The Imprint

This past summer, my family and I travelled to South Africa for a 3-week adventure and it felt like a crime not to share my recommendations, insights and top tips. So strap in, here we go!

Days 1-3: Johannesburg

After an 11-hour flight from London, we landed in Johannesburg, South Africa extremely excited for the 2-and-a-half week trip ahead of us. While the flight was long and uncomfortable, the 1 hour time difference meant we could easily adjust.

The rest of the day consisted of eating, listening to music and catching up with relatives. South Africa is well known for their magical sunrises and sunsets and wow, the first night truly lived up to the expectation and then some!

Travelling to SA in the winter, I was nervous about the weather and how warm it would be. Miles away from the cold winter of England, South Africa remained fairly warm with blue skies and consistent sunshine. However, in the evenings it would get chilly so whilst we watched the sunset, we lit an outdoor fire and sat with cosy blankets.

We spent the next few days enjoying dinners with family and hosting the first of many Braai’s (BBQ)! Our first real ‘sightseeing’ day came on my parent’s anniversary, and we started the day at a local shopping centre, Sandton Mall.

The mall was similar to White City’s Westfield in the UK with a variety of shops, food court and some sit-down restaurants. After having a look for a table at Olives and Plates, a brunch and lunch eatery located in a modern bookstore, which we didn’t manage to get, we ended up at Tashas.

Founded in South Africa, Tashas is a cafe that offers all day dining, serving globally inspired dishes made with locally sourced ingredients. Most Tashas in South Africa are themed and the one we ate at had a Parisian theme with pink flowers, decadent fabrics, stained windows and charming lampposts.

We had been told about Tashas and its wonderful flavours but we were shocked at the quality of the food and simple yet elevated dishes. I ordered a greenland bagel that was layered with cream cheese, avo, creamed feta, nuts, mozzarella and rocket and accompanied with a basil pesto mayo. It exceeded my expectations, each ingredient bursting with flavour and joie de vivre. My dad immediately ordered a salad, which he had first tried at a Tashas in Dubai and instantly fell in love with it all over again.

A Tashas has recently opened in Battersea and I’m eager to visit and test out if it has the ability to transport me to South Africa! Definitely check it out, it’s not a spot to be missed. We then shopped and returned home to get ready for the evening.

Our next stop was Alto234, a rooftop bar. Being handed a prosecco in the elevator up at Alto234 felt amazing, and the view was topped it off! Labelled as Africa’s highest urban bar, it’s fair to say that Alto234 had a beautiful view of what felt like a thousand small lights. Being that high up in the winter exposed us to harsh winds which kept us a bit chilly and made it difficult to take photos. Nonetheless, it was a beautiful spot to enjoy some quality time with friends and enjoy the view.

Later, we had a dinner at Tang, an high-end Asian restaurants which vaguely reminded me of Ivy Asia. Furnished with large wooden decor and bamboo plants, this restaurant was lavish and perfect for my parent’s anniversary dinner! We ordered an array of dishes: sushi, dumpings, tacos, stirfrys and an impressive line up of cocktails. All the food looked and tasted good, ending the night on a high note.

Day 4-7: Kruger National Park

Setting off at around 4:30 am with a boot full of overnight bags, snacks and blankets, we started our journey to Kruger National Park. This was probably the part of the trip that I was most excited about. When anyone ever recounts their experience of a safari, they would describe it as unforgettable and otherworldly, so I was excited to experience this feeling.

After making a pit stop for some food at a ranch-styled cafe, we continued on our six-hour journey, most of which I spent sleeping or reading. I awoke from a nap to a roadside supermarket, surrounded by swaying palm trees, sand and a long winding road. We went for a walk around and uncovered dozens of oranges, lots of rusk cakes and specialist biscuits, which we grabbed for our four-day trip on the safari.

Arriving at the private game reserve, I realised how far away we were from any sort of town or city. Kruger National Park is Africa’s largest and just for context, bigger than the whole of England. Filled with a variety of animal, bird and plant species, the national reserve is a haven of natural beauty.

