Cape Town – More Than a City; It’s a Feeling

They call it the Mother City, and I totally get it. Cape Town is home to every member of South Africa’s beautiful Rainbow Nation – and the attractions and scenery are as diverse and fascinating as the city’s people themselves. Cape Town has a vibe that’s hard to describe... think a relaxed, go-with-the-flow island energy mixed with bustling city life. It also shares the title of South Africa’s food and wine capital with the nearby Cape Winelands, which are a short drive away (but more on that later).

Table Mountain from V&A Waterfront.

So, what’s the big deal?
Okay, first – we have to talk about Table Mountain. It’s obviously Cape Town’s original claim to fame, and it’s certainly as jaw-dropping in person as it is in pictures! It’s a unique flat-topped beauty right in the heart of the city, and there are plenty of ways to interact with it aside from posing for that obligatory Table Mountain Instagram-worthy selfie. Hike it, take the cable car (it rotates for 360-degree views!), or simply stare in awe from anywhere in the city. (Oh, and I can make sure you get set up at a boutique hotel promising 24/7 views of this mountain marvel right from the comfort of your room, so you’ll have ample opportunity to appreciate it).

While Table Mountain’s top of the list, it’s definitely not the only reason to head to Cape Town – far from it! How about taking a scenic drive along the coast to the Cape of Good Hope, the very tip of Africa? Prepare for rugged beaches, crashing waves, and maybe even an ostrich or two hanging about. If that isn’t epic enough, just hop on the ferry to Robben Island, the prison where Nelson Mandela (lovingly called ‘Madiba’ and the ‘Father of the Nation’ by South Africans) was held for 18 years of his 27-year sentence. It’s a history lesson that’ll stay with you.

Back in the city, everyone’s obsessed with the V&A Waterfront – and you’re guaranteed to be, too. Hundreds of shops, buzzing bars with live music, the best food, and seals bobbing playfully in the harbor – what’s not to love? And nearby? Camps Bay... bursting with Miami-style beaches, swanky restaurants, and people-watching heaven.

But wait, there’s SO much more...
Dive into the colorful chaos of markets, where you’re sure to find a handmade African creation to take home as a souvenir or a gift for someone special.

Love penguins? Go hang out with a colony at Boulders Beach (cuteness overload!). If you’re in the mood for a thrill, how about shark cage diving (not for the faint-hearted)? Or paragliding off a mountain (rather you than me!)? Needless to say, the Mother City is full of ways to get your pulse racing!

Fancy sampling some of the world’s best wines, paired with a cellar tour, and a five-star meal? The Cape Winelands are just a stone’s throw away, featuring homely towns like Stellenbosch (one of South Africa’s oldest towns known for its hiking trails, oak-lined avenues, and Cape Dutch architecture) and Franschhoek (renowned for art galleries, hosting numerous artists and boutique crafts).

Leeu Estaties in Franschhoek, South Africa

So, you see? The thing about Cape Town is... it gets under your skin, and I know you will bring a little piece of its magic back home. And of course it’s a perfect stay for before or after your Safari.

Ready to explore for yourself? Get in touch and let’s chat. There are countless ways to get to know and fall in love with Cape Town – let me arrange a visit

Botswana's Okavango Delta

Can you hear it? It’s Botswana’s Okavango Delta calling your name! 
Soon, that gush of water from the distant Angolan highlands will arrive, and the dusty plains will become shimmering lagoons, the channels will swell, and a whole new world will spring to life. Trust me – you want to be there when it happens. 

Mokoro Riding on the Okavango Delta’s channels.

When to go?
May to September is your golden window to experience Botswana. This is when you’ll be able to slip into a mokoro and follow the natural flow of the winding waterways. Feel the sun on your skin as you float past colorful waterlilies and hear the gentle swish of reeds as your guide navigates, keeping your eyes peeled for wildlife – rest assured, you won’t need to wait too long or look too hard! There’s plenty of life in and around the Delta.

Hippos peek out from shallows, elephants quench their thirst at newly-filled pools, and the enthusiastic twittering of over 400 bird species fills the air. You may even spot a usually shy leopard (or two), and perhaps even a pack of wild dogs. Oh, and watch out for that iconic splash of red in the distance – it might just be a leaping lechwe or a sitatunga, elegantly poised and grazing just beyond the water’s edge.

Can’t go during these times.
Don’t wait. The animals will still be there.
The channels may not be high but if you are up for anything, just go. I was there in February and I got to ride the mokoro (that is me in the photo above on my Safari - a traditional dug-out canoe), see the dashing sitatunga, capture the leopards, lions, wild dogs, and so much more.  

Lion pride. Okavango Delta

Of course, all these encounters will be tailored to your rhythm, featuring those life-changing sunrise coffee/chai tea stops, as well as lazy  sundowners, a few bush picnics, and whatever else fuels your sense of adventure.

I’m here to make sure every moment you spend in the Okavango Delta is as wonderful as it is wild. So let’s start plotting your unforgettable African adventure, your way. 

Birding on Safari

On Safari, most people are so excited to see the Big 5 or the larger walking wildlife. But I am going to add, keep a lookout for birds. There are so many lovely birds you will get to spot on Safari. From the common but oh so beautiful lilac-breasted roller to the lifers. You know what I am talking about if you are a birder?

Into birding, do let us know before you head out on Safari. We will let our guide know so he can bring all the birding books for you and him to pour into on your game drive. If not, just enjoy them with your binoculars.

You will find hundreds of resident birds and many that fly all the way from Europe and Americas. Those birds that have flown from other places come here to Tanzania and other East and Southern African countries at the risk of being netted. A lot of countries on their route will poach and illegally trap them. 

But there is hope.

Organizations around the world who love birds are spreading the word to people like me who were not aware of such activities. My mentor, Safari guide extraordinaire Paul Oliver was the one who opened my eyes when we were birding in Lake Natron. He told me about the plight of the wadders, who are being netted by the thousands when flying over the Mediterranean countries.

I leave you with some lovely birds captured on my Safaris. Every time I go on Safari, I learn to love them more and more. Let your guide tell you more about each bird. They all have personalities that are unique to each of them. From the calls, the nesting habits, the show boating behavior to attract mate[s], etc. They have their own stories you will truly enjoy.

Your turn? Come shoot them .. with your camera.  

Lilac Breasted Roller

Buffalo Weaver

African Hornbill

Red-and-Yellow Barbet

African Hoopoe

African Fish Eagle

Weaver