What to do and where to stay? Cape Town to Mossel Bay

[Ohnoducks]

Going mid December to mid January, despite 6 months of research I'm still undecided where to stay, for how long, what are the unmissable bits and where may be unsafe. Travelling with two children 4 and 6. Not sure what to do on Christmas day either! Help me plan our trip please.

Have you had a look at the Tripadvisor CT forum? They’re very good on there and certainly very knowledgeable. I’m going back to CT early next year and I have so much I want to do and not enough time to do it!
By the way - after Johannesburg Cape Town seems like a haven of safety! Any local will tell you which bits to avoid.

This is high season! I think you need to make some decisions. We stay at Guest Houses. Look at the beach resorts around Cape Town. The children would prefer this to a city guest house.

Are you hiring a car? You have a month in a fairly small area. You are not even doing the whole garden route.

When in Cape Town you should go to Gansbaai for marine life. There are sharks and seals there. The whales will have gone though. Go right down to the Cape and stay in the wild areas down there. Go up Table Mountain. Go to Robben Island and do the Chapmans Peak drive. The township areas are easy to avoid. Your guesthouse will advise on safety. There are the penguins to see on Boulders Beach and lots of pretty towns around the Cape.

Also from Cape Town, go up to Stellenbosch and Franschoek. They are lovely towns but not sure if the children will appreciate them. The wine growing area is lovely.

From Mossell Bay you can go into the area around George. We did the Swartberg Pass but again it’s a challenge you might not do with children. There are ostrich farms you can visit though. Go to Knysna and Plettenberg and enjoy the beaches. Go to the nature reserves around Plettenberg. I think it’s Tsitsikama but check spelling! Knysna is a very attractive place.

To get the most out of a month, I think you have to be a bit adventurous. Or you could just stay on the beaches!

Oh you are so lucky you will have a fabulous time
We stayed in Cape Town last year for 8 nights in the raddison blue at the Victoria waterfront
Felt really safe
Could watch dolphins whilst having breakfast
As others have said loads to do
The hop on hop off bus was great to see the city lovely beach at camps bay
We also hired a car for a few days so easy to drive
You will feel like a millionaire - maybe you are one!,,- as eating out is so reasonable and the quality is fabulous
Don't delay you will have a wonderful holiday

Hi OP
We are going to CT next week for 2 weeks with our 3dc, 10 months, 3 and 8. We have booked a house via Airbnb. There's so much to do and see, the winelands, Cape of good hope, the beaches, CT and all its loveliness, we've only gone as far as Hermanus. Pre DC we have stayed in b and bs and guest houses and we rented an apartment once in vredehoek.
It might be busy in Dec /Jan so I would get booking now. Maybe pick a couple of places. Have a great time.