My favorite cities have the same things in common:
- Unique cultural experiences
- Spectacular food
- Efficient transportation
- Beautiful sites
- Excitement
Cape Town knocks each category out of the park.! The City’s beauty alone is enough to fill an entire post.
Home to the majestic Table Mountain, there aren’t many places that I would rather spend my time. It is too hard to adequately describe Table Mountain’s beauty, just know this, if you question the existence of GOD you won’t after visiting. The site is spectacular.
After leaving Table Mountain, stop by Boulders Beach for lunch and to hang out with some animals that you would never guess could weather the South African heat !
Beyond its beauty, Cape Town is home to hundreds of great restaurants. With so much to try, this great City is where I really stepped out of my culinary box. At Mama Africa ,in Cape Town’s party district, I ate the most delicious appetizer: crocodile! It was grilled and seasoned to perfection!
We also had the game kabobs consisting of (warthog, ostrich, and springbok).
The food was amazing and the drinks were flowing all night.
In addition to the amazing food, the house band kept the party going and several of my companions jumped at the chance to join in the fun.
We couldn’t spend time in Cape Town without taking the 60 minute ferry ride to Robben Island to visit the site of the maximum security prison where Nelson Mandela and many other political prisoners were held.
Surprisingly, the island is now home to a few hundred people, including former prison wardens and former prisoners a like with a school, church and grocery store. The actual prison is now a museum, visited by millions of people each year. Being on the island is a humbling experience. What really adds to the overall experience is that the tours are guided by former political prisoners.
Our guide was imprisoned at Robben Island for six years for his participation with the African National Congress (ANC). He shared his experiences and even showed us the actual cell that he was held in. We also viewed the cell that Mr. Mandela was held in during his 18 years on the Island. (pictured)
Visiting Robben Island was a sobering experience and as we left, we felt hopeful about South Africa’s bright future despite its troubled past. Having a wine tour booked following our visit to Robben Island worked out to be a wise idea!
In 45 short minutes we were in Paarl sampling sumptuous wines and unbelievable chocolates. South Africa’s vast wine country is beyond gorgeous. The rolling hills lined with grapevines as far as the eyes can see, with jagged mountains framing the horizon, create a picturesque setting.
The wine was fantastic but the absolute star of the day was the meal that we enjoyed at an onsite pizzeria. The cow feta and spinach pizza, chicken livers, brie and tomato sandwich and the lamb baguettes were unbelievable.
I truly recommend spending no less that half a day in wine country. With hundreds of independent producers you are sure to discover something great.
When the sun rose the following day we were greeted with great coffee and the sour realization that we would be heading back to the states in a few short hours. But leave it up to my crew to make the very best of it by going shopping!
Cape Town’s Green Market located in the City ‘s downtown district is massive. Despite the fact that many of the vendors are selling the same trinkets, you can find some really good deals and some unique items if you take your time and explore.
Feel free to haggle but make sure you shop with Rand, the local currency ( it just makes it easier ).
A few short hours later we loaded our luggage, headed to the airport, and made the 17 hour journey back to the states.
South Africa is an unbelievable country. I cannot wait to return in a few years.
Have you traveled to South Africa? Tell me your story here.
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