Explore the Cape
Welcome to South Africa! The below is some information to help you with planning your trip with some activities, tips and recommendations. If you have any questions please feel free to contact us.
Local Tips
South Africa is safe for the most part providing you don’t go into bad areas and just have your wits about you, like you would in any other country. There are large areas called ‘’townships’’ that will stand out as they have thousands of tiny shacks. You will most likely come across the biggest one, Khayelitsha, coming out of the airport as it runs along the highway. These must be avoided.
When in the city it is safe to walk around the busy hubs like the V&A Waterfront and the Sea Point promenade. Table mountain is also fairly safe but there has been some theft as it is a busy tourist area and it is a nature reserve so difficult to have security everywhere. Just be careful if you are thinking of hiking solo. We recommend using Uber when moving from place to place at night to be on the safe side.
Be sure that when booking accommodation that you choose a safe neighborhood. You can always double check with us before booking to see what we think. Accommmodation in the Elgin Valley for the wedding weekend can be found on our site here.
When using Google Maps, make sure that the route it takes you uses major highways or roads. It will always try and get you to your destination using the quickest and shortest route which might take you places you don’t want to be.
Most parking places in shopping malls will have parking guards. They will look after your car and, make sure other drivers don’t damage it. They will be wearing a uniform and a high visibility vest and are hired by the mall. Giving them a small tip like 5 rand, is a nice gesture.
South Africa has a zero tolerance when it comes to drinking and driving, unlike most countries which allow 1 drink, so best to book transportation if you’re going to enjoy some wine.
Getting Around
The best way to get around is hiring a car. Public transportation exists but not recommended and not safe. Avoid using normal taxis, as they can raise their price when they realize you are a foreigner and will require you to pay cash. Same goes for the taxis at the airport. Uber is your best bet and very affordable. Please note that there is no Uber in the Elgin Valley, so we recommend having a look at the Transport page which can be found here on our website and arranging transport ahead of the wedding.
Accommodation
We live in Sitari Country Estate, near Somerset West. It is a 20 minute drive from the airport. If you’d like to stay close to us, we would recommend booking accommodation in Somerset West or the Helderberg area as driving back and forth from Cape Town can be pretty long due to the high traffic in between cities.
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If you would like to spend some time in Cape Town to explore the city centre, accommodation in Gardens, Kloof Street, Green Point, Sea Point or Camps Bay are good options. I would not recommend Woodstock.
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The Cape Town Winelands is a wonderful place to explore, there are many hotels and guesthouses that side of the city that are lovely. The Alphen Hotel and Silvermist Mountain Lodge are lovely hotels to name a couple. There are more affordable options in the area though.
The wedding will take place at Rockhaven Farm in the Elgin Valley. It is a 30 minute drive from Somerset West, so we would suggest booking accommodation there for the venue as it is in a farming area and unless you arrange a shuttle service, Ubers will not take you there and back. There is a page on the website with accommodation around the wedding venue.
Shopping & Groceries
For groceries in Somerset West we like using Woolworths at Waterstone Village. They have multiple locations but this is the largest and also has the best selection. Checkers is also good, but quality and selection can vary between location. Checkers at Sitari Village is a good choice. Otherwise the main food shops are Woolworths, Checkers, Spar and Pick and Pay.
For shopping, The Somerset Mall has most stores you would need. V&A Waterfront, in Cape Town has a much larger shopping mall and is home to some of the world's stop brands.
Driving Activities
Chapman’s Peak
From Cape Town City or from the Constantia Area, you head towards Hout Bay. Head through Hout Bay following the Chapman's Peak Drive signage and you will get onto Chapman’s Peak drive. This drive will take you around the the coast to Noordhoek. It is a spectacular drive with amazing views. Please note that you will be required to pay a toll on entering the drive.
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Chapman's Peak Hotel is a great place to stop for lunch or an early dinner on the Hout Bay side of Chapman's Peak Drive. This family run hotel has an awesome Portuguese style surf and turf.
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Further up the drive and, before you get to the toll gate, Tintswalo Atlantic Hotel, is a lovely place to go for sundowners or a lunch, while having an uninterrupted view of the Atlantic Ocean.
Coming out of Chapman’s Peak drive on the Noordhoek side, you can head south towards the Cape of Good Hope & Cape Point. There is a lighthouse at Cape Point and lovely views.
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Following a visit to the Cape of Good Hope, you can stop at Boulders Beach. There is a small endangered African penguin colony that resides there. It is a bit of a tourist trap but fun to see.
Clarence Drive
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Near to Somerset West, there is Clarence drive. This is also another nice coastal drive and free of charge. This will take you through Gordon's bay and through Pringle Bay, Betty's Bay and Kleinmond. If you continue through Kleinmond, you will reach the national highway. By taking a right and following the highway, you will reach a seaside town called Hermanus. Hermanus is a quaint town and nice place for a lunch stop.​​
Wine Tasting
South Africa has hundreds of wineries with beautiful properties where you can do wine tastings and most also have restaurants.
The ultimate experience would be the Wine Tram in Franschoek. It is an hour from Cape Town and we would recommend booking a hotel for a night or two. The tramway will take you to up to 5 different vineyards, depending on which colour line you choose. Make sure you book your tram tickets and book a restaurant for lunch ahead of time. We would recommend Le Lude, Chamonix or Miko’s at Mont Rochelle for lunch. These are on different tram lines, so make sure you book the correct one. There are amazing restaurants in the town. Epices, Reubens and The French Connection are a few great restaurants for lunch or dinner.
