China Travel hosted a Western Cape Trip and I got to go…
Most people who know me, know that I am a solo traveler whose been to 35 countries, but I was nervous about this trip as it was my first group trip and I was traveling with strangers.
Ultimately, it went well and changed my opinion of group trips. After this experience, I’m open to trying more group trips but my maximum travel days will be 5 as I don’t think I can handle being around people for so long.
One of the main reasons I believe this trip was a success was because it was planned to perfection, and everyone on the trip loves to travel and they’ve been to amazing parts of the world. We had a lot to chat about and I made new friends.
What is Chica Travel
Chica Travel is your ultimate go-to hub for all things travel. Created by South Africa Content Creator, Lelo Boyana (aka MsLeloB).
She has a blog and podcast named Chica Travel where she shares travel tips for different destinations and other travelers share their travel experiences. Lelo also occasionally hosts group tours and events around the world.
Lelo interviewed me about expat life and living in Bali. You can Listen to Lerato on living in Bali Podcast Episode HERE.
Chica Travel in Western Cape
We met at the airport for the first time 😅 and hopped on a flight from Johannesburg to Cape Town (2 hours).
Upon arrival, we were picked up by our host Tebogo – a punctual, organized, and all-around amazing person.
We started the day with a Cape Peninsula Tour: We stopped in Muizenberg, then Penguin Colony, Cape Point, and the Cape of Good Hope.
After a few hours of exploring we headed to Simons Town for lunch and a visit to Boulders Beach – which was unfortunately closed. We were able to see penguins from the outside but I do plan on going back for a closer look.
We ended our day with the worlds most spectacular coastal drives – Chapman’s Peak and we stopped to watch the sunset, before driving for 2 hours to spend the night at Club Mykonos in Langebaan.
We started day 2 with a boozy breakfast at Marc’s Beach Bar, before going for a walk around Club Mykonos.
We then hopped in the car and Tebogo drove us to West Coast National Park.
Western Cape National Park is one of the most beautiful national parks in South Africa. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the west and the R27 coastal road, and runs from the town of Yzerfontein in the south up to the Langebaan Lagoon.
The nature reserve is known for its wildflowers, the preekstoel, and crystal clear waters. The park also has houseboats which you can rent and spend the night on the slow-moving waters of the Langebaan Lagoon.
We then took a 3-hour drive to Arniston and spent the night at Arniston Hotel and Spa.
On Day 3, we got to explore Arniston – a picturesque, seaside village sandwiched between two nature reserves (De Hoop and De Mond).
We started the day with breakfast then we went on a hike and ended up inside the Waenhuiskrans Cave.
The massive structure arches crookedly into the ocean and can be reached only at low tide. It’s very slippery, please wear closed and comfortable shoes, and don’t take valuables in case they fall on the rocks or in the water.
After exploring the caves, you can walk up the seaside dunes, find the lighthouse, spot whales, or have a picnic. This area can be explored by foot or 4X4.
Later, we went for a walking tour of Kassiesbaai. This is a world heritage site, famous for the whitewash fishing houses with their neatly clipped thatched roofs.
We went to Agulhas National Park – the area around the southernmost tip of Africa. The region has numerous shipwrecks of the early explorers attempting to conquer the wild seas off the southern tip of Africa.
Our last stop for the day was the Cape Agulhas Lighthouse for scenic views of the Indian Ocean. It was built in 1848 and it’s the second oldest working lighthouse in South Africa after Green Point Lighthouse in Cape Town.
On day 4, we drove back to Cape Town where we went our separate ways and I decided to spend another week visiting a friend.
Western Cape Trip Cost
- R6500 for flights, activities, and accommodation. We had the option to spend R2000 extra for private rooms.
Thank you to Lelo and Tebogo of Western Cape Experiences for planning and facilitating the trip, and Thank you to Lesole Snap Production for capturing the moments.