I’ve been wanting to return to Cape Town since my first trip there in 2019. When I booked my travel to
Reunion Island, I decided to make my way there, via
Mauritius. (Side note, I loved Mauritius and now want to return there, too!)
The early evening flight started with one of the most gorgeous sunsets I’ve ever seen. Happily, the flight was direct to Cape Town, but there were only a couple of flights a week. Since mine arrived into Cape Town at night, I booked a hotel near the airport for the first night to avoid driving in Cape Town after dark.
I alternated between two properties in Cape Town. I cashed in some points to stay at the
Protea Hotel Sea Point by Marriott. It’s on a side street, and across from a wonderful cafe/restaurant I enjoyed. I also got a discounted rate to stay at
The President Hotel, which I had enjoyed in 2019. As expected, rates have gone up dramatically, so I was grateful for the discount.
The Pandemic didn’t do anyone any favors (except nature), and Cape Town is no exception. The feel of the area has changed, at least to me. There’s more of an edge to it, and a lot more homeless in plain sight, in more places. In 2018, I stayed near Greenmarket Square. This time, when I visited it, the energy was so uncomfortable for me, that I was grateful not to be staying there. It took me a few days to get my “don’t mess with me” energy, so I got taken by a scammer who asked me to buy him food. (In fact, he sells the food back to the store owner and pockets the cash.)
During my first visit, I felt like I could see myself moving to Cape Town and living there one day. Another reason I wanted to return was to see if I still felt that same attachment. I did not, but I was also happy to return.
While Cape Town has changed, it still remains a gorgeous place, with a lot to do. After having lived there for 3 months in 2019, it turns out
I covered a lot of ground in terms of activities! But, I did find some new ones as well, and had a wonderful visit. Here are some of my top experiences from my trip.
Best Cape Town Activities
Food is a definite draw for traveling overseas. In this
fantastic afternoon, we were treated to a tour that combined history, walking the city, and tasting some of its best food.
I
Love standing at important sites and getting a live history lesson. In the Company’s Gardens, we learn about plants and trees growing in Cape Town, and then we walk into a cottage I had never noticed and sit down to the most delicious rooibos tea, and the perfect accompaniments.
We wonder over to Bo-Kaap, tour around, wonder into the spice market and get to taste a few yummy treats, and all this, after a spectacular lunch at Faeeza’s Home Kitchen! I learn they had a cooking class and sign up for it. (More on that in a bit.)
Even though food is the center of the tour, and we ate many things, it was well spread out, with even a wine tasting along the way! I have to say, this is one of the best tours I’ve ever done, especially with its blend of activities. If you sign up, let me know! I may be able to get you a special something.
Lion Trail Scooter And Walk
This was unexpected. I hiked to Lions Head in 2019, so I didn’t want to repeat it. Most of the other walking tours are a bit more advanced than I wanted, so this one seemed perfect. I wasn’t sure about the scooters though as I’m a bit wobbly on them.
I meet the walking group near the Green Point lighthouse.
We walk, from there, to the Lion’s Head trail. Instead of going up to Lion’s Head, we walk around it. On the way, we stopd for a break. A woman shows up with an elaborate and beautiful spread of hidrating drinks, and wonderful snacks to keep us going. I am stunned! It’s like a luxury experience right in the middle of a hike!
At the end of the nature walk through the forest past the Lion’s Head entrance, we wind up all the way at the beach in Clifton! I couldn’t believe we had walked so far. And…wait for it…another fancy spread, this time with champagne and amazing food! Honestly, I can’t believe that for the price of the tour the food is this great, and it includes champagne! We hike over to the beautiful stone mounds by the water, and, at this point, I’m thinking, things cannot get any better than this!
My legs are pretty tired from all the walking, and, as I mentioned, there is one more part to this tour – the scooters showed up! I’m a bit petrified, but the sidewalk is fairly wide, so I set off to do my best. We scooter through Bantry Bay, get on the boardwalk, and then it’s all wide open space. I ramp up the speed as high as possible, and thoroughly enjoy my ride, much like a dog with it’s head out the window, as the breeze blows my hair back and I race to the finish. Of course, I stop for a photo of Mandela’s glasses.
By the end of the tour, I’m disappointed to return my scooter. I asked the tour guide for some suggestions of what to do later that afternoon, and he made a wonderful suggestion, high tea!
