Discussion
Thinking of going to South Africa for a couple of weeks at Christmas. Basic plan is probably fly in to Cape Town, spend a couple of days around Boulders Beach (the Mrs is obsessed with penguins), then head east and probably fly out of Port Elizabeth.
Obviously there's Table Mountain and a few game reserves along that route, but any other must see stuff people know of around there?
Obviously there's Table Mountain and a few game reserves along that route, but any other must see stuff people know of around there?
If you can't be convinced to visit a country which is safer, then I'd recommend the Stellenbosch wine route. A trip up Table Mountain's cable car and a walk around the top is an obvious suggestion.
On your journey east, you could stop off at the Cango Caves and one of the Oudtshoorn ostrich farms.
For an "I've done that" notch in your belt, head south to the most southern tip of Africa at Cape Agulhas. Not much there, but at least you can say you've been.
On your journey east, you could stop off at the Cango Caves and one of the Oudtshoorn ostrich farms.
For an "I've done that" notch in your belt, head south to the most southern tip of Africa at Cape Agulhas. Not much there, but at least you can say you've been.
Edited by Pints on Thursday 30th May 12:53
Good points generally from Pints, Oudtshoorn is outstanding for such a small town in the middle of nowhere. Ostrich omelette for breakfast, ostrich steak for lunch, ostrich sausages on the brai for dinner 
The wildlife park is excellent too (we stroked cheetahs there).
Plettenberg beaches are amazing. Shark watching at Gaansbai too!
The wildlife park is excellent too (we stroked cheetahs there).Plettenberg beaches are amazing. Shark watching at Gaansbai too!
Mmm Garden Route.
So, Cape Town..
drive down to Cape Point, great views.
Table Mountain
Robben Island (you can book online before you go)
helicopter tour?
Walk over from the "town" to Clifton Beach - great views of 7 apostles.
V&A waterfront is very nice.
Views from Signal Hill offer different perspective to usual.
Go to see the penguins for an hour or two.... TWO DAYS, and when you get back, PM me and I'll send you a medal and a (crate of)beer.
I HATE botanical gardens but Kirstenbosch are worth a visit. If there's a concert or something on, even better.
Rhodes Memorial, very impressive and another nice view (picnic perhaps).
Then head East out of Cape Town...
Chapman's Peak Drive is a must.
Franschhoek and Stellenbosch are nice for vineyards etc.
Oudtshorn has already been covered (millions of ostrich, caves...)
Knysna is nice. Go up to the heads. Really good views. Sea front has some great restaurant for sea food.
Plettenberg Bay is my favourite of the lot. Take a walk around the Robberg Peninsula.
If you want more details on any of the above, just ask and I can try to help. (including places to drink/eat in CT)
So, Cape Town..
drive down to Cape Point, great views.
Table Mountain
Robben Island (you can book online before you go)
helicopter tour?
Walk over from the "town" to Clifton Beach - great views of 7 apostles.
V&A waterfront is very nice.
Views from Signal Hill offer different perspective to usual.
Go to see the penguins for an hour or two.... TWO DAYS, and when you get back, PM me and I'll send you a medal and a (crate of)beer.
I HATE botanical gardens but Kirstenbosch are worth a visit. If there's a concert or something on, even better.
Rhodes Memorial, very impressive and another nice view (picnic perhaps).
Then head East out of Cape Town...
Chapman's Peak Drive is a must.
Franschhoek and Stellenbosch are nice for vineyards etc.
Oudtshorn has already been covered (millions of ostrich, caves...)
Knysna is nice. Go up to the heads. Really good views. Sea front has some great restaurant for sea food.
Plettenberg Bay is my favourite of the lot. Take a walk around the Robberg Peninsula.
If you want more details on any of the above, just ask and I can try to help. (including places to drink/eat in CT)
As per ollie j, although I'd suggest a stay in Franschhoek as well as in CT itself.
Plett Bay is essential. If the cost isn't an issue then you'll not find a better place to stay than http://www.kurland.co.za/. I fell in love with the place.
Also http://www.grootbos.com/en/home/ has a great reputation and makes an ideal first stop on the Garden Route.
Plett Bay is essential. If the cost isn't an issue then you'll not find a better place to stay than http://www.kurland.co.za/. I fell in love with the place.
Also http://www.grootbos.com/en/home/ has a great reputation and makes an ideal first stop on the Garden Route.
ollie j said:
Go to see the penguins for an hour or two.... TWO DAYS, and when you get back, PM me and I'll send you a medal and a (crate of)beer.
