A Guide to South Africa \\ One Weekend in Cape Town & Garden Route

South Africa had been the top of my bucket list for as long as I could remember, but it just took finding someone willing to go on the adventure with me! It’s becoming an increasingly popular destination (especially post FIFA), and I absolutely know why. This country is incredibly beautiful with wildly diverse landscapes and people. It’s almost untouched compared to most countries I have been to, and how some of the most incredible natural beauty. Also, it happens to be crazy affordable while you’re there!

Keep reading for our pro-tips to traveling Cape Town and along the garden route on our trip! We are sharing all our tips, where we stayed, our full itinerary, things to do, wineries, garden route stops, gorgeous hikes, and more resources we found helpful in our planning.

READ MORE : HOW WE TRAVELED TO SOUTH AFRICA FOR FREE

FIRST THINGS FIRST, TRIP SUMMARY

We visited South Africa during their end of Summer (our March), which was absolutely incredible. Weather was consistently 60-80 degrees (F). South Africa is typically known for hot summers and mild winters (aka, I was super used to that because #texas).

Duration // 7 days (if possible, I would recommend 14 days to also hit Kruger)
Rental Car // A MUST! Especially if you’re driving the Garden Route
Areas Visited // Cape Town -> Oudtshoorn -> Addo National Park
Season Visited // End of March, their Fall
Top Travel Guide We Used // Not a Nomad Blog

OUR FULL ITINERARY

Day 1 (Tue) // Arrive in Cape Town, walk around Camps Bay, drove to Boulders Beach, dinner by Boulders Beach
Day 2 // Lions Head Hike (woke up too late for Table Mountain), walked V&A waterfront, boat & helicopter ride (super last min decision), dinner on Long St.
Day 3 // Winery tour with Wineflies (we SUPER recommend!!!!)
Day 4 // Drive to Oudtshoorn for a safari with Chandelier Game Lodge
Day 5 // Chandelier Safari Day, drive to Addo National Park with Figtree Resort
Day 6 // Addo National Park Safaris
Day 7 // Originally Port Elizabeth and Plettenberg Bay but we had to drive back to Cape Town because Denver left his passport at our Airbnb…

WHERE WE STAYED

Cape Town // $ // This AirBnb in Camps Bay! Highly recommend Camps Bay or the V&A Waterfront

Oodschoorn // $$ // We stayed at the Chandelier Game Lodge which was great because Safari on sight and Ostriches!

Addo National Park // $$$ // The Figtree was 100% the coolest place we have ever stayed with the most INSANE views. I highly recommend the splurge!

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT SOUTH AFRICA

SAFETY CONCERNS

While South Africa is ABSOLUTELY safer than people believe (the amount of people that asked me if it was safe is crazy high), it does have parts that I would not recommend wandering at night alone. Pickpocketing and theft are common, keep your purse close and leave nothing in your car. I would not personally say Cape Town is a super safe area for a solo female traveler. However, I never felt unsafe and tried to stay close to busy areas.

THE WATER SITUATION

As you may or may not know, Cape Town is about to be the first city to literally run out of water. Wild. They have very strict restrictions on water usage at properties, so check with the airbnb you plan to stay at about their water situation!! Our Airbnb had a private well so we could shower freely. Also, expect bottles of water only at restaurants.

POWER OUTAGES

Much of South Africa has scheduled power outages every day that last around 2 hours. They change by day, so ask your hotel or Airbnb host about the schedules. Expect that most restaurants and businesses will be shut down during this time.

TOWNSHIPS AND RACISM

South Africa has A LOTTTT of inequality. Cape Town is beautiful, but between every stunning hill an impoverished township where people are literally living in shacks. Inequality and racism are still extremely common and problematic. This is especially true in Johannesburg, which is why we opted not to visit it.

Township tours are available, but we opted out because we felt like other peoples poverty should not be a “tourist stop” for us.

TIPPING

Same rules as Europe, no need to tip at restaurants but it is common to tip for services you receive such as at hotels or resorts or on tours.

TRANSPORTATION

Cape Town has plenty of Ubers available, but I honestly WOULD recommend renting a car! Parking is either free or cheap as heck, and the rental cars cost like $25 a day which ends up being WAYYYY less than multiple Ubers. Also a must if you want to visit the wineries or the Garden Route!!

I personally would not recommend doing one of the “Garden Route Tours.” We research extensively and I can the conclusion they were overpriced and it was WAY easier to do yourself.

WHAT TO DO IN CAPE TOWN

Note that we actually did NOT get to do everything on this list! I’ll put a star on the left if we did get around to it, but otherwise this was the list we compiled from the research we did beforehand.

