Hi everyone!
Today’s blog is taking
it further afield… to South Africa. Before starting my amazing job, I have to
admit that South Africa was not really on my radar and not at all in my top
travel list. But then I did my first long haul to Cape Town and everything changed.
When you land in Cape Town,
you notice two things, firstly the weather- the sun in SA is a different type (hot
and tropical and prime for tanning) and secondly the atmosphere- statistically
it’s impossible for a whole place to be so chilled out and happy but that’s exactly
how CPT feels.
Grab a pastry and a
coffee and set off towards Table Mountain national park because the earlier you
get there the easier to beat the queues. Table Mountain is one of the new 7
natural wonders of the world, at 3,558ft the view from the top is breath taking
but also can get very hot so pre-12pm is the time you want to be there. To get to the top you have 2 options- for
those feeling energetic you can hike to the top (eeek!) or for the rest of us
who want a more relaxed journey to the peak there’s the cable car.
The cable car costs
roughly 240 zar and takes only 15 minutes from the bottom to the top. The
entire car is made of glass and the floor spins (faster than you would expect) so
you can see up to the mountain and down below from a 360 view. Once at the top,
it becomes clear where the ‘table’ part of Table Mountain comes from: the entire
peak area is flat and extends far out so that you can walk around and see
almost all of Cape Town- from Camps Bay, Lion’s Head, the waterfront, the
vineyards and Robbin Island- it’s all there for you to admire!
Being so high up is absolutely exhilarating, especially when you compare the peak of Table Mountain to other things, like in this photo where Lion's Head looks like a hill in the park and that's 669m!
Unlike most tall attractions
in Europe, the perimeter of the top of Table Mountain is not fenced off, which
is great for edgy and exciting photos, but not so great for those nervous about
heights. When you are sitting on the rocks with nothing separating you from the
open air and it is a huge rush!
Once you have happily taken
in all that Table Mountain has to offer, head back down to the gift shop where
you’ll get the chance to buy a beautiful photo of yourself with in a fake cable
car that you can keep forever (or not). Outside of the cable car station on the
ground, there’s a taxi rank where you can grab a taxi down to the V&A
waterfront.
The waterfront is
where it’s all going on, this is the Cape Town hub for food, shops, and bars…it’s
all there! Post Table Mountain, you’ll be hungry so head on over to Quay 4 and
grab a table out on the terrace for the best view and atmosphere. Sitting there
with a plate of mussels and side of capresse salad topped off with a cold beer,
you will have the definite holiday vibe. While you eat you can see the boats
coming in and out of the harbour and the occasional jumping fish, plus the
relaxing sounds of the gulls and waves make for the perfect lunching
experience. Plus with the current low rates of the zar to the pound, you can
feast away without breaking the bank!
When you are fed and
watered, take a wander along the boardwalk with all the shops and food markets
and enjoy the hustle and bustle, particularly from the food court and fish
market. The view from the pier is so great, the perfect blend of sea side and
city feels! At Nobel Square, you can see a tribute to some of South Africa’s
most notable figures in the form of bronze statues, including Archbishop
Desmond Tutu and the esteemed Nelson Mandela.
Take a ride on the Ferris
wheel (best time to do this: sunset, tres romantic!). The ride lasts 15 minutes
and only costs 90 zar (unless it’s your birthday and then it’s 50% off!), and
each cabin can fit between 6 and 8 people. Fun Fact: you can actually even get
married on the wheel, so y'know, if that’s why you’re in Cape Town….
On the wheel you can
get a 360 view of Cape Town from the skies (not unlike Table Mountain, but from
a different part of the city), 40 metres above the ground, you can see the Cape
Town Stadium and Paarl Mountains as well as across the water and the boats in
the harbour.
After your whirl on
the wheel, head to the taxi rank and grab a cab out to Cape Point and Simon’s
Town. This journey will take about an hour and in a car of 3 will cost around
300 zar return but I promise you it’s worth it. Heading out of the city through
the country roads and the valleys, you get to experience authentic South
Africa. The sights and sounds of the rural roads are amazing, animals in their natural
habitat, miles and miles without a house or person in sight, the hills and
beaches, you won’t be able to tear your eyes away from the window.
When you arrive in
Simon's Town, you won’t feel like you’re in the 21st century anymore.
The little wooden shop fronts and old-timey food places are reminiscent of
1920s America; it really is the cutest little place. Stop the car (but make sure you organise a return trip and pick up point!) when you
start to see signs for Boulders Beach,and walk along towards it, first stopping at one of the hole in the wall ice-cream places to cool down with a cone before you get to the beach.
To visit Boulders Beach and the penguins, it costs around 65zar and once you pass through the turnstile you're there. If you've never seen penguins on a beach before, you are in for a treat. The hot sand the crystal clear blue waters, walking across the wooden slats adjacnet to the beach, it definitely seems like the last place on earth you'd be seeing any arctic creatures but BOOM, there the are, just chilling out in little cubby holes in the sand beside the boardwalk.
For understandable reasons (they bite) the penguins are semi- sectioned off from the general public but that's not to say that you can't get veryyy close to them. Remember that this is their home and sanctuary so don't disturb them too much or litter or destroy any of their property, that's not what Boulder's Beach is about. Seeing hundreds of penguins on a beach splashing about in and out of the surf is something truly amazing and the sort of unique experience that only Cape Town can provide.
Getting to wander around being surrounded by these cute little cold weathered pals and tanning your shoulders while you do it is so surreal but an unmissable Cape Town attraction.
On your walk back to the taxi, make sure to check out all the little homemade souvenirs sold by the Simon's Town locals, they are really unusual and lovely and if you want to bring home a reminder of your trip this is the place to get it because the money you spend will be going straight back into the community.
After all the excitement of the day, it will be closing in on darkness so ask your tax driver to take you to Camps Bay for dinner. This is the more upmarket and classy area of Cape Town and if you can get there for sunset then the view is breathtaking.
For dinner, head to Zenzero. The ambiance here is great, chilled and sophisticated, but the food is heavenly. From the bread and olive tapenade to pick at while you order to the amazing chocolate fondant that comes with caramel icecream, this menu is to die for.
If a real South African experience is what you're after have a steak wth creamed spinach/butter nut squash and accompany it with a Cabernet Sauvignon. You won't be dissapointed. As is my own personal tradition any time I'm in SA, end the meal with a Dom Pedro- Kahlua, whiskey, ice cream- it's a liquer and a dessert in one and it's the most amazing drink I have ever tasted. Why this creation has not made it across to the UK is beyond me!
End the night with some dancing in one of the many clubs/bars in Camps Bay (like St. Yves, Cafe Caprice or La Med) or head to bed and sleep off the red wine. Either way, after 24 hours in Cape Town, you'll need your rest but you'll never forget the trip. 
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