South Africa - Cape Town and Safari

My latest educational was to one of my bucket list destinations - a Safari in South Africa! Excited to be going was an understatement! Hosted by the tour operator, Africa and Beyond, I headed off to Heathrow Airport - the flight was overnight so a leisurely drive down to terminal 5. Check-in of our bags was very straightforward - we had checked in on the BA app so just had to have the bags over. We then made our way through security - very quick and easy, and no long queues, and into the Plaza Lounge before our flight. The flight was full, legroom in economy was quite good, and we all managed to get some sleep before our morning arrival in Cape Town.

We had a meet and greet on our arrival, which can be pre-booked with Africa and Beyond, they met us off the plane, and took our baggage tags whilst we passed through immigration, and when we got through they were all ready, and we headed off to our transfer. The transfer to the city takes 30-40 minutes depending on the traffic. Our first hotel was the Cape Grace on the waterfront. A super area to stay, easy walking access to bars and restaurants. Before we checked in as we were on an early flight we had a tour of the hotel. Part of the Fairmont Group, the hotel reopened in May 2024 after a huge renovation/refurbishment program. The hotel is very elegant, with a choice of dining, and a lovely pool and sundeck area. Bedrooms are all a good size and overlook the marina and Table Mountain or the waterfront area.

We were then shown to our rooms for a quick change, and a walk to the Silo Hotel on the waterfront for a site inspection, a 5-star hotel in the Royal Portfolio group, and as the name suggests the building was an old grain silo. All the rooms are unique, with free-standing baths, and floor-to-ceiling windows to enjoy the view. On the roof is a pool and a terrace to enjoy the sunset with a cocktail or two. A perfect way to end the day, and despite the hotel‘s high price tag the cocktails were very reasonable. We headed back to Cape Grace and off to bed -we had an early start the next day to miss the crowds at Table Mountain. Breakfast was a combination of buffet and hot food to order - so much choice !!

Day 3

Today we were on a half-day guided tour of the city. Table Mountain was our first stop and the first cable car is 0830, they run all day, but queues can get long so best to be early. The weather can never be guaranteed as we found out - the mountain was shrouded in clouds so no view for us but we are assured it's amazing !! The cable car - has a very slow rotating floor whilst you travel so everyone sees the whole view from every angle. We then went to Signal Hill, on the coast where you can parcened off the mountain down to the beach. After this we headed by road into the city, stopping at the neighbourhood Bo-Kaap - with lots of coloured houses ( just like Balamory) Formally known as the Malay quarter it was a racially segregated area. The bright colours came when the slaves had the right to buy their properties the colours were to express their freedom. Coffee stop next at Truth - voted the number one coffee shop in the world ( in the Telegraph !) If you don't want a tour with a guide ( I would highly recommend this though as you have more flexibility and learn so much - there is the big red bus around the city. It was nearly lunchtime so what better thing to do than take the Art of Flight helicopter along the coast to see the 12 Apostles and have lunch at the 12 Apostles Hotel!

A 7-minute flight along the coast - we even saw two whales !! And we landed to be welcomed with a glass of champagne as we stepped off our flight - a real pinch me moment !! A beautiful lunch with sea views. A quirky hotel with the Leopard Bar, two pools, and a conservatory - ideal for a drink with a good book in the warm sun.

Day 4

We left Cape Town and headed inland to Stellenbosch, about an hour‘s drive. It is South Africa's second oldest town, it lost its city status as the locals did not want it. There are many churches in the town and lots of small boutique clothes shops and local cafes. Souvenir shops were abundant too. A very safe town to walk around day or night. It's a University town so can be buzzing at night. The area is very colonial, possibly the Dutch influence, and very green leafy streets. We continued to Franschhoek, via the Bartinney Vineyard for some lunch and a wine tasting. This is a small local vineyard, not used by the large tour operators due to the access, but the views are stunning across the valley and our meat/cheese/bread platter was the perfect accompaniment to the wine and sparkling rose. We arrived at our next hotel - La Fontaine, a small boutique hotel, with a very homely feel. 11 Rooms some in the main building and some in the garden suites. All the rooms are very different in size and style as the heritage building is so quirky. Very old world, but you feel like you are home as soon as you walk in. The lounge and bar area with an open fire was a super way to meet new friends and enjoy a glass of local wine. You are in the heart of the winelands !!! And the bonus when you have been out in the day is freshly baked cake and tea/coffee every afternoon !! You are within easy walking distance to the wine tram station and the town - again very safe to walk around. After our cake, we visited the Avon Drood Hotel, 5 minutes walk away from part of the Oyster Collection, A luxury guest house with 8 rooms all beautifully designed, very individual all over looking at the garden and the pool We dined in a fine dining restaurant Le Bon Vivan just 2 minutes from the hotel, and a most beautiful dinner. We just had the normal menu but they do offer a tasting menu with wine pairings. Back to the hotel and a drink by the fire chatting with other guests, it's such a social area - board games and books are available too.

