Discovering the best of South Africa and where to Avoid!

When you decide to travel to Africa, the motivation probably involves going on Safari, and it definitely should! South Africa offers many Safari options, however, I did my Safari in Zimbabwe (which was amazing!), so in this post I will cover things other than a safari, that you should add to your South Africa itinerary. If you are interested in reading about my safari experience, read my post on Zimbabwe.

I will add a link here for some safari options in South Africa, but cannot comment on them personally.

Where to Stay in South Africa

South Africa’s capital of Cape Town is the perfect place to base yourself to explore the country’s capital city and further afield.

Cape Town

Where to stay in Cape Town

We stayed in a quirky hotel called the Daddy Longlegs Art Hotel. Each room is decorated in a fun theme. We couldn’t decide which one we wanted to stay in, so we opted to stay each night in a different room! The Emergency room looks like something straight from the set of the Rocky Horror Picture Show and the Do Not Disturb room encourages your inner Karaoke star to emerge 😂 This hotel is not 5-star, but it is affordable, comfortable and centrally located.

Things to do in Cape Town

I love the architecture in the main street of Cape Town, it reminds me a little of New Orleans French Quarter with pretty wrought-iron balconies adorning the low-rise buildings.

Visit iconic buildings

Two iconic building structures in Cape Town include the Town Hall and Castle of Good Hope. The Castle of Good Hope is the oldest building in South Africa. Designed in the shape of a pentagon and built by soldiers and slaves from local stone, the fort acted as the replenishment station of the Dutch East India Company along the famous spice route, as well as a prison. Today the fort is a museum and military base.

Cape Town Hall was built out of sandstone in 1905 and has 39 bells! While we were there the city was celebrating a Rugby win and the team paraded past the Town Hall, crowds were cheering, and the bells were ringing!

Head to the top of Table Mountain

You cannot visit Cape Town without visiting Table Mountain. Check the weather forecast and time your visit for a clear day. Changes in the weather can happen rapidly so be prepared for sudden closures. We were so lucky that the day we decided to go was a clear one. Catch a cable car to the top and take in the stunning 360-degree panoramic views.

I loved seeing the cute little local mammals that inhabit the area colloquially called ‘Dassies’ or Rock Hyra. They reminded me a little of a Quokka.

The mountain gets its name from its flat top and the cloud that rapidly rolls in spills over the edge of mountain much like a tablecloth. We tried to capture the rolling of the cloud in a bit of timelapse photography but weren’t very successful with it. So you’ll just have to trust me when I say it is pretty amazing to see.

Wander around the V&A Waterfront

Located on the edge of Cape Town’s harbour, V&A Waterfront offers a variety of shopping, dining and entertainment options, including 2 aquariums. You can ride The Cape Wheel for a bird’s eye view of the harbour or go to the Chavonnes Battery museum. We didn’t spend too much time here as I wasn’t really interested in shopping on this trip.

A little Further Afield

From Cape Town we hired a car and drove to the Stellenbosch region for a few nights. The drive from Cape Town to the Western Cape is stunning! There are a few stops along the way worth mentioning.

Brass Bell Restaurant

Just South of Cape Town is pretty Kalk Bay. We stopped here for lunch to dine at the iconic Brass Bell restaurant. We chose to sit out on the deck, which extends right up to the edge of the tidal pool, granting us an unforgettable experience right at the water’s edge. With waves crashing behind us and seagulls eyeing off our plate, we relaxed and enjoyed the panoramic views and delicious menu.

Simon’s Town

Simon’s town is a gorgeous seaside town and Naval base. We wandered along the pretty main street, did a little souvenir shopping, and then headed to Boulder’s Beach to see the penguins!

Boulder’s Beach

Just outside Simon’s Town is Boulder’s beach, a must visit when in South Africa. The beach, so named for the large rocks that surround and protect the aqua blue waters of the beach, is home to a large colony of South African penguins. The beach is free to swim in and looks beautiful, but we were there to see one thing – the penguins! Follow a boardwalk to get up close and personal to the endangered African Penguin.

Visit a Cheetah Conservation Centre

We had almost reached our destination of Stellenbosch but had time for one more stop, the Ashia Cheetah Conservation Park. The name ‘Ashia’ means Hope and Life and this is the ethos of the park. They offer hope for the future of the cheetah species through Cheetah Reintegration, Reintroduction and Research Programs, and offer the best life to the animals in need of care.

We not only learnt so much about the species but were able to pat a cheetah! The park also houses other native species such as these jackals.

Stellenbosch

Stellenbosch is a town in the Western Cape province and is surrounded by the vineyards of the Cape Winelands, so is the perfect base for exploring South Africa’s wine region.

Where to Stay in Stellenbosch

We stayed at a beautiful 4-star hotel in Stellenbosch called Hotel Spier. Our room was free standing on sprawling grounds. The hotel offers a day spa, its own wine that you can sample, and several on-site restaurants. The hotel is currently undergoing refurbishment and is temporarily closed, scheduled to re-open in early 2025.

Things to do in Stellenbosch

Like other wine regions around the world, activities include wine tasting, picnics, hiking, bike tours, and segway tours. Art lovers should visit the Rupert Museum for a walk through the African modern art scene. Dylan Lewis Sculpture Garden is also worth a wander through. It contains over 60 sculptures along 4km of paths, with a backdrop of rugged mountains.

Here is link with a whole lot of ideas for activities you can do in the area.

Our main motivation for staying at Spier in Stellenbosch was to dine at a restaurant there called Moyo, which was quite a magical experience. With our own private treehouse to dine in and being welcomed with traditional Zulu face painting. Sadly, the restaurant has since closed its doors.

Johannesburg

We flew out of South Africa via Johannesburg airport. I mentioned that I would tell of things to be wary of in South Africa, and Johannesburg is it! I have travelled quite extensively, and ‘Joburg’ is the only airport that my suitcase has been broken into. Maybe I was just unlucky, but my advice, if you don’t already do it, is to not pack anything of any value in your checked luggage if traveling to, or through, Johannesburg.

I admit I was not thrilled about visiting Johannesburg, South Africa’s largest city, in the first place. Crime is through the roof, and I was scared for my safety. If we weren’t visiting and staying with friends who are locals, I would not have gone. I definitely felt on edge the whole time I was there and could never relax and enjoy it. The Eastern Cape of South Africa is one place I have no desire to return to.

Having said that, I found the history of Soweto very interesting and learnt a lot about Nelson Mandela and the history of political unrest in the area, while I was there.

It has been a few years since I traveled to South Africa, I enjoyed my time on the Western Cape back then and would be interested to know if it is still as lovely an experience as I remember it to be. The Eastern Cape, on the other hand, can just stay in my memories, thanks very much!