Get ready for too many superlatives for one sentence but this was truly the best trip to what I think is the most beautiful place in the world. The whole time we were there, I kept thinking, wow I'm so grateful to have fallen in love with someone who happens to be from this incredibly gorgeous country. Thank you for your service Marc.
Where we stayed: Place on the Bay, Camps Bay
Where we ate...
Ok be prepared for a long list here because wow the food hits different. Also, not to be sappy but last time we were visiting South Africa, I was still an actor and very restrictive of my diet so I didn't allow myself to eat as much good food. This time around, wow your girl ATE.
Number one tip, eat lots of seafood and try new things! Granted, the dishes at these restaurants weren't too far fetched, but some of the flavor combinations or "standard" South African meals are so different and yummy.
Mynt Cafe, Camp's Bay
Fish & Chips, Hout Bay
Mozambique, The Waterfront
Raj, Camp's Bay
Surf Shack, Camp's Bay
The Country Kitchen, Mount Rochelle Vineyard, Franschhoek
Harbor House, The Waterfront
Unframed Ice Cream, The Waterfront
How we got around...
We had originally planned on renting a car which, for a longer trip would have been perfrect, but Camps Bay is such a walkable area and most areas are at most an hour away, so Ubers suffice. The price ranges from about R100-R600 which equates to at most $40 U.S...and that was the uber to Franschhoek which is close to an hour and a half away.
We also ended up taking the Red City Bus to tour Cape Point which I would recommend for longer day trips. Though it cuts your time short in each stop, it's a great way to see multiple things in a day. I know it sounds cheesy but I learned a lot of interesting facts from the tour guide which is another perk. Unfortunately though, the bus price excludes any entrance fees for National Parks or certain excursions, like Boulders Beach. I would stick with Ubers for shorter distances and recommend the red bus for long day trips where you don't mind being more touristy.
Table Mountain
How much? R390 for Adults so under $30
How to get there? I would highly recommend taking the 15 minute Uber because parking looked like a nightmare
What to do? I was fully prepared to hike up Table Mountain but with our shorter trip time, it made more sense to take the cable car up and enjoy more of the view at the top. The Cable Car is a wild experience. In less than four minutes, you are up the summit of Table Mountain with a stunning view of Cape Town. Not going to lie, there was a group of American tourists that kept bumping into us and pushing to get in front which really made me embarrassed of America but other than that, it was a lovely trip up and down. There is also a cafe at the top if you want to buy a bottle of wine and relax a bit.
I would probably want to hike next time we visit so here are a few we were considering:
- The Pipe Track
- Platteklip Gorge
- Woodstock Caves
Number one tip, head up early and check the weather in advance! Most days are pretty cloudy in Cape Town which means you won't see ANYTHING so definitely wait for a sunny day if possible.
Hout Bay & Seal Island
How much? If you count the uber there and back (which we split), the fish and chips and Seal Island cruise, I'd say it was around R800 total which is about $50 U.S..
How to get there? Uber. You'll need to take a boat to get to Seal Island though, which cost about R120 each and is about an hour round trip.
What to do? If you like trinkets, there are quite a few souvenir stands that are worth checking out but the main event is definitely the fish and chips and Seal island. We took a boat trip, which was very choppy might I add, out to see the seals which I thought was SO worth it. As an animal lover I'll take any excuse to ooo and ahhh at cute seals swimming around. It's also a great chance to take in some gorgeous mountain views.
Number one tip, This can be all be done in 4 hours max so try to layer it with something else on your itinerary like a Chapman's Peak drive or a sunset cruise.
Sunset Cruise, The Waterfront
How much? A champagne cruise for four of us cost about R1700 total
How to get there? The Waterfront is central area so pretty easy to get to! We Uber-ed but you can also take the Red City Bus if you have a pass.
What to do? There are plenty different options for sunset cruises that debark from the waterfront. We ended up booking this company which offered a Champagne Cruise on a catamaran. It wasn't too busy which was nice and they even offered champagne bottles for only R110, which if you're anything like us and finish your two complimentary glasses in the first 15 minutes, was GREAT. I've been on a couple sunset cruises in NYC and yes, though touristy, this was definitely worth it and a gorgeous way to spend the evening.
Number one tip, don't wear boot heels or any kind of heels because the captain will ask you to remove your shoes, thus leaving you in wet socks all night. LOL.
Boulders Beach
How much? For non SA residents, this costs about R90
How to get there? This is definitely farther away than some of the other excursions so I would recommend hiring a car or booking a day trip with the City Bus like we did! We ended up bundling Boulders Beach and Cape Point into one day which was rushed but allowed us to see everything.
What to do? Boulders Beach is famous for the protected colony of African penguins. They made Boulders their home in 1982 and you'll be surprised by how residential the setting is, and how fascinating these birds are when you have the chance to view them so closely. This is now a protected area for the birds and you'll pay an entry fee that contributes to their continued, protected well being so it's definitely worth it. We saw so many babies!
Number one tip, if you want to be able to stand right next to the penguins on the beach, walk about 5 minutes down the boardwalk to another private beach. Be respectful of them though!! Poor babies are bombarded with tourists all day.
Cape Point & Cape of Good Hope
How much? R360 for non-South African citizens
How to get there? This was part of the day trip we planned on the Red City Bus. It felt a bit rushed at times BUT we got to see multiple things in a day without worrying about renting a car or parking. And to be honest, the tour guide was very charismatic and shared a lot of cool facts so that was entertaining in itself.
What to do? Spend time taking in the absolutely stunning scenery. This is another one I would recommend planning for a sunny day since a lot of the views could be hidden by clouds. The drive through the national park is unreal. From the Ostrich, Zebra and Baboons to the alien-looking plant life, there is something to experience at every angle. Apparently the baboons will steal your purse though so maybe keep that hidden. When you first arrive, I would recommend walking up (very very uphill ouch) to the Cape Point Lighthouse for a breathtaking view. There are quite a few other hikes in the area but we ended up taking the 45 minute walk from Cape Point to Cape of Good Hope which is the southernmost tip of Africa and where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet.
Franschhoek Wine Tram
How much? There was a group of 6 of us and it cost about R270 each. This only included transportation between wine farms and not the actual wine tasting or food. Wine tastings ranged from R120 for a flight to R170 for a wine pairing.
How to get there? This is one of the longer trips, pulling in at about an hour and half from Camps Bay, but we still took an Uber.
What to do? Wow, this was one of the BEST experiences. It could've been because we had great company but I highly recommend adding this to your list. You might not be able to tell from the photos but it was pouring rain the whole day which honestly didn't turn out so bad since a lot of the wine farms have an indoor seating area. Not only was the scenery amazing but all of the wine and food is absolutely delicious. We chose the Blue Line but with any line you are able to visit max 8 wine farms (I applaud you if you can make it that far).
Number one tip, when they offer lunch, EAT. After three wine tastings, I was struggling and the food is well worth it so try to hold on long enough.
I've proofread this a couple times now and still don't feel like I truly captured all the magic that I felt on this trip. It's hard to put such a gorgeous place into words but I did my best. I'm already counting down the days until we can go back.
Thanks for reading.
xoxo, Mags