Curated Cape Town

Depending on your flights, you will likely arrive in the morning and will probably be looking for something low-key to do for your first day in Cape Town. Exploring the V&A (Victoria & Alfred) Waterfront is easy going, casual and a great way to jumpstart your time in Cape Town. It is South Africa’s oldest harbor and a great place to walk around, shop, eat or take a boat tour. Camp’s Bay is also close by and one of the best known beaches in the city.

Arguably the most iconic and recognizable landmark in South Africa, Table Mountain is a staple on any Cape Town itinerary.

Take the cablecar up - buy tickets ahead of time on the Table Mountain website and check the weather. Cable cars close on days that are not weather permitting.
Hiking - there are five official routes, each varying in length and difficulty.

Platteklip Gorge is the shortest and most direct; takes two hours and the hike is moderately difficult. Skeleton Gorge is easier but takes four to five hours. Don’t forget you can always take the cablecar just up or just down if you don’t want to hike both ways!


This was one of my favorite days. The Chapman’s Peak drive is easy and very picturesque as it takes you alone the coast. Heading south on the east side of the peninsula will take you through Muizenberg to Boulders Beach and onward to the Cape of Good Hope.

• Muizenberg - A Laidback beach town on your way to Boulders Beach. If you have time it’s worth a stop to walk through the shops, grab a coffee and take a stroll on the beach. Admire the brightly painted beach huts and spy surfers enjoying the waves.

• Boulders Beach - A fan favorite and a must-see on your day trip from Cape Town, it’s home to the largest colony of South African penguins. Pro tip: visit BOTH sides of the beach! One side is where most of the tourist congregate while the other side is more quiet. This side will bring you up close and personal with the feathered friends you came to visit. (It goes without saying but I’ll say it anyway; the penguins are wild animals. They should not be touched and they do bite, as many signs will remind you).

• Cape of Good Hope - Nestled inside Cape Point National Park lies the Cape of Good Hope. Sometimes referred to the southernmost point in Africa, it is actually the southWESTERN most point of the continent. Climb the steps to the top where you can explore the lighthouse and look out across the open ocean. Pro tip: don’t wear flip flops like I did, comfortable close-toed shoes are a must.
  Take the Chapman’s Peak drive back to Cape Town along the western side of the peninsula and enjoy the epic views during what will likely be sunset. Pro tip: Make sure the road is open. Sometimes severe weather causes the route to be closed.

Depending on how much time you have, I would recommend spending at least one night here! It’s very easy to spend two days in wine country exploring the regions and enjoying the scenery.

The areas three main regions are a stones throw from each other and easy to visit in one day from Cape Town. They are Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek. Constancia is also nearby and is world renown. We started the day at the Delaire Graff which turned out to be my absolute favorite winery and also where I found my new favorite Sauvignon Blanc. We then moved on to Boschendal and finished the day at Babylonstoren.

If you aren’t driving, consider taking the Franschhoek hop on hop off wine tram. There are several different routes that allow you to see many different wineries throughout your day. Bonus, you can drink as much as you want because you don’t have to drive!


This is something that has been on my bucket list as long as I can remember and when we decided to go to South Africa, I thought to myself “I can’t go all the way to SA and NOT do this!”

After some research, we decided to cage dive in Gansbaai through the company Marine Dynamics (who I highly recommend) and had an absolutely epic time. It is about a two-and-a-half hour drive one way from Cape Town, but if you do the late morning dive it's totally doable as a day trip. Pro tip: sea sickness medication is an absolute must! Even if you think you don’t need it, trust me, you do.