The Mother City
In May, my husband and I traveled to Cape Town for the first time; it’s a place that has been on our bucket list for years. We were not disappointed; it truly was the trip of a lifetime. Today I’m going to tell you all about the trip, and give you some recommendations on where to stay and what to do if you plan on visiting this magnificent place.
Stay
We stayed four days at the Azamare Guest House in Camps Bay. The view of the Atlantic Ocean from our room was glorious. Our host was warm and welcoming. They serve a yummy breakfast as well as wine and canapés at sun down. Sunsets in Camps Bay are breathtaking; the beaches are beautiful, and there are tons of fabulous restaurants in walking distance. I love the area; it’s very relaxing and romantic.
View from Azamare.
Lion’s Head Mountain
Go
I highly recommend going to Table Mountain. We took the aerial cableway to the top. The view is breathtaking, and Table Mountain is easy to get to with the Hop-On Hop-Off City Sightseeing Bus. You can catch the bus from Camps Bay.
View from Table Mountain
For a spectacular view, you must go to Cape Point. Renting a car in Cape Town made it so much easier for us to explore different places, one of them was Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. We just parked and walked up to the lighthouse for a breathtaking view of the ocean. And watch out for the baboons. Although I was excited to see them, they’re known to rob you blind so watch out!
Cape Point Lighthouse
For wine lovers, there are wine tours and tasting in Stellenbosch. They offer bike tours as well if you want to explore wine country; the landscape is very pretty. If you go in the warmer months, Clifton Beach is beautiful for a swim. Unfortunately, we went in the fall, and the water was way too cold. We drove to Simon’s Town to see the penguins on the beach in Boulders Penguin Colony. It was so much fun and amazing to see. There are cute little shops in the area too if you want to pick up some souvenirs.
Boulders Penguin Colony
Speaking of shopping, V&A Waterfront is a cool mall; they have a ton of stores and restaurants, it’s a great place to grab lunch. And make sure to go to Greenmarket Square. It’s located in a historical square in the center of old Cape Town. There you can find traditional African goodies, and sometimes they have live music. It’s a great way to support the locals.
Bo-Kaap
While in Cape Town, we wanted to visit Bo-Kaap. I’ve seen the pastel-colored buildings in many photos online; I just had to see it for myself. Aside from its unique architecture, Bo-Kaap has a lot of history. It’s the oldest surviving residential neighborhood in Cape Town, and the houses are painted in vibrant colors as a celebration of freedom. I had so much fun exploring and capturing the beauty of this picturesque neighborhood.
Masjid Boorhaanol Islam
Eat
They’re plenty of fabulous restaurants in Camps Bay; I have to recommend a few. Located in walking distance from our hotel was Codfather Seafood & Sushi. It was my husband’s favorite restaurant. If you’re a seafood lover it’s a must; their fish is so fresh and tasty. We also had the BEST sushi in the Kyoto Garden Japanese Restaurant; the Toro was out of this world. The Hussar Grill is a great place for steak. I had the Chateaubriand, and it was incredible. In case you’re wondering we used Uber to get around while in Cape Town. I recommend it because it’s easy and inexpensive.
Experience
We wanted to experience a safari, so we booked two nights at the Garden Route Game Lodge. For a wild safari, your best bet is traveling to Kenya, which we would love to visit one day. Unfortunately, we couldn’t make it part of this trip. However, this private game reserve was excellent. Our game ranger was extremely knowledgeable about the different animals. We saw lions, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, and much more.
We stayed in one of their luxury suites with a wood burning fireplace, and an outdoor bath and shower. The view from our room was incredible; we even saw a Kudu hanging out by our suite the very first day.
Sleepy lions
And finally, the best experience from the trip was visiting the Knysna Elephant Park. My favorite animal in the whole world is the elephant. You can find several elephant figurines throughout our apartment; I love them. And we heard about a place near Plettenberg Bay that was not only an elephant park but a sanctuary as well. It’s two hours away from the Garden Route and worth the drive.
It’s important to me that these magnificent creatures are treated kindly, and I was happy to see how well they were cared for. Riding them is not allowed, which I was glad. Each elephant had a particular story and, the guides give you their background as well as details about the park and what they do there. If you’re a lover of these gentle giants, pay a visit to Knysna and help support this sanctuary.
Keisha and me.
If you’re planning a trip to Cape Town and have questions, please let me know! And if you’re like me and love elephants, consider adopting an orphan elephant through the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.
It looks like a fabulous trip! I have never been but it’s on our travel bucket list. Those pastel colored homes and buildings look so beautiful and I bet they were even better in person. Just in love! So glad to hear that elephants in Cape Town are treated kindly. I love them too and hearing this makes me happy.
Maureen | http://www.littlemisscasual.com
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Thank you so much for reading! Cape Town was breathtaking; I would love to go back! You would love it, and yes Bo-Kaap is even prettier in person. Xx M