SWMBO & I now have to go to Capetown in December for a friend's wedding. Never been before so we may as well make a holiday out of it and spend 2-3 weeks there. Anyone been? Anyone live there? What to see? What to do? Where to go? Where not to go for fear of getting shot? Answers below please. TIA.
Up the mountain, hike or cable car. Sea Front. One of the Wine Routes gets you out of the town. The Blue Peter Hotel is worth a visit for the views. Watch for drink drivers in the evenings, it was epidemic when I was there.
Visit blackstone tek and give them a bollocking for not making carbon wheels for the enduro. They might give you a factory tour if you ask nicely & then end it with the bollocking!! We'd love to see the images & mold set ups..
SWMBO might not be enamoured with the thought of that day out. The factory tour in Bologna almost did for her. She fell asleep at the cut away desmo drive train 5 paces into the factory
Yep, the one they apply to hurry you along so you can't spend too long in any one section 'spying'. Anyway, she slept it off in the museum upstairs.
Do you know where in Cape Town you are staying and where the wedding is? I’ve been to SA 20+ times, mixture of dating an Air Hostess and then working for a company with offices there. The garden route is a must do, as in taking in Camps Bay, stellenbosch, Gordon’s Bay and planning a route through the wine district. franschhoek Is worth a visit to see the Dutch architecture that still stands, great restaurants as well, the food in SA as a whole is fantastic and some of the best steaks I’ve ever tasted, worldwide. It’s a beautiful, scenic place. Like anywhere there’s a bad side but not so much in Cape Towns tourist bit. I’ve never had nor seen trouble and I’ve been there a lot. I’m comfortable enough now to walk about (which raises eyebrows with the hotel Concierge). Look out for the robots though, I did the first time asking for directions and never saw one, then was told it’s what they call traffic lights! If you do like your wine, I love this place to stay at: https://www.spier.co.za/ it has its own Hotel, winery and animal enclosure. They serve cape Malay in one of the restaurants, but you are up in the trees!
Ditto what outintheopen says. I lived in SA for 30 odd years, and can speak from experience. Watch out for the driving, it will come as a bit of shock, do not expect road manners or cautious drivers, they are few and far between. There can be lots of tramps and beggars at traffic lights, so don't leave valuables in the car seats or in view. The city centre is OK, but you are much better off getting away from the hustle. I have toured the Cape on a bike, it's beautiful, do the Garden Route, or head out towards the winelands. Expect great food and sociable people. Simon's town is a train trip along the coast, this is where you will find the penguins that everyone has seen on TV. The sea is cold, swimming is not recommended. The V & A Waterfront offers a good evening out and is easy get too. If it takes your fancy a trip to Robben Island is worthwhile. The cable car up the mountain only runs when there is little wind and us usually busy. There are tourists everywhere, the Germans love the place. December is peak holiday season in SA, as it is me summer, it can get very hot in Cape Town, I have seen 40 degrees plus there in January. Book things in advance if you can.
My wife's from SA so been over a few times. We went to a wedding in Cape Town last year. It's the safest place in SA, driving is easy and things are still cheap.It was a great setting! Check out AirBNB places in Stellanbosh which is a lovely secure spot if you find the right place (security 24/7). Runner Duck Vinyard in Stellanbosh is fun! Obviously Table Mountain (helicopter ride is fab if you want to spoil SWMBO). Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is lovely and make sure you do the Robben Island visit. Get down to the Cape Point and do the walk. Drive round the coast (great and cheap seafood restaurants) Hoete Bay worth a look. Then if you have time, drive the Garden Route. Also get a Safari in while there. Property in Cape Town (good price! but we had 6 in the house) Not a bad view! Table Mountain in the background.
You’ll love it. Can’t recommend it highly enough. You’re a foodie, it’s really difficult to get a bad meal there. Eating out is fantastic, it’s more than a step up from here, cheap too. There’s lots of really good advice from various above. Do as they say. I’ll pm you.
+ 1 for Camps Bay Area. Don’t bother thinking about swimming in the sea, even in December it’s farking freezing! Dussies are strange relatives of elephants and live on the Mountain.
Thanks fellasall sounds great. The wedding is on the 12/12 in Franchhoek, well 3km outside, Ricketty Bridge Vineyard or something, so we’ll be there that weekend and probably fly back a couple of days afterwards so we’d probably head out end of November and have a mooch around. Has anyone been in one of those cages they drop over the edge of the boat and then bait the sharks? Sharks scare the pants off me, yet Im fascinated by them, so kinda fancy a go at that
Fuck that! I’ll keep watching them on tv documentaries. I know you’re a foodie but I didn’t realise you wanted to be the food, mind you Richard Dreyfuss survived. Just go for lunch at La Petite Ferme in Franschhoek instead, oh and book it now. It’s lovely.
If, whilst you're there, you get invited to a fancy dress or theme party ... for the love of Goat, don't dress up as farmers.