Arriving at our lodge was unlike anything I’d ever seen. There is something that is to be said about South African interior design, with touches of culture, each bit of furnishing is intentional yet effortless, creating an open and homely place. The use of wooden furniture: bars, tables, islands and bookshelves, creates a rustic feel that I have never seen done so well.

After deciding on rooms and changing clothes, we quickly got into our buggy for an afternoon drive around the safari, soaking up the yellow sun.

Within the first forty minutes, we spotted a family favourite: the giraffe! There they were, a pair of giraffes, majestically crossing our path. It blows my mind even now, many months later, that I was there, in their home, peacefully witnessing them live.

Our driver, a joyous man, guided us through the various tree species and tried to get as close to the animals as safely possible. We ended our first game drive witnessing a herd of elephants running to the watering hole, hoping to enjoy an evening shower.

After cooking up some leftovers that evening, we sat outside, shared stories and enjoyed the pleasant heat of the campfire. I tried to see some stars but even here, it was too bright.

The next morning we rose with the sun for our next safari drive. It was quite cold, even with the backdrop of the glowing sun rising. The winds in South Africa are particularly strong and can catch you off guard so always keep a sweater, cardigan or pullover nearby.

Wrapped in blankets, our hair ruffled from sleep, but our eager eyes waiting for our next sighting, we set off on our second safari. Driving back into National Kruger Park, we noticed how yellow and dry the grass was. Green bushes made an appearance here and there, but the yellow mainly dominated. The winter’s combination of dry heat and lack of rain had left the land lacking moisture.

Over the next couple hours, we shed our blankets and saw zebra, wild buffaloes and elephants (again, but much more closely) before making a pit stop at a campsite for some coffee. Magnificent small birds twittered beside us, showing off their iridescent backs.

We kept a lookout for the rest of the big five as we continued the rest of the safari drive, but with no luck.

Arriving back at our safari lodge, we quickly rinsed and changed into our swimming costumes to lounge at the pool. My brother decided it was finally time to rocket launch himself into the pool.

We noticed that across from our lodge was a drinking hole where animals would run over for a drink or shower. When we first spotted it, a zeal of zebra ran over, their stripes coated in the dust swirling around them.

An afternoon of swimming, eating, drinking (and for me reading) spilled into the evening. As the sun began to set, we all showered and got into cosy clothes to start our first braai of the trip. A few of us in the kitchen prepared the salad, bread, halloumi and vegetarian sausages whilst the meat sizzled on the grill outside.

Sitting down outside on the beautifully made wooden table was a nice end to a perfect day. We munched on our food, surprised by the vibrant flavours of the pesto halloumi. Again, even supermarket-bought ingredients seemed to have the tastiest flavours, a family favourite was definitely Woolworths, a distant relative of M&S Foodhall in the UK.

The night ended by sitting by the fire and slowly nodding off before we all retired to our rooms.

The next morning, we sat at the same outdoor table, sheltered from the African sun, watching as zebras and hippos had their first drink of the day.

The fruit in South Africa is fairly sweet and juicy throughout the year, even during winter, especially the oranges. But this morning we ate papayas topped with yoghurt and granola for breakfast as we planned our day. It was extremely refreshing and tasty- you have to try it!

We all showered, got into airy, light clothes and sat by the pool for a while. After a couple of games of UNO, we decided to go on the afternoon safari drive, leaving the grown-ups to chill out and enjoy the sun.

Setting out with cameras and blankets, we ride off into the horizon, cruising around the private reserve.

During this drive we didn’t see any different animals but saw some really up close, chomping on leaves and grass all with the backdrop of the orange sunset.

The winds started picking up as we drove through various sandy paths. As the sun set, we wrapped our blankets tighter around us and started our drive back to the lodge for our final night.

Bellies full of pizza, we sat outside with our hands close to the fire. Most of the time spent with each other was also spent with the surrounding space, so for extended moments we would be silent, lost in admiration of the area.

After experiencing these few days in the safari, I completely understand why people say that it is a place like no other. You are detached from life as you know it and are reunited with nature which is refreshing and so wholesome.

We ended our trip having seen dozens of birds, impalas, giraffes, zebras, elephants, various unusual tree species and a quick glimpse of a lioness.

