It’s mid-November and I haven’t traveled to a new country in over 2 years… I was ready to experience something new when ironically a good friend of mine, Sohni, invited me on a 3 week long vacation to South Africa in the beginning of January. I asked her to give me a little bit of time but was fond of the idea to take time off work and refresh myself to start the new year. After chatting about the idea to my mom and a couple of friends, they all warned me how dangerous South Africa is known to be and that it may not be the smartest idea to avoid illness. I knew we had a group of 30 going that would stay together, I could get vaccinations prior to visiting and take extreme precautions to test it out. After all, I was told Mexico was unsafe prior to visiting and I now go at least 1-3 times per year- things aren’t always as they seem.
So I made my decision that I would visit South Africa with a bunch of strangers besides Sohni; we were so excited especially because she had just recently got engaged in Austria, and I was looking forward to meeting him. It just felt right. I decided three weeks was too long (although Johannesburg safari for New Years was extremely tempting, but work was already scheduled), and instead I would visit for two weeks max just in Capetown. The group had already accommodated 3 large houses where I would have a room to myself, and I just needed to buy my plane ticket. A no-brainer! I booked it immediately.
The best advice from a world traveler once told me, “Before you go on a new adventure, don’t research the place too much. Don’t make too many solidified plans, make rooms to explore and never look at pictures.” This has shown to be extremely valid and helpful for when I travel because it leaves an empty space for the unknown. You really have no idea what you’re walking into, unbiased and without any opinion or information the internet has led you to believe. It’s completely up to your own judgement and free-will to base an opinion on new territory, yourself. And this is exactly how I walked into Capetown- I didn’t google it once.
So as we gently touched down in Capetown, South Africa, my eyes searched the clouds for a breakthrough glimpse of my home for the next two weeks. It’s too cloudy to see anything until I’m walking down the airstairs when a gust of strong wind hits me square in the face. It’s lush green, filled with bushes and small trees. The wind is powerful and makes the green floor look alive. In the distance is a very tall large mountain peering down at us, rocky and bare on top.
I climbed into the private driver’s car I booked in advance, a safety precaution since I wasn’t sure if Uber was safe. Later I found out Uber is a convenient, affordable and secure way to get around like in most cities… We chatted back and forth about where I’m from, what I do and why I’m visiting. As we make our way toward the city, I observe each building, mountain and person I see before it’s quickly out of eyesight. My mind and heart feel so alive, and I’m reminded once again this is why I live to travel.
1. There’s no place like it
There’s no other place where you can hike for 1.5 hours and be surrounded by rock and other mountains, looking down into valleys and cities from a birds-eye-view. To take a gondola down the mountain, to watch paragliders soar over your head as you drive down the coast to bright blue oceanside sunbathing; To a short drive away meeting eye-to-eye with penguins and snapping photos along side their national reserve; to hop on a sailboat and go whale watching or shark diving. To go to the lowest point in the earth and meet monkeys. I could go on.. but when I say this is a special place, I mean it. There is so much to do for every type of person, and it’s rich with wildlife, adventure and jaw dropping views.
2. Safety is an issue, but not as bad as you think.
These locals were candid with me: being a young female in this city isn’t considered “safe” but it can be as long as you take precautions. Europeans and Americans will definitely notice the change of security here, but I was told Brazilians usually are educated well on this topic and flourish here. It’s about awareness and knowledge. The basics are this:
-Stay in the safe parts of town and don’t visit the poorest communities. This is where kidnapping, rape and other violent crimes happen.
-During the daytime, in the safe parts of town, you are free to do as you wish. You can walk around, go to the store alone etc. I went shopping daily alone and never had an encounter or had my unsafe radar got off. You won’t even feel unsafe, trust me!
-Always watch your purse and iPhone, theft is high.
-Never go out at nighttime alone, anywhere.
-In the evening, always be accompanied with a male.
-Basically, it comes down to nighttime and that you have to be with a group. Be aware of your surroundings and you’re fine. We never had one scare the entire trip because we had our eyes open, minds on and even in the late hours after clubbing we stuck together. Never leave your friends behind.
3. It’s cheap
Shopping heaven!
Since I didn’t do any research, I wasn’t expecting South Africa to be so cheap. 1RAN = .07USD or 7 cents to their dollar. Coming from LA as one of the most expensive cities, to this Capetown gem with rich views everywhere AND extremely affordable had me in awe at how much more I adored this place. Uber black was literally no more than $10 everywhere I went, and dinners cost me around $15 for a good quality restaurant. Not bad Capetown!
