descriptive essay about summer in south africa

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10 Reasons Why You Should Visit South Africa this Summer

Visit South Africa this Summer ~ South Africa hots up between October and February.

On the highveld the heat of summer South Africa comes alive with afternoon thunderstorms that leave the earth rank with a smell uniquely African.

By contrast, down in the Western Cape summer is when it’s least likely to rain, when the Winelands are at their best , and when the Atlantic is at its warmest because the heat of the sun and sand have left you gasping.

On the lowveld it’s when most antelope species have their babies, when the bushveld is at its most lush and when afternoon siestas are a necessity to counteract the soaring temperatures.

But these are not the only reasons why you visit South Africa this Summer.

Here are 10 reasons to visit South Africa this summer …

The slopes of table mountain.

Early light in Cape Town means you can find yourself climbing to the top of Table Mountain as early as 5 am, when the day is still, and the clouds less likely to converge on the table in an effortless tablecloth.

The long summer days are practically European in nature in Cape Town, but you’ll want to make the top long before the sun heats up as it can become scorching, and the climb is tough for those who aren’t regular hikers.

There are many routes to the top. The fastest, but most steep, is Plattekloof Gorge. Go with a guide.

Summer Music Festivals

Summer South Africa is the time to be out of doors and its music festivals are a highlight, although some of them fall just outside of official summer. We list the best three:

Rocking the Daisies – usually in early October, Rocking the Daisies is a three-day multi-sensory experience named after the flowers of the Namaqualand.

Held just outside the little town of Darling (about an hour’s drive from Cape Town) the festival offers a diverse line-up of entertainment to kickstart summer.

Up the Creek Music Festival – live music comes with comedy and riverside fun on the banks of the Breede River in February every year – 4 days, 50+ bands, one lilo! Get together and celebrate summer with another 3 000 people just outside Swellendam .

Ultra Music Festival is an annual outdoor electronic music festival event (named after Depeche Mode’s album, Ultra ) that happens in Cape Town either at the Cape Town Stadium or The Ostrich Ranch, and Johannesburg at the Nasrec Expo centre (the original was in Miami, Florida and there are others just like it around the world) in early March.

The Lighthouse route

There’s no official lighthouse route but summer is the best time of year to visit these 10 lighthouses on more treacherous parts of the coastline between Paternoster , on the West Coast, and Durban on South Africa’s east coast.

It includes lighthouses at Port Edward, Port Alfred , Port Elizabeth and Gansbaai.

Rock Climbing in the Craggy Cederberg

Another fabulous reason to Visit South Africa this Summer is the Cederberg . It’s quite usual to see hardened rock climbers, their odd mattresses on their backs, heading from the car park just inside the Cederberg Wilderness, less than three hours from the traffic jams of Cape Town.

The Cederberg, most notable for its rooibos tea production, is now considered of the world’s top 10 destinations for bouldering (no ropes or mattresses and fairly close to the ground).

Rocklands is a 20 square kilometre area full of boulders and rocks perfect for the sport. And climbers stay on farms, campsites and in guest houses close by.

Surfing off the coast of the Eastern Cape

With names similar only for their use of the word ‘bay’ – Stillbay Victoria Bay, Jeffreys Bay and Cape St Francis – the Eastern Cape’s warm waters, balmy summer South Africa days make for superb surfing.

If you include the Wild Coast – Haga Haga , Morgan’s Bay and Mdumbe (which, according to some, rivals JBay) then you can spend weeks driving and surfing in these parts.

The old-growth forests of the Garden Route

The Garden Route with its sumptuous vegetation wins hands down when it comes to natural beauty in summer South Africa.

The combination of the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma indigenous forests with their unique blend of Cape Fynbos and Temperate Forest are awash with hiking trails and routes.

A perfect reason to Visit South Africa this Summer.

Overnight hikes in the caves of the Drakensberg

The Drakensberg is a huge expanse of mountain roughly three hours northwest of Durban. It’s so vast that it’s divided into two main parts – the Midlands and the high Drakensberg.

It’s not only incredibly beautiful, but it’s also best explored on foot down the craggy ravines and up the soaring peaks.

Multi-day hikes are best and you will sleep either in a cave or in a hiking tent on a mountain. The caves are great for shelter and incredible views.

You can plan your own hike (book accommodation here ), join a hiking club or hire a guide.

Viewing loggerhead & leatherback turtles

Between November and March the loggerhead and leatherback turtles come to South Africa’s northeast shores in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park .

The perfect reason to Visit South Africa this Summer – Hatchlings emerge roughly 70 days later and these you can see too, if you plan your trip around summer.

Tours at iSimangaliso (nov to mar), hatchlings emerge after 70 days (jan to mar).

Driving two of the world’s most dramatic coastal roads

Chapman’s Peak links Cape Town’s Hout Bay to Noordhoek on the Atlantic Ocean. Only 9 km in length its effortlessly undulating curves and bends make it one of the most picturesque drives in the world.

Clarence Drive or Route 44 is yet another spectacular coastal road linking Gordons Bay with Betty’s Bay, an easy day’s drive linking nature reserves, seaside towns, a botanical garden and hiking trails.