Day 7: Graskop & The Potholes

We left the safari early the next morning and headed toward Graskop, a rural village surrounded by mountains and towering palm trees. Graskop is also home to the infamous Harrie’s Pancakes.

The first order of the day was to grab a meal at Harrie’s Pancakes, a well-known restaurant for a variety of pancakes. The place itself was chilled, sellers outside convincing you to buy carven wooden animals and the whistle of a light breeze travelling through the transparent cover on the door.

I like to try new things, unique combinations and sometimes unusual dishes wherever I go, and this continues here. I was debating between two savoury options but ended up going for the East African style sweet potato, spinach and peanut filling.

My stomach lightly grumbled as we sat waiting for the food.

My pancake arrived, topped with vibrant chives and aided with a side of yogurt. The fluffy and thick pancake bode well with the yoghurt and the filling felt familiar yet new.

My family went with a combination of sweet and savoury and everyone was satisfied. Conscious of time, we sped through some of the shops selling beaded animal heads, statues, keyrings, whatever you could think of really. We settled on a white and gold impala head, crafted from wire and thousands of beads.

Back in the car, we continued our drive to Johannesburg, planning for a pit stop at the Potholes- a beautiful canyon structure, filled with water.

We arrived, as the sun was beginning to hang lower in the sky and started making our way down. Crossing over small bridges tucked away in giant boulders, we were in awe of the vastness and depth of the area. The yellow sun illuminated the rocks, revealing a golden-orange surface. Our visit was in the winter so the water was right at the bottom due to the lack of rain, rather than high and flowing. Nevertheless, it was a beautiful sight that left you in shock at the Earth’s power to sculpt over time.

After a quick toilet break, we made our way to the car. Sometime later, we were still driving under the night sky, avoiding potholes in the road as we drove down poorly lit roads.

As we approached Johannesburg and our relative’s home, we ordered Nando’s and looked forward to a comforting meal.

As Nando’s orginated in South Africa, it only made sense to try it. The food was saucier, tastier and had just that bit more of a kick than the UK’s version. I tucked into a rice bowl with veggies and halloumi that was far from boring.

Exhausted from the travelling of the day, we started falling asleep at the table! Soon enough, we were all in our rooms sleeping, probably dreaming about our last few days on the safari.

Day 8-9: Johannesburg

With an exciting week ahead, we popped back to Johannesburg for a chilled weekend and to tick a few more things off our bucket list.

After having a lie-in, we headed to Sandton City Mall for a walk around and some lunch.

After an unsuccessful round of shopping, we sat down at a table at The Big Mouth, a sushi and grill restaurant for lunch. Everyone we had met in South Africa had raved about Big Mouth, describing the sushi as amazing, so there we were, sitting in anticipation.

We ordered a variety of dishes from their diverse menu that offered soups, salads, tacos, pasta and perhaps most widely, sushi.

As dishes started arriving at the table, we quickly realised how much we’d ordered. We shared most of the dishes, tasting and trying as much of the menu as we could. Everything was exceptional and our expectation that South African flavours were regarded as some of the best, was upheld.

We ordered a portion of the prawn firecracker roll and the vegetarian tempura corn roll to start along with a salad, lobster roll and garlic butter mushrooms.

The prawn firecracker roll was filled with spicy crab, avocado, tempura prawns, topped with caviar, spring onion and a passion fruit sweet chilli mayo… think of the scene where Remy from Ratatouille eats the cheese and the strawberry and everything goes dark and it feels like fireworks in his mouth- eating this sushi tasted like that!

We left the mall, promising to come back to the restaurant and try a couple more things before leaving. After a little bit more window shopping, we returned home and prepared for another dinner party at a relative’s house.

On the way back, our stomaches filled with barbequed prawns and lemon butter sauce, we squeezed in a trip to The Pantry, another well-known after-dinner spot.

From outside, it looked like just a 24-hour petrol station but inside tucked away was a patisserie, grocery, pizzeria, coffee shop and ice cream bar. The place was packed with people and aromas of pizza.

After having a look around, we got in the line for ice cream and patiently waited to get a glimpse of the flavours. Having heard lots about the Turkish Delight flavour, I went for it and it was better than I expected! Not too overpowering in flavour but still creamy and sweet, it was the perfect sweet treat.

