I just got back from a week long adventure in Cape Town, South Africa and man did I have a time to remember!!! I spent 7 days in Cape Town and each day was packed with amazing adventures that I will never forget. Here are some of the excursions I enjoyed while in the mother land.
You may be wondering what made me decide to go to South Africa in the first place. In short, I love to travel. One of my friend’s cousins wanted to go to South Africa and celebrate her birthday by volunteering to help out at an orphanage. Knowing that I loved to travel, my friend wouldn’t allow me to not go.
This was my first time out of the country and the beginning of an eye opening experience. It’s something about escaping your comfort zone, pushing the boundaries of life, and stepping into a different arena that you’ve never stepped into before. Life becomes more vibrant and purpose-filled the more you experience.
ARRIVING IN CAPE TOWN
We got the opportunity to stay at the Crystal Towers Marriott in Cape Town, South Africa. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay there. The staff was very welcoming, the amenities were endless. In my opinion, our stay wouldn’t have been as enjoyable if we stayed anywhere else. They were very accommodating. Upon arrival, I revenge saying to myself, “Cape Town reminds me a lot of California!” It was lined with Palm trees and had the same type of architecture. Nevertheless, Cape Town was scenic and versatile.
DAY 1
We all needed some time to relax after the long 20 hour flight we had just completed. Some of us enjoyed some pool time at the hotel, while others met at the downstairs bar to chat and connect. Later that night, we recapped at the dopest restaurant I’ve ever been to: Kloof Street House. This restaurant was not only known for their food presentation and taste, but also for the atmosphere and experience. It is definitely on the top of my list for the most instagrammable places in Cape Town. My friend and I split their special of the day which was a seafood platter. Between the two of us we couldn’t finish it. They give you more than enough food and for an affordable price. Keep in mind that $1 USD is the equivalent of $15 South African Rand (which is their form of currency), so our money stretched pretty far while we were there. Other than the cost to travel to South Africa, there is no reason that you cannot ball out on a budget and experience the fullness of life there!!!
DAY 2
We were able to take a tour of the city and townships of different parts of Cape Town. We visited the higher and lower ends of Cape Town and got to see some of the conditions the locals lived in. In fact, our tour guide from the hotel actually revealed that he lived in one of the shanties which was in the more poverty stricken area. Our eyes were opened to how tough it is to survive there. Majority of the locals that lived in the shanties did not have running water or any electricity at all. As we drove, we saw many of the locals carrying buckets and container to the nearby creek to draw water. There were goats that roamed freely and drank from the same creeks that the locals drank from. We learned that in order to have a shanty, you must build it yourself from whichever materials you can find, or buy one. Most of the locals in that area didn’t have any jobs or money, so they had to be creative to make a living. This was the beginning of a very humbling experience. We also got to visit a town within Cape Town called BoKaap that had colorful homes and shops (another very instagrammable place in Cape Town).
DAY 3
We had the privilege of visiting Aquila Safari. We opted to go on the “Sunset Game Tour”. The tour was a half day tour which was more than enough time to get the full experience of the Safari. They also offer the option of renting out one of their huts and staying overnight. What I appreciated most about Aquila was that their practices were to, “Rescue, Rehabilitate, and Release” the animals. We were able to get close enough to the animals to be able to experience all of their beauty, while getting different teachings about each species from our tour guide. Upon arrival, at no additional charge, we had the opportunity to enjoy wine (which is widely part of what South Africa is known for) and again at our first rest stop in the midst of the tour. I highly recommend you visiting a safari if you take a trip to any part of Africa. Aquila is one of the more affordable options of safaris in that area, and you will have a wonderful experience. They also include meals and snacks depending on what time of day and tour you are taking. We spent maybe about $70 USD for the travel to the safari AND the actual experience (the safari was about 2 hours from our hotel).
DAY 4
We went on the Peninsula Tour at Camps Bay, and it was very windy (it usually windy in March and April). On the Peninsula Tour, we explored the coast and took a stroll along the beaches. The beaches had colorful huts and shops (another instagrammable place in Cape Town). We also visited a nearby marketplace where we were able to purchase souvenirs and experience the culture of the hustle of the locals. There we saw a young group of teenage girls doing a tribal dance, which I was able to capture in this video. A tip we learned, is to go closer to the time when shops were about to leave for the day (which is about 5pm their time) so that you can negotiate better deals on the souvenirs you would like to purchase. They are trying to make their last few sales around closing time, so they are more willing to go lower on their prices (wink, wink).