This whole outfit was $150 (dress, belt, bag, earrings and shoes)
So now that I’ve hooked you, let’s get specific about where to check out. The best places to eat, visit and cool things to do:
RESTAURANTS
Villa 47
A chic restaurant located in the heart of Capetown. This is ideal for a romantic night or a group dinner. White tablecloths, waiters in button ups and open kitchen set up.
Asoka
This is a restaurant that turns into a nightclub, my favorite place to dance. Work up an appetite (my fav dishes were the tacos and butter chicken), then join the dance floor for a fun night.
Upper Bloem
Our friends rented out the entire restaurant since our party was so big, so we had a private experience here. This was exceptional on so many levels- the food, the hospitality and attention to detail. I was astounded by the unique flavors, array of options including vegan and GF and the different types of food. The combinations were special and I would rate this my favorite restaurant for lunch or dinner!
Boudha Lounge
An asian cuisine that tickles your taste buds differently than most places and turns into a dance floor! We had an absolute blast at this restaurant. The DJ was on point, the food was delicious and the drinks never stopped.
Grand Africa Cafe & Beach
This was another favorite of our Capetown vacation: located right on the water, Grand Africa has a Tulum or Mykonos feel. It is tiki inspired, has a full bar and a huge menu! A perfect spot to lounge for lunch, plus they have a boutique on site to go shopping, a big open space of sand to dance or kids to play and a view that makes you want to stay a bit longer.
NIGHTLIFE
Boudha Lounge
Asoka
Cafe Caprice
Probably one of the most touristy things, but not overrated at all. It is located right across from Camps Bay and gets a LOT of traffic. Getting into here at sunset can be a beast with a line down the side of the place, but for a good reason. This bar is amazing to watch sunset, grab drinks and surprisingly has the best nachos I’ve had. It can get a little messy, college vibe but since we booked a table on the second level out of the mess it was an amazing experience.
THINGS TO DO
Winery - Tokara Wine
Capetown has a lot of wineries to choose from, so definitely do some research before to choose your favorite one! It takes over an hour drive to get to the vineyards, but it is beyond worth it. The locations of these vineyards are some of the prettiest I’ve seen, and you can spend a long relaxing lunch checking out breath taking views sipping on sauvignon blanc and eating baked seabags. Most of the vineyards have places to venture around too, making it a must-see day excursion.
One of the top things to do in Capetown, and I can vouch for it being a major hit! Being an animal lover, I get a bit nervous with animal attractions abroad. I worry they are treated poorly for an income. To my pleasant surprise, the African penguins are on a national reserve, and there are plenty of rules to follow including: no touching sea life or taking home seashells, no fishing, no smoking, and so many more. There is two parts to the beach: a viewing point where you can look over the penguins, and the beach where you can walk up to them (but don’t touch! They bite). The penguins definitely favor the viewing point because they are out of reach from humans trying to pet them, and aren’t bothered.
Still, the beach is absolutely STUNNING and I would relax here for a half day. You can sunbath with penguins for a low entry cost and a restaurant is on site.
If I remember correctly, Clifton is a location that stretches pretty far. There is a main Clifton Beach, but we were taken to a smaller one that I believe was Clifton Beach 2. It was smaller, less busy and we were told it is safer (theft is high). It was an ideal beach day with views that I couldn’t get enough of!
Lions Head
A popular hike referred to us by locals. It is a harder hike with things like ladders and ropes to help you climb the steep terrain. Make sure to bring your best hiking boots and a water!
Table Mountain
Easily my favorite hike of the trip, the views to this are something I will never forget. There is a gondola that can simply take you to the top of table mountain if you can’t hike- but based off a personal experience, hiking this is the way to go. It is about an hour and a half hike with multiple ways up, and probably intermediate level. Not something I would take Grandma up! Definitely bring water and climb this at sunrise or you’ll be dying of a heat stroke.
Once at the top, there is a 360 views of mountains, ocean, canyon, rock and city. They have a souvenir shop, eco friendly restrooms, lunch spot and a repelling adventure on top too! Such a special place and I really look forward to visiting this again.
WHERE TO STAY
I believe a large part of our trip was safe and fun was because we were located in ideal locations. Based off locals referrals, these are the two best spots with ocean views and safety (I walked around alone here day and night with no problems).
Fresnaye
Sea Point
Atlantic Sea Board
Traveling gives new feelings and memories from all around the world, plus it teaches you new cultures, languages and beautiful sites you never would’ve imagined. I believe you have to visit somewhere to truly understand and make your own opinions on what it’s like. Nothing is always as it seems and relying on sources to tell you whether to visit it or not isn’t always the best move. Opening your heart and your mind to experience something is how I choose to live life, and I encourage you to try it too!