Late the next morning, we jumped in the car and headed to The Cradle of Mankind. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, this location is home to the largest known concentration of human ancestrals than anywhere else in the world.

While it wasn’t a must-do on my list, I was definitely intrigued to see it. However, when we pulled up to the entrance, we were welcomed by a CLOSED FOR RENOVATION sign and had to turn back and head to the main road.

On impulse, my dad’s cousin took us to the Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve instead which happened to be nearby. This offered us the perfect opportunity to possibly see the big five!

When we drove in, we were surrounded by a vast, dry land flattened by the mighty paws of lions and thunderous limbs of rhinos.

We arrived just before feeding time and joined the queue for the feeding arena. Dozens of cars circled a large area as wild dogs ran for their lunch. A large truck arrived and unloaded large pieces of meat at the centre and the wild dogs began feasting, running between the pieces, attempting to get the best of both worlds.

Next up was the lions, they were much more relaxed and polite. The lioness sat on the side, watching as if she’d just eaten. Seeing them so closely, just existing, was really outworldly.

Driving toward the exit, we found ourselves in another queue, cars probably stopping to view animals closely. Once we got further in the line, we saw lions sitting on the side of the driving path, as if posing for pictures.

I looked into the lion’s sand-coloured eyes, matted furry face, an ironic scar etched into his forehead, his long mane and his large claws. Living in London, it is incredibly easy to forget the beauty of nature and all the creatures that roam the Earth. But here, in South Africa, you feel effortlessly connected and in this moment, I was reminded of the simplicity and slowness life could have.

As we drove closer to the exit we managed to catch a rhino snoozing in the afternoon sun, alongside its child who stood beside it, as if guarding its mother.

Arriving back at the house, we ate a portion of homemade Ragda Pettis, a dish of potato patties covered in a white pea curry and topped with chopped tomato, onion, tamarind chutney and coriander. It is a comforting dish that is both spicy and tangy.

After hearing about the incredible price of acrylic nails in Johannesburg, we headed out to get our nails done ahead of our week in Knysna.

A few hours later, we packed a basket of wine, cheese, crisps and nuts ready for a sunset picnic! We headed up a local hill and found a pretty spot with a clear view and set our blanket down.

We chatted, sipped wine and enjoyed the silence as the sun took its daily descent into the horizon. The orange and pink skies engulfed us from all sides, leaving us in the cold breeze of the night after sun’s swift exit.

Day 10-12: George/Knysna

Early the next morning, we took a flight to George, a city west of Cape Town to start our mini road trip to the beautiful capital.

After a short two-hour flight, we arrived in George, to sunny blue skies and a beaming sun.

Looking at the boot of our rental car and our two large bags and three pieces of hand luggages, we knew we were in for a challenge.

After playing some suitcase tetris, we jumped into the car and made our way to grab some food. Some Google searching showed us that the East Head Cafe was an amazing brunch spot that offered fresh, light food all with a view of the bright blue water and mossy green hills.

As we drove, we tried to grab pictures along the way but none could really do it justice. We all ordered an assortment of dishes, I settled on a three-bean toasted wrap and we went for a plate of lemon butter mussels for the table.

I thoroughly enjoyed the meal and the ladies serving us were lovely! The mussels were interesting, they weren’t as bad as I thought but I was fairly new to being a pescatarian so it was a bit out there, even for me. We finished the meal with two slices of cake: a moist, nutty carrot cake and a sumptuous, fudgy chocolate cake, both of which were amazing!

Beside the restaurant was a walkway to a small stretch of rocky coastline that was constantly being thrashed by the cyan waters. We stood on the rocks, admiring the view and the sun crystalising the water.

Jumping back in the car, we headed back in the direction of our hotel. Our small boutique hotel was off the side of a main road, having an exclusive view of the water in the bay. The hotel was a group of rooms surrounding an open-roofed swimming pool. The sun glittered against the water as we were shown to our rooms. Dark wood furniture and vintage patterns were pinpointed across the rooms. The bright white sun shone through the curtains, illuminating the rooms.

After wheeling in our suitcases, showering and changing clothes, we headed out to the dock in hopes of booking a sunset cruise and grabbing some dinner. After booking a boat ride with one of the many companies, we walked around, wandering through shops, killing time until our cruise.

