South Africa was so stunning and packed with adventure, we broke it down into 2 parts. If you missed the first part, Find It Here.
This portion of my South African Adventure takes me to the southern region of this beautiful country. I knew the city of Cape Town would be fun and vibrant and that its coastal location would have some incredibly lovely scenery.
How joyous to see a magnificent landscape that just sucks you in and mesmerizes you. You want to gaze at it for hours. Travel has a way of doing this and South Africa did it for me again and again in many different ways. So follow me to our journey to the southern-most tip of the continent.
This destination is so extraordinary that even penguins have chosen to make it their home. Penguins in South Africa? Yes, these adorable little critters are found in the wild on Boulders Beach at Cape Town’s Simon’s Town. What a delight it was to watch them soak up the sun’s rays looking up at us silly humans admiring them. I could have stayed there for hours watching them. They look so proud don’t they?
The Cape Peninsula
Our ride along the winding coast of The Cape Peninsula reminded me of the breathtaking drive that I have experienced along the northern Californian coast. But the beaches of South Africa I think are even more stunning! And you can surf and whale watch in South Africa along with shark diving.
As a nature lover, visiting UNESCO world heritage sites is a top priority, and the Cape of Good Hope is one of South Africa’s most glorious. It is located in the most southwestern point of the African continent. As we entered we were warmly greeted by these beautiful feathered friends who have obviously selected paradise as their home.
But after taking a funicular ride to the top overlook I I was awed by the loveliest view of all, a bird’s eye view of this very special place. Looking out onto the Atlantic Ocean knowing the Indian Ocean was just a few miles away gives you an intimate perspective of how massive yet small our world really is.
Heading back to the city we visited stunning botanical gardens, enjoyed a delightful seaside lunch at the fishing village of Simon’s Town and once again was welcomed to the center of the city with majestic views of the world famous Table Mountain. Our days here were a little too windy to allow us a ride up to the top but the view from below was magnificent in itself.
Victoria and Alfred Waterfront
The city of Cape Town is exciting and offers an array of famous restaurants, some which require that you reserve months ahead. The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront is full of ocean side bars, restaurants and shops and a charming location to enjoy drinks with friends at sunset.
Just a couple of hours drive from the city are some of the finest wineries in the region. After visiting a few in one day, I was nervous that my luggage would be overweight with my purchased bottles of the local South African specialty of Pinotage red.
But magnificent sights (and excellent wine) are only part of an inspiring vacation. Learning about the local culture is equally satisfying and essential. We had a locally guided tour of Cape Town arranged to give us a deeper understanding of the country’s history along with its current cultural, political and economic situation. Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was jailed for 18 of his 27 years of imprisonment is just a short boat ride away and a day trip worth making.
South Africa has a complicated past of great suffering and it still faces an arduous future. But during every part of our journey I felt a constant warmth and happiness from everyone we met, along with a deep sense of resilience and strength welcoming the future. This is something not observed everywhere in the world and I found it to be as heartwarming as the sights themselves.
Let’s plan your adventure to South Africa and see how your heart and soul are touched by this amazing destination!
