While many of us are familiar with the term “apartheid” and Nelson Mandela, it was not until my trip to South Africa that I was able to get a firsthand account of this racial divide that had such a profound impact on South African history and culture. Ironically, I had purchased Trevor Noah's Born a Crime months before my trip, however, I didn’t get a chance to read it until I got back to the States. Simply reading this book would have given me some of the background knowledge and terminology to improve my cultural context. For example, when I heard the term “colored” used in South Africa, I was automatically transported to images of the segregated South, however, the term “colored” refers to lighter skinned Africans of mixed heritage. I am a black woman that lives in America, so I am not unfamiliar with racism, but the systematic divisions of apartheid were chilling, knowing that this dark time in history ended as recent as 1994.

Johannesburg was filled with stark reminders of the apartheid era, and there were countless times that my sisters and I were advised to remain inside of most buildings during tours and to not peruse the city streets due to the threats of muggings and/or harm. And while Cape Town on the surface gave the impression of prosperity and the good life, it only took a quick drive out of the touristy areas to “smash and grab” territory to remind you that the economic impacts of apartheid are still thriving in many townships.

Johannesburg and Cape Town are both filled with a seemingly endless amount of rich and powerful history, and my trip only scratched the surface. However, I have outlined some of the activities and/or tours that I would recommend for each city below.

Johannesburg

Take a city tour.

One of the best ways to see the top sites in any city, especially if you’re on a limited schedule, is by spending a day or two on the hop-on hop-off bus. Instead of spending your day piecing together your own itinerary and trying to figure out the best methods of transportation, you can buy a ticket for the bus route of your choice and depart the bus at any time to visit those must-see locations on your list. And being that I am a self-proclaimed historian, one of my favorite things about the Hop-On Hop-Off bus is that as it cruises through the city, you are given free headphones to listen to historical facts about the city. Below are pictures of some of my favorite stops:

One of my biggest regrets was not having enough time to fully immerse myself in the history at the Apartheid Museum and/or not paying additional money for a guided tour. If I was to go back to Johannesburg, I would definitely add space into my itinerary for this tour.

Visit Mandela House in Soweto.

Soweto is one of the most historic black townships in South Africa and was home to Nelson Mandela and many other South African advocates and popular figures. For $5 US, you can walk through Mandela House and continue your trek through Soweto to get a taste of authentic “Jo-Berg” culture.

Grab lunch at the original Nandos.

Take a safari.

Kruger National Park is one of the most popular (and expensive) locations for an authentic South African safari, but for those of you with limited time, you can also take a trip to the Lion Park.

See Johannesburg from the observation deck of the Carlton Centre, the tallest building in Africa.

Cape Town

The five days that we spent in Cape Town was not nearly enough time to scratch the surface of this beautiful port city flanked by views of the infamous Table Mountain. From the Cape of Good Hope to the wineries of Stellenbosch, there were so many places to go and things to see in and around Cape Town.

Ride the Hop-on Hop-off bus up to Table Mountain.

One of the things to note when visiting South Africa is that it is Winter when the States are celebrating Summer. While the temperatures were not brutally cold, riding up to Table Mountain versus hiking, all while getting a tour of the city and nearby beaches, is a must add to your itinerary. Click here to secure your seat.

Visit Robben Island.

Robben Island is probably one of the most popular attractions for tourists visiting Cape Town and is home to the infamous prison where Nelson Mandela would serve a large portion of his prison sentence. And being that this tour is so popular, I recommend booking in advance to secure your spot on one of the outgoing ferries. Unfortunately, the waters were so choppy on the day of our tour to Robben Island that all ferries were cancelled, and being that our itinerary was super tight, we didn't have the time to move this tour to another day.

Hike Table Mountain.

For adventure and fitness enthusiast, a trip to Cape Town is not complete without hiking Table Mountain. Being that the weather and terrain can be unpredictable, it is always advised to hike with a knowledgable guide. You can click here to book a private hiking tour.

Visit Stellenbosch (or any of the other Winelands).

Cape Town is surrounded by wineries, and the day that we spent in Stellenbosch was one of the best days of the entire trip. There are many ways to visit the wineries from Cape Town, such as the wine tram, the vine hopper bus, group tours, private tours, etc. And there is a winery for every wine connoisseur. JC Le Roux and Mulderbosch made the top of our favorites list.

Sidenote: If you have time for dinner while visiting the Winelands, The Tasting Room is highly recommended.

Take the drive to Boulder Beach and The Cape of Good Hope.

Eat seafood near the beach at Camps Bay.

Visit the townships.

Cape Town is home to Langa, one of the oldest townships and Khayelitsha, one of the largest and fastest growing townships in Cape Town. You can click here to safely visit these townships and others with a guide.

Shop and Dine at the VA Waterfront.