An hour and a bit later, we were on the boat, the bright sun towering over us. We drove out into Knysna Lagoon, with cold drinks in hand. On occasion, I drink cider so opted for the South African Savanna cider which was surprisingly nice despite its lack of fruity flavour.

As we rode out further into the lagoon, we could see the small coastal town from afar, and it was just beautiful. Before we knew it, the sun had begun to creep behind some mountains. We constantly tracked it whilst humming along to the likes of Bobby McFerrin and Bob Marley. Transitioning from white to yellow to a golden-orange, the sun was slowly sinking into the horizon. The water in turn glistened with a line of sparkles. Staring at the motion of the waves was beyond relaxing and a moment I think about often.

With the sun finally setting, the boat returned us back to the port where we enjoyed a quick drink at the tiki bar before going to dinner. We settled on a sushi restaurant which was nice but nowhere near Big Mouth.

The next morning we got up and got ready for the day. It looked really warm, but actually was quite windy so it was sometimes quite hard to choose what to wear. I often went with summery outfits with layers I could add/remove as I needed.

The breakfast hall treated us to fresh fruit, an assortment of pastries, breakfast meats and hot dishes upon request. I went for some fruit, a poached egg, sauteed mushrooms and vegetable fritters, which was a great way to start the day!

As our hotel had access to the bay, we were offered a complimentary boat ride, which we booked for after breakfast. Swaddled in cosy blankets from the wind, we set off. The empty water and clear skies immediately cleansed our minds, encouraging us to be fully present. I played old Ed Sheeran and Adele songs on my phone as we sat in silence, listening to the wallop of the water and the whir of the engine.

Sadly, my sister had been feeling quite poorly since the previous evening, perhaps due to the food or change in water and decided to stay in bed instead of coming on the boat. After our short and peaceful boat ride, we returned back to the hotel to plan the rest of our day.

Whilst everyone was resting, I sat by the pool and read- for anyone who knows me, my absolute favourite pastime! The sun was now stronger, tanning my arms and legs. After a while of reading, we decided on driving to Plattenberg Bay, a sandy beach we’d passed on our drive in.

For the next few hours, we enjoyed ice creams, card games and just the sounds of the crashing water. In time for the sunset, we drove back to the East Heads where there was a viewpoint of the bay, mountains and the setting sun. We were again delighted with the sunset, each one seeming more orange, glowing and beautiful than the last.

We had a quick dinner, due to my family feeling a bit under the weather, which was fairly average, perhaps not a good pick from us and returned back to the hotel for an early night.

My sister and dad woke up the next morning feeling quite unsettled and uneasy so we spent a few hours at a doctor’s office, getting some medicine. After this was all sorted in the early afternoon, we started the drive to the Cango Caves.

The 4500 million year old cave was incredibly impressive and larger than I thought. With a guide explaining the exploration of the cave and its story, we walked through the expansive area. Each corner revealed another unique set of dripstones, each of which had its own name. I really enjoyed the tour and especially liked the fact that many years ago, concerts used to take place in the cave!

We found a petrol station on our way back and grabbed an ice cream to tide over our hunger before dinner. This drive was completed beside a stunning sunset and it was quite dark before we arrived back in Knysna.

We ended our final night in Knysna with a meal at Piza E Vino, an Italian restaurant next to the East Head Cafe from the first day and were pleasantly surprised! Whilst my dad and brother gorged themselves on the Carbonara, my sister, mum and I shared a saucy red pasta and vegetable-packed pizza which both felt authentic and delicious!

Day 13-14: Stellenbosch + Franschhoek

With a five and a half hour drive to our next stop, Stellenbosch, we left pretty early the next morning. Driving under cloudy skies wasn’t as pleasant, an hour or two into the drive, it started to clear up, so we began taking more pictures and stopping on the side of the road to see the view more closely.

For most of the journey, we were locked between mountains, driving up and down winding roads, but the moments we were joined by the glowing sea were always beautiful.

Although it lengthened our route, we decided to drive along the coast and then weave back inland. We passed many bays and glittering beaches, but the prettiest has to be the marine drive coming up to Gordon’s Bay. With large, leafy trees on our right and the wide ocean on our left, it felt like the road was our own!

