Kelli S. is an Account Manager working in Explorica’s San Diego office. Here, she discusses one of her favorite travel destinations and why South Africa is appealing to travelers of all kinds!
There aren’t many cities on earth like Cape Town, South Africa. Nestled between the mountains and the sea, this city has something for everyone. From great food and cultural sites to spectacular hiking and important history, Cape Town is a great destination for any kind of traveler.
As a food lover, my favorite thing about traveling to Cape Town is all the unique flavors and ingredients available in the city. On my first trip to Cape Town, I tried impala, zebra, and springbok—but my favorite by far was the ostrich, which is something I try to get every time I’m visiting since I haven’t had luck yet finding it anywhere in the U.S. Other classic dishes from South Africa reflect the influences of the many cultures that meet there: flavors from the Indigenous peoples meld with Malay, Indian, and European touches. Make sure to try things like bobotie and malva pudding when you visit!
Luckily, there are so many great outdoor activities in Cape Town to work off all of that good food. The first morning I was there, a group of friends and I set out to hike Table Mountain. We’d heard there were a few trails leading to the top and thought we were picking the easiest route. Rumor had it a friend of a friend climbed it with their little kids in just under an hour, so how hard could it be?
Five hours later, covered in blood, sweat, and (a few) tears from legitimately rock climbing up the side of a mountain…it turns out it was very hard. But, wow, was it worth it. From the top of Table Mountain, you can see the entire city of Cape Town, all the way from Robin Island to Camps Bay. If you’re up for more adventures after that, Signal Hill is the best hike for watching the sunset over the city. Plus, kayaking out in the bay while dolphins and seals swam by was one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had.
Of course, I couldn’t visit South Africa without seeing some wildlife, too! For that, travelers will need to get out of the city a bit, but there are plenty of great safari destinations within a few hours of Cape Town. Or, you could go big and fly out to Krueger National Park, one of the most famed safari destinations in the world. For my safari experience, I went east about three hours from Cape Town to the Garden Route area of South Africa. We stayed at a beautiful lodge and did game drives almost every night, allowing us to see all the animals you dream about seeing on a true African safari: lions prowling, hippos swimming, elephants roaming—it was incredible.
The other day someone asked me if they could take just one trip, what would I recommend? Without skipping a beat, my answer was Cape Town. Natural beauty, lovely people, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences—what else could you need in a destination? With so much of the world left to see, I usually don’t like to repeat destinations, but South Africa is a place I will visit time and time again.