“Where the city meets the sea”

One of the perks of traveling to South Africa, especially is you are from the US, is that your $ go very far. We were able to dine and live the luxe lifestyle on a minimal budget, whether shopping for trendy new outfits or fine dining at one of the many restaurants on and/or near the waterfront.

Sidenote: The Ocean Basket became one of our favorite chain eateries while in Capetown, and there was even a location in the airport for us to enjoy while waiting for our flight to depart.

Pose for pictures in the Bo-Kaap.

The Bo-Kaap, one of the most photographed areas in Cape Town, was previously home to slaves that expressed their love for color through the painting of their homes due to a law that prevented them from wearing colorful clothing. Like many black neighborhoods that have become prime real estate, gentrification is threatening to push out homeowners to make way for new real estate ventures by either buying out residences and/or increasing taxes to a point of in-affordibility for most home owners in that area. This has prompted several protests, causing many tour companies to remove the Bo-Kaap from its list of safe sites for tourists. However, we decided to chance it, and asked a couple of homeowners for permission to take pictures in front of their historical homes.

I would love to visit Cape Town during the summer and enjoy their thriving nightlife, and I can now see why many celebrities like Will Smith own homes in his beautiful city. Have you been to South Africa? And if so, what are some of your favorite things to do, see, or eat while there?

P.S. If you would like assistance booking your next trip, click here.

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I’m one of those travelers that believes in maximizing their vacations. If I can reach another major city in a short commute, I will usually map out a way to get there whether it’s by plane, train, or automobile. Thank God for great friends that were willing to take away time from their busy schedule to take me on my escapades.

“A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles.” -Tim Cahill

So, on my visit to Seattle, my friend, Chalon, and I boarded into her vehicle and took the 2 hour drive to Vancouver. One of the things on my bucket list is to fill up my passport before it expires in 2020, and I was told that it was the norm when entering Canada for them to not want to give you a stamp. However, we ended up with a nice customs agent that was willing to help me to get one step closer to my goal.

The drive through Vancouver was scenic, to say the least. And one of the things that I found interesting were the electrical lines that ran throughout the city, giving the city buses the option to run on electricity in lieu of gas.

The night before we headed to Vancouver, we had sat and compiled a list of must see places. It was a turnaround trip, and since I don’t know the next time I will be in Vancouver, I planned to use my time wisely. You can skim time off your planning by clicking here to book a pre-planned Vancouver City Tour or securing a spot on the hop-on hop-off bus.

Travel Tip:

Unless you are going to be in a place for an extended period of time, create either an itinerary or list of tourist destinations you would like to visit. You may not be able to hit everything on your itinerary, but it is wise to have some kind of guide to maximize your time. And if you’re really detailed, you can even go a step further and map out your destinations proximity to each other so that you’re not driving in circles all over the city. (Or spend a day on one of the Hop On-Hop Off buses that are available in most touristy cities)

Similar to Seattle and Portland, Vancouver was rainy and grey, but we still managed to make the most of our day. While the only pictures that I was able to take before the rain began were at Stanley Park, I was able to visit Gastown, Vancouver’s oldest neighborhood and a national historic site. With gas lanterns on every corner (even though I’m sure they’re solar powered or electric now) and Victorian style architecture, driving through Gastown felt like a blast from the past. Due to the weather, we didn’t get to walk down the cobblestone streets or eat at any of the vintage restaurants, but I’m glad that we at least were able to check it off our list.

After strolling through Stanley Park and driving through Gastown, we drove by Kitsilano Beach and the English Bay, and ended our tours taking in sites of Downtown. We debated going to the Capilano Suspension Bridge, however, after factoring in the wind and rain, we nixed that plan. There are some places I’ve been to like London, where you still feel like you’re in the States, but Vancouver felt very “Canadian” and the British influence was evident in the architecture. Our day trip might have been marred by rain and wind, but it was worth the short drive (and I got another stamp).

Restaurant Highlight

It’s always valuable to have friends that live all over the world, and on my trip to London last summer, one of my traveling companions had a best friend willing to show us around. These friends are your guides to not only must see attractions, but also the best restaurants to satisfy your palates. It was in London that I first tried Nandos, a restaurants known for their savory grilled “peri-peri” flamed chicken and signature sauces (their Sangria is life too btw). Chalon and I had both decided to save our appetites until we reached Vancouver, and imagine my surprise and delight when one of the first restaurants we came across was Nandos. She had never eaten there, and I just recently found out that they’re only on the East Coast in the States. Needless to say, we tore that chicken up, and the only thing that stopped us from polishing the bones was the fact that we both have bottom braces. It does not come as a surprise that Nando’s is one of Rihanna’s favorite restaurants, and the best thing is that the food is fairly cheap. If you’re ever in a city that has one, make sure it makes it onto your itinerary.

P.S. If you would like help planning your next vacation, click here.

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this blog are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

TRAVEL GUIDE: SOUTH AFRICA

TRAVEL GUIDE: VANCOUVER, CANADA IN 24 HOURS