Cape Town, South Africa: Wine, Wildlife, and the Cape of Good Hope
What to say about South Africa… I spent a couple of days in Cape Town with a few other girls before meeting up with classmates in Zambia, and we did all the sightseeing and bar hopping a short trip allows.
Wine Time
Me and three other girls each did a deluxe wine tasting — mine came with six wines and chocolates — then we shared a giant charcuterie board and each bought a couple of bottles to take home. The bill for all of it came out to $14 USD. Cape Town’s winelands and restaurants are that kind of gorgeous-and-affordable combination that’s hard to find anywhere else.
Seals, Cliffs, and the Cape of Good Hope
We took a boat ride out to see the seals who have basically taken over a tiny rock island just offshore, then made our way down to the Cape of Good Hope — the dramatic, windswept point Lindsey calls the most southwestern reach of the African continent.
Penguins and Botanical Gardens
From the coastline to the gardens, Cape Town kept delivering — a beach colony of penguins waddling along the sand, and the lush, sprawling botanical gardens that make for one of the prettiest slow afternoons in the city.
Beyond Cape Town
Overall, South Africa feels more like Europe than what I’d pictured of Africa, and it definitely felt a bit more on-guard than what I’m used to in America — Uber is a normal part of life there, and we were told to always use it, even for trips of only a few blocks, for safety’s sake. On my way home, I also spent a day and a half in Johannesburg on my own before rejoining the group. Overall? I’m calling Cape Town the San Diego of Africa — and I mean that as the highest compliment.
Frequently asked questions
What are the must-see spots in Cape Town?
The Cape of Good Hope, a boat ride out to the seal colonies, the penguin beaches along the peninsula, and an afternoon in the botanical gardens are all well worth the time.
Is Cape Town safe to visit?
It generally felt safe with normal travel precautions – using rideshare apps like Uber even for short trips is common local advice, and it’s a smart habit to keep.
Is Cape Town wine country expensive?
Not at all – a deluxe tasting with wine and chocolate pairings, a shared charcuterie board, and a couple of bottles to take home came to about $14 USD per person.
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