What you're missing here is how obsessed the Mrs is with penguins, she's even been on Holiday to Antarctica to see them!I'm thinking if we stayed there a couple of nights she gets to coo over them morning and evening, and we can do day trips out from there, it's only 20 miles or so to Kirstenbosch and table mountain (via Chapmans Peak Drive by the look of Google maps), or are they better done from Cape Town?
Those caves look fantastic and I think ostriches will have to be on the menu.
Sounds like Franschhoek, Stellenbosch and Plettenberg Bay need to be on the list then.
In that case, I retract my offer 
OK so these are only suggestions but may help...
I would stay in CT for about 4-5 nights then you can easily do Robben Island, Table Mountain and all the other parts. From there, day trip to Cape Point via Chapman peak drive which ticks those two off.
Spend a whole day at Boulders beach with the penguins the next day or something. (fear not, penguins feature again so read on)
Then... a night or two in Stellenbosch where you'll also be able to visit Franschhoek from. Lots of wine tasting and some good food too of course.
THEN.... drive along the R44 coastal road to Hermanus. This will take you via Betty's Bay. Google it. It's another penguin colony. Shed loads of penguins but not so many people. Hermanus is nice. It's a whale watching town but the whales won't be there in December.
From there, work your way along to Port Elizabeth stopping off as you wish at Plettenburg Bay etc.
Personal opinion is that Cape Agulhas is a bloody long way to go for nothing apart from to say you've been to the southern most tip of Africa. May float your boat though.
Oh and the N2 is a great road for making good progress on between the interesting bits.
Let me know if you'd like me to go into more detail.
OK so these are only suggestions but may help...
I would stay in CT for about 4-5 nights then you can easily do Robben Island, Table Mountain and all the other parts. From there, day trip to Cape Point via Chapman peak drive which ticks those two off.
Spend a whole day at Boulders beach with the penguins the next day or something. (fear not, penguins feature again so read on)
Then... a night or two in Stellenbosch where you'll also be able to visit Franschhoek from. Lots of wine tasting and some good food too of course.
THEN.... drive along the R44 coastal road to Hermanus. This will take you via Betty's Bay. Google it. It's another penguin colony. Shed loads of penguins but not so many people. Hermanus is nice. It's a whale watching town but the whales won't be there in December.
From there, work your way along to Port Elizabeth stopping off as you wish at Plettenburg Bay etc.
Personal opinion is that Cape Agulhas is a bloody long way to go for nothing apart from to say you've been to the southern most tip of Africa. May float your boat though.
Oh and the N2 is a great road for making good progress on between the interesting bits.
Let me know if you'd like me to go into more detail.
Rizzo
Are you a golfer? If so, take your clubs and whilst missus is cooing over the smelly birds, go to Clovelly Golf Club, which is just around the corner...
Kalk Bay Harbour - buy a whole fresh tuna for £15 and braai it.
Clifton beaches - the coldest water imaginable, which looks as though it should be warm
Hire a sidecar - http://www.sidecars.co.za/
Drive to Hermanus along the coastal road, going through Gordon's Bay - 1.5 hours of spectacular road and scenery - you can stop off at Betty's Bay and see more penguins in the sanctuary there, too. Also, on the way there, a day spent at Arabella Spa (golf par excellence and an amazing Spa) is a real treat. http://www.africanpridehotels.com/arabella-hotel-s...
An hours drive up the West Coast from Cape Town is to Langebaan lagoon and the West Coast National Park - bird lovers' delight.
Where to stay?
Sea Point / Clifton or Camps Bay. If your budget stretches to the Radisson Blu - http://www.radissonblu.com/hotel-capetown stay there.
Are you a golfer? If so, take your clubs and whilst missus is cooing over the smelly birds, go to Clovelly Golf Club, which is just around the corner...
Kalk Bay Harbour - buy a whole fresh tuna for £15 and braai it.
Clifton beaches - the coldest water imaginable, which looks as though it should be warm
Hire a sidecar - http://www.sidecars.co.za/
Drive to Hermanus along the coastal road, going through Gordon's Bay - 1.5 hours of spectacular road and scenery - you can stop off at Betty's Bay and see more penguins in the sanctuary there, too. Also, on the way there, a day spent at Arabella Spa (golf par excellence and an amazing Spa) is a real treat. http://www.africanpridehotels.com/arabella-hotel-s...
An hours drive up the West Coast from Cape Town is to Langebaan lagoon and the West Coast National Park - bird lovers' delight.
Where to stay?
Sea Point / Clifton or Camps Bay. If your budget stretches to the Radisson Blu - http://www.radissonblu.com/hotel-capetown stay there.
