Cape Town, South Africa,
including Constantia, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek

May 31 through June 5, 2025

"A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination."
- Nelson Mandela

• Micato Guide and Driver: Hein Kleyn and Benne.
• Micato In-House Concierge: Malickah Williams.
• Accommodation:
  • The Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel - They recognized our anniversary with champagne, flowers and dessert. We also had a spa treatment (massage) at this hotel.
• Sites:
  • The Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and Noordhoek Farm Village
  • Table Mountain - a new seven wonder of nature - via cable car. It was particularly cold today. It was the beginning of winter in South Africa, after all.
  • African penguins at Boulders Beach
  • Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
  • French Huguenot Monument
• Restaurants:
  • Dinner at The Veranda House at Mount Nelson
  • Lunch at the Tokara Wine Estate
  • Dinner at the Harbour House, V&A Waterfront
  • Lunch at Bistro Sixteen82
  • Dinner at the Potluck Club - there was more food than we could possibly eat.
  • Lunch at the Foodbarn at Noordhoek Farm Village - one of Hein's favorite locations.
  • Dinner at Aubergine - Hein joined us for our last dinner in Cape Town.
  • Lunch at The Veranda House at Mount Nelson
  • Dinner at The Red Room at Mount Nelson
• Wineries in the Cape Winelands:
  • Waterford Estate, Stellenbosch
  • Tokara Wine Estate, Simonsberg Mountain Range
  • Klein Constantia
  • Buitenverwachting Wine Estate. This was our first baboon sighting.
• Noteworthy:
  • We learned about the Pinotage varietal - and tasted many glasses!
  • Each restaurant knew in advance Deanna did not like mushrooms and that we both liked red wine.
  • A visit to the Micato AmericaShare Red Hill Library & Community Center. The visit was extremely rewarding. We visited and read a book to schoolchildren. We planted a tree with the location marked by our name and date.
  • Learn more about the Red Hill Library & Community Center.
  • Donate to AmericaShare.
  • Baboons were everywhere, including some mating on balconies as we drove by.
  • Our flight on Kenya Airways from Cape Town to Victoria Falls was cancelled and we stayed an extra night in Cape Town.
  • Birds of Paradise originated in South Africa. There were many varieties on display at the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.