#118: Sabi Sand Game Reserve (Page 382; Listed as Greater Kruger Park Area in 2nd Ed, pg 421)

September 7 -10, 2011: We flew into Nelspruit Airport the morning of September 7th. We then drove 2 hours to our Lodge in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve and got there in time for the afternoon Game Drive!

At sunset, our driver pulled over and served us snacks and drinks while we watched the beautiful sun set over the brush.

And what does everyone hope to see on their Safari? The Big Five, of course! And we were so happy that we were able to see them all within 24 hours of being here! We went on 6 drives in total: Three morning drives and three evening drives. We saw lions....

Elephants....

Cape Buffalo....

Leopard....

And a Black Rhino, the best sighting of all! And we saw much, much more!

Verdict: Yes, Yes, Yes!!!! Of the #118 posts I have done thus far, this is #1 on the list. Of everything I have ever seen and done, this was the most amazing. We booked our tour through Lion World Tours and stayed at the Lion Sands Private Game Reserve. I was totally impressed with both and would highly recommend both.

#117: Constantia Wine Region (Page 385)

September 6, 2011: The famed Greenhouse Restaurant at Cellars-Hohenort.

The beautiful dining room with a beautiful view

The grounds....

Verdict: I was totally impressed by this place. The hotel was beautiful, the restaurant (with your choice of either a four or seven course meal prepared by an incredible chef with many ingredients grown right here on the grounds) was impressive and the staff was very friendly. But, what I really loved were the grounds. There are acres and acres of path ways, foot bridges, gardens, ponds, trees, etc, etc. What a delightful way to spend an afternoon! But is it something you have to do before you die? No. And if you only have a few days in Cape Town, I would recommend staying closer to the heart of the city.

#116: Table Mountain (Page 380; Listed as Cape Town in 2nd Ed, pg 414)

September 6, 2011: Welcome to Table Mountain! You can hike to the top of Table Mountain, if you wish, but we were trying to pack as much as we could in to the day, so we decided to take the cable car to the top. It was fabulous! We bought our tickets ahead of time on-line, so there was no wait and the tram is shaped in a circle and the floor moves so that every couple of seconds, your view changes. And, best of all, you're at the top (~3500 feet above Cape Town) in a matter of just a few minutes!

There is a restaurant at the top and we decided to have lunch while enjoying views like this...

The site of last year's World Cup

View of Robben Island (where we were earlier in the day)

Me and my hubby. We couldn't have asked for better weather or better views!

Verdict: Yup. You gotta do it!

Note: I am writing this edit on 2/10/19; the new edition simply lists "Cape Town" and includes Table Mountain as one of the things to do while in Cape Town.  I agree with this change.  Cape Town has SO much to offer!  And I was disappointed that Robben Island was left out of the first edition as well as Boulders Beach and the Cape of Good Hope, both pretty awesome experiences.  So I was glad to see them all mentioned in their own rite under the Cape Town entry.  We did all of these things while there (although only Table Mountain is pictured here since that was my original post).

#115: Ellerman House and Mount Nelson Hotel (Page 379)

September 5, 2011: The Tea....

The Spread.....

What made it on to my plate....

The View....

Cheers!

(My husband, Dave and my in-laws, Rita and Larry)

Verdict: We recently returned from a trip to Cape Town, South Africa and made it a point to have high tea at the Mount Nelson Hotel. As you can see from the pictures, the spread was delectable, the view was splendid and the experience was delightful. Am I glad we did it? Yes. Is it something you absolutely must do in your lifetime? Well, no.

#114: Hermanus (387)

Sept. 2011: We just got back from a week in South Africa. I've been on a lot of trips, but this is absolutely one of my favorite places I have every visited. I absolutely loved it.

Hermanus is a ~2 hour drive east of Cape Town. It is one of the best places for land-based whale watching. There is a 7-mile cliff walk, which is fabulous because if you see a whale, you can continue to follow that whale down the path. You can even go kayaking in the whale-filled waters.

Verdict: Absolutely, you must visit Hermanus. We only stayed there a brief time, but I absolutely loved it. There are nice places to stay, lots of places to eat and just a great little town surrounded by stunning scenery. I could have easily spent a week or more here!