Day 5

The famous wine tram! A short walk took us to the station and we boarded the train. There are various routes which use the rail and the road tram - you can travel all day and select your vineyard and you pay for the wines you taste as you go, and you can buy food at the stops too. The day has no timetable so you can stay as long as you need at any of the stops - just don't miss the last tram home! Our first stop was Rickety Bridge - the wines here started at 105 rand for four wines. Our next stop was at Mont Rochelle - Sir Richard Branson Estate to have a hotel inspection and lunch is the open restaurant with views down over the valley and vineyards. A stunning hotel - small but very luxurious, the hotel is set away from the wine-tasting area. You can hire the Manor house here, 4 double bedrooms all ensuite and a super kids room for up to 6 with bunks and all the facilities you could need, 2 pools a gym, a separate annexe room, your chef - the ideal place for extended family to enjoy some quality time.

Day 6

The moment we had all been waiting for - we were going back to the airport for our flight to Port Elizabeth to start the Safari part of our education. An hour's flight and we were there! ( watch the baggage allowance on the internal flights it's 20kg and the international flights are 23kg - they may charge !) From the airport about an hour's drive to our first of two lodges. Founders Lodge is a brick-built hotel with 8 rooms right in the game reserve - on check-in, I looked out of my bedroom window to see two rhinos less than 100m away !! So exciting !! We left our luggage and got changed, picked up the binoculars and off we went on our first safari !!! Open-sided jeep seats 6 plus one in front with the driver. Blankets provided - it gets chilly in the evenings - I would take a woolly hat and gloves next time !! The hotel is small and probably suited to older couples, one lounge area with a snooker table, and dining can be done as a group - which we did as it was a BBQ night - the long table may not suit everyone but it was a great way to meet others and hear their tales of the day and what they had seen. What can I say - memories not to be forgotten - just to see a giraffe wandering along not in a zoo was such a wow moment, rhino, lions. Wildebeest and so much more. Something you need to do for yourself, pictures are great but to be there is the best moment ever. Drinking champagne while the sun set over the reserve was so special, and then on the way back we saw two cheetahs !!

We were early to bed as we were up at 5 am for our morning drive, a quick coffee and pastry and off we went. With a stop for sunrise with a coffee or hot chocolate. Back to the hotel and then on to our next game reserve Pumba Lodge. Wildlife spotting is on the way !! Pumba is set in two parts Water Lodge and Bush Lodge. All the rooms are luxury with big windows some overlooking the lake with hippos! Very individual. Outside shower and outside small pool in the water lodges. Both buildings have a communal lounge area, the Bush Lodge has a games room and spa area, this can be used by both parts of the hotel, and the hotel will drive you there. ( not safe to walk !) We had a game drive that evening, a similar open vehicle and we found blankets and a hot water bottle on our seats, no time for the sunset drink we were hunting for the white lions - and all decided we would rather do that !! But no luck tonight so back to the hotel for dinner. No need to change for dinner whilst on safari - it's as you are !! I went to bed early again as we had a 6 am game drive tomorrow and had to pack! The drive was amazing - elephants so close I could have touched them, and with the amazing perseverance of our guide we saw the white lions and their cubs - what an end to the most amazing educational I have ever been on.

The beauty of a South African safari is the limited vehicles. Only two are allowed to be at any one sighting with others waiting on standby to swap over, so you don't get lots of vehicles with the animals. The reserves are smaller so you don't need to drive for hours to see the game. In fact, they can be right outside your window !! If you have not done a safari - you must! An experience that you will keep forever!