Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town

Nothing compares to the feeling of landing in South Africa and an airport employee looking at you and saying, “Welcome home.” Home as in Africa. After that greeting, I knew I was in for a great trip.

Cape Town

I spent most of my South Africa trip in Cape Town, with a brief stint in Johannesburg after the best Safari excursion in Kruger National Park.

Where to Stay:

I stayed at the Southern Sun Cape Hotel in Cape Town. The hotel is beautiful and has the perfect location. However, my favorite thing about staying there was the beautiful views of Table Mountain and Robben Island.

View from Hotel Room

Where to Go and Things to Do:

• Table Mountain National Park

  The picture above does not do Table Mountain any justice. It is simply breathtaking, and everyone should get to experience this. You can drive to the top, hike, or take a cable car.

• The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront

  The V&A Waterfront is a beautiful waterfront with views of Table Bay Harbour. Many restaurants, shopping, and live music also keep you entertained. There is also a Ferris wheel called the Cape Wheel. I am scared of heights and was peer-pressured into this ride, but the views are incredible, especially at night.

• Tour of Robben Island

  The ferries to Robben Island leave from the V&A waterfront. This tour was emotional for me; however, it is important for everyone to experience it. Nelson Mandela has been one of my heroes since I was a young child when my dad made me do a book report on him when he was released from prison. So, for me, standing in his jail cell and realizing how real everything was heartbreaking.

• District Six Museum

  Like the Robben Island Tour, this museum made me realize how real and recent apartheid is. Walking in and seeing a “Whites Only” bench or looking at how they classified races by the color of one’s skin was very eye-opening. It was a learning experience that I would never forget.

• Bo Kaap Neighborhood

  This is one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Cape Town. The houses' vibrant, beautiful colors make it a popular tourist attraction. But the history behind it made me love it even more. This neighborhood used to be for black people only. The houses had to be painted white when the area was racially segregated. When apartheid was over, the residents painted their houses in bold and bright colors to represent their freedom.

There are many other things to do, such as wine tasting at Stellenbosch Winery, Camps Bay Beach, and seeing the penguins at Boulders Beach or Simon’s Town. I also really loved the party scene in Cape Town. I visited Cape Towb before Amipiano music became as globally popular as it is now. I remember hearing it and falling in love with the scene, atmosphere, and people. It truly felt like good vibes only!

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