Afternoon Tea at The Nelson
I grab an Uber and head over to
The Mount Nelson hotel. It’s got its own majestic entrance and grounds that rival only the hotel interior itself. (Yes, go here, even if you’re not having tea, it’s amazing!)
Upon arrival, I am first spellbound by the architecture and immensity of the hotel. But this awe is quickly replaced by the resident black cat out for an afternoon strut. Make no mistake, this cat knows its place and is much more interested in clotted cream than pats from strangers. If you’re lucky, he’ll pose for you.
I get a tour of some of the rooms, and they are even more amazing than the hotel. They have residents who live there part of the year, and other rooms for people visiting. Everything is an aged perfection, and the service is even better than the hotel, But, this will be the most amazing afternoon tea I’ve ever had.
My waiters are tea connoiseurs. The menu is full of so many blends I can’t choose just one. And this is not a problem! Because I can select three different blends, one to accompany each course! I’ve never had a tea experience where I could taste so many at once, it was delightful.
The food is amazing, and, after my long walk, I am grateful for it. What I didn’t realize, until I had gotten quite full, is that instead of getting just scones and clotted cream and little pastries, there’s an entire dessert station. I had to get up, and wonder around tables covered in all sorts of cakes and cookies, like something out of a Willy Wonka movie! Obviously I treated myself to a few. 🙂
After the wonderful tea experience, which, sadly, does come to an end, I walked the gardens outside, and toured some of the inside, like the bar with beautiful paintings by local artists, and the restaurant downstairs.
Pro Tip: Make sure to reserve a table for tea before going or you might miss out.
African Stories Wine Tour
I’d done this tour my first time in Cape Town, and I love South African wine, so thought I’d do it again. I was happy to learn that we would visit some vineyards I hadn’t been to on my first round.
I’d done this tour my first time in Cape Town, and I love South African wine, so thought I’d do it again. I was happy to learn that we would visit some vineyards I hadn’t been to on my first round.
The journey includes being picked up and dropped off at your hotel, and then a visit to 3 – 4 vineyards, with lunch included. By the end of the day, expect to be pretty tired! The guides are excellent and very knowledgeable about the locations you’ll visit. What I really like is getting to go to Stellenbosch and Franshoek, where some of the best wines on the planet are made.
While I am well aquainted with South African wines, I’m less familiar with mead. In fact, really, I wasn’t at all familiar with mead except maybe as a Viking drink. So when I saw a mead tasting, I jumped at the chance!
I didn’t expect such an interesting experience. It’s a tasting, but it’s also a history lesson about how mead came to be, and a somewhat scientific lesson of how it’s made. And, there are several varieties of mead to taste. If you’re looking for an unusual activity that’s fun, tasty and informative,
this is one to check out!
This activity is not in Cape Town, but it’s an easily accessible safari within 2 hours drive. They pick you up and drop you off in Cape Town, and
drive you out to Aquila.
The resort is actually lovely and offers several different types of lodging from more budget friendly to bungalows.
Safari drives happen twice a day. The included truck seats around 20 people, so I was delighted to luck into an invitation to join another hotel guest on their private vehicle with 2 new friends I made on the drive there. The 4 of us enjoyed some excellent views and animals as we drove through the property which is enormous.
Meals are buffet style, and at night, there’s a beautiful upstairs lounge with a fireplace.
It may not hold a candle to Etosha or Chobe, but for a wonderful experience near Cape Town, it’s actually relaxing (there’s even a spa!) and very enjoyable. In fact, I regretted not staying another night. I tried to add one on, but they were full.
The Cape Town Diamond Museum
Located at the Clock Tower Waterfront, this museum offers a glimpse into the diamond industry and how it got started. While there, you can also learn about the different diamond cuts, and types, and some of the most famous diamonds.
The visit culminates in an on-site store with beautiful jewelry made with diamonds as well as Tanzanite. You can try on any pieces you wish, and get pricing information, and, of course, make a purchase if you choose!
Pro Tip: You can’t get in without
making a reservation. When you do, you’ll be given a specific time to enter, and you need to be on time, or a few minutes early.
Zeitz Museum Of Contemporary Art
A few minutes from the diamond museum, you can
visit this museum. One of the most interesting parts about it is the interior of the museum itself. It’s a work of art, and you may take as many photos of it as of the artwork.
The art itself is inriguing because it’s a blend of beauty and cultural awareness. For me, I felt like the creativity is leaping off the walls and greatly enjoyed my visit.
