Our Honeymoon: Zambia, Mozambique, and Cape Town
An African safari is an unforgettable experience and something that can feel so out-of-reach and farfetched when planning a vacation. I’ll be the fist to admit that when I thought about a safari the notion just felt very time (and money) intensive. But I’m here today to share our experience while on our first safari and on our first trip into Africa and I hope that what you take away from this post is that: it’s doable. It’s possible. And it’s shockingly easy.
When planning a safari, the first step is, obviously, selecting your destination. This might sound easy but Africa is huge and once you dive into the research it can be overwhelming. And with more African nations emerging as modern economies, the pool of options is only getting larger.
Kenya and Tanzania have long been tourist mainstays with the Serengeti, Masa Mari, and the Ngorongoro Crater all providing consistent and stable experiences. Then, of course, there is Kruger National Park in South Africa. Botswana has received a lot of press over the last ten years as wealthy tourists and influencers avoid crowds and flock to the Okavango Delta. However, in this post, I want to shed light on a little-known and soft-spoken nation that has made big noise among the most tenured safari-goers for its untouched landscapes, dense wildlife, and, most importantly, intimately private experiences: Zambia.
Below, I’ll do my best to recount our experience. This won’t be a typical blog post where I share restaurants, neighborhoods, and activities that we did or researched. In this post my goal is to simply share our delightful experience and hopefully that will be enough to inspire you to push some boundaries and take the leap into your first safari - or inspire you to visit Zambia.
The friendliest nation: Safari in Zambia
It’s 6 am and I’ve awoken from the first true sleep that I’ve been able to sneak in over 30 hours. My newly official wife and I decided to splurge and upgrade our seats to business class for the second leg of our honeymoon trip, a decision made out of desperation and exhaustion after the catastrophe of leaving our Sicilian wedding two days prior. Just to be clear, the wedding itself was not a catastrophe, however, the Catania airport went up in flames, which left our guests (and us) scrambling for ways to leave the island during the hottest week in history (literally). For us, it meant that our honeymoon was in jeopardy. Our itinerary was meticulously curated and left little space for delays. But of course, Murphy’s Law dictated that even in an emergency, the airlines were on Italian time and it cost us our connection. After hours of panic, we managed to find new flights only a day late to salvage the trip and make it to our first stop on our honeymoon itinerary: The South Luangwa National Park in Zambia.
As we exited the plane in Lusaka my first observation was the stark contrast in the temperature from Sicily. Zambia was a welcome change to the 95+ degrees in Taormina. Mid-July is Zambian winter and temperatures were consistently 55-65 degrees in the mornings and 70-75 degrees in the afternoons.
Our first host, Barbara, greeted us at the exit of the airport, “What do you think of our new international airport?!” She asked with an immense sense of pride. The modest 12-gate airport of Lusaka wasn’t exactly Doha, where we connected on our way in, but it was comfortable and easy to navigate. Barbara escorted us outside and then down the sidewalk into the older domestic terminal where we transferred onto our final flight into our first safari in the South Luangwa National Park.
Before moving forward with our Zambian adventure it might be helpful to explain how we got there. As you might have guessed, Zambia isn’t exactly the honeymoon capital of the world and it’s unlikely to be listed on any top safari destinations - by amateurs. That was the key selling point for us, it was different.
As this was our first safari (and first trip to Africa period) we enlisted the support of Yellow Zebra Safaris to point us in the right direction. Chloe, our very energetic safari specialist didn’t have a bad thing to say about the typical safari destinations like Kenya or Tanzania, however, she cautioned us about the density of other safari-goes in those locations, “you may find a lion or leopard but there will be 20 Jeeps gathered around. It can make for a difficult photo,” and that’s when she offered Zambia as an alternative. A Zambian safari was sold to us as an off-the-beaten-path experience, somewhere that you go as your third or fourth safari. Chloe told us that Zambia is where many of the best guides in Africa work and often guides from other countries will train there. Zambia is also one of the few places that offers both night safaris and walking safaris.
We were convinced.
