Africa - The Travel Sista

Sudwala Caves: Nelspruit, South Africa

February 24, 2014 by thetravelsista Leave a Comment

I stopped in Nelspruit for a couple of days on the way up to the Kruger National Park area. I had fully intended to drive the Panorama Route up to Blyde River Canyon, and along the way do some white water rafting or tubing. But Mother Nature had other plans and it started to rain soon after I arrived. It continued to rain for the rest of the day, spoiling my plans to drive and enjoy nature. When I woke up to more rain the following morning, I knew I needed to find an indoor activity. I’m a bit claustrophobic and I don’t like bats, so a cave is the last place you’d expect me to venture. But after seeing pictures and learning that they were the oldest known caves in the world (estimated 240 million years old), I had to go.

At the start of the tour, our tour guide shared a lot of history about the caves’ discovery and habitation by prehistoric man, and later by the Swazi people. We saw some of their prehistoric tools near the cave entrance. As we walked through the caves along lighted pathways, we saw beautiful formations of rocks, stalactites and stalagmites. There is even an amphitheater where concerts are periodically held.

A highlight of the tour was when our guide turned off the lights in one section to show us how dark the cave really is. It was so dark I couldn’t even see my hand in front of my face. I had just enough time to start to freak out (and think what happens if the electricity really goes out) before the lights were back on and we were on our way through the caves too see more. The tour lasted about an hour and was an amazing experience.

On the way out, I stopped at the newest attraction at the caves, the Garra Rufa Fish Spa (basically a fish pedicure). I was skeptical, but since it was only 50 rand (about $5 USD at current exchange rates) I decided to give it a try. The spa is outdoors with beautiful panoramic views of the lowveld. After having my feet and lower legs scrubbed in an antiseptic wash, I stepped into the spa and let the fish go to work eating away at dead skin. At first it felt weird to have numerous fish nibbling on my feet, but I quickly got used to it and it felt like a massage. After 45 minutes, I was done. In case you’re curious, it works — my feet were silky smooth after they finished.

Click here for more photos of Nelspruit, South Africa

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My Top 10 Things to Do in Cape Town

February 13, 2014 by thetravelsista Leave a Comment

Cape Town is a beautiful, modern city with a diversity of people, landscapes, and activities. The New York Times recently named Cape Town as its top city to visit in 2014 and I certainly agree. Here’s my list of the top 10 things to do in Cape Town (not in any order of preference):

1. Table Mountain
Cape Town’s most famous landmark, this flat-topped mountain overlooks the city forming part of the City Bowl. Hike or ride the cable car to the top to see stunning views of the Cape Peninsula.

2. Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope
At the southern end of the Cape Peninsula are Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope, which offer amazing views of the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Although the Cape of Good Hope is popularly known as the meeting place of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, that distinction really belongs to Cape Algulhas, approximately 120 miles to the southeast.

3. Camp’s Bay Beach and Boulders Beach/South African penguins
Cape Town has numerous amazing beaches, more than you’ll probably have time to visit. If you have to choose just a couple, you can’t go wrong with these two. Camp’s Bay is probably the most beautiful (though it’s also cold), with gorgeous white sand and amazing mountain views. It’s a great place to see a South African sunset (“sundowner” as they say).

Boulders Beach, named for the massive granite boulders that line the landscape, is home to Cape Town’s colony of endangered South African penguins. Its waters – on the Indian Ocean side of the Cape Peninsula – are warm, calm, and safe for swimming.

4. Robben Island
Robben Island is best known as the prison where Nelson Mandela was held for nearly 20 years for fighting against apartheid. Now it’s a popular tourist attraction, with daily tours departing from the Nelson Mandela Gateway at the V & A Waterfront. Tours often sell out weeks in advance, so it’s best to pre-book tickets. Arrive a little early to visit the Robben Island Museum before the tour.

5. V & A Waterfront
Set against a backdrop of beautiful sea and mountain views, the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is one of Cape Town’s biggest tourist spots, with restaurants, specialty shops, craft markets, pubs, museums, movies and an aquarium. The Victoria Wharf shopping mall is also situated at the Waterfront.

6. African Dance Theater
This one-hour show takes you through the history of South African dance and music. The high energy performance is conducted by talented performers who obviously love what they do.

7. Green Market Square
Green Market Square is one of Cape town’s oldest markets (and arguably the best), full of beautiful art, crafts, jewelry, and clothing. This is the place to shop for souvenirs and other mementos. Be ready to haggle and deal for great prices.

8. District 6 Museum, District 6 and Bo Kaap
During the apartheid era, the non-white residents of District 6 were forcibly removed from their homes, which were bulldozed after District 6 was declared a whites-only area. The District 6 Museum tells the story of the district, the forced removals, and the community’s hopes to rebuild it; it includes photographs, handwritten notes, and other memorabilia from residents. Today, District 6 still stands largely vacant, though some former residents have recently returned to the area. It is a stark reminder of South Africa‘s past.

The nearby Bo Kaap is home to Cape Town’s Cape Malay people and culture. The streets are lined with bright-colored houses and there are several mosques in the area. The area is also known for its Cape Malay cuisine, which is a fusion of traditional South African and Malaysian flavors. Walking tours and culinary tours are available.

