La Aventura

For the second year in a row South Africa has been the stopover country when in route to my annual winter vacation in Africa. Fortunately, this past year, after spending a week in Namibia, I had a few extra days to spare and decided to spend them exploring Cape Town, South Africa. This city is impossible to enjoy to the fullest in 48-hours, but here are a few of my highlights that you can use to get your itinerary started:

Try a New Do!

One of my favorite things about venturing to Africa is getting my hair braided. No matter what African country you find yourself in, you can always find a skilled braider to get you right! I am pretty shy about trying new hairstyles back home, but the speed and prices of braids on the continent make worth giving a new style a try. We decided on a salon called Beauty Bazaar, and we were in and out in ~6 hours. It was my first time trying french curl braids, and it is safe to say that this is my new favorite braid style. My best friend tried a popular braided sew-in look! Each of our styles cost us ~$60 USD.

Enjoy Sunset & Small Bites at The Bungalow

The Bungalow is a beachside restaurant and lounge in the Clifton neighborhood area of Cape Town. It is famous for its luxurious atmosphere, delicious food, and great sunset views. Reservations are highly recommended, especially for dinner, but we took a chance and were able to squeeze in at the bar and eventually slid our way into the lounge area. We loved this place so much we came back for lunch the next day!

Spend a Day at the Beach

Cape Town is a coastal city, so no matter where you are in the city, you are never too far from the beach. Grab your swimsuit and towel and head to one of the gorgeous public beaches for a swim. Unfortunately, it was still a little too chilly to swim while I was there, so I just enjoyed a walk on the beach and admired the nearby mountains and enormous beach boulders. The landscape alone in Cape Town is breathtaking so it is easy to spend hours on the beach admiring the views.

Visit Bo-Kaap – A Historical Neighborhood

South Africa is rich in history, so make sure to learn something during your stay. Since I was short on time, the Bo-Kapp neighborhood was a great place to visit and learn some of Cape Town’s history. Originally built as a neighborhood to house Malay slaves (people from Malaysia, Indonesia, and other parts of Africa) in the mid 1700’s, the area eventually became known as the Malay Quarters. This neighborhood has been both a place of refuge, resilience and resistance for various communities throughout history, especially during the apartheid. The brightly colored buildings serve as a symbol of the diverse communities that have resided in this neighborhood.