Nicole and I looked at each other and we both knew that this was the honeymoon experience we were looking for and the rest is history.
** Quick plug for Yellow Zebra Safaris; their planning process was fantastic. We truly felt like they wanted to understand who Nicole and I were as travelers and what we wanted out of a honeymoon. They offered us multiple itineraries, which were super engaging with video content of every location/hotel/bush camp. It really was a great experience. They developed every aspect of the itinerary from airport pick ups to domestic and international flights and they had a 24/7 support line on WhatsApp, which was available to assist us when we needed to make our emergency adjustment to start the trip. I would highly recommend their services and we will likely utilize them again when we get around to a second safari.
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The hour-long flight from Lusaka to Mfuwe was uneventful. The small prop plane dropped us on the runway where we collected our bags and made our way to the tiny terminal where we met our first guide, Julius, and his spotter, Moses.
Julius is an imposing man with a deep voice and a high-pitched laugh that doesn’t match up with his build. Moses was taller than Julius but with less of a powerful build. He dawned full camouflage and a hunting rifle for emergencies. The two giant men welcomed us with sandwiches and drinks for the ride into the South Luangwa National Park. The gesture perfectly foreshadowed the kindness we would feel throughout the entirety of the trip. Julies was adorable when he told us that lunch was ready and waiting for us at camp but he was worried we would be hungry so they made chicken sandwiches for us.
Our bags were then thrown into the back of their massive Land Rover Defender and we were off - two hours through the city of Mfuai and the South Luangwa Park to our first of two Bush Camps: Time + Tide Nsolo.
With three national parks and over 1,800 species (many of which are only found in Zambia), the safari industry here is growing quickly. As you drive toward South Luangwa you get a sense that the people are very aware of how vital tourism is to the economy but as you spend more time amongst them you realize that their kindness is less about the value of your tourism dollars and simply a byproduct of who the Zambian people naturally are. As we drove toward the park, the smiles were infectious. Every man, woman, and child that we passed enthusiastically smiled and waved to us - and I seriously mean “every,” it felt like I was on a Thanksgiving day float waving for 35 minutes straight.
The South Luangwa Park itself was not what we expected. When you see safari pictures it’s the wide open space of the Serengeti or Masi Mara in Kenya that tends to stick out the most. In the South Luangwa National Park, the vegetation is dense. It ranges from a sandy desert to forests that resemble upstate New York at times (there were moments when we felt like we were on a Halloween hayride in the fall). The roads in the park are unmarked and windy, at one point I remarked at how impressed I was that Julius knew every twist and turn, his response was a warm smile as he spread his arms wide and casually toward the park and said “your office is a desk. This is my office.”
Our drive to the Nsolo Bush Camp was a game drive in itself. The sheer amount of diverse species living casually amongst one another was overwhelming. We barely made it 30 minutes into the park and I burned through several hundred photos on my memory card. Before we had the chance to drop our bags at Nsolo we saw: elephants, hippos, crocodiles, warthogs, impalas, eagles, water buffalo, zebra, and so many more. After only 24 hours, we added giraffes, hyenas, lions, and the elusive wild dogs to that list.
Time + Tide Nsolo
The Time + Tide Nsolo Bush Camp is one of the more remote camps in the park. We were told by staff that it’s where honeymooners are often sent due its seclusion and privacy.
We certainly had privacy, during our three-night stay at the Nsolo we were the only guests in the small five-bedroom camp, which made for a unique experience that allowed us to develop a personal relationship with the Nsolo staff.
The camp itself is situated on the Lubi riverbed. In July, the Lubi River is completely dry, which allows for unique nature watching as you can see animals of all shapes and sizes crossing without any obstruction. The camp itself is made up of six structures; five bungalows that feel truly Robinson Crusoe and one large common space equipped with a bar. The bungalows are large and comfortable with a patio area for viewing the riverbed and each sunrise. The common space is adorable with couches, director chairs, swinging chairs, bookshelves, and furniture that you’d find in an old Victorian home - all made from the wood and leather that are quintessentially “safari.”