After various stops and a fast food detour, we arrived at the winery in the late afternoon. Driving down a long pathway, under the canopy of bare trees, we knew that we were in for a treat.

We arrived at the hotel and were immediately met by staff, who opened our doors and offered us hot towels as they took out our luggage. My sister, who was still not feeling 100%, and I eyed each other at the sight and handed our backpacks over to the staff.

Sitting down in the lobby, we were offered a glass of wine which we obviously took and waited for our key cards.

A few moments later, we were escorted to our rooms. A compact and minimal room with a dazzling view of a lake and rows of grape trees, all of which were bare and thin. One downside we often felt due to visiting in the winter was that while the weather was fairly nice, all the trees, crops and flowers weren’t in bloom. It always looked lovely, but we were left wondering how everything would look in the peak of summer.

Due to visiting in the off-peak season, the winery was fairly empty, with a peaceful quiet surrounding us.

After having settled in and changed, we went for a walk to stretch our legs after the day of driving. The clouds stacked themselves up against the sky, creating a muted sunset with just a few glimpses of pink imprinting themselves across the horizon. Even though empty trees surrounded us, the grass was surprisingly green, especially for winter.

We changed for the evening and stepped downstairs into the winery’s restaurant for dinner. A glass of red wine in hand, I tucked into a plate of fish and chips which was fairly nice, but not as high quality as I was expecting. With a few dishes left on the table, we all agreed that the wine was the winner of the meal.

Wobbly-legged and content from our chat, we all went to sleep excited for another day in the South African winter sun.

The next morning, the sun streamed from the windows in the white doors, signalling to us that the clouds had left. We quickly got ready, packed our things away and sat at a table at the restaurant for breakfast. Our extended family had flown out to Cape Town and drove to spend the weekend with us, so they joined us at breakfast to hear about our week.

A flat white, portion of shakshuka and some mini pastries later, we returned to the restaurant of the winery for our first wine tasting.

I’d never done a wine tasting before so was looking forward to learning more about the wine industry in South Africa.

We had various rounds of white, red and rose wines, which we whirled and slowly sipped. The guide talked us through the process, the kind of grape and the perfect food pairing.

The wine that stuck out to me the most was the Pinotage, a signature South African variety that is a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsaut. It was smoky and fruity, quite different to the rest.

While the wine tasting was interesting and fun, and the guide was a clear expert, our relatives informed us that this wasn’t the best wine tasting they’d been to. Wine tastings are not just about the wine, they also consider the location and the accompanying food, both of which could have been better for this tasting.

We soon checked out and jumped back in the car, all our luggage once again squashed into the boot.

Across the southwest of South Africa, in the regions outside of Cape Town, there are dozens of wineries and wine estates so this day was all about exploring different estates and getting a real feel for the experience.

Next up, we had Babylonstoren, one of the oldest Cape Dutch farms in the Franschhoek wine valley. It wasn’t just a winery, but an extensive fruit and vegetable garden and home to farm-to-table restaurants. This description doesn’t even begin to convey the beauty and freshness of the land. We walked through the small lanes of vegetables, some of which were bare, and walked into small farm shops specialising in certain delicacies.

We tried the Panino Di Gelato from the dairy counter and were surprised by the lightness of the water buffalo gelato. Again, there was a slowness in the air, most visitors were lightly strolling, popping in and out of shops.

I would love to go back here in peak season and explore more of the area.

On our way back to the cars, we spotted some blood oranges on the floor, probably fallen from the tree and grabbed them to make some fresh juice. We had already got a few complimentary ones from the reception so this was just adding to our small collection.

We then started driving into Franschhoek, a small town surrounded by mossy green mountains and home to some of the oldest wineries in the country. We parked up at the next winery, Haute Cabriere, a beautiful wine estate and restaurant with a cascading backdrop of mountains at the front and back. The cellar had a stone interior with views of wine barrels at the bottom. We took our seats and decided on a champagne tasting, which I opted out of and stuck to a glass of rose. Here there was a lovely cheese board and some snacks to tide us over until reached Cape Town.