I don’t know how I missed
this activity on my first trip. Also at the V&A Waterfront, this is so much fun!
At the start of the cruise, we are treated to some seals lying on the dock before boarding a small boat. The day I went, the weather was perfect blue sky and sun.
For me, the intrigue was about seeing the Waterfront from a brand new angle, while enjoying a perfect day on the water. It’s just one of those activities that makes you feel happy and you can really take in the beauty of Cape Town in the near and far distance.
I did have the pleasure of seeing Table Mountain on my first stay in Cape Town. So, I knew I would love to go back!
The tricky thing about visiting is that, if you want to take the cable car up and back, it’s very weather-dependent. So, if you
book a ticket in advance, you could learn that the cable car isn’t working. That’s why I prefer last minute. Of course, there is likely to be a crowd, but, happily, the line moved quickly while I was there.
The views from the top are breathtaking, and there’s a lot of space to walk around. If you can spare a few hours, it’s well worth it to have the time to slowly explore every nook and cranny. There’s even a cafe at the top. Even if you’re shorter on time, you kind of can’t go to Cape Town without seeing this wonder!
This is another place I’ve visited before, but had to return to. It’s
such a happy place!
The name is a little misleading. Yes, there are tons of birds, and they’re amazing. But, there are also lots of monkeys. The important thing about the monkeys is that there’s a monkey park, where you can spend around 10 minutes hanging out with some squirrel monkeys, potentially on your lap, but more likely on your head! I loved it as much this time as I did in 2019.
Even if you’re not into birds, this park is pretty darn cool. They have a resident cassowary, as well as tons of bird species, and even penguins.
I’ve gotten less into zoos after seeing species in their natural habitat, but this is more of a sanctuary than a zoo. Most of the birds have large habitats to hang out in, but there definitely are some cages.
I knew from my 2019 visit that this is a special place. So, on a day I needed a break from the city, I once again spent a few hours
walking around these gardens.
I’ve never found it so crowded I needed to escape, and that goes from the line to buy tickets to the gardens themselves. There are benches to sit and admire the landscape as you go. There are places that feel like you’re in a forest, and others with expansive lawns and gorgeous fauna.
I mentioned eating here as part of the Eat Like A Local tour. Located in Bo Kaap, this restaurant is ecclectic, fun, and has great food.
There’s also a cafe and a restaurant. I enjoyed a coffee surrounded by nature while there. Another highly recommended experience!
I signed up for a cooking class with Faeeza. We were a class of 5 people, and got to prepare several malay dishes, including curry and bread. Some of the dishes were hard to make, but all were delicious, and we got the recipes to take home with us. I’ve made the chicken curry again, and it was pretty good even at home.
Classes are small, so make sure to
sign up before all the spots are gone.
Cape Point / Simon’s Town / Cape Of Good Hope
Another activity I had done before but so worth it is a day trip to the Cape of Good Hope. Along the way you’ll see penguins and hike up to the Cape Point lighthouse. Yes, they are all touristy activities. Doesn’t matter, they are all worth doing.
One disappointment was that this time on my visit to the Cape Of Good Hope, where you’ll want a photo of yourself in front of the sign, the tourists seemed ruder. There was a larger line to get photos this time, and when people made it to the front, they sometimes acted like they were the only ones there. You may have to resort to a photo from the distance. Or, walk away from the crowds and explore the area a bit and return to the sign after the latest busload is done with their photos.
Despite that, it’s always a joy to see all the penguins enjoying their habitat.
You know those colorful houses you see on Instagram? They’re here! They’re actually small changing houses for getting in or out of your surfing gear. While I can’t say I’d spend more than an hour or two here, (unless you plan to go surfing or learn how), it’s a lovely walk to take photos of the houses, and have a nice cup of coffee while admiring the sea view.
On my last night in Cape Town, I went to dinner at Gold Restaurant. This was the PERFECT way to end my stay.
This is a dinner that’s also a live performance with audience participation. I highly recommend signing up for the
drumming experience. You’ll arrive a little early, get a drum, and play it along with the audience and band members.
Also part of the fun is getting your face painted, and, if you want, having them tie a duque on your head. Dinner is delicious, and they cater to food allergies if you have any.
As you can see, there’s so much to do in Cape Town! And, this isn’t even a full list. If you’re planning your visit, you may also want to read:
Cape Town In A Day – Part One
Cape Town In A Day – Part Two
Where I share more museums and experiences to enjoy in Cape Town!