Upon every arrival, the staff gathers at the entrance to wave you in. When I say every arrival, I don’t just mean the first arrival, I mean every time you return to camp the staff lines up like cheerleaders. The welcome gives the camp a warm feeling that I cannot describe, if they were faking the joy of seeing us arrive at camp then the staff deserves an Oscar.
We found that while the nature in and around Nsolo was spectacular, the true highlight of this camp was the staff. They were so genuine and lovely. Cosmas, Fanual, Peter, Alice, Peter, Julius, and the rest of the team behind the scenes were some of the most genuinely kind people that we’ve ever had the pleasure of crossing paths with.
Aside from safety, the only thing the staff is truly serious about is the schedule, which is the same at every Time + Tide location. The morning starts promptly at 5:30 am every day. Don’t expect a phone call like you’re at the Ritz, your guard will stand outside your room and calmly and quietly repeat “good morning” until you respond. Then, they drop off a canister of hot water so you can make tea and leave you to your business. Breakfast begins thirty minutes later at 6:00 am and consists of omelets, yogurt, fruits, coffee, and different types of juices and teas. At 6:30, you begin the first activity of the day, which is your choice of a walking or driving safari (game drive).
The walking safari is more educational than a game drive as you have time to stop and discuss vegetation, tracks, droppings, and the animals. For instance, we learned that the rain tree adapted to being a favorite meal of the elephants by developing a fungus that turns its leaves white and therefore makes it look as if it’s dying. We also learned that hyena dung calcifies nearly to stone because hyenas eat bones. Or that elephants only digest 40% of their food so monkeys and other animals will go through elephant dung searching for undigested berries and nuts. On the other hand, the driving safari (game drive) is also educational but it’s a bit more hectic as you cover large swaths of land in search of specific animals and the perfect photo.
The morning activity ends at 11:00 am and upon your return to camp, you’re welcomed with the trademark wave and hot towel. At 11:30 lunch begins and at this point, it’s well past time that I should mention that the food is fantastic! Breakfast, lunch, and dinner at all five-star meals every single day. Once lunch ends you have a much-needed three-hour siesta that culminates with tea and cake hour at 3:30 in the afternoon. Side note, they take tea and cake hour seriously - you better come ready to chow down. They literally bake at least one cake and you better enjoy it before starting the evening activity and each day a new flavor awaits. It’s delightful.
The evening activity begins at 4:00 pm and it is always a game drive as the predators tend to be more active at night. The night safari is a Zambian staple. You begin at twilight and after 90 minutes of photos, you stop on a river bank for a sundowner. The guides come well-equipped with coolers of snacks, teas, and different alcoholic drinks. After a cocktail and the blood orange, yellow, blue, and purple sunset the night safari begins.
It gets dark in South Luangwa. Very dark. You drive the windy roads with nothing but the headlights of the Land Rover in the front and the spotlight of your spotter frantically moving left and right and up all the trees as you drive along.
On our fourth night, we were fortunate to finally spot our first leopard emerging casually from the bush. Little did we know that this “once in a lifetime” sighting would not only become a nightly occurrence but would become more intense with each subsequent sighting. More on that later.
You return from the night safari at 7:30 and dinner begins promptly at 8. Dinner always consists of an appetizer, main course, and dessert, all of which are locally sourced and prepared fresh in the camp’s kitchen. Alice and Peter, our chefs, were masterful at their craft.
And nearly every night you are joined by a dinner crasher, this particular night it was a happy little elephant stopping by to say “hi.”
One of our favorite moments at Nsolo was when we opened the game case in the common space and noticed one of our back-home family favorites; Rummy Tiles (picture of us playing is higher up in this blog). The game requires four people so we had to rope in two staff members. The game had been there for over a year and they never knew how to play. They told us they had been waiting for guests to teach them. Well, we taught them and they became obsessed.
