Things To Do
The Garden Route
The Garden Route is a 300-kilometer stretch of coastline in South Africa, renowned for its stunning natural beauty and diverse landscapes. It's a brilliant way to see more of the country with a huge variety of scenic spots to take in along the way and a variety of travel options including flying and driving. We have spent time in Hermanus, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay and Addo so speak to us for recommendations if you're interested.
Safari
In South Africa, you're never too far away from a giraffe or elephant. We highly recommend booking a game drive while you're visiting and your options range from multiple night stays inside the parks among wild animals, to afternoon game drives complemented with a wine and cheese pairing. If you want to book a game drive and need some advice, please ask. Game farms we have visited and recommend: - Aquila Private Game Reserve (near Cape Town and offers both day and overnight options) - Addo Elephant Park (along the Garden Route and offers both day and overnight options) - Villiera (a 2 hour long game drive in Stellenbosch, near Cape Town and has the option of a wine tasting after)
Hiking
South Africa offers incredibly diverse hiking, from iconic coastal paths like the Otter Trail (Tsitsikamma) and Table Mountain's routes (Cape Town) to the majestic peaks of the Drakensberg Mountains (Royal Natal National Park) and the unique landscapes of the Cederberg and Golden Gate Highlands. We are not the most avid of hikers, however, can highly recommend some routes we have done some beautiful hikes and walks in and around Cape Town. Elephants Eye (Silvermine Dam) and Lions Head at sunrise are two of my highlights. Newlands Forest is next on our list! Couple of safety bits (boring), but please be mindful of this advice if you do plan to hike. Never go alone, ideally hike in groups (4 or so +), take a popular trail/known route and research the best times to go try to avoid going after dark, pack water/layers for rapid weather changes, and carry minimal valuables. It is perfectly safe, we've hiked very successfully, but do take these precautions.
Tidal pools and sea swimming
One of our very favourite past times when visiting Cape Town is exploring its many tidal pools in some of the most stunning locations. The city is home to 24 unique tidal pools dotted along its dramatic and diverse coastline. Cape Town is also uniquely positioned at the intersection between two oceans, both the Atlantic and Indian oceans. The Atlantic, which includes areas like Camps Bay, Clifton, and the City Bowl side of the peninsula, is known as the "cold side" and the coastline on the other side of the peninsula (Indian Ocean), including areas like Muizenberg, Fish Hoek, Kalk Bay, and Simon's Town, is known as the "warm side" - do choose wisely! Dalebrook Tidal Pool in Kalk Bay is by far our favourite, though we can't claim to have been to all 24 (much to Hannah's dismay). Miller's Point is also great, and it has a slide which is mostly used by children and Hannah...
Beaches and surfing
Cape Town, is a city cradled by epic mountains that tower over a bustling city sandwiched by a diverse range of stunning beaches. Each beach has its own specialism and offering, which ranges from surfing and horse riding to penguin spotting. We tend to stick to the warmer side of the peninsula (shock) and Muizenberg, which is famous for its colourful beach huts, and a great place for a swim and a surf. There are surf schools along the beach you can rent kit from, and book a lesson or two if you want. Our favourite beach by far is Llandudno, near the Camps Bat area. It's picturesque, having been given the backdrop to many a swimsuit shoot and is a secluded, quieter option to some of the neighbouring spots in Camps Bay. Especially famous for its soft white sand and dramatic sunsets. The water is very cold here and there aren't many conveniently located amenities as it's in more of a residential area. Clifton nearby is also good and has 4 beaches in total, each with a different vibe.
Cape Point, the tip of Africa
Cape Point is a dramatic, scenic headland at the tip of South Africa's Cape Peninsula, part of the Table Mountain National Park. It's known for rugged cliffs, diverse wildlife (baboons, eland, birds), historic lighthouses and stunning ocean views where warm and cold currents meet. It's a very popular tourist spot with hiking trails, scenic viewpoints, museums, beaches, tidal pools, cycling routes and even a Flying Dutchman funicular railway to take you to the panoramic views at the top. But you have been warned, do not take food out anywhere near the baboons.... If you're going out to Cape Point, we'd recommend making a day of it. Drive the scenic Chapman's Peak (park up along the route and admire the amazing views from the road side if you have time and don't forget cash for the toll), take a dip at Miller's Point tidal pool, experience Simon's Town, Noordhoek and Kommetjie, and visit the penguins near Boulders Beach while you're in the area.
Rugby
No trip to Cape Town is complete without a trip to see the boys in blue and white at Green Point Stadium. If there's a match while you're in town, consider going to see the Stormers do what they do best.
