When you first mention South Africa to anyone unfamiliar with the area - two cities to visit come to mind - Johannesburg and Capetown. Johannesburg, the capital city. And Capetown, the southern city on the sea.
Exploring Capetown was fun, but sometimes overwhelming, as our family didn't have a definitive plan for the city. Within the city, we hit just a few of the highlights. If I could do it again, I would choose (almost) the same three, because they were all extraordinary!
View looking south from the top of Tabletop Mountain.
Table Mountain
My rule of thumb for the first day that I arrive in any new city is to get high, literally. To get my bearings, I like to go to the highest point in the city to get a full panoramic view. There are two options to do this in Capetown - Table Mountain or Lion's Head.
We chose Tablet Mountain because it's more iconic and well-traveled of a landmark. If you're looking to be active, it's about a 2 hour hike from the drop point to the top, and not a leisurely one either. Prepare to sweat! (And don't forget to pack some water). But after sitting in the land cruisers for the past week during the game drives, we were ready to get a workout in..
At the top of the mountain, it's a large, flat area with one side offering great views down the coast, and the other, a great view over the city of Capetown. Be sure to walk around at least half of the perimeter so you can catch the views every direction. It also boasts a restaurant, souvenir shop, and a cable car - so if you're feeling a little tired after the hike, then it is the easy way down (and grab a snack). My legs and stomach appreciated all the fancy amenities!
One of the brightly "coloured" houses of Bo Kaap.
Bo Kaap Neighborhood
If you're up for a stop on your way down from the mountain, Bo Kaap neighborhood is a sight to see. It's cobblestone streets and brightly colored homes make it stand out from the rest of architecture in the area. It's really a true beauty of unique heritage which dates back to the 18th century.
Today, the neighborhood is inhabited by people who call themselves "Cape Muslims" - but they were initially descendants of salves who were imported to South Africa by the Dutch. It is sometimes still referred to as the Malaya Quarter.
The houses were initially painted to celebrate Eid (the celebration for the end of Ramadan), but now they remained painted year-round. This is quite a contrast to the traditional white painted homes of Capetown.
But decades later, the community is slowly dissolving as more family properties have been sold off, so go see it before it's gone.
Looking over the marina on part of the V&A
V&A Waterfront
If you have the funds, this is a great place to stay, as well as, shop and eat.
Two restaurants are on my "must-stop" list for anyone going to the V&A - the first, for breakfast. It's actually a chain called Vovo Telo. It's like a Panera in the USA, but so much better - don't miss the White Chocolate Latte and the Cheese Stick. And for dinner, hands down my favorite place was Sevruga. It had a great mix of one of a kind starters, sushi, seafood, and of course, South African wine.
Shopping... the price range and styles of stores are endless. You can buy anything from a tanzanite ring to Nike tennis shoes to souvenirs. If you want unique, hand-crafted souvenirs, then I'd recommend checking out The Watershed. There's a variety of vendors selling their handicrafts, without the challenge of bargaining with street salesmen.
Lastly, there are a variety of places to stay along the waterfront - from hotels to hostels to even renting off Air B&B. All of these are great since they allow walking access around to the shops and dining on the rest of the V&A.
If I could do it again...
But, I did have one regret - our fourth day in Capetown, we had planned to go to Robben Island (which is where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned). For those readers in the US, it's supposed to be similar to visiting Alcatraz, since it's a prison set on an island in the sea - but the cultural significance is so much more. Anyways, since we were there on "off-season", we didn't worry about getting tickets in advance, but they were sold out! So if I ever have the chance to go back to Capetown, this one is definitely on my list!