One afternoon we arrived for lunch and noticed that the game was out of the cabinet and sitting on the shelf. We ordered drinks and meandered around for a bit and after a few minutes we noticed that the game had made its way to a corner of the shelf near where we were seated. After we ate lunch, we noticed that the game had then made its way to the coffee table in the center of the main lodge. We got the point and finally asked if they wanted to play and within seconds two additional staff members magically appeared and Cosmas (the assistant general manager) asked us if we could teach them so more people knew how to play. Nicole dominated all of us and when she finally decided to sit out, Cosmas kicked my butt.
Beginners luck.
“This is my office”
Our last night at Nsolo was a sleep-out located in the middle of the riverbed somewhere deeper into the bush. We were transitioning between Time + Tide Nsolo to the Time + Tide Mechenja Camp. This experience was incredible. Talk about glamping. The staff sets up an amazing site complete with a campfire with beanbags situated around it, a white tablecloth dinner table, a bathroom, and your beds situated under just a mosquito net so you can see the unpolluted stars while you sleep. I’m not much of a photographer and night photography has always been a skill that has eluded me so capturing the Milky Way has always been a goal of mine. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be able to capture it from my camera without the support of Adobe Lightroom. I spent nearly an hour after our dinner snapping away at the night sky by placing a napkin over the sand of the riverbed and positioning the sand to be my tripod. It was magical.
Despite being even more remote in the bush you don’t get shorted on your meals. Breakfast the next morning continued to be robust with omelets, sausage, bacon, fruit, and yogurt with coffee, tea, and juices. After eating ourselves into oblivion we started a morning walking safari to the Time + Tide Mchenja camp.
Time + Tide Mechenja
Time + Tide Mchenja was both very similar and very different from Nsolo. The schedule remained the same. The welcoming nature of the staff was the same. The food stayed the same. But this camp was a bit larger and a little more lively overall. This was because rather than being situated on the seasonally dried Lubi River, like Nsolo, Mchenja is on the very active Luangwa River. This meant that a flurry of animal activity could be seen directly from your private bedroom. The hippos laugh their maniacal laughs and purr like Bowser throughout the night and early mornings. The elephants eat the ebony berries just feet from your bed. And at night the resident leopards fight for territory and food, while hyenas lurk in the shadows just meters from the camp.
We had seen everything while at Nsolo but what we hadn’t seen yet was a kill. That was about to change several times over during our safaris at Mchenja.
Enjoying some coffee with giant kill machines casually waiting behind me.
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Arriving at Mchenja was eerily similar to Nsolo. About 5 staff members were awaiting us with hands waving and giant smiles on their faces. We were handed hot towels to clean off our faces from the long morning trek, the new manager, Precious, greeted us and guided us through our stay and we met our new guide, Andrew, who would be replacing Julius as our private guide through this portion of the South Luangwa Park.
Mchenja is a more active camp than Nsolo. Here we shared an experience with other guests in the roughly 16 unit campsite. It wasn’t just the human activity that increased at the Mchenja camp, the wildlife activity went from a 10/10 at Nsolo to a 20/10 here. The camp is situated on the Luangwa River, this one is not a dried riverbed, like Nsolo, here, even in the dry season, the river was vast and teeming with hippo activity. Our bungalow was situated on a 30 foot embankment and each morning we were awoken by the grunting of the countless hippos who sunbathed beneath us.
It was in Mchenja that we finally got to see the last animal on our wish list (aside from a Rhino… but we knew there wouldn’t be any of those here), the leopard. And boy did we see em’! There was a family of leopards who had their own bushcamp 100 yards outside of Mchenja.
When we arrived at Mchenja we were both so concerned that we would never see a leopard, however on our first day there were rumblings of one nearby who just made a kill! Nicole and I still laugh because this spastic family was staying at the camp, they were clearly there because grandpa paid for the trip and was hell-bent on growing his amateur photography collection. When they heard that the leopard was nearby Grandpa basically swatted breakfast out of his five-year-old grandson’s hand, herded their guide into the truck, and were off with a vapor trail behind them. When I saw this, I walked up to our guide, Andrew, to ask if we should be doing the same… Andrew looked me in the eye with a deadpan look on his face and a smirk as he cooly replied, “We will find them,” and he was right. From that morning on we couldn’t turn around without tripping over leopards.
