A few days in South Africa

One of the nice things about the second half of the calendar year in the UAE is all the short breaks you get!

So this time we decided to go to South Africa. The lovely travel director (Cheryl) organised a fabulous 7 days. 3 in Capetown, 3 in a safari lodge. The lovely Cheryl has also told me that the first 3 days are my job! SO……………..

I loved Capetown ( at least in the summer anyway). We arrived late-ish in the afternoon on Saturday the 6th December. We were met by a driver from the hotel and taken to a gorgeous boutique hotel (The Ambassador) on the west coast of the cape. We came into our room and looked directly over the pool onto the Atlantic Ocean.
For us, who have been starved of sea views and the soothing sound of the shushshussshhhing surf for sooo long, it was delightful. That evening we caught the hotel shuttle into the Capetown waterfront zone. For the Sydney-ite readers, it’s a bit like Darling Harbour, but with a working harbour alongside. Restaurants galore, a few daredevil rides, buskers, lotsa shops and souvenir places etc. we found a nice balcony, ordered our wine and then the food (got the priorities in the right order) and enjoyed the ambience of being able to drink and eat outside, looking at the view and passing parade.

Next morning we did the Capetown tourist things – up to Table Mountain and a red bus tour. Table mountain is over 1000m above the town. You get about 300m high on the road. The rest is walk it (no chance) or cable car. See the photo for an idea of what this is like. Up there it is quite spectacular – like being in a helicopter with a total view of the town – and a bit scary as well – there are no high barriers separating the pathways from the drop – just a few little stone walls.
We again spent the evening in the waterfront area – a lovely restaurant called the Green Dolphin. Good food, good wine, and a jazz band. Sheer bliss!

Day 3 is wine tour day. Cheryl had lined up a private tour and guide. Gail (from Cape Sensations) was a walking encyclopaedia on Capetown and environs and particularly the Stellenbosch area. All in all this day we visited 9 wineries, and tasted at 5. Lunch was at another winery and superb. I’ve been lucky enough to visit most wine areas in Australia, and a few in France. I have to say the Stellenbosch is equal to or better than any of these. The scenery is beautiful – valley views, mountain backdrops, blue sky --- and good wine! My definition of heaven. Another attraction is that the wines are so cheap. A good wine at the cellar doo can cost as little as 40 - 60 ZAR – equal to about $4-6. A top wine can cost as little as 90 – 150 ZAR ($15). Most of the tastings cost a nominal fee – but that was always waived if you bought wine. Brandy is also a popular drink here and a number of wineries produce excellent examples. I indulged myself and bought a 20 year old brandy ( $30!).

And so we returned to the hotel after a fabulous day, and then indulged in yet another delicious meal. By this time the belt is getting a little tight. – and we still have 4 days to go!

And now here's Cheryl to do the bit on the safari at Sir Richard’s place.