HIKE TABLE MOUNTAIN

Probably the #1 recommendation we were given but to take one of the hikes up table mountain! We ended up hiking Lions Head (below) instead because we woke up too late for the 4-hour Table Mountain hike. If you’re low on time, Lions Head is the way to go. If you have the 4 hours, definitely do this!! Here are some tips & route options.

You CAN also take the gondola up to the top (or back down post-hike), but we opted not to because tickets were pricey)

*HIKE LIONS HEADS

What we opted for because it’s a 2 hour hike rather than 4 hours and we only had 3 days! Beware if you’re afraid of hikes this is NOT for you. Wear comfortable shoes, you will literally be climbing up a rock wall for part of it.

WALK AROUND CAMPS BAY

We were staying just around Camps Bay per recommendations, and we loved it! Walked around the beach (which is gorgeous) and got drinks at the restaurants there. Great spot for a beach day.

BOTANICAL GARDENS

Oh I wish we had had time to do this! Looks absolutely beautiful and has this crazy cool bridge. Also looks like a great photo opp spot.

*BOULDER BEACH

THIS IS THE BEST THING TO DO EVER. PENGUINS. ON. THE. BEACH. NEED I SAY MORE. Okay pro-tip drive to the far end of the area. Like you will see a boardwalk where you are NEAR the penguins but not with them. Walk to the very end of that and pay the attendant then you can go on the actual beach!!

CHAPMANS DRIVE & CHAPMANS PEAK

We took Chapmans Drive to get to Boulder Beach and it was STUNNING. We would have done the peak hike but ran out of time. However, the photos of it look stunning and it seems like a perfect sunset spot.

*V&A WATERFRONT

Just a great spot to walk along, get some really good seafood dinner at the fish market, and maybe even catch a boat ride or helicopter tour! It’s something I would go for if you have time, but I would not call it a must on this trip

*TAKE A HELICOPTER RIDE

Okay. HEAR ME OUT. This shit is normally so expensive and would cost $300 anywhere else in the world but here it was $100 per person and we JUMPED ON IT. You will never have another cheap helicopter ride opportunity so if that is a bucket list for you, then I can confidently say this is worth it. Wowza.

ROBBEN ISLAND

A great spot if you want to learn more about the history of South Africa and Nelson Mandela specifically. We, unfortunately, just didn’t have the time to go! It’s a separate island so you have to take the ferry from the Waterfront to get there, and it’s recommended you buy tickets in advance.

DISTRICT SIX MUSEUM

Another historical spot if you’re interested in learning more about the history of South Africa, the Apartheid, and Nelson Mandela! I’ve heard plenty of good things about this and wish we had had time to spot by and learn more.

*BO KAPP NEIGHBORHOOD

Personally, I wish we had not wasted our time. It’s a cute colorful neighborhood that makes for cute instagram photos but honestly there are a million better photo opp spots.

OLD BISCUIT MILL

This was the number two recommendation we got (besides Table Mountain) and I am SOOO bummed we didn’t make it! It’s basically a Sunday-only farmers market and we happened to be at Addo on Sunday. I heard a million good things, so if you’re there on Sunday GO!

TAKE A TOWNSHIP TOUR

I have mixed feelings here. I opted not to, because it felt like it was putting peoples poverty on display like a tourist joke. No bueno to me. However, I heard from locals that they actually have plenty of locals that LIVE in the townships that give tours. They teach you about their lifestyle, take you in some of the homes, and it ends up being a really cultural experience. So depends on how you feel about it, no judgement either way!

VISITING THE CAPE TOWN WINERIES

We opted to actually get a WineFlies tour and while I was skeptical at first, this turned out to be one of the best things we did! It was $60 and included transport between all the wineries, 25 (TWENTY. FIVE.) free wines to taste at five different wineries, a South African lunch, chocolate tasting, cheese tasting, plenty of cool people from around the world, and our awesome (and very intelligent) guide Sherif! WORTH IT.

MITRE’S EDGE

This was one of the five wineries we visited and loved it so much it gets it own section. The wines were so incredible we each bought a bottle to bring back to the US and it was $8!!!!!! Oh my gosh y’all. Worth a stop.

STELLENBOCH

We actually made a quick stop in this little wine country and BOY was it a good choice. So many great wine-tasting spots and wineries. It’s basically a cute little town area with a bunch of wineries and little wine shops and I am all about it. We stopped at Love Wine Studio downtown for a tasting and ended up buying two bottles!

FRANSCHOEK WINE TRAMS

While we did not do this ourselves, we were told this was the best way to get around wineries without a rental car! There is a little wine tram that will take you to a bunch of wineries in the area. Basically, you get lots of drinking and no driving!

