Just booked South Africa - top places to see/do (not safari)

[MeAndMyGhost]

Well, this is very exciting, I've just booked my first trip to South Africa for late March! Just me and DH.

I've been reading through older threads about things to do, places to see but wanted to understand if there were any must do's from people who had visited recently. Main interests are good food, wine, see some sights (Table Mountain & Robben Island are what DH wants to see). I'm open to anything a little bit off the beaten path, but not safari. Will be there for one week. Thank you

You will find amazing guest houses in SA. We’ve stayed at 4 Rosemead and Vergelegen. They people who run them are brilliant at giving useful info and they are much better than hotels. Franschoek has loads to choose from too. It’s a bit prettier than Stellenbosch but you could relax on a farm guest house or wine estate. South Africans excel at hospitality and good taste!

Cape Town is my favourite city in the world. You will have a wonderful time. Agree Mouille Point is a good place to stay (can be windy though) safe to walk around, walking distance to V+A and great restaurants. My sister and family recently stayed at Dolphin Inn and liked it, loads of Air BnBs if you want your own space. If you want to stay more centrally Gardens / Vredehoek / Tamboerskloof are good options.
Will you have a car? There are wonderful drives a couple of hours East or West out of the city; stunning mountain passes towards the Winelands or beautiful unspoilt coastline up the West coast. Betty's Bay has penguins and is less touristy than Boulders.
If you don't have a car https://capetown.citypass.co.za/attractions/ may be a good option. PIL's recently got this for a few days in CT and felt it gave them a great taste of the Cape.

In western cape we did franschhoek and the wine tram, boulders beach, table mountains, camps bay

4 Rosmead is in Oranjezicht. Good area for restaurants.

I liked to do a short drive out of Capetown to Houts Bay. This was many years ago but there was a superb fish restaurant overlooking the beach. Also lived Franschoek and Hermanus. Look for a safari if you have time. Shamwari maybe?

We stayed in Orangezicht and in an amazing b and b in Capetown and found accommodation in other places through Portfolio. Some very luxurious and comfortable places to stay at a reasonable price.

I’ve just booked to fly to CT at the end of March too, very excited! I lived there for many years as my dh is from there, it’s such a good city!

We’re staying on a wine farm 😊 I would definitely recommend Stellenbosch over Francehoek (although the latter is very nice), as you’ve got tons of wine farms, restaurants and markets. Route 44 market on Saturdays was a favorite!

chefs warehouse is amazing for food- think fine dining at a fraction of the price! I went to the one at Beau Constanta, bonus is it’s a wine farm too.

a lot has already been said- boulders Bay, V&A waterfront etc. I’d recommend adding Kalk bay to your list which is right before Simon’s Town (boulders bay) and having a seafood platter at Kalky’s.

have fun!

I am in SA OP.

I know you will have an amazing trip.

I see you are booked for late March so this is going to fall in to the Easter holidays, so it will be a bit busier than off season, but nothing like December (which is just so crowded it can be unpleasant).

I think you do have to see all of the sights mentioned, as you really can't go to CT and not go up the mountain, go to Boulders etc. But there are some things that I never see on these threads:

Will you have a car? If so you will definitely have better access to going more places.

You can take a boat trip from Hout Bay to Duiker Island. It is a short around 45 min - 1hr minute, but this little island is home to 1000s upon 1000s of seals. You can book a trip right at the harbour there, they go out a few times a day. I can assure you, you will not see more seals in one place than here lol. It has been a while since I went, but you can choose from two, one returns via Chapmans Peak, so such a stunning view. The other one detours to see the shipwrecks on the way back. Then there are quite a few nice restaurants right by the harbour, mostly seafood which will have just been caught.

