DAY TRIPS IN & AROUND CAPE TOWN

Cape Town can be toured on foot from Angela’s Place or by bus from Cape Town Tourism (5 mins walk) but you’ll need wheels to explore further. Guided tours of the city start at Cape Town Tourism but you can wander the shops, museums and gardens yourself - Greenmarket Square, Bo Kaap, Museum Mile (1/2 day). The Waterfront will take up half a day as well - 250 stores and stalls plus the Aquarium and access to Robben Island and the prison where Mandela and many others were held (another 1/2 day). For a complete history of the Western Cape’s struggle past, a tour of the townships, Cape Flats and District 6 is essential (1/2 day). Then there’s the Peninsula Tour (essential scenic drive to Chapman’s Peak, wild and windy Cape Point and those cute penguins at Simon’s Town). The Winelands are also popular and nearby Spier’s range of attractions is also good for children (1 day). 

A DAY TRIP UP THE WEST COAST 

The West Coast north of Cape Town is a wild, unspoilt sweep of white sand beaches, spring flowers and rolling Winelands - a Western Cape secret! Start a day trip from Ansela´s Place at Blouberg, from where you get the best views of Table Mountain and Cape Town. Try Café Blouberg for an excellent breakfast. Then move up the R27 coast road to Darling (45 mins), home to a unique cabaret dame, Evita Bezuidenhout - a show is a must. Or try Darling’s wine route, a small but rising star. It borders the Swartland wine route, which takes in the quaint village of Riebeek Kasteel - olives, wine and port their specialty - and after that, you can head back to the West Coast National Park at Langebaan - fabulous spring flowers (Aug to Oct) and shocking pink flamingoes on a spectacular lagoon with safe warm swimming. Time it right and you can eat on the beach at the famous Strandloper restaurant: seafood their specialty, of course! 

A DAY TRIP TO HERMANUS

More spectacular scenery via another fine wine route to the winter breeding home of the Southern Right Whale - Hermanus (1.5 hrs from Cape Town). Head for the mountains up the N2 and take the R44 coastal road to Hermanus via Betty’s Bay - on the way look out for dolphins and the Botanical Garden (tea and/or a beautiful fynbos walk). Then on to Hemel en Arde (Heaven and Earth) for some of the Western Cape’s best wines. A little further on, take Rotary Way above Hermanus for matchless views of the coastline - and whales (in season July to Nov). Down at the Old Harbor, the world’s only Whale Crier will tell you exactly where to see them - usually along the fine 10km coastal cliff path. If there’s time, you can head on to sleepy Stanford, with its boutique brewery and cheesery. Then it’s back to the N2 via the Overberg wheat fields and Caledon (drop in for a gamble and a dip at the Casino & Spa, if you dare...)