South Africa
Starting off in Cape Town. I definitely was shocked that it isn’t packed with tourists as this place is seriously a secret gem. The center of the city sits an enormous mountain. The mountain is surrounded by beautiful, white sandy beaches. It is rated one of the most friendly places in the world and it’s very easy to see why. From everywhere in the city you can see Table Top Mountain in the background. You can take one of many paths to hike to the top or you can take the cable car both up and down to get the same amazing views. I opted to hike the Platteklip Gorge Trail which is the most popular. Fun fact: The mountain is called Table Top because it is flat like a table and when the clouds sit on top it looks like a table cloth has been placed on the table. There are many beach options in Cape Town. Camps Bay is rated one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The waterfront has a beautiful walk/run/bike path. I would recommend renting a car for part of your stay in Cape Town. There are plenty of things to see only an hour or so away from the city. I took a day trip to Cape Point which is a peninsula with small towns and beaches along the way. Boulder Beach which is mostly known for the penguins. Seal Island is another well known attraction on this route. Although you could not see them from the road, there are many shipwrecks marked in the area. Cape Point is the point where the Indian Ocean meets the Atlantic Ocean. There are two lighthouses situated on the end of the peninsula. Baboons live all over this peninsula as well. Scarborough Beach, I was amazed to find a reasonably isolated, beautiful, huge beach. Chapman’s Peak was definitely worth it! I got to see the Twelve Apostles, which are several large mountains in a row. Another reason to get a car is to explore all the wineries. Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was held prisoner for 18 of his 27 year sentence. This is before he went on to become the President of South Africa. The Garden Route is the name of the road that runs along the southern coast of South Africa. It is the southernmost shore on the African continent. It is connected by small towns with plenty to do and see. Many of the attractions are related to wildlife as in ostrich farms, elephant sanctuaries, cheetah & leopard breeding, crocodile farms, etc. There are also lots of outdoor activities and high adrenaline options. Oudtshoorn has a great zoo called Cango Wildlife Ranch which features many hands-on exhibits, Plettenberg Bay has its popular Robberg hiking trail and my trip along the route ended in Port Elizabeth.