No, not a golfer. Like the idea of a sidecar, but they look like they're chauffered only, if I was going to do that I'd rather hire a self drive.
A second penguin site sounds like a good idea to tempt her away from the first one
Given that neither of us are city people, is there enough to do around Capetown to warrent staying there for 4 or 5 nights? We'll probably arrive on the 22nd, and I'd like to be somewhere nice for Christmas, so that either means 4 nights in one place, or 2 nights in one hotel and them move on for another 2. I guess Table Mountain and the Island take up 2 days, and we're not likely to be doing a lot Christmas day anyway.
Anyone know of any good dive sites/companies? Looks like you can dive with sharks in a fair few places which might be a good day trip.
A second penguin site sounds like a good idea to tempt her away from the first one
Given that neither of us are city people, is there enough to do around Capetown to warrent staying there for 4 or 5 nights? We'll probably arrive on the 22nd, and I'd like to be somewhere nice for Christmas, so that either means 4 nights in one place, or 2 nights in one hotel and them move on for another 2. I guess Table Mountain and the Island take up 2 days, and we're not likely to be doing a lot Christmas day anyway.
Anyone know of any good dive sites/companies? Looks like you can dive with sharks in a fair few places which might be a good day trip.
Kapenta said:
Rizzo
Are you a golfer? If so, take your clubs and whilst missus is cooing over the smelly birds, go to Clovelly Golf Club, which is just around the corner...
Kalk Bay Harbour - buy a whole fresh tuna for £15 and braai it.
Clifton beaches - the coldest water imaginable, which looks as though it should be warm
Hire a sidecar - http://www.sidecars.co.za/
Drive to Hermanus along the coastal road, going through Gordon's Bay - 1.5 hours of spectacular road and scenery - you can stop off at Betty's Bay and see more penguins in the sanctuary there, too. Also, on the way there, a day spent at Arabella Spa (golf par excellence and an amazing Spa) is a real treat. http://www.africanpridehotels.com/arabella-hotel-s...
An hours drive up the West Coast from Cape Town is to Langebaan lagoon and the West Coast National Park - bird lovers' delight.
Where to stay?
Sea Point / Clifton or Camps Bay. If your budget stretches to the Radisson Blu - http://www.radissonblu.com/hotel-capetown stay there.
Highly recommend staying at Camps Bay retreat, superb service and amazing food! Are you a golfer? If so, take your clubs and whilst missus is cooing over the smelly birds, go to Clovelly Golf Club, which is just around the corner...
Kalk Bay Harbour - buy a whole fresh tuna for £15 and braai it.
Clifton beaches - the coldest water imaginable, which looks as though it should be warm
Hire a sidecar - http://www.sidecars.co.za/
Drive to Hermanus along the coastal road, going through Gordon's Bay - 1.5 hours of spectacular road and scenery - you can stop off at Betty's Bay and see more penguins in the sanctuary there, too. Also, on the way there, a day spent at Arabella Spa (golf par excellence and an amazing Spa) is a real treat. http://www.africanpridehotels.com/arabella-hotel-s...
An hours drive up the West Coast from Cape Town is to Langebaan lagoon and the West Coast National Park - bird lovers' delight.
Where to stay?
Sea Point / Clifton or Camps Bay. If your budget stretches to the Radisson Blu - http://www.radissonblu.com/hotel-capetown stay there.
GTO Scott said:
Pints said:
If you can't be convinced to visit a country which is safer....
Out of curiousity (I'm hopefully going out to Ficksburg in the next year or two for a week) what would one need to be aware of when visiting SA? I've heard stories both good and bad. That said, sticking to the tourist areas and avoiding the shanty towns will see you having a great time. Don't flaunt wealth, don't use mobile phones in the street etc. Keep car doors locked at all times, don't hire the best car (hire a Chico for the fun of it!). You often read about not stopping at traffic lights at night, but my advice would be to stop and to keep alert, ready to move at a moment's notice - leave a gap!
Plan your journey well. Never leave ANYTHING visible in the car. Do pay the self-styled parking wardens to mind your car. It's only a few Rand and it stops them and anyone else from targeting you.
Again, don't make yourself attractive to crime. Finally, unless you need to, don't visit Joburg's CBD - there's nothing to see!
Booked the flights so committed now. Capetown just before Christmas and 2 weeks to get to Port Elizabeth. Loads of good suggestions here on places to visit in between so just need to work out where we want to go when.
Also discovered a girl at work is from Port Elizabeth and went to uni in Stellenboch so will he picking her brains too.
Also discovered a girl at work is from Port Elizabeth and went to uni in Stellenboch so will he picking her brains too.