SPIER WINERY

Another recommendation we got a LOTTTT from people that had lived in Cape Town was Spier Winery. We (unfortunately) did not have time to go because we opted for the WineFlies tour instead. However, when we go back this is a priority on my list! It’s also GIANTTTT!

WHERE TO EAT & DRINK IN CAPE TOWN

Noting that these may not be particularly spectacular spots, but we tried them out and personally would recommend!

KLOOF NEK RD.

A great spot to find a bunch of local bars & restaurants! I say local, but in reality it is a LOT of expats. Just less tourists. We got drinks are Moveable Feast (their rooftop is GORG) and then got dinner at Miller’s Thumb! Miller’s Thumb had a pretty long wait but we got drinks at the bar and chatted with the bartender who had tons of great tips about the area!

LONG STREET

Another great area with plenty of bars and restaurants! Just walk along there and hop into any place, you’re bound to find a bunch of locals and expats alike.

TRUTH COFFEE SHOP

A couple different locals actually recommended this one to us! We didn’t have the time to stop by and check it out for ourselves, but if you’re looking for a cute local coffee shop then I would say this sounds like a good bet.

GARDEN ROUTE THINGS TO DO

Firstly, let me emphasize that if you have the time, I absolutely recommend the Garden Route! We opted to take the shorter route through the mountains instead of by the sea and it was so stunning. Here’s where we went:

MARINE DYNAMICS SHARK CAGE DIVING

If you’re up for a little danger, then just outside of Cape Town is a shark cage diving spot with Marine Dynamics! We absolutely recommend them because of their sustainability and eco methods (unlike a lot of other places). However, note that you will not always see a great white shark. However, you’re very likely to see copper sharks which are PRETTY TERRIFYING TOO.

OUDSCHOORN: CANGO CROC CAGE DIVING

So we actually didn’t have a chance to do this one, but have heard from many that crocodile diving is actually way more terrifying because you’re not expecting the crocs to be as big as they are. Again, this is a great option for my thrill seekers here! We would recommend Cango Caves as that’s what came up most in our hunts.

KNYSNA ELEPHANT PARK

We opted to do the far drive to Addo for Elephants, but if that is not an option for you then I would head to Knsyna for their elephant park! Plenty of elephant hangouts and walks, and you can even sleep in the cabins with the elephants. My elephant lovers, this is definitely for you.

TALLEST BUNGEE JUMPING BRIDGE IN THE WORLD

Thrill seekers! Another one for ya! Garden Route is home to the tallest natural bungee jumping bridge in the world. I absolutely would have done this if I did not just injure my spine a few months back. Pretty sure my doctor would say bungee jumping is NOT on the list of approved activities, especially since treadmills aren’t even on my approved activities list yet.

GARDEN ROUTE GAME DRIVES

So many great options for Game Drives! We opted to check out Chandelier Game Drive because it was more of the budget friendly options and included the game drive, a three course dinner, breakfast, ostrich feeding, giraffe feeding, buffalo tour, and it was so cute with their glamping tents!

I will note that we did a Game Drive and then went to Addo for an actual open safari, and the game drive was like a 2/10 compared to the open safari!!

OUDSCHOORN: HIGHGATE OSTRICH FARM

If you’ve ever had the desire to ride an ostrich, then Highgate Ostrich Farm would be the place! Heads up that this does not HURT the animals however they are absolutely going to throw you off of them. Hope you don’t mind hitting the ground! HARD!

PLATTERNBURG BAY

Plenty to do by this gorgeous beach! If you head over to the far south point of the beach, you’ll get some incredible photo op views. The beach is usually pretty empty, so it’s the perfect spot to walk around and enjoy the beautiful country. However, if you don’t have time then don’t worry about making it over here.

ADDO NATIONAL PARK SAFARI

THE BEST THIS WE DID. Wow. Absolutely incredible. We opted to splurge a little and stay at Camp Figtree which I would recommend a million times over. It is NOT cheap, around $120 per person per night, but well worth the cost. We had insanely delicious three course dinners, great lunches, a view that would blow your mind, and the most incredible safari tour through Addo.

The Camp staff are the ones taking you on the Safaris and they absolutely know their stuff. We even saw a lion!!! Seriously, if you can make the drive here, I would really try to do it. The Game Reserve drives DO NOT compare.

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Thanks for getting out my Things To Do on the Garden Route: A Cape Town South Africa Guide! We absolutely LOVED our trip and I am already counting down until I get my butt back to Africa. One of the most naturally beautiful countries in the world, and like no place I have traveled to before. If you have any other Garden Route or Cape Town recommendations, definitely share in the comment!!!!

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