South Africa: Safari, Vineyards and Cape Town in 10 Days

We landed in Cape Town and the first view of Table Mountain from the plane already took our breath away. It's no coincidence it's considered one of the most beautiful cities on the planet. We took the cable car up Table Mountain at sunset. The 360° views over the city, the Atlantic Ocean and surrounding mountains are stunning. At the top, hiking trails wind through fynbos vegetation found nowhere else on Earth. The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is the renovated harbor with restaurants, markets and sea views. From here, ferries depart to Robben Island, the prison where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years. The tour, guided by a former prisoner, is a lesson in history and humanity. Bo-Kaap, the Malay quarter with its vibrantly colored houses, is the city's most photogenic neighborhood. Here we tried the best Cape Malay curries: a fusion of Indonesian, Malay and South African cuisine. The Chapman's Peak Drive route to the Cape of Good Hope is one of the most spectacular roads in the world. At Boulders Beach, we saw the African penguin colony: surreal.

Just 45 minutes from Cape Town lies Stellenbosch, the wine heartland of South Africa. The region produces some of the best wines in the southern hemisphere, especially Pinotage, the indigenous variety. We visited three wineries in one day: Delaire Graff (with its art collection and dreamy views), Waterford Estate (unforgettable wine-chocolate pairing) and Tokara (the best sauvignon blanc we've ever tasted). Vineyard lunches are a first-class gastronomic experience at surprisingly reasonable prices. A tasting menu with wine pairing costs around €35 per person. The town of Franschhoek, founded by French Huguenots, has a main street full of award-winning restaurants. The Tarte à Crème at La Petite Colombe alone is reason enough to go.

We flew from Cape Town to Nelspruit to reach Kruger National Park, one of Africa's largest reserves. Here lives the Big Five: lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant and buffalo. We chose a private lodge in the adjacent Sabi Sand reserve, known as the best place in Africa to spot leopards. And it didn't disappoint: we saw a female leopard with her cub less than 10 meters from the jeep. Game drives take place at dawn (5:30 AM) and sunset (4:00 PM), when animals are most active. Our ranger knew every corner of the bush and every animal sign. The first dawn in the bush, with hot coffee in hand while an elephant crossed in front of us, is an image we'll carry forever. In three days of safari, we completed the Big Five and also saw giraffes, hippos, hyenas, zebras, wildebeest and over 50 bird species.

Returning to Cape Town, we drove a section of the Garden Route, one of the most famous scenic roads in the world. Knysna is a small town on a spectacular lagoon. Its oysters are famous nationwide and we dined on a fresh dozen with local white wine for €15. At Tsitsikamma National Park, we walked to the suspension bridge over the Storms River gorges. The primeval forest surrounding the trail looks like something from Jurassic Park. Plettenberg Bay offered us whale watching (in season, June to November) and a kilometer-long beach with golden sand.

**Best time**: October to March (southern spring-summer). For safari, June-October is ideal as vegetation is lower. **Visa**: Spanish citizens don't need a visa for stays up to 90 days. **Currency**: South African rand (ZAR). €1 ≈ 20 ZAR. Everything is surprisingly affordable. **Safety**: Tourist areas are safe, but basic precautions are needed. Don't walk alone at night, use Uber instead of taxis, don't wear flashy jewelry. **Health**: No mandatory vaccines for Cape Town. Malaria prophylaxis is recommended for Kruger. **Driving**: Drive on the left. Car rental is the best way to get around (from €20/day). Roads are excellent. **Tips**: 10-15% in restaurants, 50-100 ZAR per game drive to the ranger and tracker.