The main leopard near our camp was an adult male. He spent the entire duration of our visit in and out of a tree, from which he dragged an adult impala into the branches while hungry hyenas sat underneath awaiting scraps that would drop down. He also had two teenage kids, which he chased off at every opportunity - no free meals in this savannah.
We spent 3 nights in Mchenja and each game drive was fantastic, however, South Luangwa had one final treat for us on the drive to the airport. As we were driving along, Andrew noticed two hyenas darting across the road, making a bee-line for something. Being the expert tracker that Andrew was, he knew immediately that something was going on so our airport drive was diverted as we followed them on their chase. As they took a turn off the road we continued to follow them for about 5 miles when, all of a sudden, about 20 hyenas appeared. As we inched closer it became very apparent what all the commotion was about. Three female lions were protecting a zebra kill and the surrounding hyenas were bidding their time hollering for more support until the numbers were in their favor to attack. The standoff was intense! We sat as the hyenas took turns creeping toward the kill and were instantly chased off by the lionesses. After nearly 15 minutes, Nicole spotted danger for the hyenas in the distance. Out of nowhere, two male lions charged on the scene and cleared out not only the hyenas but the lionesses too. As the two bullies chased everyone off they began to settle into the zebra as the hyenas kept their distance, now more fearful than ever.
It was an incredible experience. But the park had one last thrill in store for us, as we began to depart the kill, we got ourselves a flat tire about 100 yards away from all the excitement. Andrew and I changed the tire and we were on our way to our flight and our third and final camp in the Lower Zambezi National Park.
Time + Tide Chongwe
Our final destination was the Time + Tide Chongwe bush camp in the Lower Zambezi National Park.
The journey to the Lower Zambezi is a relatively quick one from Lusaki but its a little adventure all to itself. It’s a 45 minute flight in a tiny 15 seater prop-plane and you land on two seperate dirt runway “airports” where you’re picked up directly on the runway by your guides. Because the planes fly so low to the ground you get some really amazing views from above - we saw many elephants in the rivers along the way.
The Time + Tide Chongwe Bush Camp felt more like going to adult summer camp than a safari bush camp. If you like activities, they’ve got many more than the camps in the South Luangwa. Since the camp is situated on the massive Zambezi River, which borders Zambia with Zimbabwe, you’re able to do a boat safari, canoeing, and fishing for the prize of the Lower Zambezi - the Tiger Fish. This is all in addition to the standard game drive and night safari.
Chongwe is located directly outside the Lower Zambezi National Park. The one gripe I have with the area is that there were seamingly more rules than in South Luangwa, for example, we had to stay on the road while inside the park, whereas in South Luangwa we could divert directly into the bush at any point. It also felt like there was a more dense animal population in South Luangwa but take that with a grain of salt - I think South Luangwa was just so rich with animal activity that the Lower Zambezi just felt slower. In reality, there were animals everywhere and we got more great snaps of leopards, lions, elephants, and all the other amazing creatures of Zambia. Chongwe as a camp was easily the most modern and built up camp of the three we visited.
In many ways Chongwe felt like more of the same. Going from our room to the common areas required that our head remained on a swivel at all times as elephants and hippos frequently roamed the camp. One afternoon we were resting after an active morning game drive when my nap was abruptly ended by a massive elephant only ten feet from our bed. It was absolutely surreal to be feet from such an massive creature. Another evening we delayed about 30 minutes from getting back to our bungalow because a big ole hippo was munching some grass outside the common space.
The highlight of Chongwe was our fishing trip. We were visiting in their winter and while it was 70-80 degrees the entire time, we were not expecting a ton of success but luck would have it that literally 20 minutes into our fishing trip there was a few strong tugs on my line and next thing I knew I spent 3 minutes battling it out with a pretty feisty fish. As I reeled it in closer to the boat it became clear that I’d hooked the Tiger Fish! He was about 20 lbs and teeth that could easily take a finger off. When planning our trip back in the states, catching a Tiger Fish was high up on my bucket list of things I wanted to do so it felt pretty damn good to reel that sucker in.
