All aboard the wine tram! Our next and last stop was to Franschhoek, a town boasting centuries-old vineyards in South Africa’s Western Cape. It was French Huguenots that settled here after fleeing France when Protestantism was outlawed in 1685. This, the ‘Valley of the Hugeunots’ is full of French charm and Cape Dutch architecture, proving an idyllic weekend escape an hour’s drive from Cape Town. It’s also where you can discover some of South Africa’s best chefs, not to mention the wine.

We arrived just in time for the last wine tram of the day.  We hopped-on, ready to experience what Franschhoek is best known for. With several tram lines to choose from and dozens of wineries along the routes, we managed to limit ourselves to three tastings.

Each winery told a unique story. Sometimes we felt as though we were in Provence, and at other moments it was clear that the ethereal beauty could only be South Africa.

By early evening, we were happy to return to the village and explore the many boutiques and art galleries.

Our home in Franschhoek was The Last Word, a utterly charming boutique hotel located in the very heart of the village. We could not have ended this epic trip to South Africa in a more perfect setting. Our last meal was one to remember, the tasting menu at La Petite Colombe, a top address in town.

Both my Italian and I shall dream of South Africa for many days and nights to come. Until the next visit.

Our next stop was 320 kilometers (or a four hour drive) northwest of Johannesburg. Madikwe Game Reserve is located in South Africa’s North West Province, bordering Botswana. We chose this lesser known park for its variety of wildlife and malaria-free location. Even before arriving to our lodge, Visser, our skilled ranger, introduced us to a male lion napping in the late afternoon sun. What a sight! We were now officially ‘on safari’.

Our home became the Motswiri Private Safari Lodge, a five-star luxury lodge that took every care to make us feel like this new routine of heading out at 6 am to look for animal tracks in hopes of catching a glimpse of one of the many wild animals living in Madike, was all part of the fun. From day one, we were hooked!

Within our first 24 hours on safari, we were lucky enough to see the “Big Five” – African lion, African leopard, Cape buffalo, African elephant, and the rhinoceros – named for their difficulty in being hunted (not to mention the five deadliest animals). The regal giraffe and zebra were also quite a sight!

It was the elephants that we became most familiar with. From their bathing habits to nearly being charged by one of the eldest in the group.  I still find the African elephant, the largest land animal in the world, to be a gentle creature – at a distance, of course. We were sad to learn of the continuous poaching going on in all parts of Africa, of both the African Elephant for its ivory and the rhinoceros for its horns (which have absolutely no medicinal value). I designed my Kenya bag collection in an effort to raise money in protection of this elephant.

My favorite sightings during our four-day safari were the lions. These gorgeous creatures are fierce yet uniquely beautiful. King of the jungle (and the African bush), after all. It was this moment, catching a couple lazily lounging in the late morning sun with their cubs nearby,  that I will remember forever.

I leave you with this breathtaking sunset, enjoyed not only by us but by a sole rhinoceros. Can you spot him?

Next and last stop was to discover a charming “French Corner” of South Africa after a final visit to Cape Town.

Last May, on the occasion of a certain Italian’s birthday, we flew to the Mother City: Cape Town. I had longed to explore South Africa for as long as I can remember, and was elated when he chose this destination as the setting for his celebrations. Maybe I hinted a little… We arrived to Camps Bay unaware of what to expect,  planning only to spend a few days at this beach haven before moving on to other adventures. Needless to say, we fell in love with Cape Town and eagerly returned post safari. The latter I will share in the next post. First, allow me to highlight all that we loved about Africa’s southernmost city, beginning with Camps Bay itself.

These white sandy and often stony beaches make for the perfect base from which to explore the city.  Filled with tasty eateries, our favorite being Codfather (freshly caught seafood, fish, and sushi), it’s easy to spend a few days basking in the sun followed by a truly remarkable sunset. The rocky Clifton beach is just a stroll away.

The Victoria & Alfred (V&A) Waterfront is a scenic complex of over 450 retail shops and 60 restaurants including the V&A Food Market, boasting sweet and savory tastes from all over the country. Here too you can discover The Watershed, an industrial market featuring over 150 artisans creating artwork, clothing, accessories, etc. The perfect spot to pick up a souvenir. From here too, you can take a boat to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela served 18 of his 27 years imprisoned.

Our next stop was to Cape Town’s most prominent landmark, flat-topped Table Mountain. We took the cable car up, though it would not have been too difficult to walk. As could be imagined, the views were breathtaking! And simply walking along the mountain was an experience. We both could have happily stayed until sunset.

Just 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) south of the center of Cape Town (and easily reachable via Uber – the safest way to travel) sits the affluent suburb of Constantia. We were keen to try some of the local wines famous to the region and chose boutique wine farm Beau Constantia, both for the spectacular views, and the award-winning chef. Sampling the many shared plates of the tasting menu at Chef’s Warehouse Beau Constantia, we quickly understood  why this was one of the best-rated restaurants in Cape Town. Not to mention the wines, which included a glass from neighboring Constantia Glen.

While we don’t usually take bus tours during our travels, we made an exception for the Cape Point and Penguin day tour. From Cape Point with it’s Old Lighthouse (238m above sea level), to walking the length of the rocky promontory to the Cape of Good Hope, it was a day charged with some of the most dramatic natural landscapes imaginable! Well worth the tour which ended with penguins.