Two years ago, Johannesburg-based content creator Kamogelo “Kamo” Motlhabane had a plan: surprise her parents with a trip to Cape Town and experience the Mother City together.
The itinerary was planned; the excitement was high, and everything seemed set until life intervened. The trip was put on hold, and the dream of exploring Cape Town with her parents had to wait. Two years later, the stars finally aligned. In a surprise week-long getaway, Kamo whisked her parents away to Cape Town for a holiday packed with adventure, good food, beautiful scenery and, most importantly, quality family time.
Along the way, Kamo also ticked a few firsts off her own bucket list.Here’s everything they got up to during their Cape Town adventure:
Checked into the Southern Sun Waterfront Cape Town
The family’s base for the trip was the Southern Sun Waterfront Cape Town, conveniently close to many of the city’s biggest attractions. With 537 rooms and suites, the hotel caters for solo travellers, families and groups. Guests can expect modern comforts, including free, uncapped Wi-Fi and air conditioning. For Kamo and her parents, it was the perfect place to return to after a busy day of exploring.
Location: Southern Sun Waterfront Cape Town
Website: www.southernsun.com/southern-sun-waterfront-cape-town
Robben Island Museum
Their first adventure took them to Robben Island. Once home to a maximum-security prison where Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners were incarcerated during apartheid, the island is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For Kamo, experiencing that history with her parents made the visit especially meaningful. “Hearing about the island’s history and its people was a surreal moment,” Kamo said.
Location: Nelson Mandela Gateway, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, 8001
Website: www.robben-island.org.za/
Table Mountain
Despite the wind, Kamo and her parents travelled up Table Mountain on the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway. Once at the top, they wandered around, soaking up the panoramic views, then warmed up with a cup of coffee at the restaurant.
“You can’t come to Cape Town for the first time without doing Table Mountain,” she said. She wasn’t wrong. With the dramatic views, the strong Cape Town wind and those “wow” moments, the family officially ticked one of the Mother City’s most iconic experiences off their list. They even got matching beanies to mark the occasion.
Location: Tafelberg Road, Gardens
Website: www.tablemountain.net/
Atlantic Lorea High Tea Bus
The family indulged in a high tea experience with a distinct Cape Town twist. Channeling their inner Bridgerton, they dressed to the nines and climbed aboard the Atlantic Lorea High Tea Bus for an afternoon of sightseeing, sweet treats and tea. The experience combines Cape Town’s spectacular coastal scenery with a selection of savoury and sweet treats, all enjoyed while travelling along some of the city’s most scenic routes.
“This was genuinely my favourite thing to do with my parents on this trip. Dressing up, seeing Cape Town in such a unique way… I have no words,” she said.
Location: 12 Christiaan Barnard Street, Foreshore
Website: highteabus.co.za/
Cape Sidecar Adventure
While her parents enjoyed some well-deserved downtime, Kamo traded family time for a girls’ day out with her friend, Asiphile Vena. The two hit the streets of Cape Town, swapping four wheels for the thrill of a vintage-style sidecar ride. With the wind in their faces, they cruised through some of the city’s most scenic corners, seeing the Mother City from a whole new perspective. Their adventure eventually brought them back to the Cape Sidecar headquarters, where they cooled off with a refreshing drink and learned more about the experience.
Location: 12A Dickson Street, Woodstock
Website: www.sidecars.co.za/
Café Hopping Around Cape Town
No Cape Town trip would be complete without exploring the city’s buzzing café scene, and Kamo wasn’t about to miss out. With matcha, coffee and cake among the city’s most talked-about treats, she set aside an afternoon for some serious café hopping. After getting recommendations from locals, she made her way to three cafés: Cova Matcha, Montreal Coffee in Sea Point, and Café Chiffon. It was the perfect slower-paced break between the bigger adventures.
Locations:
Cova Matcha: Shop 2, 401 St Johns Road, Sea Point
Montreal Coffee: 295 Main Road, Sea Point
Café Chiffon: SHOGF007, Old Cape Quarter, 72 Waterkant Street, Green Point
Quad Biking on the Atlantis Dunes
Before the family headed to the West Coast, they stopped at the Atlantis Dunes for a daring quad biking and sandboarding experience.
“Quad biking on the dunes is on my bucket list. I’m so excited,” she said. The quad biking delivered the thrills, but sandboarding proved a little more challenging. There were falls, climbs, and plenty of moments when getting back up the dune was an adventure in itself. Yet that was all part of the fun.
Location: Dassenberg Drive, Atlantis
Website: twinventure.co.za/
West Coast
After the energy of Cape Town’s city centre, the family swapped the urban buzz for a slower-paced seaside escape along the West Coast. They checked into Club Mykonos, where the days were filled with seafood, spectacular sunsets and more adventure. One highlight was a game drive at Thali Thali, which was particularly special for Kamo’s dad, as it was his first-ever.
“It’s always so interesting to see wild animals up close, but of course the highlight of the drive was the giraffes,” she said. And then there were the sunsets.
“And let’s not even talk about the sunsets here. Unreal,” she added.
Club Mykonos
Location: Mykonos Access Road, Mykonos, Langebaan
Website: www.clubmykonos.co.za/
Thali Thali
Location: West Coast Road (R27)
Website: www.thalithali.co.za/
Around About Cars Car Hire
Location: 20 Bloem Street, Schotsche Kloof, Cape Town City Centre
Website: www.aroundaboutcars.com/
V&A Waterfront
After their West Coast escape, the family made their way back to the V&A Waterfront, one of Cape Town’s most popular destinations. They packed their final day with a mix of culture, sightseeing and a little fun.
First up was Zeitz MOCAA, a world-class contemporary art museum housed in the strikingly transformed historic grain silo. From there, the family took a boat cruise, taking in Cape Town from a different perspective.
They also made time for a ride on the Cape Wheel, enjoying sweeping views of the city, the harbour and the surrounding mountains. After a week of packed adventures, there was only one thing left to do: eat. They wrapped up their Cape Town adventure with a meal at Spyced restaurant, bringing the trip full circle with good food and even better company.
Location: Dock Road, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
Website: www.waterfront.co.za/
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