All the best things to do in the South Africa's Northern and Western Cape
Ever fancied heading to the South Africa's gorgeous Northern and Western Cape? Of course you have! Well, here's everything you need to know before you book your tickets.
Upington
Where I stayed: Khamkirri River Lodge
What I did: I went river paddling, made ash bread, and saw a smashing waterfall.
Our first stop in South Africa was gorgeous riverside camp, Khamkirri River Lodge. When we arrived, we were greeted with a glass of sherry, which we soon found out is a popular tipple in South Africa. So, exactly the sort of place to bring your mum and nan.
There are four accommodation options: camping, tented camps, self-catering family units and self-catering cabins, which is where I made myself at home on the riverside balcony. Dreamy.
After getting our sherry buzz on (always drink responsibly), we changed into our swim gear and got measured for helmets and lifejackets (size large on both accounts. Not that you asked…) as we prepared for a gentle paddle down the river. It was at this point, when we went for a quick dip, that we got our first clue that South Africa wasn’t going to be as boiling hot as we naively imagined it would be. I swear I nearly lost a toe that first day.
Other activities that Khamkirri offers include sunrise/sundowner game drives, guided hikes, kayaking, white-water rafting, fly-fishing, clay pigeon shooting, bird-watching and mountain biking.
During our stay at the lodge, which sits on the Orange River, we were also treated to a sunset river cruise; complete with cheese and local wines, as well as hearty, firecooked dinners each night.
Making ash bread at Damas Guesthouse
We didn’t actually stay at the Damas Guesthouse, but we did swing by to visit the infectiously cheery owner, Elisa. She gave us a tour of her modest but inviting accommodation; complete with slightly ominous scarecrow, which gave us a welcome to remember (don’t let that creep put you off, mind you).
Elisa, her daughter and her nephew gave us a demonstration of how to make traditional ash bread (#NailedIt…), and performed traditional songs before feeding us the fruits of our labour, along with lamb, Dombolo (dumplings) and afal, which is tripe curry to you and me. And yes, most of my afal did get fed to her dogs. But that stays between you and me.
Augrabies Fall National Park
If waterfalls are your thing, make sure you swing by Augrabies Fall National Park, where not only will you see plenty of H20 splooshing about, but – if you’re lucky – you’ll also get a look at some of the locals. We saw a load of baboons on the lookout for tourist’s pack lunch scraps, and the sweetest pile of hyrax laying on a rock; catching some early morning sun.
Okiep
Where I stayed: Okiep Country Hotel
What I did: I visited a quiver tree forest, made friends with a nomadic sheep herder, and had sheep’s brain for lunch.
After dropping our bags at the wonderfully quaint Okiep Country Hotel, the owner took us for a drive to the majestic quiver tree forest, which is a one hour drive into the Kamies-Mountains. Unfortunately, we were just a week too early to see all the beautiful flowers that create an orange and yellow carpet along the road. But Google Images made it look dreamy. Which is good enough. Sort-of…
After visiting a nomadic sheep herder’s post and getting another serving of ash bread with grated cheese and apricot jam (it’s a South African thing apparently, and trust me, don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it), we made our way to a lovely farmer’s house for a lunch of roasted sheep’s head (on this occasion, you’re free to knock it before you’ve tried it).
Namaqua National Park and Geogap’s Nature Reserve
On the way back to the hotel for a delicious dinner of South Africa’s finest lamb, we swung by Namaqua National Park, which is a succulent plant fanatic’s dream.
But if wildlife is more your jam, you could do worse than a trip to Geogap’s Nature Reserve: our destination for the next day. We spotted springbok, oryx and mountain zebras!
Koingnaas
Where I stayed: Noup Camp
What I did: I took a shipwreck tour, visited a fur seal colony, and enjoyed not having any phone signal.
If you’re in the market for going completely off-grid, Noup Camp, along South Africa’s Diamond Coast, is the perfect spot to unplug and unwind. There’s not a jot of phone signal, and they only turn the electricity on for an hour in the morning (so I’d dry and straighten that hair damn quick, If I were you), and two hours in the evening.
Waking up from an amazing night’s sleep; listening to the waves roll in, and miraculously not setting fire to myself with a gas lamp, it was time to grab our packed lunches and jump in our 4x4 for a shipwreck tour. A highlight of the trip for me, we were driven along the coast to take a look at four separate shipwrecks – each with their own fascinating story.
We then took a gentle hike along the beach to visit a cape fur seal colony. God, those guys make funny noises. But how cool to see them living in their natural habitat.
Cape Town
Where I stayed: Aha Harbour Bridge Hotel
What I did: I took a tour of the city in a motorbike sidecar, drank A LOT of wine, and said hi to some penguins.
Aha Harbour Bridge Hotel is a great choice if you want to be in a central spot for exploring Cape Town. Plus, being by the harbour is dreamy.
Dinner at 4Roomed eKasi Culture, Khayelitsha
If you’re looking for a genuine and delicious dinner during your time in Cape Town, you must visit 4Roomed eKasi Culture, which is owned by Masterchef South Africa’s Abigail Mbalo.
The food is a twist on traditional South African cuisine, and the setting is homely and welcoming. And that chocolate soufflé? Probably the best thing I’ve ever eaten.
Food and wine pairing
South African wines are some of the best in the world (so I’ve been told. The only wines I know the names of are House White and House Red). So, taking part in a food and wine pairing with the wine guru Andre Morgenthal in Stellenbosch was such a drunken an interesting experience. And no, I did not use a spittoon once *hiccup*.
Cape Sidecar Adventures
What better way to see the beautiful sights of Cape Town – including Camps Bay, Hout Bay – than by throwing on a vintage leather jacket, cramming your nice big head into a helmet, and strapping yourself into a motorbike sidecar. Yes, I 100% looked like Gromit or Nora Batty from Last Of The Summer Wine, but boy did I have a good time. So be sure to sign up with Cape Sidecar Adventures, and if you’re lucky, the owner may even bring his dog along for a ride.
Boulders Beach penguins
If you’ve only ever seen penguins in the zoo, a couple of hours at Boulders Beach is a must. Just look how cute their fluffy little bodies are!
Bo-Kaap
One for all you Instagrammers out there: charge your phone and check your makeup before swinging by one of the most colourful streets in Cape Town: Bo-Kaap. It's situated at the foot of Signal Hill, and is formerly known as the Malay Quarter. Its houses are a range of bright and beautiful colours, which will make your grid sing.
Kirstenbosch Botanic Garden
If you think a botanic garden isn’t for you, just wait ‘til you get to Kirstenbosch. As well as being a spitting image for the set of Jurassic Park, it’s also home to a huge range of unusual and dazzling plants.
Click here for more information on visiting the South Africa's Northern and Western Cape.
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