April 20, 2024

(Sorry for the delay with this post. I have been enjoying Cape Town since April 16th)

Cape Town, South Africa is a great city! One of my five favorite places to visit. (Venice, Italy, Sydney, Australia, Seefeld, Austria and Medellin, Colombia being the other four) If I had to pick just one, I would pick Cape Town.

Blessed with beautiful scenery and an unprecedented history this is a city that engulfs you and one that you will want to embrace in return. This is a city that honestly respects diversity and a people that upgrade your personality by your contact with them. I am once again reminded of one endearing truth for me. Every time I venture out in faith to a place that has overcome hopelessness it is always me that has left with the hope that I needed.

Despite my previous counsel against tours this is a city that I would recommend that you take a structured tour. A well-versed guide will add a texture to your travel time that you will not be able to ascertain on your own. And besides, there is just too much to see. Here are some highlights and I assure you my photos will not do justice to any of the locations.

As I shared my photos will not do justice. This is a photo taken from the ship and the size is distorted. The top of Tabletop Mountain is actually 2 miles long! The mountain owes its table-top flatness to the fact that it is a syncline mountain, meaning that it was once the floor of a valley. Those morning clouds give the impression of dry ice steaming out of a witches Halloween brew. And even more amazing there are an estimated 2,285 species of plants found on the mountain, many of which are endemic to Tabletop Mountain and are found nowhere else on earth.

The Cape of Good Hope is the southernmost tip of the continent of Africa. It is the dividing point between the Atlantic and the Indian Oceans. It has long been of special significance to sailors, many of whom simply refer to it as “The Cape”. It is still followed by many offshore yacht races. Once you step foot on the cape you can officially have bragging rights that you have been to the tip of Africa.

The Groot Constantia Estate Winery is the oldest winery in South Africa started in 1865. I believe this area is the more beautiful than Tuscany and the Napa Valley and that is saying a lot! For almost 160 years this soil has produced some of the finest grapes in the world. And the family’s mission is to share their outstanding wine with the world. Astoundingly, a Groot Constantia Sauvignon Blanc 2022 is R456. (about $24.00) https://grootconstantia.co.za

Believe it or not, I am a flower guy. I have visited some amazing Botanical Gardens around the world and Kirstenbosch is special and that is why it is designated as a World Heritage Site. The flora is different than anything you have likely seen. And the dedicated volunteers are wonderful! The land was donated and is maintained by the Cecil John Rhodes Trust. You may know him as the founder of the Rhodes Scholar.

If you like Venice Beach, California, the Jersey Shore, or (fill in the blank) you’ll love Camps Bay. This is the quintessential beach community with the added benefit of a grassy knoll that runs for miles along the sandy beach which makes beach access and people watching easily assessable. And as the Southern Hemisphere is squarely in the midst of autumn you could not ask for better weather!

Directly across from the cruise port is a shopping district known as Victoria and Alberts and in particular “The Watershed”. This massive complex has 500 shops and 80 eateries. But this is not your typical shopping center. Couples, families and singles all mingle together in a really fun filled atmosphere of artists, entertainers, unique shops and outstanding cuisine can be found from multiple street venders/food trucks. You could spend (and enjoy) multiple days here alone if you wanted to and still find more to uncover on your next visit. And most importantly I never felt crowded or rushed.

And here is some Great News!

Every highlight I shared in this post can be visited from the Cape Town Hop On/Hop Off Tour Double Decker Bus. With three different routes Blue/Green and Red you can take 3 days touring all of Cape Town, The South African Coast and the Wine Country for R395 (about $20.00 USD)

My recommendation sit on the second level in the front seat. You will have picture window views like this one.

Thanks for traveling with us.