Then we walked through the town, window shopping and taking pictures of the Cape Dutch architecture before setting off to the much-loved coastal city.

Day 14-17: Cape Town

Driving into Cape Town is a memory that flashes by even now when I think of the trip. We drove down the main road, an orange sunset sitting on the horizon and the larger-than-life Table Mountain on our left. We drove to the apartment we would be staying in for the next few days and sorted our bags.

A short half an hour later, we were walking to have dinner. We decided on a modern Italian restaurant Ariel, that had a large glowing bar, trendy artwork and small trees inside and it was a good one! I couldn’t decide between a creamy truffle mushroom tagliatelle or a tomatoey vodka rigatoni but reluctantly decided on the tagliatelle which was really comforting and tasty. My sister tried the rigatoni and it was insanely good, I definitely stole far too many from her plate.

We all raced to the apartment and off to bed as we had an especially touristy day the following day.

We were all showered and ready for around 9 am, the next morning, ready to see Cape Point, Boulders Beach, Ernie Els Winery and Sunset Rock.

We started the day by setting off for Chapman’s Peak Drive, a beautiful coastal drive up to Hout’s Bay. With clear, blue skies, it couldn’t be a better day to do the drive… or so we thought! The wind was without a doubt just as sporadic and intense as people described. My freshly washed hair was constantly flying in the wind, as was my skirt. After an awe-striking drive, we reached the lookout, a stunning panoramic view of the whole city and its various mountains. Here the wind was particularly strong and forceful, wrapping around us as we tried to take a few pictures.

After a short time of admiring the view, we jumped back in the cars and drove to Boulder’s Beach, something I had been waiting to see since we had first booked the trip.

Walking up to the beach, I could hear the chatter of penguins and the clapping of water. We bought entry tickets and walked onto a bridge. With full and fluffy plants on either side of the bridge, we caught glimpses of penguins playing in the sand.

Waddling around in pairs and groups, the penguins were incredibly adorable. We walked further down to the beach where there was cyan water, several large boulders and dozens of penguins. Most of them lay on the sand sleeping, but many of them were having a blast coming out of the water, and running back in on their bellies. It was a joy just watching them jump, shake and waddle. Let’s just say, lots of photos were taken at Boulders Beach!

Our next stop was Cape Point, the most southwestern point of the continent! Switching out to my trainers, we started our climb to the Cape of Good Hope and the New Cape Point Lighthouse. Although not too long, the climb was pretty steep and had many layers. Getting to the top, we were met with a small platform to take photos and observe the view. Whilst Cape Point isn’t the official meeting point of the Atlantic and Indian oceans, it offers a beautiful view of endless blue water.

Wanting to tick one more winery off the list, we drove a ways out of Cape Town to Ernie Els Wines, a well-known wine estate co-founded by a South African golfer. Walking down the entrance, we were immediately in awe of the decor and height of the place. It exuded quiet luxury like nothing I’ve seen before! With a small golfing range outside and a view of rolling hills and mountains, the estate was beyond beautiful.

We were seated in a large room and immediately ordered a bottle of white wine as well as a bread basket with warm butter. Still feeling under the weather and not wanting to upset her stomach, my sister ordered a tomato soup, which was possibly one of the most extravagant and flavoursome I’ve tasted. It was accompanied by two flaky bread sticks and at the soup’s base was an olive tapenaade that spread itself through the soup as you mixed.

A gnocchi and mushroom mains dish and a serving of butterscotch ice cream later, we all got back in the car, racing to catch the sunset before it fell away.

Before arriving at Sunset Rock near Signal Hill, I wasn’t sure what to expect but it truly was many large boulders on an edge that presented a stunning view of the sunset over the sea. Climbing onto the rocks was a challenge in itself as they were slippery and facing downward. Once we had found a good place to stand, I stood holding onto someone else mostly out of fear of falling but also because I couldn’t believe we were all experiencing this, together. The glowing sun was casting its orange light over everything as it made its descent. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the joy of seeing the sun meet the sea, as it disappeared behind a smattering of clouds.

The following day was our last full day in Cape Town, meaning that it was also our last chance to see Table Mountain. We had found out pretty early on that the cable cars were sadly closed for renovations, but we hoped to still see the mountain before we left.

