Best Adventures in Cape Town

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Cape Town, South Africa is one of the most beautiful and lively places in the world! From pristine beaches to wondrous parks and charming cafés to amazing wineries, there is so much to love about Cape Town.

In February 2018, I traveled to Cape Town, South Africa to visit my cousin and her boyfriend who were currently residing in the city. We had such a blast going on adventures and visiting some of the most beautiful places in the country. Please note that all of the adventures my cousin and I did during my time in South Africa was through Crawford Concierge.

In this article, discover Cape Town’s best adventures. (Click here to read about Cape Town’s best beaches.)

**Please note that this blog post uses affiliate links meaning that if you make a purchase via my affiliate link, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only promote and talk about products and services that I have used and like.

Getting to and Around Cape Town, South Africa:

The trek to Cape Town from the New York City area is pretty long, but it is definitely worth it! I found great deals on Skyscanner and flew 14.5-hours from JFK in New York to O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa where I had a layover before hopping on another 2-hour flight to Cape Town.

During my time in Cape Town, I mainly walked, used Uber and took the local taxis to get around. If you are traveling to other parts of the country, it is recommended that you rent a car.

Where to Stay:

During my time in Cape Town, I stayed with my cousins in their Airbnb in Green Point, but there are a variety of hotel accommodations to suit all budgets within the city. Some of the best areas to stay in are V&A Waterfront, Green Point, Sea Point, Clifton and Camps Bay. The best part about staying in these areas is that they are safe, offer great food options and are scenic as well.

The Best Adventures in Cape Town:

Best Adventures in Cape Town – Private Wine Tour in the Wine Lands:

My first big adventure in Cape Town was a private wine tour in the dreamy towns of Franschhoek and Stellenbosch. If you plan on traveling to Cape Town, I highly recommend doing a wine tour while you are there because the South African Wine Lands are absolutely breathtaking and the wineries itself offer 5-Star wine and food options.

Franschhoek:

During the private wine tour that we did through Crawford Concierge, we had our own tour guide who drove us around the Wine Lands and gave us an enriching education about the history of Franschhoek and Stellenbosch as well as each winery we visited.

Our first adventure of the wine tour was to the quaint town of Franschhoek. Featuring Cape Dutch architecture, gorgeous mountain views, amazing restaurants and great shopping, there is no reason why you shouldn’t fall in love with this town.

During our time in Franschhoek, we visited three stunning wineries that offered an amazing collection of award-winning South African wines. The first winery we visited was Anthoni J. Rupert Winery, where we got to taste four delicious champagnes and sparking wines. Champagne tasting was the perfect way to start the day!

I loved the grounds at Anthoni J. Ruperty Winery because it had 360-degree views of South Africa’s gorgeous mountainside. During our wine tour at this stunning winery, we also got a brief history lesson on the man himself, Anthoni J. Rupert, and got a nice tour of his colonial estate. The family will still come and go to the house for vacation.

The next winery we visited was 15 minutes away, which was located alongside gorgeous cliffs and rolling hills where there were endless amounts of vineyards. This winery was called Tokara Wine Estate and it was definitely more populated than Anthoni J. Rupert. The winery itself is huge and it is also an olive farm. (That was the nice thing about this wine tour. We got to visit both smaller and intimate wineries as well as larger ones.)

My cousin Alexie and I were at Tokara during lunchtime, so we got to taste a few red and white wines as we savored a five-course meal with it. Below are some photos of our delectable meal that will make you hungry right away. As a bonus, we also got to experience some priceless views as we ate and drank.

When we were finished with lunch, we made our way to Boschendal – an award winning wine farm that cannot be missed when you travel to the South African Wine Lands. As we enjoyed the views, we got to taste Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and a few fruity wines.

Stellenbosch:

After spending a lovely time tasting delicious wines in Franschhoek, we made our way to Stellenosch for a brief tour of the popular University and downtown area. The town of Stellenbosch is quaint, lively and offers some adorable cafés, boutiques and so much more!

