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I thought that since this is an international forum people who might be travelling could get some info from posters who might be familiar with whichever destination. Things like 'stuff to do/see', places to avoid, maybe some pointers about how to save some hard earned cash etc.
I'll kick off with 'things to do, places to see' for Cape Town and surrounds;
Since this is a rugby forum I'll start off with
1) Watch a local game of rugby. Be it Western Province playing in the Currie Cup, the Stormers hosting a Super rugby game or the biggest schools clash in the rugby world; the Paarl boys high vs Paarl gymnasium derby.
2) Climb Table Mountain or take the cable car for the view.
3) Spend a day on Camps Bay beach - the bars and restuarants serve the beach on request
4) Go wine touring in one of the Boand wine districts (ask me which ones if you get here)
5) Dare to shark cage dive in Gansbaai (2 and a half hours outside the city) on stay on the boat and watch them breach
6) Suicide gorge is a half-day 7km semi-hike/semi-swim (you have to go up first though) down a gorge with slide and jumps ranging from 3m to 14.5m
7) Surf in Dungeons or the more leisurely Mand iconic Muizenberg on False bay
8) Track game with a Khoi descendant in a small reserve 1h outside of town and learn about an ancient language and way of life all but extinct
9) Visit Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was held captive
10) Shop at the V & A waterfront district. Have a rare steak at Balthazar's grill and thank me later.
11) Spend an evening on the west coast sampling traditional Cape Malay cuisine with the locals prepared on the beach (blankets provided)
12) Watch the most impressive display of flowers taking over the land on the west coast
13) Go hiking in the 'Fynbos'; by far the most compact and one of the most diverse 'floristic kingdoms'; a must for bird watchers
14) It is now whale season and where the Indian and Atlantic oceans meet is a hot spot for whale spotting.
15) We produce some of the world's highest rated brandies. To be enjoyed with local cheeses and delicasies like Biltong.
16) Get a 'braai' invite and have some traditional SA.. barbeque or 'potjiekos'.
17) Night life in Cape Town is more laid back than most major cities. It's less about any specific place and more about the 'presinct'. In the CBD Long street is the place to hang out, mostly 'pub culture', jazz. You might want to try in and around Stellenbosch Uni and UCT if your younger. Talk to the students; I've been out for 7 years now so no point in me trying to mention specific places.
18) There are many annual festivals and events for all sorts of things from cheese and oysters to cycling so if you have any specific hobbies/interests just ask when a good time might be to visit and mix with the locals.
19) Take a taxi ride through a township. Not advised if your family is loaded and you just married or took out life insurance (sorry, some dark humor).
20) Fine dining. Between Cape Town, Stellenbosch and Franschoek (less than an hours drive) we have- depending on what lists you trust- 3 to 4 of the world's best 100 restuarants, the best in Africa and more that were counted amongst the world's best in the past. IMO there are 7 places you can't go wrong even with the highest haute cuisine expectations.
I'll update with some more if I find time.
I'd say go on wild life drives as we have those here but the better locations for that would be in-land.
I'll kick off with 'things to do, places to see' for Cape Town and surrounds;
Since this is a rugby forum I'll start off with
1) Watch a local game of rugby. Be it Western Province playing in the Currie Cup, the Stormers hosting a Super rugby game or the biggest schools clash in the rugby world; the Paarl boys high vs Paarl gymnasium derby.
2) Climb Table Mountain or take the cable car for the view.
3) Spend a day on Camps Bay beach - the bars and restuarants serve the beach on request
4) Go wine touring in one of the Boand wine districts (ask me which ones if you get here)
5) Dare to shark cage dive in Gansbaai (2 and a half hours outside the city) on stay on the boat and watch them breach
6) Suicide gorge is a half-day 7km semi-hike/semi-swim (you have to go up first though) down a gorge with slide and jumps ranging from 3m to 14.5m
7) Surf in Dungeons or the more leisurely Mand iconic Muizenberg on False bay
8) Track game with a Khoi descendant in a small reserve 1h outside of town and learn about an ancient language and way of life all but extinct
9) Visit Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was held captive
10) Shop at the V & A waterfront district. Have a rare steak at Balthazar's grill and thank me later.
11) Spend an evening on the west coast sampling traditional Cape Malay cuisine with the locals prepared on the beach (blankets provided)
12) Watch the most impressive display of flowers taking over the land on the west coast
13) Go hiking in the 'Fynbos'; by far the most compact and one of the most diverse 'floristic kingdoms'; a must for bird watchers
14) It is now whale season and where the Indian and Atlantic oceans meet is a hot spot for whale spotting.
15) We produce some of the world's highest rated brandies. To be enjoyed with local cheeses and delicasies like Biltong.
16) Get a 'braai' invite and have some traditional SA.. barbeque or 'potjiekos'.
17) Night life in Cape Town is more laid back than most major cities. It's less about any specific place and more about the 'presinct'. In the CBD Long street is the place to hang out, mostly 'pub culture', jazz. You might want to try in and around Stellenbosch Uni and UCT if your younger. Talk to the students; I've been out for 7 years now so no point in me trying to mention specific places.
18) There are many annual festivals and events for all sorts of things from cheese and oysters to cycling so if you have any specific hobbies/interests just ask when a good time might be to visit and mix with the locals.
19) Take a taxi ride through a township. Not advised if your family is loaded and you just married or took out life insurance (sorry, some dark humor).
20) Fine dining. Between Cape Town, Stellenbosch and Franschoek (less than an hours drive) we have- depending on what lists you trust- 3 to 4 of the world's best 100 restuarants, the best in Africa and more that were counted amongst the world's best in the past. IMO there are 7 places you can't go wrong even with the highest haute cuisine expectations.
I'll update with some more if I find time.
I'd say go on wild life drives as we have those here but the better locations for that would be in-land.
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