Nicole was so brave LOL
There were many more successful game drives that followed but I’d just be telling more of the same stories - you get it - it’s fucking incredible.
Next stop on our honeymoon was some fun in the sun at our luxury resort on Benguerra Island in Mozambique!
A Beach Vacation in Mozambique
&Beyond Benguerra Island
Mozambique was, admittedly, not on our list of places we wanted to go initially. We knew that we wanted to end our safari with a relaxing beach trip but we were considering more cliche destinations like Seychelles or Mauritius. The Yellow Zebra team threw a curveball at us when they shared the &Beyond Benguerra Island Resort with us. The pictures were stunning and the difference in price between Mozambique and Seychelles was easily thousands of dollars - it also helps that they provide a 50% discount if you’re on your honeymoon.
So after doing a ton of research we decided to commit to Mozambique for the next leg of the trip! And we are so glad that we did!
Getting to Benguerra Island was another fun trip (this is a common theme throughout Africa - the ride in is often a trip in itself). Upon landing in Vilankulos you go through customs (cash only entry fee) and are whisked away to Benguerra on a helicopter! It was both Nicole and my first time riding in a chopper. It was ballin! The flight is only 15 minutes and you cruise over some of the coolest, bluest and waviest waters I’ve ever seen.
As we lowered onto the helipad, the staff waved us in and they lined the path way with traditional dancing and music. It was a true celebration as we entered the resort.
&Beyond Bengeurra Island itself is bathed in nature. Even from above you can barely see it through all the lush green forests that line the coast. As you walk down the path from the helipad it opens into an open air communal space constructed completely of wood and palm leave/thatch roofs. From the entry you have a clear line of sight directly to the ocean. Along the way you walk on a wooden path laid in the sand, which leads directly to a large beached sailboat that has been converted into a very cool bar.
The resort itself is exclusive. I believe there are fewer than 30 rooms total on the whole property. It’s an intimate affair and a super romantic holiday. This is where you go to spend quality time with the person you love. We met other couples and had a night or two sharing drinks over pleasant conversation with some new friends from Italy and New Jersey but overall, we focused most of our time and attention on each other.
Our beach bungalow was the epitome of luxury. The room had a clawfoot tub and a large outdoor shower with plenty of seating and the quintessential handcrafted wooden furniture that you’d expect to see on safari. The back deck is where we ate all of our meals, looking over our private infinity pool and palapa hut with a floating bed overlooking the ocean.
We intentionally didn’t do much during our time at &Beyond Benguerra. The weather was lovely but there was a strong breeze that didn’t affect our beach experiennce but did make it challenging to go out on the water. We were able to do a snorkling trip on one of the local reefs but diving was out. We also found ourseves really bummed because whale watching was out as well. Benguerra is known for humpback whale migrations as well as whale sharks. There is also one of the last viable Dugong populations in the world nearby. Sadly, we didn’t see either.
As far as other activities we could do, we did a romantic sundown sailing trip just the two of us and our boat captain, followed by an even more romantic private island picnic. The picnic was so neat. We took a catamaran to a deserted island in the middle of the Indian Ocean where a large tent was already prepared with a table for two, wine, fresh seafood, and two spots to lay out and relax.
In my opinion, &Beyond Benguerra Island is the perfect destination for a honeymooning couple or anyone looking for a once in a lifetime romantic getaway.
Two Days in Cape Town
Our final stop was in Cape Town. This little two-day detour was a bit of a last minute surprise. It turns out that a flight back from Vilankulos to New York was about $3,500 each so instead we realized that we could fly from Vilankulos to Cape Town, stay two nights, and then fly from South Africa to New York for about $2,000. So, we extended the honeymoon by two extra nights and I’m so glad we did - Cape Town was a surprise highlight of our trip!