9. Township Tour
Black and Coloured South Africans were forced to move to segregated townships during apartheid. Today, the townships are still home to a majority of them. Although there is widespread poverty, there is also a vibrant community, diversity of cultures, and an amazing history of struggle and triumph. The best township tours are walking tours conducted by local residents. They not only infuse much needed tourist dollars into the community, but they give visitors an opportunity to interact with locals and get a firsthand view of the good and bad of post-apartheid township life. A township tour is sure to be an unforgettable experience.

10. Cape Winelands
Located just 30-45 minutes from the city center, the Cape Winelands are formed by a number of towns and suburbs in the Western Cape. Some of the more popular wine routes include Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Paarl, and Constantia Valley. The beautiful scenery, affordable tastings, and delicious wines make for great day (or few days) of relaxation and indulgence. No visit to Cape Town is complete without experiencing the beauty of the Winelands.

For more ideas on things to do in Cape Town and around South Africa, check out Your Next Big Trip.

What is your favorite thing to do in Cape Town? Share your comments below.

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Cape Winelands: Stellenbosch

January 25, 2014 by thetravelsista Leave a Comment

If you’re a wine lover like me, South Africa’s Cape Winelands are wine nirvana. There are more than 100 vineyards in Stellenbosch alone, and the wine tastings are unbelievably cheap (compared to the U.S.). Just a half-hour from downtown Cape Town, the Stellenbosch wine route is an easy day trip by car. During our Cape Town visit, my sister and I spent a late afternoon in Stellenbosch where we visited two vineyards. The first was Blaauwklippen (from the Dutch word for blue rocks), one of the oldest wine estates in Stellenbosch. The grounds were beautiful with manicured, green lawns and covered patio tables. It was a perfect backdrop for a sunny afternoon of wine drinking.

Next, we moved on to the Peter Falke estate. We chose it because it stayed open until 7 pm, but later learned it has a reputation as the best sundowner (sunset) retreat in the winelands. The indoor tasting room was modern and classy, but it had nothing on the outdoors. The mountain backdrops are stunning and the huge decorative corkscrews add a quirky, fun appeal to the luxury outdoor lounge. We did a tasting of four wines, which were paired with a variety of olives (yummy!).

It was a relaxing afternoon as we soaked in our surroundings and enjoyed the beginnings of a beautiful South African sunset. We returned to the city before dark, feeling nice and with several souvenir bottles of wine in tow. I look forward to returning to the winelands one day, though I’d definitely plan at least 2 days in order to add Franschhoek, South Africa’s Gourmet Capital.

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Cape Town: My Visit to Langa Township

January 21, 2014 by thetravelsista Leave a Comment

When I travel, I like to see all parts of a city, including the non-tourist areas. So there was no question that my visit to Cape Town would include a visit to the townships. I decided to visit Langa Township with Vuvu’s Small Shack Day Tours. My tour guide was Vuvu, a friendly and enterprising young lady who is also a Langa resident. It was more like a visit with an old friend who was showing me around the neighborhood.

We visited the Guga S’Thebe Arts and Cultural Centre, where we saw paintings, pottery, and other art work hand made by local residents. A highlight was when student musicians taught me to play the drum, then invited me to join them in a short jam session. I had a blast! We also visited the Langa Dompas Museum, a medicine healer, the food market, various neighborhoods, and Vuvu’s shack (yes, it’s small).

We ended our day with lunch at Mzoli’s, a popular hangout in the nearby township of Gugulethu. Not quite a restaurant, Mzoli’s is best described as a butcher/braai/outdoor dance club. You choose from a wide variety of raw meat, then have it weighed and seasoned. After you pay, you take your tray of meat to the back to be braaied (barbecued to us North Americans). If you want drinks, you buy from the store next door or bring them with you. Then you go to the covered patio to wait for your food. While waiting, the resident DJ plays a variety of house and local music. The friendly crowd dances and sings along. We waited a long time for our food (about an hour), as I had been warned to expect on the weekend. But it was worth the wait — the food was delicious.

All in all, I had an enjoyable day. I learned a lot about South African history and culture, and met some great people with whom I remain in contact. That’s the best part of global travel – meeting people and enjoying experiences you never would have in your small corner of the world.

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Victoria Falls: The Devil’s Pool

January 19, 2014 by thetravelsista Leave a Comment

In October 2013, I checked off a biggie on my bucket list — swimming in the Devil’s Pool at Victoria Falls (Zambian side). The experience was amazing! Nothing beats swimming at the edge of a waterfall. If you ever find yourself in southern Africa, this really is a must do.

The Devil’s Pool excursion is only offered by Tongabezi (http://tongabezi.com). You meet at the Royal Livingstone Hotel (in Zambia), then take a quick motor boat ride to Livingstone Island, where you walk across flat land towards the Zambezi River. Along the way, you’re treated to amazing natural photo opps of rainbows and views of the gorges below. Once you get closer to the river, the landscape gets rockier. (I highly recommend rubber heeled aqua shoes). After a short swim and climb down a rocky embankment, you’re finally at the Devil’s Pool, a naturally-formed pool at the edge of the waterfall. You can only swim there during dry season, so you won’t see the falls in their full glory. But in exchange, you get a birds eye view of the falls, the gorge, and the river below, and an indescribable feeling that you’re at a truly special place.

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