so, you have a problem: you've rsvped "YES" and just realized that you are going to be spending way more time on a plane than at this wedding. luckily, this is an easy problem to fix - spend more time in our motherland. it'll be totally worth it.
cape town and surrounds
great white shark cage diving
to help you get started planning your trip, we have pulled together a few recommended vendors who we have used before. plus, if you mention that you are part of our wedding party, some of them will offer you healthy discounts.
cape town and surrounds
location: gansbaai
start from: cape town
time: full day (8am - 6pm)
cost: ~R1,100 per person (after 30% discount)
that's right. take a dip in the ocean with jaws. before you go, form your own view on whether you believe it is ethical.
wine tour
peninsula tour
location: all around the cape peninsula
robben island
location: just off the coast of cape town
time: 3.5 hours, departing at 11am, 1pm or 3pm
cost: R230
tour includes a return ferry trip across table bay, a visit to the maximum security prison where nelson mandela was held for 18 of his 27 years in prison (along with numerous other political prisoners), interaction with an ex-political prisoner and a 45 minute bus tour with a guide providing commentary.
some multi-day trips:
if you have a bit more time and are willing to spend a few nights outside of cape town, we would recommend considering:
johannesburg and surrounds
soweto tour
location: johannesburg
time: full or half day
cost: R750 (full day), R500 (half day)
half day tour details here.
full day tour details here.
vendor: soweto.co.za
contact: kay chanchane, res@soweto.co.za
game farm
location: there are a number of options depending on your time and budget. one of our favorites is welgevonden game reserve - combines the benefits of great game viewing in a relatively secluded reserve not too far from Johannesburg (2-3 hour drive), at relatively affordable prices.
start from: johannesburg
time: at least two nights, and never too long
play with the kitties and other animals from the seat of luxury.
vendor: bushbreaks
contact: crystal harding, crystal@bushbreaks.co.za
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wine tour
location: stellenbosch and surrounds
start from: cape town
time: full day (9:30am - 6pm)
cost: R650 per person (min 4 ppl)
join the winner of the first south african big brother for a day of sampling some of the cape's finest.
vendor: fgroup
peninsula tourlocation: all around the cape peninsula
start from: cape town
time: full day (9am - 6pm)
cost: R2,300 for a group of up to 7 cruise around the cape peninsula, play with penguins on boulders beach, check out the ostriches and baboons, explore cape point, stand atop the highest sea cliffs in africa, and take in the glory of chapman's peak.
vendor: take2tours
contact: wayne, info@take2tours.co.za
vendor: take2tours
contact: wayne, info@take2tours.co.za
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robben islandlocation: just off the coast of cape town
time: 3.5 hours, departing at 11am, 1pm or 3pm
cost: R230
tour includes a return ferry trip across table bay, a visit to the maximum security prison where nelson mandela was held for 18 of his 27 years in prison (along with numerous other political prisoners), interaction with an ex-political prisoner and a 45 minute bus tour with a guide providing commentary.
vendor: robben-island.org.za
cape town beaches
location: all around cape town
time: how much do you have?
cost: the best things in life are free
cape town boasts a number of ridiculously awesome beaches. two of our favorites include clifton and llandudno. there are also a ton of options for surfing depending on conditions.
climb table mountain (or take the cable car)
location: cape town
time: half - full day (min ~2 hour hike)
cost: free to climb, cable car costs R100 one way or R185 round trip
climb cape town's iconic mountain. there are a bunch of routes to choose from depending on how much time and effort you want to expend.
climb lion's head at sunset
location: cape town
time: leave around 5:30pm, sunset around 7pm, be back down around 8pm
cost: free
another one of the city's mountains, this one offering panoramic views of cape town, robben island and the sun setting over the atlantic ocean. note that while most of the hike is pretty leisurely, you do need to climb a few chains and ladders closer to the summit.
and more in cape town:
this is far from an exhaustive list of things to do in cape town. you could also:
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cape town beacheslocation: all around cape town
time: how much do you have?
cost: the best things in life are free
cape town boasts a number of ridiculously awesome beaches. two of our favorites include clifton and llandudno. there are also a ton of options for surfing depending on conditions.
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climb table mountain (or take the cable car)location: cape town
time: half - full day (min ~2 hour hike)
cost: free to climb, cable car costs R100 one way or R185 round trip
climb cape town's iconic mountain. there are a bunch of routes to choose from depending on how much time and effort you want to expend.
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location: cape town
time: leave around 5:30pm, sunset around 7pm, be back down around 8pm
cost: free
another one of the city's mountains, this one offering panoramic views of cape town, robben island and the sun setting over the atlantic ocean. note that while most of the hike is pretty leisurely, you do need to climb a few chains and ladders closer to the summit.
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and more in cape town:
this is far from an exhaustive list of things to do in cape town. you could also:
- check out greenmarket square for african trinkets
- hang out at kirstenbosch botanical gardens (or even catch a sunday evening outdoor concert)
- wonder around the city's forests (newlands and cecilia are two of our favorites)
- swim in the reservoir at silvermine nature reserve
- explore the city's long list of great restaurants
- party like a rockstar
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some multi-day trips:
if you have a bit more time and are willing to spend a few nights outside of cape town, we would recommend considering:
- the garden route. be sure to stop off in knysna, and bloukrans for the highest bungee jump in the world
- langebaan for some great kitesurfing
- hermanus for some whale watching
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johannesburg and surrounds
soweto tour
time: full or half day
cost: R750 (full day), R500 (half day)
half day tour details here.
full day tour details here.
vendor: soweto.co.za
contact: kay chanchane, res@soweto.co.za
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game farmlocation: there are a number of options depending on your time and budget. one of our favorites is welgevonden game reserve - combines the benefits of great game viewing in a relatively secluded reserve not too far from Johannesburg (2-3 hour drive), at relatively affordable prices.
start from: johannesburg
time: at least two nights, and never too long
play with the kitties and other animals from the seat of luxury.
vendor: bushbreaks
contact: crystal harding, crystal@bushbreaks.co.za
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and more in johannesburg:
- visit the apartheid museum for an immersive journey through south africa's recent history
- grab a couple of drinks at the westcliff hotel while enjoying great views of joburg (especially at sunset)
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getting around
a number of airlines provide reliable air transport around south africa. check out kulula, mango, south african airways and british airways. or try out a flight aggregator for faster research.