We stayed at an adorable boutique hotel at the top of Kloof Street called Kensington Place. It was the perfect location for a two night stay as we were a 5 minute walk to all of the bars and restuarants on Kloof Street and a 20 minute walk to downtown Cape Town.
As we were only in Cape Town for about a day and a half we had a tight itenerary but personally, I think we really mazimized our time! Below is a more typical itenerary post for you!
Day 1
Take a walking tour of Cape Town
Cape Town is very walkable and given is more recent and turbulent history there are a ton of historical markers and monuments all throughout the downtown. We actually accidentally linked up with a free walking tour while waiting for our lunch. Walk down Government Ave to experience a myriad of gardens, statues, governmental buildings, and museums.
Eat Lunch at Fyn
Ranked number 37 in the world, Fyn is located right across from the northernmost end of Government Ave and is an experience of Asian/South African fusion with an artistic presentation that makes for a culinary experience that isn’t to be missed. They offer a seven course tasting menu for lunch, which is a truncated version of the dinner experience and it was delicious.
Walk through the Historic Bo-Kaap neighborhood
Bo-Kaap is a colorful neighborhood peppered with art galleries, brightly colored buildings, and homegrown restaurants overlooking downtown Cape Town. It’s a short walk from Fyn and the perfect way to walk off your lunch while finding an excuse to spend some money on really unique souvenirs.
Make it stand out
Visit the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
Some might say its a super touristy thing to do but that doesn’t mean its not worth doing. Go visit the waterfront area for some more shopping. The waterfront is a completely new and massive retail shopping and dining area right on the water. Check out The Watershed for some higher end but completely locally crafted shopping and if you’re looking for a snack visit the Timeout Market Cape Town.
Cocktails at The Dark Horse
A dark and hip vibe and the perfect place to share cocktails around a younger crowd in a loungey environment. It’s walking distance to our dinner recommendation.
Dinner at Kloof Street House
Kloof Street house is a high end restaurant located in a large Victorian home right off Kloof Street. Inside you’ll find the entire restaurant authentically decorated as if the home were still entertaining guests in the 1920s. The overall experience gave me huge New Orleans vibes. The menu is a mixture of African dishes from across the continent, you’ll find Moroccan Lamb, South African Wagyu, South African Kingclip (a local whitefish), Grilled Ostrich, and so much more. Kloof Street House is located in a busy part of town with active nightlife so it’s the perfect place to start your night if you’re interested in making a night of it.
Day 2
Spend the Day at Camps Bay
Our second day was really more of a half day since our flight was in the evening. We decided to spend it in Camps Bay, which felt like a tiny Malibu. We absolutely loved this area. Camps Bay is located on the other side of Lion’s Head and is a hidden oasis in Cape Town. Because its on the other side of Lions Head and surrounded by the 12 Apostles, this neigbborhood feels like a million miles away from the rest of the city. There is a long beach with joggers and rollerbladers cruising across. There are high-end (but affordable) restaurants. There are palm trees scattered neatly across the coastline and giant rocks bookend the beach area. It’s about as picturesque a neighborhood that you’ll find anywhere.
Lunch at Codfather
If you’re in Camps Bay you must eat lunch at Codfather. It’s a fresh fish market with a second floor view of the the Camps Bay beach. The food is fresh and affordable. There is also a fresh sushi conveyor belt where you can grab a wide vareity of freshly prepared sushi rolls.
Camps Bay Beach
What we would do in Cape Town if we had more time
Hike to the top of Table Mountain
Hike to the top of Lions Head
Hike the 12 Apostles
Visit South African Wine Country
Robben Island
Wolgat Restaurant
Hout Bay
Secret Forest Cafe
Klein Constantia Estate
Myburgh’s Waterfall Ravine
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
The Neighbourgoods Market
Woodstock Neighborhood
District Six Museum
Hemelhujs Restaurant
Simon’s Town and the Boulders Beach Penguins
That’s it for now! We can’t wait to go back to all three countries one day! Africa was a brand new continent for both Nicole and I and this really opened up our eyes to the hidden gems that lie within this massive place!