Wine tasting
South Africa and wine tasting goes together, well, like Hannah and Scott! There are plenty of great spots in Cape Town itself (Steenberg in Constantia has a VERY nice restaurant. Durbanville hills holds a special place in our hearts but Hannah can never return), but for real wine country you're going to want to head to Franschhoek and Stellenbosch. You can't go wrong but, if you want to see a lot in a day, the Franschhoek Wine Tram is a great experience and will allow you to try some of the more popular farms in the area. Hannah's favourite is Pigcasso, the pig that paints, think wine tasting/petting zoo....Stellenbosch boasts a slightly bigger town, which has amazing food and shopping so don't skip the town itself. We went on an amazing 2 hour game drive and wine tasting in Stellenbosch at Villiera, for only £15! If you don't plan on staying, you'll need a designated driver, or Ubers from Cape Town and around the wine farms are really reasonably priced and readily available.
Penguin spotting
You cannot come to Cape Town and not see its native African penguin colonies, most famously found at Boulders Beach near Simon's Town. There are a couple of options to get up close to the majestic birds. You can go to the official conservation site at Boulders Beach, where you will need to pay a conservation fee to get in. Once through the entrance, there are a few boardwalks leading to the dunes from which you can view the penguins. To get close you can head down to Foxy Beach but if you want to do that we would recommend going very early in the morning as the beach is tiny and gets super crowded. If you head to the adjacent Windmill Beach, you may get lucky and a penguin might still swim over. If you are hoping for a penguin encounter in the water ,this is the place you should go to. Also, from the boulders beach car park, you can scramble over the walks to the other beaches that neighbour Boulders and you might catch a penguin or two there as well.
Shopping
Cape Town has a range of great shopping options, from sprawling malls featuring name international and local brands to markets teaming with independent boutiques. The fashion scene is buzzing and there are some amazing and eclectic designers that call the mother city their home. Linen is hugely popular and reasonably priced so plan to stock up while you can. Granadilla Swim is Hannah's absolute favourite for swimwear and Carrol Boyes is the best for home wear bits. The V&A Waterfront is a really popular spot, but Century City is where the serious damage gets done. Hannah's favourite market so far has been the Saturday Market at the Old Biscuit Mill, there's also an excellent food market on as well and we hear a great wedding dress shop nearby too.... However, shopping doesn't get better than Kalk Bay, one of the oldest seaside villages located on the coast of False Bay. It is colourful, quirky, full of surprises, and did we mention £3 Aperols?!
Tulbagh
Tulbagh, known as the Valley of Abundance, is situated just over the mountains from Cape Town in a horseshoe-shaped valley surrounded by vineyards and working farms. This is where the main event will take place! It's a stunning drive that will take you roughly an hour and a half North East of Cape Town. Known for its stunning mountain views, visitors can also expect wine tasting, hiking trails, art, and history. Lucky for you, you'll be staying on a working wine farm in Tulbagh for our wedding! Otherwise, there are plenty of local wine farms to sample if you fancy spending a bit more time in the area or if you want to go off to Aquila Game Reserve, Robertson (more wine), or even Montagu - a lovely wee spot we spent a couple of nights glamping. We highly recommend Twee Jonge Gezellen wine estate for a Krone Vintage-Only Cap Classique (South African champagne) tasting.
Eating out
The food scene in South Africa is incredibly diverse, blending multicultural influences (Cape Malay, African, European) with fine dining, bustling markets, and fresh seafood, offering exceptional quality and value. Some of Hannah and Scott's highlights include: Steenberg 1682 (Constantia), wine farm and restaurant offering breakfast, lunch and tapas-style dinners in a stunning setting Die Strandloper (Kraalbaai, Langebaan) a 10-course seafood feast right on the beach. Hannah's worst nightmare, we haven't actually been but heard amazing things. Food Barn (Noordhoek) - Café by day, tapas by night with a deli shop, all of which exceptionally delivered in a relaxed atmosphere. Village Sushi (Noordhoek) right next to Food Barn, Scott's absolute fave is the salmon roses. Steers (chain) just get the cheese fries, thank me later x Salt (Kalk Bay) healthy small-plates on the coast The Spur (chain) it's a rite of passage, you just simply must Sonny and Irene (Sea Point) great brunch
Food markets
The food in Cape Town is quite literally some of the best, and most reasonably priced, you will find in the world. There are a plethora of amazing food markets across the city that will enable you to sample a range of cuisines, including the rich variety of local cultural South African dishes. Some of our favourites: - Thursday night market at Cape Point Vineyards (Noordhoek, seasonal) - Oranjezicht City Farm Market (V&A Waterfront, Cape Town centre) - The Bay Harbour Market (Hout Bay) - The Old Biscuit Mill Market (Woodstock) - Time Out Market (V&A Waterfront, Cape Town centre)
