It's a Saturday/ Sunday morning, you're keen to get out of town and see something new... but you don't know where to go?
Well, here are some cool options under two hours drive from the Mother City center. So go on.. be adventurous!!
This was another article of mine published in the Horizons magazine that i believ should eb shared with you all :-)
Cape Town day Trips:
1 Head up the R27 to Darling, a village tucked between vineyards (CLOOF WINE ESTATE IS FABULOUS) and wheat fields, to see SA’s beloved Evita Bezuidenhout (satirist Pieter-Dirk Uys’s alter ego). She has her own theatre at the delightfully boere-kitsch Evita se Perron (at the Darling Station), as well as a restaurant, museum, sculpture garden called Boerrasic Park and a community arts and crafts shop. Her shows from 11 June to 11 July include Evita’s Soccer Free Zone, A Koeksister for Zuma and Tannie Evita Praat Kaktus. R110 per show, book on 022-492-3930, evita.co.za. Then discover the rest of Darling’s delights… darlingtourism.co.za PLUS IT'S FLOWER SEASON NOW - SO CHECK OUT THE DAISIES
2.The southern tip of Africa at Cape Agulhas is worth the three-hour (one way) drive, if only to say ‘Been there!’ Take the N2 from Cape Town, then the R316 and keep going. An essential stopover is Napier, a quaint artists’ community. For home-style food or a boerekos Sunday lunch, try Pascal’s (028-423-3146) or stop in at the Moerse Farmstall (028-423-3334) in the main road for milk tart, vetkoek, biltong and the best Afrikaner koffie. The town of Caledon, also en route, is home to a lovely hot-springs facility (R100 entry), ideal for a steamy dip.
3.Hermanus is famous for its land-based whale-watching, and it’s a good time of year to see the southern rights and humpbacks (May to December). THE WHALE FETSIVAL IS IN SEPTEMBER SO KEEP A LOOK OUT FOR THAT! Even if the whales prove to be shy, the walk along the cliff path is exhilarating, and there’s lots to see and do in town. Getting here could also mean taking the ‘alternative to Chapman’s Peak’ drive on the R44 from Gordon’s Bay, around the spectacular coastline to Rooiels, then to Betty’s Bay – stop at Stony Point (open ‘til 4.30pm, entry R10) for an alternative, less crowded penguin-spotting option to Simonstown’s Boulders Beach – and on to Kleinmond (lovely beach and lagoon) and past a few fishing villages to Hermanus. hermanus.co.za
4.For an old-style country getaway, follow the N2 from Cape Town, over Sir Lowry’s Pass and carry on until the turn-off to the R406 and Greyton. Mind the cows and donkeys and note that the speed limit in this village is 40km/h. There are two essential sweet stops: Von Geusau
Chocolates (028-254-9037) and The Open Vine for Greyton Traditional Ice Cream (082-761-6512) – yes, worth it, even in winter. The rest of the exploring is up to you. greytontourism.com
5.Aquila Private Game Reserve is one of the closest places to Cape Town to see the Big Five, although a tame version of a game reserve. Its day trips include transport from the city, breakfast, a lunch-time feast of African food in a boma, a game drive and a visit to a San rock-art site. There’s no chance of seeing a kill as predators and prey are kept separate, but sightings are virtually guaranteed. R1995 per person (021-431-8400, aquilasafari.com). To see the Big Five – plus rare white lions – in a wilder safari setting, book a night at Sanbona Wildlife Reserve (3.5 hours from Cape Town). 041-407-1000, www.sanbona.com
*This article of mine was featured in the Horizons magazine, June 2010 issue
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