Our South African Adventure ( part 2)

We took the R62 road from Oudtshoorn to Franschhoek, and I can honestly say it was a spectacular 4.5-hour drive. The mountains on either side offered breathtaking views. Along the way, there are charming little towns where you can stop for a nice meal. Our arrival over the mountains into the Franschhoek Valley was simply beautiful.

Franschhoek is a small town in the Cape Winelands, known as the culinary and wine capital of South Africa. It’s one of those places where you can truly relax, enjoy the upscale shops, chocolate boutiques, art galleries, and stunning restaurants. We did a bike tour through the vineyards and sampled some excellent wines. The most popular attraction in this area is the Wine Tram. On a day trip, you can visit 4 or 5 vineyards, enjoy lunch in spectacular surroundings, and even indulge in spa treatments at some of the vineyards. If you're in Franschhoek on a Saturday, be sure to check out the vibrant market in the town centre. I couldn’t recommend Franschhoek more highly.

For our final stop, we travelled back to Cape Town for the last three nights and stayed in the V&A Waterfront area. This area is safe, upscale, with beautiful restaurants, fabulous shopping, and is overall a fantastic place to stay. From there, we took a trip to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years. The journey takes about 45 minutes each way by boat and the tour lasts around 4 hours. For a first-time visitor to Cape Town, it’s definitely something worth considering. Next, we headed to the top of Table Mountain. It’s easy to get there by taxi or as part of a tour, and the view of Cape Town from the top is simply stunning. However, since the weather can change quickly, if you see that the mountain is clear, go right away, as you might not get another chance during your stay.

Another recommended spot is the Bo-Kaap area, known for its colourful buildings. You can even take a Cape Malay cooking class here, which is a unique experience. Cape Town is simply a must on any South African itinerary. If you visit in the summer, you might consider staying in the upscale beach area of Camps Bay, while still enjoying all the sights that Cape Town has to offer. Sadly, our 3-week adventure came to an end, but it was truly the trip of a lifetime with my family. The memories we made together will last forever.

One final thing that may help you decide if South Africa is the right destination for you is the cost of living. Currently, the exchange is nearly 20 rand to the euro, which makes this destination excellent value for food and drinks. Our most expensive meal for four people, with quite a few drinks and fabulous food overlooking the waterfront in Cape Town, was €70. Most meals averaged around €55 for the four of us. The value for money is simply phenomenal, making the expense of getting there well worth it. You can truly afford to do whatever you want, whenever you want!