Travel Tips

Travel Note

Planning your trip

We are so excited by the possibility of so many of our favourite people coming to Cape Town (many for the first time!). We have tried to plan far in advance in hopes that this will give you time to plan a little vacation in South Africa. We will be in Simonstown with family and close friends from the 19-24, and then Camps Bay from the 24-29. We will head out to the Stellenbosch wine lands on Dec 29th (early for the wine tram!) to hang out, drink wine and get ready for our wedding on New Year's Eve. We would love it if you could join us for the 3 nights in Stellenbosch (29/30/31 - see the relevant travel note!). Before the 29th we recommend either exploring Cape Town with us (we want to see you!), or perhaps a safari or Johannesburg (see those travel notes too for suggestions). We are here to help you plan whatever your dream South African vacation might be. We have tried to put lots of suggestions here, but if you need help with something, talk to us! We’re here to help 💗

Travel Note

Where to stay in Cape Town?

The metropolitan of Cape Town is HUGE, giving visitors the ability to match their needs to its various suburbs/towns. The link gives a more comprehensive analysis of the suburbs. Some of our favourites are: Simonstown: This cute little town is where you’ll find the iconic penguins. We love the little hidden beaches along the coast here. You’re about 45 minutes from Cape Town central, but close to other hip coastal towns (eg. Kalk Bay) Hout Bay: This is where we usually stay. It is lovely because it's right on the sea, but also not too far from most sights in Cape Town. The Chapman’s Peak views are amazing! Another bonus is being close to the Constantia vineyards. Kommetjie: Ideal if you’re looking for a secluded, quiet, beachy town (Kaitlin’s favourite beach in Cape Town). The disadvantage can be that it’s 45 minutes from other sights. *December is Summer in Cape Town & peak tourist season. We recommend booking your accommodation quite early, as good options can book up quickly!

Travel Note

Where to stay in Stellenbosch?

Our wedding will take place on 31 December in Stellenbosch, a picturesque wine and university town. We chose the lovely Zorgvliet Wine Estate as our venue, which is just over 1 hour's drive from Cape Town. We will be spending 3 nights at Zorgvliet (29,30,31st). We would love for you to join us throughout, as we are planning a wine tram and a braai on the days before the 31st. We are very aware that joining us won’t be cheap, so thank you, and we hope that you love Stellenbosch. Uber will be able to get you around Stellenbosch quite cost-effectively if you don’t hire a car, and accommodation near Zorgvliet ranges from Pniel campground, to Delaire Graff’s jaw-dropping opulence. Below are some recommendations from bookings.com and Airbnb: Lekkerwijn Skyview Manor Vuurberg self-catering house Camberley Wines Glasshouse in the winelands Orange Ville Guesthouse Rooms can be found from around R500pppn. Just please use Google Maps to make sure that you’re not too far away from Zorgvliet 😊

Rental Car

Cape Town International Airport

Cape Town is a city where you will need a car in order to get around and see all the amazing places. Uber is readily available and always an option. But it is convenient and relatively cheap to rent a car in Cape Town — all of the major international car rental companies have offices at the airport. We recommend looking at kayak.com or travelstart.co.za to find the best deals 😊

Travel Note

Johannesburg (the city of gold)

Johannesburg is the city we call home and we love it! If you have longer to spend in South Africa, we definitely recommend a few days here. Hopping on the famous red bus is a must, as this will give you the historical background that you need to understand Jozi. There are plenty of hip neighbourhoods, galleries and entertainment of all sorts to be found in Jozi. Please shout if this is something you are contemplating and you need more detailed suggestions.

Travel Note

Safari ideas: Budget!

If you are looking to go on safari, it is probably better to fly in and out of Johannesburg. In December, any kind of safari will need to be booked in advance! Pilanesburg is just a two hour drive from Johannesburg. If you want an affordable safari option, we recommend renting a car and staying in one of the cheaper lodges (especially the self-catering chalets at Manyane or Bakgatla and bringing your own lunch / dinner). You can do self-drives in the park, and you can also arrange morning or afternoon safari drives (in a safari vehicle) when you want them with the lodge. Last time we were here, we saw elephants, rhinos, lions and even leopards! There are also more luxury (expensive) options...check out the website to see all the choices!

Travel Note

Safari Ideas: Kruger National Park and Luxury safari ideas

Kruger is massive. The first time I came to SA, I spent five days driving in the park with friends - a new lodge and drives each day! You could spend days here experiencing different animals and landscapes! You can rent a car and drive the 5-6 hours from Joburg or you can fly to Kruger Mpumalanga Airport. You can find variously priced options either inside the park (on the official Kruger website: https://www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger/tourism/accommodation.php) or around the park (like in White River or Malelane). You can self-drive or sign-up for safari drives :) If you have the funds for a luxury-type safari, it is quite spectacular. You’ll basically eat, drink (think stopping at sunset for a drink while watching elephants in the distance) and view! There are lots of stunners, but we can recommend Tanda Tula (http://www.tandatula.com/) and Ngala (https://www.andbeyond.com/our-lodges/africa/south-africa/kruger-national-park/ngala-private-game-reserve/andbeyond-ngala-safari-lodge/)