Kalk Bay is just so gorgeous. It is a small little place, but there is a restaurant there I can recommend, The Brass Bell. It is right on the water and the waves crash right up onto the windows. If you sit right inside it feels like you are sitting in the ocean. You could do that stop on the way back from Cape Point, as there you will have a view you don't want to miss. Wherever you go, pack a cozzie. There is a tidal pool next to the restaurant and you can take a dip. Fair warning, the water is kak cold in CT. (you will hear that word a fair bit i reckon )

If you have a car, you could head up the West Coast for a day trip. If you were to head to Langebaan, there is a restaurant experience which you should try. You do have to like seafood though 😃 Look up Die Strandloper. It is a set meal, but about 8 courses of all the local fish and foods from the area. And the setting is right on the beach, just stunning. You can even take a coolbox with your own wine or buy from the bar there.

Do not be hesitant to Uber. So many people Uber around to get from A to B. Also consider a weekly ticket for the MyCiti bus, and then you can plan a trip and just get off at certain stops. Including Kirstenbosch Gardens. They often have concerts there, so you might be lucky enough with your timing.

There is so much to do. You can even do amazing hikes if that is your thing too.

Stellenbosch and Franschoek are both well worth a visit

I can highly recommend The Foodbarn in Noordhoek, well worth a visit and there are a load of little shops around it too.

PPs have mentioned the botanic gardens, they are lovely but it may just have gone over by late March - it was starting to go over in late February.

Do visit the Cape itself, miles of parkland to drive through - keep an eye out for tortoises! Entry prices can be steep and bear in mind that the cable car to the top of Table Mountain will close if the weather is dodgy, and the boat to Robben Island will not run if it’s too choppy.

There is a fabulous indoor market at the Waterfront.

Most things should be running in March. You might have to judge the weather but our hosts at the guest house are 100% onto that! It’s what’s great about a guest house.

Wow. I've come back to so many wonderful suggestions. I'm going to have to spend some time collating these. Thank you everyone, so kind of you.

I've heard it's quite reasonably priced in general. Are there are bargains or must-haves to bring back?

We think things have become expensive, like everywhere really. But with the exchange rate to the pound, you will no doubt find some things cheaper. Eating out will be one of those.

Bring some spf cream / spray with you. It is very expensive here. Ridiculous really as it a necessity.

Visitors always take back very random things I find. Spices are one of those. It seems we just have a much better choice available. Clothing also, we can pick up cotton / linen quite reasonably priced and usually made locally. Leather bags is another one. And then the shweshwe African fabric items as they are just so different. And then also just things like chocolate bars as we do get a lot of different ones to you, and they are still nice chocolate, not the palm oil nonsense. You will have to try out some Biltong and Droewors if you aren't vegetarian. Some people do take this back too vacuum packed, but as it's a meat product you aren't actually meant to.

Keep in mind your entrance fee to most paying places will be more expensive than for a local person. It's a tourism tax basically. So where it would cost us for eg R50 to enter Cape Point Reserve, it will cost you R200. So you will see two lots of pricings on some entrance fees.

Bring a bag that zips closed. Like anywhere fairly busy you just need to be aware of your surroundings. So your dh shouldn't walk around with his phone in his back pocket as am example. Places like V&A and the likes do get busy, so unfortunately there are pickpocket chancers about. Just like any other busy city though.

Lots of great advice here:

The great white shark cage boats from Gansbai is an experience you will remember your whole life.

I also really liked kayaking up the gorge at Tsitsikama . (It was very gentle. I am not athletic at all!)

We all got addicted to rock shandies (they're non-alcoholic). Attempts to replicate them here have not been fully successful.

And make sure you try malva pudding!

Make sure to go to the Codfather in Camps Bay! https://www.codfather.co.za/

@isthismylifenow It’s still good value when compared to UK! Interestingly I’ve never bought anything back from SA. Thoroughly enjoyed our holidays there, but didn’t go shopping. We look for SA wines here though.

Thank you, everyone for your very helpful replies. I am more excited to visit now I have these fabulous tips! Great thing is, it's not that long to wait

Hoping to put together a plan over the weekend. Thanks everyone.