DAY 5
We visited Table Top Mountain where we rode cable cars to the top of the mountain where you get to experience the clouds. This was one of the most beautiful experiences I have ever had. The cable car ride was scenic and beautiful as we coasted across the top of Cape Town. As got out to hike to the top of the mountain and explore, we realized the magnificence of this pure grace of God. I was able to get some footage of us in the midst of the mist coming from the clouds. Yes, we were pretty high up in the mountains to be able to experience that. The higher we got, the cooler it got, it was amazing to see and feel. See the full video here.
DAY 6
We went ATV riding! We got to ride the sand dunes of South Africa. The sand was as white as snow and the ride was freeing and refreshing.
An hour later we got the opportunity to volunteer at Emasithandane Children’s Organization where they orphaned about 28 kids. We went to the store and bought groceries, clothes, and different items that they were desperately in the need of. This was by far the most humbling experience I have ever had in my life! We started by handing the kids bags of assorted candy. One kid had eaten his entire bag within minutes!! Some of them had never had candy before amongst other luxuries that we take for granted. They were so grateful that we came in their time of need. My friend and I got to talk to some of the teenage girls in the home and were instantly drawn to their loving and joyous spirits. They didn’t seem phased by their circumstances. This was simply all that they had ever known. They laughed and talked with us as if we were one of their sisters. They told us about what some of their favorite things to do was such as fashion and dancing. Then we exchanged information. It was so hard to leave them, knowing they are going back to their reality and we were going back to ours. My heart cried out for them as we drove away and I couldn’t help but to think about what more we could do to help these kids and so many more that were struggling. If you are or know of someone who would like to partner to help some of the kids and families in South Africa, please leave a comment below or feel free to contact me directly at lilliestreet@gmail.com
Later that night, we recapped in our African attire at an African restaurant called Gold Restaurant (another instagrammable place in Cape Town). It was an entire experience! We were greeted by the host (all of the employees wore African garb) who took us to our reserved table. After they took our orders, they offered African face paint (which was free, but the artist accepted tips). Basically, how it works at this restaurant, is there is different live performances for each course of the meal. They have 1 menu which they bring out each dish to the table and you serve yourself from the servings they serve to the table. We were all stuffed by the end of the meal. It was such a great finale to our trip. I definitely recommend it to anyone traveling to Cape Town. The food tastes amazing and the atmosphere is one to be remembered. They also have a souvenir shop so don’t forget to support them.
DAY 7
We went to Robben Island where they give you the opportunity to do a sunset cruise and visit Nelson Mandela’s prison. Robben Island is beautiful and has various shops, restaurants and attractions that you must see.
South Africa was an experience to remember and taught me many lessons. It truly humbled me. It is a week later, and the life-lessons of the trip is weighing heavy on my heart. The biggest issue they faced was the water epidemic. They even had a sign in our hotel rooms urging us to conserve water as much as possible. That is a luxury in the US that we don’t think twice about… I am one of those who loves a nice bubble bath or a long hot shower. Now I feel guilty and can’t help but yearn for them to be able to have the same luxuries.
Where I’m from, and we are known for our southern hospitality. Compared to South Africa…. We have none! Everyone we met (even the ones that were working) had an attitude of gratitude. My friend and I would literally discuss this difference daily. I realized that in Africa, they had more of an attitude of gratitude, because having a trade heavily aided in their survival. Majority of the people were highly resilient and creative. Most of them had to CREATE their own trades from what they had. A lot of them were not educated, and did not speak English. There, if you don’t speak English you can’t get a job. Which meant they had to make a living by their own means. In the midst of it all, everyone there seemed truly happy in spite of their circumstances.
They all looked out for each other. They all banned together and had this huge sense of community. Our tour guide that lived in these communities stated and I quote, “Everything here is shared: home, work, life.”
If I could charge us all to make some changes in our own lives and truly live more of a happier life it would be this: stay humble, let go of self and lend a helping hand to your brother and sister, conserve and minimize, do what makes you happy instead of what you feel obligated to because life is short.
Overall, Cape Town was amazing. I highly recommend it to someone who wants to get out and experience something new and beautiful. I think it should be on everyone’s travel bucket list! Be sure to stop by and check out the full video of our trip to Cape Town, South Africa.
