Welcome to the Mother City of Cape Town

Next stop is… Cape Town!

“Welcome to the Mother City” was the first signage I saw in the airport as we landed. I thought to myself, wow, we are really here! The Mother City is an affectionate nickname, which is widely known and used among locals and visitors to Cape Town. Back in the 1930’s, a local newspaper claimed that Cape Town was the only city in South Africa that could call itself as a metropolis. This is the reason why they call it the Mother City.

Alright, let’s get to the fun part. Shall we?

Where Did We Stay

15 On Orange Hotel, Autograph Collection is a beautiful hotel in Cape Town. Shout out to all of the Marriot Bonvoy members. Hint: You can book and get your points here since they are a Marriot Hotel. Our window view was insane. I woke up looking out at the Table Mountain and Lion’s Head. The hotel service was top of the line, the bar was open when we would come back from our daily shenanigans, and the FOOD, whew…on point. There is a pool, but we didn’t have time to get in and the weather was a little chilly during our stay on some days.

Table Mountain National Park

Table Mountain is the most iconic landmark of South Africa. It is also the country's most photographed attraction and its famous cable car takes millions of people to its top. Table Mountain has become the single most welcoming icon to travellers from all over the world. It is considered one of the 7 World Wonders of the World. I advise you to go as early as possible. There is a line to get onto the cable car and the same to get down the mountain. That alone, is a process. You can climb the mountain, but the cable car is easier and it rotates 360 degrees as it travels up and down so everyone gets to experience all of the views. Make sure you go on a sunny day for the best conditions. If not, then you will not be allowed to go due to park rules and regulations. Make sure you book your tickets in advance as well. They do provide walking tours which gives you more of a perspective of what you’re actually looking at it. It comes in handy to have a tour guide at the top. For all of my foodies, there are a good amount of places to eat at the top.

Langa Township

The name Langa means “sun,” the name is actually derived from the name of the Xhosa chief Langalibalele, who was imprisoned on Robben Island in 1873 for rebelling against the Natal government.

Langa holds a special place in my heart. You will get a real cultural experience in this area. First, we started off with lunch at Mzansi Restaurant. We were welcomed with open arms and I remember all of the food I ate. (lol) We had chicken, rice and peas, greens, and so much more. Mzansi shared her life story on how she created this restaurant. You can tell she prepared the food coming from a place of love. “ This is not a restaurant, this your home,” she said. I felt that and I won’t ever forget it. A group of children came to perform for us. They taught us some of their dance moves and the band did an amazing job as well. Next, we took a bike ride around the township. I almost had a slight crash, but I am good now. lol How come no one warned me a double bike was harder than a single?! But, I digress. Anyways, the tour led us to all of the landmarks within the township. Our tour guide gave a brief history about the people, economy, and infrastructure. The kids from the community were happy to see us. We interacted with them and they loved taking pictures and videos with us.

We had an opportunity to partake in some community service while we were there. We donated school supplies to God’s Grace Child & Youth Care Centre. I realized they needed more then just school supplies as I kept in contact with the woman that is in charge. Having the basic necessities that you and I have is not a problem. For some, that is. Meaning, wash cloths, women’s sanitary napkins, and other hygiene products is considered a luxury for others. Click here to see how you can donate to this beautiful cause. Think about how you can give back. Also, I have direct contact with the women that has requested a few things and I am trying to figure out a few ways of shipping items to them. Please feel free to hit me up so that we can coordinate.

Robben island Museum

I was looking forward to taking the ferry to Robben Island, but mother nature had other plans that day. You cannot go to Robben Island if the waves are too high. I think it was safe to say that we were all sad about the news, but on a lighter note, a former ex-prisoner came to speak to us at the Robben Island Gateway entrance. There is a smaller version of the museum. The exhibit displays what the cell blocks look like, how they were shackled, and you can read diary entries of the prisoners. It’s even crazier to think that apartheid wasn’t that long ago and people were getting arrested for standing up in what they believe in. The former ex-prisoner was incarcerated around the same time as Nelson Mandela. We witnessed history, not the type of literature that you read, I am talking about first hand knowledge of what REALLY happened during the apartheid era.

Overall, my trip to Cape Town was insightful and I was a little shocked about the tourist area. It almost reminded me of California. I know what you are thinking. How sway? You would have to experience it yourself to see what I am talking about. As I write this blog, I have realized that I didn’t even mention everything else that we experienced. So, here goes.. Make sure you check out Chapman’s Peak Scenic Route and Hout Bay. You will get some awesome photos and videos at both of these areas. You will drive into the mountains on the western side of the Cape Peninsula, between Hout Bay and Noordhoek in Cape Town. For all of my shoppers, check out Hout Bay Market and the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town (V &A Waterfront) mall. Alongside of the mall, the waterfront is nice to take pictures and go sightseeing as well. For all of my foodies, check out Marco's African Plac, where they play live music daily. Spiers Farm Market is one of the oldest wine farms in South Africa. The food was amazing and they give large portions.Across the lawn, they have wine tasting. We had such a good time just drinking different types of wine and bonding. Again, a special thanks to Away to Africa for curating this trip and tell Tiffanie Anderson that I sent you!