Rooftop bars
Cape Town boasts many rooftop bars to help you replenish after a long day at the beach or out exploring the city. Most of them feature stunning city, mountain, or beach views - some of them have all three! We haven't quite made our way round all of these yet but this is what is on our list/where we can recommend so far: - Baptiste at the Marly Hotel (Camps Bay) - Chinchilla (Camps Bay) - The Silo Rooftop (V&A Waterfront, above the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa) - Gigi Rooftop Bar at the Gorgeous George Hotel (Cape Town CBD) - SKYE Rooftop Bar & Restaurant at The Hyde Hotel (Seapoint)
Food
While we've already covered eating out and food markets, there is so much more to South African food. It's a vibrant array of indigenous African, Malay, Indian, Dutch, British and American influences. Braai is a way of life. More than just a barbecue; it's a cherished cultural tradition and social event centred around grilling meat over an open wood or charcoal fire. There are restaurants where you can have a braai, but there's no substitute to a braai at home with family and friends. Some of our favourite dishes: - Ing's roast potatoes (some of you may be lucky enough to try these) - Oopsies - Picana rump - Boerewors Biltong is EVERYWHERE. It's delicious and great value, try the chilli beef, thank us later. Bunny Chow and Bobotie are also great local dishes while Malva Pudding and Melktert are sweet favourites. P.s. They put weird stuff on pizza (hello banana), also don't be concerned when you see feta on everything and something called 'man sized steak' in the supermarket...
Drinks
There are many great South African beverages we WISH you could get here. You can buy wine from most supermarkets, but for anything else you are going to want to hit up a bottle store, featuring massive walk in beer fridges. Some of our favourite tipples to sample: - Flying fish, delicious lemony beer that could rival a Jubel - MCC or Méthode Cap Classique is South Africa's answer to champagne. While it has a much inferior name it's *chef's kiss*. It gets its unique taste from local grapes like Chenin Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay - South African lagers are broadly similar to what we get in Scotland, but our advice is to try before you buy! Scott recommends Bomb Squad, Fokof Lager, Newlands Spring and, for South Africa's answer to Tennents, Castle Lager. - If you're after a shot, look no further than a Springbokkie or a Suitcase - Nothing screams SA more than a Klippies and coke... - For softies, try the green ambulance (cream soda), Grapetiser and the Fanta is better
Pubs and bars
The Mother City is not only famous for its stunning landscapes and outdoor adventures, but it also boasts a vibrant nightlife scene, with something for everyone. Some of our highlights: - For great locally produced beers and a view of the beach, head to Aegir project (Noordhoek) - For quirky cocktails hit up Cause & Effect (V&A Waterfront) - Cafe Caprice, chilled by day but vibey at night (Camps Bay) - The Leopard Bar at the 12 Apostles Hotel (Between Camps Bay and Hout Bay) - Kloof Street House (Cape Town CBD) - The Lawns at the Roundhouse (Camps Bay) - The Nines (Sea Point) - For a glimpse at young Scotty's life before Han, head to the Toad where he used to work (Noordhoek)
Coffee
Cape Town's is as a world-class specialty coffee city. Some spots to try: - Truth Coffee (Cape Town CBD) - Simple Bru, owned by one of Scotty's high school friends (Cape Town CBD) - Secret Forest Cafe (Tokai Forest) - Plato Coffee (Chain) - Blue Door (Simon's Town) - Rosetta Roastery Cafe (Cape Town CBD)
Whacky backy
Weed, also known as dagga (DAH-khah), is legal for private and personal consumption in South Africa. You can buy cannabis and cannabis products from stores all over the country. Our advice: just don't be an idiot and learn the difference between Sativa and Indica, before you go x
Other activities
There is heaps to do in Cape Town. Not only are there wine tours, hikes, beaches, great food and drink and wildlife to see, but there are so many other activities, you can: - Play padel - Ride horses on Noordhoek beach - Go jet skiing at the Waterfront - Visit Robben Island - Relax at a spa, we can recommend Mangwanani African Spa in Stellenbosch - Get tattooed by our man Clint at Skin Trade in Blouberg - Hire a Cobra for a top down self-drive experience - Snorkel with seals in Hout Bay - Take the cable car up Table Mountain, or hike up and cable car down. The way up Platteklip is usually quite busy and pretty safe. Plan to go early in your trip if you can to increase your chances of finding a clear, calm day. Get there early to avoid crowds if you can - Take a boat cruise from the V&A Waterfront, there's even a pirate ship option - Scoot about on the Hop On Hop Off bus - Visit the District 6 Museum - Take in the colourful houses in Bo Kaap - Stroll in Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens