South Africa

The Sweet Taste of the Motherland- “Cape Town”

I was supposed to head to Asia this year but after being inspired by a friend social feed I decided to postpone the trip and pay a visit to the mother land, the African continent. I really didn’t know what to expect about Cape Town but certainly didn’t expect it to be as diverse and developed. The country prides itself in welcoming and encouraging innovators and investors. I’ve only visited 5 countries throughout the 54 countries in the African continent but I can honestly say the cape was the safest and easiest to navigate for solo backpackers.

I was honestly surprised to see that even in Cape Town whites own most of the wealth, while  blacks occupies the less developed housing and communities. The difference continued even in the way they speak with accents vastly different. It is depressing to witness the significant division in a country as multicultural as the cape. Even in this seemingly serene place there is a silent disdain between the two racial groups. Of course to every rule there is an exception but the ramification of the ruthless apartheid law is strongly apparent today. Large areas of Cape Town are curently owned by whites and coloured and black communities settled on the Cape Flats.

While exploring I had a Deja-vu feeling in just about every sector from Victoria Waterfront, to Cape Convention Center and down along the bay from Camps Bay all the way up to Green Point. For example walking down Long Street reminded me of London urban cities and the locals dressed, behaved alike; Camps Bay as they say is downtown Miami or Fort Lauderdale waterfront; the Victoria waterfront was much like any small town beach plaza in the US.

Despite the apparent globaliation the country is quite distinctive and charming.  Cape Town is renowned for its landmarks, harbour, and mountainous setting of Table Mountain, Devil’s Peak and Lion’s Head and nature. I stayed in the city at 91 Loop walking distance from 81 Long Street where the Free Walking Tours started. I participated in a myriad of activities during my stay.

The experience was remarkable and would surely fascinate any backpackers. I didn’t do a lot of research prior to my journey hence the reason I only allocated 4 days. I left wanting to experience, do and see more of the city.

Below was my itinerary:

Day 1:

• Peninsula Tour- aboard our shuttle we visited Hout Bay with a boat ride to Duiker Island to see the seal, Good Hope Nature Reserve, Simons Town for Boulders Beach penguin colony, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Cape Point with stops at viewpoints, seaside villages and beaches along the way.
• Dinner at Ocean Blue in Camp’s Bay- The beautiful enclave of Camps Bay known for its white sand beach, boutiques, fine dining restaurants, cafes, cocktail bars overlooking the boardwalk and beach and offers great views of the Twelve Apostles Mountains. I ate at the Ocean Blue since I was craving seafood. The drinks were amazing but the seafood platter was a total flop.

Day 2:

• Table Mountain Hiking- I often saw beautiful pictures of travelers hiking the mountain but never did I imagine the struggle. It takes on average 1.5 to 2 hours to reach the summit. I must admit the view was spectacular. Another option is to take the cable car for less than 5 minutes to the top but it is not as rewarding as the hike.
• Apartheid to Freedom Walk Tour- The guide led us through the oldest places to highlight the country’s journey through the colonial, apartheid and democratic era. Along the way he explained the apartheid law coupled with its consequence; the struggle for freedom and the events on the day Mandela was released.
• Dinner at Addis Restaurant– Ethiopian restaurant that offers exotic East African dishes. I felt like I paid for the service, ambiance and décor because if you previously tried Ethiopian dishes this one was certainly not as pleasant.

Day 3:

• Free Bo Kaap Walking Tour- The main reason most people visit Bo Kaap is for the colorful houses. Our guide pride himself in emphasizing that the colors are an innovation by the locals in preparation for the celebration of Eid. The excursion also highlighted the history of the Malaysian, Indian, Indonesian and Sri Lankan Slaves known as Cape Malays who now reside in the neighborhood. We visited the Museum, Mosque Auwal Masjeed and Atlas Spice Trading Centre.
• Tour Canal Cruise– A 20-minute canal cruise from central business district to V&A Waterfront
• Dinner at Mama Africa– The restaurant is wonderfully decorated with artwork and artifact illustrating South Africa’s history. It also offers nightly live Marimba performance. Meat eaters would surely enjoy their menu pact with game meat platters often garnished with veggies. Best to make reservation as it is often crowded.

Day 4:

• Wine Tasting & Lunch at Groot Constantia: The oldest wine estate in South Africa with great views of Table Mountain. A stunning and vast property with several Dutch Cape buildings and oak trees spread across the grounds. It is a chic place for a picnic overlooking the pond or eating on the terrace.
• Dinner at V&A Waterfront– Indoor and outdoor shopping and entertainment center; by far the most touristic and westernized place in Cape. The food market is a great place to try out awesome cuisine.
• Evening flight back home

Other Activities I was interested in if time allowed:

• Franschhoek Wine Tram: A coordinated day trip aboard a combination of tram and bus helps explore up to nine wine estates on the purple and Orange Routes.
• Stellenbosch & Franschhoek Wine Tour & Tasting: A visit to 2 winelands, cellar tour cheese pairing duck parade and 2 hours leisure time to explore Franschhoek town and followed by a scenic drive through Stellenbosch.
• White sharks cage diving: offered for as low as $180 by many tour agencies
• Bungee Jump: At the world highest bungee bridge “Bloukrans”
• Moyo Kirstenbosch restaurant
• IVenture City Pass: offer 1 day to 5 days pass for 70 attractions through Cape Town.

While there was some disappointment I was so pleasantly surprised by cape town magical blended culture. Even in the midst of  indifference there was still so much to be revered. What a trip my dear readers. What a trip… so, I guess until the next adventure!!!