Edited by RizzoTheRat on Monday 3rd June 23:32
When looking at the Penguins, head away from the "beaten track" with the signs (opposite direction). you'll find many more of them lying around enjoying the sunshine and also have some good photo ops.
While heading through Simons Town, pop and see the statue and history of "Just Nuisance", it'll give you a warm feeling inside and is enough to waste a couple of hours. The Simons town beach is nice and has a great restaurant there with some lovely seaward views. The BBQ Prawn platter is fantastic.
we booked a local Safari at the tourist centre in the V & A which turned out to be great, but there are several to choose from, but the overnight stay in our own little "cottage", a few bottles of wine, open fire and clear skies made for a memorable evening just watching the sunset and evening roll in.
Several small vinyards which you can pop into, sample and buy from. some of the wine is excellent and of course, cheap as chips. The World of Birds is a good day out as well, many tame owls which will let you touch them.
Have a good trip.
While heading through Simons Town, pop and see the statue and history of "Just Nuisance", it'll give you a warm feeling inside and is enough to waste a couple of hours. The Simons town beach is nice and has a great restaurant there with some lovely seaward views. The BBQ Prawn platter is fantastic.
we booked a local Safari at the tourist centre in the V & A which turned out to be great, but there are several to choose from, but the overnight stay in our own little "cottage", a few bottles of wine, open fire and clear skies made for a memorable evening just watching the sunset and evening roll in.
Several small vinyards which you can pop into, sample and buy from. some of the wine is excellent and of course, cheap as chips. The World of Birds is a good day out as well, many tame owls which will let you touch them.
Have a good trip.
You’ ve had some sound advice already but to add for my experience Gansbaai may be worth missing unless you’re really sold on swimming with the sharks. We were in Franschhoek before we were due to head to Gansbaai for shark diving. We deliberately chose a tour that advertised itself as starting later in the morning only to get a txt the day before saying to be there for about 7ish form memory which meant getting up and on the road for 4ish. It meant we did the scenic drive over the pass at Franschhoek in darkness. On balance I don’t think it was worth it although, but to contradict myself a bit I’m glad I did it but also found it to be the only thing that wasn’t good value while spending 3 weeks in SA. If you fancy it it’s a trade off whether you spend the night before somewhere closer and drive on after the dive or use up 2 nights which for a fortnight would be a waste of time IMO. Not allot going on in Gansbaai itself, nice beaches but limited on places to eat etc. Hermanus has much more going on.
Knysna and Plett are pretty close so I’d use one or the other as a base- I preferred Plett. If you stay at the later there’s a market at night with various food stalls where you take your own bottle. We were apprehensive at first but sat with a load of locals enjoyed the food and got invited for a Braai the next night to the home of one of the chefs we met. Also for Cape Town you might consider splitting your stay between Cape Town and Camps Bay. Although within spitting distance they offer two very different experiences. HoHo bus pretty good at getting you around once you’ve sat through the initial tour.
Enjoy anyhow. I loved our time in SA, also looking at going back over Christmas but the OH is one of those who likes to try something different so is preferring Thailand at the moment.
Knysna and Plett are pretty close so I’d use one or the other as a base- I preferred Plett. If you stay at the later there’s a market at night with various food stalls where you take your own bottle. We were apprehensive at first but sat with a load of locals enjoyed the food and got invited for a Braai the next night to the home of one of the chefs we met. Also for Cape Town you might consider splitting your stay between Cape Town and Camps Bay. Although within spitting distance they offer two very different experiences. HoHo bus pretty good at getting you around once you’ve sat through the initial tour.
Enjoy anyhow. I loved our time in SA, also looking at going back over Christmas but the OH is one of those who likes to try something different so is preferring Thailand at the moment.
REALIST123 said:
Hi all.
Staying in and around Cape Town early August for a family wedding. Any suggestions for a 5 night stay for two couples and a toddler? Have been looking at an apartment in the Cape Royale, Green Point but not sure about it or the location.
Green Point is nice, kind of to the East of the city-stayed there myself. It depends on exactly where you are in Green Point you stay but your a short walk to the waterfront but if you're going with a kiddie I think the Waterfront area may be more suitable as it's self contained so you can stroll around shops, take in the sights, places to eat etc which are more family friendly than other locations I can think of.Staying in and around Cape Town early August for a family wedding. Any suggestions for a 5 night stay for two couples and a toddler? Have been looking at an apartment in the Cape Royale, Green Point but not sure about it or the location.
Camps Bay may be another option to consider as you get a beach experience while being within easy distance of Cape Town.
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