We started the day by visiting Oranjezicht Farmers Market, possibly one of my favourite places in Cape Town. Inside it were three large tents, one with fresh produce and flowers, another with a variety of sweet treats, meats, cheeses and condiments and the final tent was bursting with fresh food from Dutch pancakes to an egg station to a bao stall! The mixture of smells and multitude of food sent all of us exploring in different directions.

After lots of circling around and looking at different menus, I decided on a pesto scrambled egg croissant that was steaming hot and topped with feta. My sister got a bacon sandwich that was called the Harvey Specter which she enjoyed. We bought some South African samoosas, sweet tarts and a strawberry waffle for the table. Everything was flavoured to perfection and exceptionally fresh!

Full of food, we drove to the colourful town of Bo-Kaap and walked through the brightly painted streets. It was something I’d seen online so much and couldn’t believe we were there!

The next stop was the V&A waterfront where we enjoyed local music and the sights of the harbour. We listened to local music played by street musicians and wandered through shops looking for our last-minute souvenirs. I also managed to grab a poster for my room from The Watershed, a vibrant and large market space for homemade and unique goods. The abstract piece illustrated a toucan and cheetah in front of a dark leafy tropical tree.

We also stumbled across TimeOut Market which was an insanely big and busy space filled with people eating, drinking and chatting. As we walked through, we found a fresh oyster bar and thought it would be the perfect place to finally try them.

The woman behind the bar opened the shells with a knife, flipped over the oyster inside, topped it with mignonette (a shallot and chilli based) condiment, salt and black pepper before serving it on a bed of ice.

Despite my initial hesitation, the oysters were so much tastier than I thought! The vinegary shallot on top and the chilli sauce gave it a tangy and spicy taste which I enjoyed much more than the mussels at the beginning of the week.

With a few hours to go until our dinner reservation, we drove to Unframed ice cream shop, nicknamed ‘#1 ice cream in the world’ by Big7 Travel. Known for their natural ice creams that are made from scratch and often consist of unusual flavours, I was excited to try it. I opted for a rose-based ice cream whilst my mum went for a cherry-based one. While my ice cream was deliciously creamy, my mum’s choice was definitely better.

The next morning, we went to a trendy brunch spot, Jarryds for breakfast. I ordered an egg white omelette that was filled with beans, roasted corn and jalapenos, topped with avocado and accompanied by a slice of sourdough. My sister chose a breakfast bruschetta with bacon, a poached egg and balsamic reduction and we shared a cheesecake french toast. Everything was amazing and we were incredibly full as you could imagine!

Around this time, there was a massive hype around Crumbl in LA and there was a rumoured dupe in Cape Town… so off we drove! My siblings were way more invested in it than I was, but I was intrigued as to why it was going viral. We arrived at Cookie Co. a large cookie shop that also sold merchandise, toys and other sweets. Our focus however was on the large shelf of cookies, there was molten lava, birthday cake, cookie dough brownie, stuffed Oreo, original and a bunch more.

On our way to the airport, they ripped through the box, taking a bite of each cookie and rating them. They really liked the molten lava which I also really enjoyed!

Days 18-21: Johannesburg

The next few days consisted of seeing family and revisiting local restaurants. My great-grandmother was born in South Africa and much of her family still lived there so it was nice meeting extended faamily and getting a glimpse into their life. My parents initially visited South Africa in th 90’s so we returned to some of their favourites as well as getting the last bits of shopping done!

We managed to squeeze in another meal at The Big Mouth which was just as tasty as the first and got to try the Durban speciality- Bunny Chow, a quarter loaf of bread holed out and filled with a warm curry, which was really comforting.

It’s fair to say that this was a trip of a lifetime! Writing this blog has brought back so many memories of beautiful flavours and wonderful sights. Simple things like the fresh blood orange juice were so memorable that we tried to incorporate them into our lives back home. My mum has started making fresh juice at home every few weeks so we can travel back to mornings in the African sun.

This is a trip I would highly recommend doing at some point in your life, it will bring you peace and a newfound appreciation for life.

Thank you for reading and I hope my next piece brings you back to The Imprint!