The first winery we visited in Stellenbosch was Peter Falke Wines. It was quiet like the Anthoni J. Rupert Winery, so it was nice to sit in their courtyard and enjoy the peaceful views of the Helderberg Mountains in the heart of the Stellenbosch Wine Lands. At Peter Falke Wines, we mostly tasted red wine that was filled with various flavors.

Last but not least, our final winery was at Stellenbosch’s beautiful Waterford Wine Estate. Just like the rest of them, Waterford Wine Estate is absolutely breathtaking and I loved how Southern European the architecture of the winery was.

During our time at Waterford Wine Estate, we mainly tasted white wine (South Africa is known for its delicious Chenin Blanc). What was cool about this wine tasting is that we got to also taste chocolate with it. It was the perfect way to end a happy day!

Just like I mention above, it is definitely worth it to do a wine tour during your time in Cape Town, but I strongly recommend doing a private one. After visiting five wineries in one day, the wine could definitely catch up to you. In the end, you will be exhausted from the day so it is nice to have a private driver to take you back to your accommodation in Cape Town.

Best Adventures in Cape Town – Hiking or Visiting Table Mountain National Park:

Cape Town offers endless views of Table Mountain National Park, one of the 7 Wonders of Nature. This mountain definitely resembles a table as it levels off evenly at the top.

Just about 15 minutes from the heart of Cape Town is where you could catch a gondola that will take you all the way up to the top. If you are feeling adventurous enough and have saved a lot of time, you could also hike to the peak of Table Mountain.

We decided to take the gondola since we went to Table Mountain in the afternoon instead of in the morning. As much as I wanted to hike the mountain, I was happy we took the gondola because it offered insane views of beautiful Cape Town.

Once we reached the top, there were numerous areas where you could catch different views of the city and mountainside. On one side of the mountain is where you could see the coastal areas of Green Point and Camps Bay and the other side offered endless views of canyons, cliffs and steep mountains. There is also a great aerial view of the mountain’s famous Lion’s Head. (Unfortunately I didn’t have time to hike Lion’s Head.)

Being on top of Table Mountain felt like being on top of the world! The air was fresh, the views were astronomical and I just had an overall great time. There are an endless amount of places to get great photos.

At the top of Table Mountain, there is a café where you could grab lunch or a snack and there is also a souvenir shop. It is important to make sure you plan accordingly and either hike down the mountain ahead of time or catch the gondola back down before it closes. It could be dangerous to be on top of Table Mountain in the dark.

Best Adventures in Cape Town – Sandboarding in the Desert:

During my time in Cape Town, I am so excited to say that I learned how to sandboard – thanks to Crawford Concierge who booked us a great sandboarding experience! This fairly new sport could be enjoyed in major sand dunes and deserts around the world. Similar to snowboarding, you are given a board where you secure both of your feet inside and use your hips and lower body to direct your way down the dunes.

Before I started to become a seasonal skier, I used to snowboard and it took me a while to really learn how to perfect the sport. So unlike snowboarding, sandboarding is much easier and you definitely could maneauver your way down the dunes much quicker than you could on a ski slope. In addition, you go much slower on sand than you do on snow (don’t worry though, you still get that adrenaline rush as you make your way down the dunes).

We did our sandboarding experience in Cape Town’s Atlantis Dunes, which are located around a half hour from the heart of the city. After you park your car in the lot, a pick-up truck will come and take you to the sand dunes. We all loaded in the back of the truck and held on as we made our way into the dunes. As you could imagine, we had to REALLY hold on as we stood, but it was so much fun and the views were phenomenal.

When we finally reached the sandboarding area, there were boards already lined up and sanded for us. Before we hit the dunes, it was important that all of our boards were sanded so that we could go down smoothly without there being any issues. Once we were all geared up, we hopped back on the truck, which took us to the peak of the dunes.

Sandboarding down the hills were so much fun, even though I got a little beat up from it. After sandboarding, we went back up to the peak of the hill where there was a steeper side. This was where we used the board to “sleigh” down. I have to admit that I was scared at first because I was really nervous that I would fall off the board and tumble down, but the man taught us how to securely sit on the board and to glide our fingers along the sand while we went down as a way of support. Once I had the courage to take off, I had the time of my life! It was so much fun.

