With its powdery beaches, dramatic landscapes, lush mountains, thrilling safaris, star-studded sky and lively cities, South Africa is a dream come true for all the travelers. With a lot of beautiful places to explore and a plethora of adventure activities to take part in, there will be no shortage of activities in order to keep you busy during your vacation. Yes, there may be petty crimes and high rate of corruption, but the rich history, spectacular wildlife and the breathtaking landscape makes a trip to South Africa extremely popular among travelers from all over the world. This is the ultimate South Africa travel guide to help you plan the perfect vacation to this beautiful country. Continue Reading
When it comes to planning your honeymoon, choosing the perfect destination is key. There are plenty of budget-friendly options out there that still offer the perfect mix of relaxation and adventure. From tropical beach getaways to mountain retreats, there are so many incredible honeymoon destinations to choose from. And with a little bit of research, you can find the one that’s perfect for you and your partner. So don’t let the high costs of weddings and honeymoons deter you from having the trip of a lifetime. There are plenty of options out there for affordable honeymoon destinations. Continue Reading
The tourism industry has seen a massive boom in the recent years, and travel has indeed become a lifestyle statement. As an increasing number of people hit the road this year either solo or with their family and friends, here are some travel trends in 2017. Continue Reading
“Don’t you dare set foot in Cape Town. South Africa is dangerous you know”. Cheers for the sound advice mum, but unfortunately this falls on deaf ears. Sure South Africa can be “dangerous” but I’m more likely to walk in front of a bus in London than I am getting mugged in Cape Town. Besides, my mother’s stern words were proven utterly worthless because my experience of this stunning city was anything but dangerous and risky. Like all places, if you keep your wits about you and don’t display your flashy, new iphone to the world, Cape Town is a safe and positively beautiful tourist destination.
A view of Camp’s Bay and the Twelve Apostles
The best time to visit Cape Town is in October and November in the height of the summer season and for top notch accommodation, Camp’s Bay is the place to stay. The Bay Hotel overlooks the glorious Camp’s
Bay beach and is only three miles from the famous, Table Mountain Cable Car. What’s more there are luxury rooms and suites to suit every taste. There is also an abundance of villas to rent in the area if the swish, hotel experience is not to your liking. Unfortunately, my wee budget did not stretch this far and I decided to loge in the centre of the city. I stayed in the cheaper yet comfortable Protea Hotel Breakwater Lodge. Minutes away from the seafront and the impressive world cup football stadium, this is a great place to be based. Staying in the city centre is also extremely beneficial if you want to catch the boat to the famous Robin Island. This historical site is a must on any trip to South Africa (just beware of the evil monkeys that live there)! For shopping as well as culture, the Victoria and Alfred waterfront complex is simply brilliant. From designer clothes to authentic, African jewellery, this place is a haven for avid shoppers.
Entrance to the Bay Hotel in Camp’s Bay
So the monkeys, mountains and historical sites were all very well and good but what about the food? The truth is you are spoilt for choice and Cape Town’s places to eat out are just as diverse as the city itself. For truly top notch cuisine I had to return to Camp’s Bay. For a memorable and simply delicious surf and turf, the Sand Bar on Victoria Street is the place to go. Also, the Blues Restaurant and Bar can be found on the same street and serves contemporary seafood dishes (not to mention a stunning view of the ocean).
So, I came out of Africa unscathed. With its grand mountains and cosmopolitan streets, Cape Town is a friendly and beautiful city with a relaxed atmosphere. The only thing to worry about is those monkeys!
By: Bradley Fink
Having planned to backpack up through Africa, I arrived with a friend named James via London to the beautiful city of Cape Town. After having coffee at the airport, we took a taxi to Stellenbosch, where 8 spectacular hectares of wine farm sat below the Helderberg Mountains. This was the Auberge Rozendal Wine Farm. At the back of the farm there was a guesthouse with 16 en-suite rooms. A lady gave us the key to one of these, and settling in we napped for a bit, showered, and then the two of us went to dinner at the manor house on the estate. Over a delicious, home-cooked meal, a farm worker named Stephan told us of some sights to see heading inland. Then we took a bottle of wine to his cottage, where he showed us some photographs, his maps of the country, and a route going east to Johannesburg.
On the following day we drove into town for our inoculations (Typhoid, Hepatitis, and Yellow Fever). We were also given malaria pills to be taken every seven days. Then we drove with Stephan into Cape Town, up to Table Mountain, and around to Camp’s Bay. In the city we walked down Long Street, looked into some bookstores for information, bought two new mats for our sleeping bags, and at noon we drove back to the farm. On the way we passed a township of tin shanties and huts, where Stephan said that there are over one million African refugees. He said that they have all come to look for a better living, and instead they are just living crammed together like that. There are no jobs for them here, no means for an education, and many of them are growing desperate. Back at the farm we talked of South Africa, which Stephan said is more racially divided than anywhere else he has been.
“It’s not just tension between blacks and whites,” he said.
“It’s between the Zulu and the Xhosa, the Sotho and Shona. There have been tribal differences here for thousands of years.”
When I suggested that with time things may change, Stephan shook his head.
“There’s no end to it,” he said. “One child is taught to hate another. If you knew the history you would understand the futility of it. It’s a wonder there is any stability at all.”
After lunch we went to Sommerset West to look for a car to drive the fifteen-hundred kilometers to Johannesburg. At a rental agency we were offered a safari jeep for five thousand Rand (725 USD), plus the price of petrol, which we decided is much too expensive. Stephan suggested that if we look around we might find something cheaper in the city.