You can also book a private minibus to take you from your accommodation to any wineries in Franschoek and Stellenbosch and back on the same day.
In and around Cape Town City, you have also a lots of vineyards. I would suggest organizing a van to take you to various places so you can enjoy multiple tastings. The following vineyards are worth a stop:
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Constantia Winelands
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Durbanville Winelands
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Stellenbosch
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Please note: The above options are just to name a few. There are many more options in these two regions.
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Walking & Hiking
With thousands of trails throughout the country, the best way to explore the rugged terrain is by foot. Most trails have proper markers or rock cairns along them to show the way. Cederberg and more remote places can be more challenging and we would recommend using a GPS or to have a trail app with offline maps on your phone to avoid getting lost.
Table Mountain
Located in Cape Town. Some trails are very steep and will use chains and ladders, so proceed with caution. Always check the weather before going. Being near the ocean the conditions on the mountain can change quickly and fog or thick clouds can creep up on the mountain making easier to get lost or off the trail. Below are some trails we recommend. There are hundreds more that we have yet to do.
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Take the cable car to the top of Table Mountain. Enjoy the view without breaking a sweat. Easy.
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Elephant's Eye is a 5.3km hike with a 220m elevation gain. Easy.
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Skeleton Gorge is a 5.3km hike with a 640m elevation gain. It has chains and ladders. Moderate.
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India Venster is a 6km hike with a 780 elevation gain. It has chains and ladders. Difficult.
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Platteklip Gorge to Upper Cable Station is a 6km hike with a 740m elevation. Difficult.
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Jonkershoek Nature Reserve
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Located in Stellenbosch, about an hour from Cape Town or 30 minutes from Somerset West. You should try and arrive early, as there is limited parking at the trail head. If you can’t park there you will need to park by the office, adding 10km to your walk.
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Tweede Waterfalls is a 6.4km hikes and is mostly flat. Easy.
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Panorama Circuit which is one of our favourite hikes, is 17km with a 1000m elevation gain. Difficult. Dave would suggest hiking 6km and turning back, as the descent on the full circuit has suffered badly from landslides and erosion and can be a bit sketchy to navigate down.
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Steenbras Nature Reserve
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Located just after Gordon's Bay along Clarens Drive. Tickets/permits would need to be purchased online from the City of Cape Town Website.
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Crystal Pools is a 4.5km hike with a 200m elevation gain. Easy and really beautiful pools that you can swim in along the way.
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Cederberg Wilderness Area
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Located 3 hours North of Somerset West, the Cederberg mountains will remind you of the landscapes you find in Arizona and Utah with orange mountains and rock formations. Sandriff and Driehoek Farms offer cottages for rent.
Tickets for Wolfberg Cracks and Arch can be bought at Cederberg wine near Sandriff resort. Others will need to be bought at the Algeria office as you come into the park. The below 4 hikes are our favorites.
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Wolberg Cracks is one of the best hikes with mesmorizing rock formations. The hike is 4.2km with a 520m elevation gain. Moderate.
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Wolfberg Arch continues on from the Cracks hike until you reach the arch. This hike is 12km with a 720m elevation gain. Moderate.
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Tafelberg is the second highest peak in the Cederberg. It is a very nice hike. The last section can be tricky to navigate as the trail ends and you need to scramble at the top. The hike is 13.5km with a 1160m elevation gain. Difficult.
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Sneeuberg is the highest peak in the area and also the peak on which we got engaged. From Cederberg wines, you hike up to the Maltese Cross and continue on to Sneeuberg Peak. You must use a map as there are no signs. In the last 100m there is no trail and climbing without ropes. The hike is 15km with a 1100m elevation gain. Difficult.
Wildlife Encounters
The Western Cape is home to tall mountain ranges, therefore not the landscape suitable for wildlife like elephants, giraffes, lions and zebras that people associate with Africa.
Having said that, there are a few private game reserves around our area. By far the most popular place for game viewing is the Kruger National Park, but that would require you flying. Below are some options around Cape Town. We have not been to any ourselves, except the botanical garden and Addo.
Tour companies also have 2-3 day packages with transport, accommodation, food and safari tours from Cape Town.
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Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
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Located in Cape Town, an hour from Somerset West, this gorgeous botanical garden has a large variety of flora and birdlife. As mentioned on their website, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens is acclaimed as one of the great botanic gardens of the world.
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Two Oceans Acquarium
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Located in Cape Town at the V & A Waterfront, the Two Oceans Acquarium is a wonderful opportunity to see some of the ocean wildlife that can be found around South Africa.
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World of Birds
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Located in Hout Bay, Cape Town. The World of Birds sanctuary is housing a large population of birds, monkeys and mammals indigenous to South Africa.
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Aquila Private Game Reserve
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Located 2 hours north east of Somerset West, the Aquila Private Game Reserve gives safari tours where you can see lions, elephants and giraffes.
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Addo Elephant Park
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Located near Port Elizabeth, 8 hours east of Cape Town, Addo Elephant Park is a large park where you drive yourself around. Park has buffalos, elephants, zebras and more.
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Zip-lining
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Cape Canopy tours offer a zip lining experiences in the Hottentots mountain range, about 40 minute drive from Somerset West.
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