to Noordhoek, a small village on the Cape Peninsula, for the most yummy lunch at The Food Barn. From there we made our way to Cape Point, the very tip of the Cape Peninsula where we watched the baboons, who sat watching us! I think they were plotting to steal our snacks, but we kept the windows shut tight. En route back to Cape Town, we stopped in at Boulders Beach for a quick swim with the penguins. These little guys are so amusing, waddling around in their tux’s and they’re like lightening in the water!
Wine Tastings & Picnics
South African wines are world famous, so a stop in to the Constantia wine lands was essential. We spent a gorgeous afternoon sipping Buitenverwachting Buiten Blanc and nibbling on a yummy cheese board picnic, while lounging on lush green lawns and watching kids chasing chickens. Spier Wine farm in Stellenbosch was another great wine tasting opportunity, before heading up the Helshoogte Pass to Delaire Graff for some lunch, good wine and a glance at their incredible art collection. We ended the day across the road at Tokara where I enjoyed their award winning wines. So many wine farms, so little time. If you’re a wine aficionado, or just a casual taster, I recommend spending a few days in the heart of the winelands in Franschoek or Stellenbosch so you can immerse yourself in this region.
The Cape Town City bowl is great for a stroll through Greenmarket Square or a visit to the District Six museum and I recommend you pop past the Bo-Kaap, with all it’s colorful houses and delicious Cape Malay food and spices. I walked around the colorful V&A Waterfront after another very appetizing lunch at Harbour House restaurant. The Waterfront a great place to shop for souvenirs and other South African items, and also the launch place to catch the ferry across to Robben Island and visit the place where Nelson Mandela was held captive for 27 years.
Finally, we got to spend the day on a yacht sailing from the waterfront to Clifton beach, where we moored and braved the icy cold Atlantic waters for a quick dip.
Cape Town and the surrounding area is a “must’ when you plan your trip to South Africa, there is so much to do and the food is incredible, just ask me!
