When a business trip opens the door to a bucket list destination, there’s no better catalyst to pack the bags and set out on an unexpected adventure. My first concern is always safety and it’s no joke; South Africa is dangerous and has a corrupt government, something every local will remind you of from first-hand accounts. These are always concerns when traveling abroad, and in this case, reason to enlist a native travel agent who had every day expertly planned in less than six weeks.
You can’t possibly go to South Africa without starting in Cape Town, located at the southern tip of Africa. This vast coastal city is reminiscent of California Highway 101 only with more dramatic waves and mountain relief, a professional surfer’s paradise. My husband and son talked of cage diving with great whites only to discover it’s no longer a thing. Marine biologists discovered Orca whales were preying on the great whites, eating only their livers, so, they left.
Cape Town is stunning and a gateway to wine country with exclusive shops on the waterfront. Hiking enthusiasts can find an array of hikes with Table and Lion’s Head mountains towering over the coastal city. While we were game to venture out on our own, our travel agent encouraged us to go with a guide as panhandlers look for tourists on popular hiking trails. This wasn’t my observation, but we didn’t argue with the extra precaution.
There are so many excursions you can take near Cape Town, and in summer you can enjoy the lovely beaches. If penguins are on your list, there’s a stunning drive along the coast where you can see African Penguins, about an hour from the Cape. Wine tours and city tours lend to hearing the country's history and there’s much to learn about Nelson Mandela, even a ferry ride to where he was imprisoned.
The second leg took us glamping at one of the largest private game reserves in the country near Port Elizabeth, a short flight from Cape Town heading to more of the eastern coastal section. I intentionally did not watch any YouTube videos of people being mauled on safaris. Instead, I wanted to trust our guide Ruan and be present with Mother Nature without fear.
He expertly saw his opportunity as he shut off the open-air jeep when out of the bush a pride of lions sauntered in our direction. “Don’t move mates,” he said in a hushed tone as we were stone-still. The most curious of the sisters walked right beside my side of the jeep, her giant paws stealthily hitting the ground as I felt I could have reached out and touched her (and lost an arm). Then, we locked eyes as she paraded right past me. Everyone in the jeep admitted their heart was pounding, but the encounter was priceless.
Hands down an African safari is a must. Seeing a mother cheetah sacrifice her kill for her cubs to watch them cuddling her in gratitude or seeing white rhino that will become extinct in my children’s lifetime is just extraordinary.
Shifting gears, we ended on business in Johannesburg. Most will tell you to skip this city as it’s too dangerous to sightsee, but our short stay was likely the most enlightening as we got to visit a South African home in a gated community behind a gated drive with surveillance cameras and razor wire fence. This was every middle to upper class home in South Africa and so strange that children would be confined to their imprisoned yards.
Our South African hosts were most hospitable and accomplished. They served us a six-course dinner accompanied by their fine South African wine and a bottle of whiskey from Jerusalem, as they were aware of our Kentucky bourbon fame. They apologized for the house being somewhat cooler and let us know that there might be a brownout during the evening, as the country has an ongoing energy crisis. Interestingly, their conversation kept coming back to our upcoming presidential election and how we felt about Donald Trump, and they wanted us to explain woke culture.
Our entire South African experience was fantastic. My advice, don’t overplan, clear your schedule, and just take the trip! You will never regret it.