Travel: Our holiday to South Africa
Hello! It’s been a while hasn’t it?! Trying to get back on the blogging wagon and wanted to finally share more about our holiday to South Africa which was back in April 2018. Our good friends were getting married in Franschhoek so we decided to make it into a big holiday with a group of friends and oh, it was wonderful. We spent time in Cape Town, Camps Bay and Franschhoek before heading to Johannesburg for a safari. Here’s the lowdown on what we did, where we stayed and what our must-sees were – sadly I don’t have an amazing memory and used my Instagram posts as a reminder of what we did each day!
Day 1: Cape Town
One of the great things about Cape Town is that there is only a small time difference so you don’t have to deal with jet lag. On the first morning we arrived and went to our hotel – the Belmond Mount Nelson (totally dreamy) to check in and relax around the pool. We then went for dinner at Signal which is a restaurant in the Cape Grace Hotel on the V&A. Our first tasting menu of the holiday and it didn’t disappoint!
Day 2: Cape Town
Day two was spent doing some shopping at the V&A Waterfront before heading back to our hotel for their famous High Tea – it was indulgent and delicious, and well worth doing. We spent the evening at Harrington’s Cocktail Bar for the first of the wedding celebrations.
Day 3: Cape Town – Franschhoek
There were a few sore heads the morning after (I also felt mega rough but mine was pregnancy related!) but no rest as we checked out of the Belmond, picked up a hire car and drove about an hour to Franschhoek which is a beautiful area in the winelands. We were staying at the Franschhoek Country House and Villas and so ditched our bags before meeting our friends to experience the wine tram; a tram which takes you to different vineyards for wine tastings. I only got to see one of the vineyards as I wasn’t feel well at all and so went back to the hotel to sleep!
Day 4: Franschhoek
We celebrated our friends wedding at the Rickety Bridge Winery. It had the most perfect backdrop and was a gorgeous hot and sunny day with lots of laughter and fun.
Day 5: Franschhoek
After spending the morning by the pool at our hotel, everyone went for a post wedding BBQ at the wedding venue but I had to give it a miss as still felt unwell (was definitely pregnancy related!) although managed to make it out for dinner in the evening at a lovely restaurant called Reuben’s.
Day 6: Franschhoek – Camps Bay
We had another morning by the pool before checking out and having lunch at the Grande Provence wine estate and then heading to our villa in Camps Bay which would be home for the next few days. Dinner was spent at Gold Restaurant which was very entertaining and we even joined in with a drum workshop.
Day 7: Camps Bay
We had more of a relaxing day, starting with a lovely breakfast at The Bay Hotel and then a couple of hours on the beach. We then attempted to go to Robben Island to find it was cancelled so enjoyed a drink in the V&A and then went back to the villa for an evening BBQ.
Day 8: Camps Bay
Most of the gang climbed Table Mountain in the morning whilst I chilled in the villa sunshine. We had some lunch on the beachfront and then in the evening we went to The Roundhouse for their 5 course tasting menu which was delicious and in the most beautiful setting.
Day 9: Camps Bay
It was our last day in Cape Town so we got up early and drove to Boulders Beach to see the penguins! It was slightly surreal walking along the beach next to a penguin – I loved it. We had brunch at the Twelve Apostles hotel (which has great views but was sadly overcast for us) and then relaxed in the villa until dinner. Dinner was incredible. We went to La Colombe in the Silvermist wine estate and it was honestly the best meal and dining experience of my life; a great atmosphere, setting, service and the food was just amazing. We returned to the villa 4.5 hours later very full and happy.
Day 10: Cape Town – Johannesburg
We said goodbye to Cape Town and flew the two hours to Jo’burg before a 3 hour drive to Ivory Tree Game Lodge in Pilanesberg National Park to start our safari adventure.
Day 11-13: Johannasberg
The rest of the holiday was spent enjoying the safari. I didn’t think I’d love it as much as I did – it was one of the best experiences of my life and I recommend it to everyone! We saw so many animals from lions to cheetahs, and I loved the safari ‘routine’ of an early morning drive before coming back for breakfast and chilling by the pool and napping, and then heading out for an evening drive.
Phew, that was a long one! I can’t recommend South Africa as a holiday enough and I can’t wait to take Florence one day.
