Two Weeks in South Africa: Wildlife, Wine & Family Time

In March, I spent two weeks in South Africa visiting my brother and sister-in-law, who have been living in Cape Town for the past five years. This was actually my fourth time there, but it was the first time that my parents visited too (I basically tagged along to their trip!). It was a trip full of wildlife, wine, hikes, music, and some seriously stunning sunsets.

We split our time between two amazing spots. The first week was in Hout Bay, where Matt and Christie live — a laid-back little coastal town nestled between the mountains and the sea. Then we moved to Sea Point which is right on the Cape Town coastline. Hout Bay had more of a relaxed, local feel, while Sea Point was all about buzzing cafes, ocean air, and morning runs along the promenade.

The Safari Experience of a Lifetime
One of the highlights of the trip was a 3-night safari in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park in KwaZulu-Natal. We packed in as much as possible: guided game drives at sunrise and sunset, and our own self-drives through the park. One day we were driving for 8 hours, it's really addictive!

We saw pretty much everything — rhinos, lions, elephants, buffalos, giraffes, hyenas, zebras, warthogs, baboons, wildebeests, nyalas, impalas, and so many birds. Our first game drive, in the morning, we saw 4 of the African big 5 which is just incredible. We drove through masses of buffalo (pretty scary) and got up close to a bull, who sensed us and gave warning that we were close enough. 

For me, a male lion was on the top of my list. I had seen one last year, from a distance and for a very brief moment... but I did not expect to come as close as we did this year. We noticed on the sighting board that there were lions fairly close by, so after breakfast we decided to jump in the car and head to that spot. There was a safari vehicle parked up already, so we thought there's a good chance the lions are still there. We parked up, windows down... couldn't see anything until, 1 metre away, a huge male lion walked by the car in the long grass. We all froze, even now writing this my heart rate has increased. We were absolutely speechless, scared to move as the lion was eye level with us (we still had our windows down!) and only a metre away. He kept opening his mouth, clearly smelling us and for one moment, he locked eyes with me! I looked away as quickly as I could, and asked dad to put his window up. My heart was racing!! The lioness, which we hadn't really noticed until then, started to wander further off into the long grass, prompting the lion to follow. It was such a surreal experience, so much so that me and Matt had to have a drink (10:30am!) to calm our nerves!

We then had another pretty cool, albeit scary moment later that afternoon. We had driven to where the ranger had told us giraffes tend to be, we got there, we couldn't see anything and we were about to head back when mum shouted 'GIRAFFE'. In the distance, 4 giraffes! This was a highlight for my mum, who was desperate to see them. As we're heading back from the giraffes, on the single track road, out of nowhere appears two ginormous rhino's. Their eye sight isn't great, but their hearing is top, and as they surprised us, they could hear our car and started walking towards us. It was a toss up of turning the engine off in the hope they stop hearing us, and keeping it on ready to reverse at speed if they start charging! Luckily, we gave them enough distance and then turned the engine off for 5 minutes until they moved on. Another heart racing experience!

Wine with a View
Back in Cape Town, we visited several wine farms. My personal favourite being Constantia Glen — it was the first wine farm I visited 4 years ago and still wows me every time. We went for Mother's Day, and chose the 7-wine tasting. The views are breath-taking here: rows of vines rolling down the hills, with the mountains standing tall in the background. Sipping Sauvignon Blanc with that kind of backdrop? Absolute bliss.  It was one of many wine farms we went to!

Hikes, Music & Waterfront Vibes
I also went on a hike up Silvermine with Matt and Christie. Gorgeous views, fresh mountain air, and some good quality sibling time.

One Saturday morning, Mum and I went for a run along the Sea Point promenade — the kind of run that doesn't feel like exercise because the scenery is just that good. The prom was full of locals running, walking dogs, catching up with friends over coffee, it's such a great way to start the weekend. 

Later that weekend, we saw Jeremy Loops live at the Kirstenbosch Sunset Concert series — an absolute highlight. Dancing barefoot on the grass with Table Mountain behind you and the sound of live music echoing through the botanical gardens, what a Sunday evening. 

We also met some of Christie’s family while we were there and spent a buzzing Saturday afternoon down at the V&A Waterfront. Live music, great food, people-watching — it felt like the heart of Cape Town at its most vibrant. 

Final Thoughts

It's no secret how much I love Cape Town. I love visiting and seeing the tourists sights of course but what I love most; seeing how the locals live. Everyone you meet is so relaxed and easy going. Nothing is rushed or too much trouble. The warmer climate lends itself to a life filled with outdoor activity, and it's so nice to be in nature more. Each time I visit, I try my best to bring all of that home with me. 

This year was extra special, getting to spend that time there with my parents too. I’m already dreaming about exploring more of Africa next year (hip operation pending!) and can’t wait to see where the journey takes me next. 

Would I recommend visiting Cape Town? Absolutely. It is after all, one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

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