After an epic safari in Botswana, Donna and Rehana made the voyage back to South Africa by plane via Maun. Greeted by a local representative at the Cape Town Airport, the theme of their travels transitioned from safari to what can only be described as a foodie and wine lover’s dream in South Africa.
Cape Town, South Africa
In Cape Town, they stayed at The Silo, a super luxury hotel towering above the V&A Waterfront. Their duplex suite had two bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms upstairs and a living room with half bath downstairs. Eclectic vibes, excellent service, spacious rooms, exquisite art in every corner and spectacular views in every direction — this place is magical!
Fun Fact: The Silo
The Silo Hotel is built in the grain elevator portion of the historic grain silo complex occupying six floors above Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa – MOCAA – which houses Africa’s largest collection of contemporary African art.
In Cape Town, Donna and Rehana set out on a tour by private car. First, they explored the Bo-Kaap neighborhood, known for its colorful homes situated along cobblestone streets. This area is the historical center of Cape Malay culture, a community which has influenced South African cuisine, among other things.
Next stop: Boulder’s Beach where they were delighted to observe African penguins! Some of the penguins were nesting, while others were playing and swimming as penguins do. Following the beach, they made their way up Table Mountain via cable car for astounding views.
Pro Tip
A visit to Table Mountain depends a lot on the weather. Donna and Rehana were supposed to visit in the morning, but it was too cloudy. Thankfully, Swain’s dedicated on-the-ground representative was able to rearrange the day to ensure that they could make it to the top. They also noted that the Fast Track cable car ticket was well worth it!
Their second night in Cape Town was spent at Cape Cadogan Boutique Hotel. This elegant Georgian and Victorian hotel is a quiet hideaway that is just steps away from the trendy Kloof Street neighborhood. The highlight upon arrival was a guest lounge with pre-dinner canapes that had a VIP club-like feel.
A Day in the Winelands
Their next day included visits to the Lanzerac Wine Estate and Oldenburg Vineyards by private car. This area is known for Pinotage, as well as a range of simple to complex, all-occasion to limited release wines. Both remarked that they were just as impressed by the incredible small bites served with their tastings as they were with the fantastic wines. Colorful, tasty and filling charcuterie boards accompanied very generous pours of wine. Truly a foodie and wine lover’s dream!
Happy from their day in the Cape Winelands, they were delivered to their next accommodation, the 5-star Belmond Mount Nelson. Set in the heart of Cape Town, the hotel felt like an oasis of tranquility nestled in the excitement of the city. They were greeted with special gin infusion kits to make their very own Pink Ladies, the namesake cocktail of the hotel. Guest services was above-and-beyond, with staff even offering to escort guests in to town.
Pro Tip
Don’t miss high tea at Belmond Mount Nelson! A tea sommelier, live music, sweet and savory bites – all set in a chic lounge. An absolute treat!
Grootbos
After a day of hotel site visits (alas, someone must do the tough job of ensuring our hotel offerings are up to Swain standards!), they arrived at Grootbos Private Nature Reserve for the culinary climax of their travels. Synonymous with flora and fauna, the fynbos (Afrikaans for “fine bush”) region is known for its pristine wilderness. The idyllic property is all glass so you can take in the sheer beauty of the surroundings.
Here they enjoyed incredible spa treatments which utilized the healing fynbos herbs. Other activity options include whale watching (July through October), visiting the caves, abundant walking trails, and the Florilegium art gallery featuring a unique collection of botanical illustrations.
Their final meal of an already stellar trip was a wine cellar farm-to-table dinner. Each course incorporated fynbos and they were invited to smell the herbs along the way, creating a truly immersive dining experience. The piece de resistance was a stunning, imaginative dessert of cotton candy, chocolate, sorbet and edible flowers, all inspired by the Japanese cherry blossom tree.
This foodie and wine lover’s dream in South Africa can be combined with a safari adventure to be an epic Southern Africa vacation. Flip through our South Africa Lookbook, watch our South Africa: Life is Better on Safari video, and learn more about all Southern Africa has to offer. Then contact our team of expert Africa travel consultants to start planning your travels!
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