We were looking at a 2.5 hr bus ride from the Game Lodge to Joburg but with traffic and a comfort stop, would we make the flight? The expertise of our guide, Joe and his driver, who took a shortcut thru the airport got us to the Joburg airport check in counter with less than an hour before flight time. We had favor. There was no one in our check in line and in 20 mins we were all checked in and practically at the gate well before boarding began. We were sad to say farewell to Joe but it was time to move on to Cape Town and a new experience.
Desmond, our Cape Town guide met us at the airport, loaded up the motorcoach and in no time we were checking into the 5 Star Table Bay Hotel at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. You should have seen the looks on their faces as the group entered this fabulous hotel. Well, you know it’s sheer fabulosity if Michael Jackson, Kimora Lee Simmons stayed here, and Obama shut it all the way down just before our group arrived on last year’s tour.
As small as this group is, we’ve had welcome signs in every hotel lobby we’ve entered this tour and with the General Managers on hand with a personal greeting for us. What a pleasant surprise!
We had dinner reservations at the hotel in an intimate, private room at the Camissa Brasserie. Again, menus and wine pairings arranged by yours truly and none were disappointed. Dinner was definitely on point through all courses. After dessert, I did my usual of excusing myself to handle the wine tab and saying good night to the group for the evening.
Table Bay Hotel has one of the BEST buffet breakfasts around – from made to order omlettes, crepes, Belgian waffles, every breakfast meat imaginable, sushi, spicy Thai noodles, duck, a fresh juice station serving most juices including: spinach, kale, cucumber, and beet root. After breakfast, we were off with our guide Desmond for the full day Cape Peninsula tour. We drove along the Atlantic seaboard past Camps Bay, Houts Bay and then over Chapmans Peak Drive. We made a stop to see the African penguins on our way to the Cape of Good Hope, the most southern point of the African continent. We were in full effect with our custom tees and definitely the topic of conversation wherever we went. Some even wanted to buy the shirts off our back.
Our driver hurried to get the shoppers back to Cape Town so they could shop and “negotiate”with the vendors at Green Market Square. I didn’t stop to shop with them but I heard they all got some great buys. Next years trip is already in place for September. If you care to join us on this wonderful adventure, don’t delay, sign up today.
Tomorrow they will take the ferry to visit Robben Island where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years in a one man cell. It will be an emotionally charged day with a visit to Langa Township in the afternoon.
Table Bay Hotel
Table Bay Hotel at Night
View From My Suite On a Windy Night
View of the Waterfront From My Balcony
Hout’s Bay in the Backdrop
Yebo! At the Cape of Good Hope
KatTrax 