Wandering through Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden:

Considered to be the most beautiful garden in Africa and one of the most grandeur botanical gardens in the world, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in Cape Town is the perfect place to wander through and pretend like you are in a wonderland.

Lying against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain National Park, Kirstenbosch was established in 1913 to promote, conserve and display the rich and diverse floras of South Africa. I truly enjoyed walking through Kirstenbosch because I saw unique plant life that I had never seen before. I also loved walking through all of the hidden paths that led to some gems of the park.

One of the coolest paths at Kirstenbosch was the Centenary Tree Canopy Walkway. It features a new curved steel and timber bridge that winds and dips its way through and over the trees of the entire Arboretum. This walkway is the perfect “photo opp” since it will take you through one of the most beautiful and scenic parts of Kirstenbosch. I will admit that it took me a while to find this breathtaking walkway, but it was definitely worth it as I got to discover more areas of the park.

When I was finished exploring the botanical gardens, I enjoyed delicious South African tea at the Kirstenbosch Tea Room. It is a perfect place to grab lunch and a healthy snack.

Eat Your Way through Cape Town:

In addition to the adventures, I also indulged in some amazing cuisine and drank delicious coffee while I was staying in Cape Town. Below is a list of great restaurants you can find all throughout the city.

Bootlegger Coffee Company (Best Coffee Shop): Bootlegger is a welcoming spot that is open to catch the brightly South African sunlight and ocean air. There is a big area to sit inside as well as outside, depending on the weather and your mood. Not only did I LOVE the coffee and pastries from Bootlegger, but the breakfast and lunch options were out of this world! (Um, banana bread French toast?!) Thankfully, you could find a Bootlegger coffee shop all over the city of Cape Town since they have numerous locations. At night, you could catch a live band performing in this awesome coffee shop.

Hudsons The Burger Joint (Best Place for Beer and American Food): Another awesome place to grab food in Cape Town is Hudsons. This is the place where the whole neighborhood comes together to grab some beers and great food, while enjoying the company of others. Even though I am not big on American food, I thoroughly enjoyed savoring Hudsons’ grilled chicken sandwich while sipping on some delicious South African craft beer. Just like at Bootlegger, Hudsons also invites local bands and singers to perform at night. It is awesome!

El Burro (Best Mexican Food): Never in a million years did I think one of the best Mexican dinners in my life would have been in South Africa. El Burro is an authentic and quaint Mexican restaurant with some of the best dishes and drinks you can find in Cape Town. I indulged in a delicious South African line fish made with amazing Mexican ingredients. On the side, I enjoyed a delicious mojito that fit perfectly with my meal.

Dinkel Bakery (Best Bakery): There is nothing I love more than enjoying breakfast at a cute bakery. When I first came to Cape Town, my cousin told me that I just HAD to try Dinkel Bakery because not only was it located in a cute little house with a picture perfect courtyard, but they also have amazing coffee and baked goods. Even though Dinkel Bakery has one location (near the colorful Bo Kaap area), it is a big staple in the city of Cape Town. Their menu includes delicious German breads, pastries, cakes and other breakfast and lunch items. Plus, what better way to enjoy a gorgeous sunny South African morning than sipping on coffee in an adorable courtyard that screams love.

nü Health Food Café (Best Healthy Food): Located in almost every area of Cape Town, nü is the place that will make you stay on your health grind. As a health food café that serves up the freshest and tastiest smoothies, smoothie bowls, protein pancakes (or flapjacks according to South Africans), salads, wraps, hot drinks and so much more, this is the perfect place to get breakfast, lunch or a snack after a workout.

Click here to discover more to do in Cape Town.

Conclusion of The Best Adventures in Cape Town:

I hope you all enjoyed reading about the best adventures in Cape Town. If you have any questions regarding my trip to Cape Town, South Africa, please email me at info@browneyedflowerchild.com.

Basic Facts of South Africa:

Currency: South African Rand, Capital(s): Pretoria (executive), Bloemfontein (judicial), Cape Town (legislative), Time Zone: South African Standard Time

Looking for the best agency to book your next bespoke travel experience? Contact Crawford Concierge!

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