Cape Town & The Winelands

The last time I visited South Africa was in 2012, and so another visit was well over due to this magnificent part of the world. This was my first time to visit Cape Town and the Winelands and it certainly lived up to everything I expected and more.

We got off to a great start, flying with British Airways in business class! Their Club World combines premium levels of comfort and service with a spacious seat which converts into a fully flat bed - believe me on an 11hr flight makes such a difference. Delicious food, drinks, service and access to the private lounges and dedicated check-in desks and priority boarding were just a few of the perks. It was a lovely experience and we arrived safely in Cape Town feeling refreshed and ready to start the day.

For our stay in Cape Town, we had the pleasure of staying in the 4* Commodore Hotel. It is situated at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront which has spectacular views of Table Mountain and the harbour. You are ideally placed to discover some of Cape Town’s top attractions with many of them in walking distance from the hotel.

We had a jam-packed itinerary to try and fit as much as possible in the short time we had. On our first day we embarked on Africa’s premier route to the romantic meeting place of the Indian Ocean and Atlantic Ocean – Camps Bay, Chapmans Peak, Hout Bay, Cape Point Nature Reserve, Cape of Good Hope and the penguin colony in Boulders Beach.

We took the cable car up to Table Mountain, this tour is always weather permitting, but the views are just out of this world. It was one of my personal favourites and another thing ticked off my bucket list. I would recommend you do this on your first day to allow for any changes with the weather.

On our second day, we headed to the Western Cape winelands to Stellenbosch where we enjoyed a culinary tour with Bites and Sites. It is just under an hour from Cape Town so easily done in a day if you wish. This is a beautiful university town with a vibrant feel to it, offering a nice balance between relaxation and excitement. We were guided through the old town centre and tried some freshly baked artisan bread, washed down with some amazing wine.

We then headed off to the gorgeous 5* Mont Rochelle which is a stunning 26 Bedroom boutique hotel and vineyard in the town of Franschhoek. Mont Rochelle is owned by none other but Sir Richard Branson. Set against views of the picturesque Franschhoek Valley, Mont Rochelle is a tranquil retreat offering the very best in culinary delights.

We boarded the famous Franschhoek wine tram where you will see the valley from a unique perspective, journeying through rolling vineyards in an open sided tram and stopping in at some of South Africa’s oldest and most distinguished wine estates. Our favourite was Rickety Bridge, we even bought some wine to bring home to Ireland with us.

Robben Island is a must and I would recommend you pre-book in advance as it is very popular. You will depart from Nelson Mandela Gateway at the V&A Waterfront. The ferry takes about 40 mins and make sure to look out for whales on the way over! Most of the tour guides inside the prison are former political prisoner’s or prison guards, so their stories were all very interesting and they were very knowledgeable. The Tour includes the graveyard of people who died from leprosy, the lime quarry, Robert Sobukwes House, the army and naval bunkers and the maximum-security prison including the viewing of Nelson Mandela’s cell. It was a very humbling moment to be there and one that will stay with me for a long time.

We spent our last day doing an experiential tour of Cape Town where we interacted with the local people both on the streets and in their homes. We visited Woodstock, were we explored the local street art, visited a ceramicist scientist John Bauer at his studio, and had our own personal concert with musician and composer Hilton Schilder at his home in Grassy Park. We then visited the oldest township in South Africa called Langa.

We finished off this wonderful trip with sundowners at the amazing Twelve Apostles Hotel.

South Africa offers a variety of attractions including sandy beaches, tropical wetlands, spectacular mountain scenery, the most amazing food and wines. It is a magnificent country blessed with extraordinary natural beauty with a rich cultural heritage.

I hope that after reading my blog on Cape Town and the Winelands you’ll be inspired to go and experience this wonderful part of the world for yourself. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me to discuss your own South African adventure.