Migrant birds

Over one hundred bird species head to South Africa during summer , flying routes across the world that cause one only to marvel at how such tiny creatures can navigate such journeys, sometimes from as far away as the Arctic Circle.

In summer South Africa not only does the list of migrants far exceed expectations, but the breeding plumage of some of the birds just adds to the delight.

There is no one best place for birds. The country is full of nature reserves and areas that best provide viewing, and we can recommend Kruger National Park , iSimangaliso Wetland Park, and Nylsvley Nature Reserve .

Explore South Africa More

• South Africa Attractions
• Things to Do in South Africa

Visit South Africa this Summer …

Further Reading...

15 Secrets of the West Coast

One of South Africa’s most impressive wonders: the Sudwala Caves

The Penguins at Boulders Beach

Best places to stay on the south coast, south africa’s all-year-round beach destination, escape to these quiet places in south africa, sa-venues.com.

Afristay Blog

Top 4 reasons to visit South Africa during summer

South Africa, ever a tourist destination of note, provides one with a true African experience, with its melting pot of dynamic and diverse cultures and traditions to discover, uniquely individual cities and a landscape, wildlife and biosphere second to none.

And although it makes for pleasant and exciting travelling all year round, there’s no question that a South African summer is a glorious thing… Here are some of the top reasons this beautiful country during summertime:

1. Beach Beauties

South Africa has some of the best beaches in the world and although Cape Town and Durban in particular are famed for their beaches, the Eastern Cape and Garden Route regions have some glorious offerings too.

If you want to soak up the sun, try Durban’s South and North Beaches; Cape Town’s delightful Camps Bay, Clifton, Boulders and Llandudno beaches and Elandsbay in the West Coast; Port Elizabeth’s Hobie Beach; Jeffreys Bay’s Dolphin and Paradise Beaches; East London’s Gonubie Beach or the Garden Route’s Victoria Bay, Buffels Bay and Mossel Bay.

And of course, whether you find yourself encountering the Atlantic or Indian Ocean, sunny SA, with its oceans of contrast, is known for its surf and, although surfers brave the waters – even of the icy Atlantic, year-round – summer is the best time to catch a wave.

Surf at Durban’s Dairy beach, New Pier or Cave Rock at the Bluff; Cape Town’s Muizenberg, Kommetjie (Long Beach or the Kom) or if you’re brave enough, the Dungeons of Hout Bay (these produce some of the biggest waves on the African coastline) – or perhaps Jeffreys Bay (or J-Bay, as it’s fondly called) for some super tubing.

2.Game on… in the South African bushveld

Like many African countries, South Africa offers some of the world’s best game watching, with its wealth of long-standing and wonderfully well-loved game reserves, national parks and protected areas, dedicated to wildlife conservation, protection and appreciation.

Of course, everyone will tell you to head to the Kruger National Park – but please don’t forget about some of SA’s other wonderful game reserves.

KwaZulu Natal and the Eastern and Western Capes also have several top game reserves and national parks to visit.

South African National Parks (or SanParks) especially offers a wonderful selection of protected, yet public natural spaces, containing a vast number of wild animals, birds and flora to both educate and enchant you, as you discover more about South Africa.

3. Food, glorious food (and wine)

If you are looking for a food experience of note, then South Africa is your place. With so many different cultures and heritage roots, this country is blessed with the best in terms of local cuisine.

Try Durban for its Indian curries and famous bunny chows; Cape Town for its plethora of restaurants and eateries, serving international and local cuisines alike and for its lovely Cape Malay cooking – and of course, wherever you are in SA, you must enjoy a braai (like a barbeque, only better) with locals or tuck into some juicy shisa nyama (meat freshly prepared on an open street fire, often in township areas).

Other local delicacies include boerewors, samosas, rotis, Smileys and Walkie Talkies… see which best tantalises your taste buds and sets your stomach rumbling.

Of course, a trip to South Africa would not be complete without a visit to the Cape Winelands.

Well-known for its fine wine and beautiful wine estates, the Cape is blessed with the best. Wine-producing regions near or in Cape Town famed for their wine estates include: the Constantia Wine Valley, Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Paarl and even Somerset West.

Further abroad, some two to three hours from Cape Town , small towns, found along South Africa’s iconic Route 62, like Ashton and Robertson are well-known for their wine, while if you head to Montagu, you can enjoy some special Muscadel (or Muscat), which is a red and white grape variety and is usually consumed as a sweet dessert wine.

While you’re visiting these wonderful estates, why not buy some take-home wine, explore a manor house and simply spend a day soaking up the stunning surroundings?

4.Natural beauty like no other

South Africa is a country blessed with some wonderful natural beauty and amazing attractions.

In the Cape, make a point of visiting the famous Table Mountain (a ride up in the cable car is a must but you can also hike up!), Oudtshoorn’s Cango Caves (a labyrinth of beautiful underground caves) and Cape Point, which is one of the most fiercely beautiful places you will encounter anywhere in the world.

In KZN, there’s no doubt that the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park and the Midlands (reminiscent of England’s green countryside) are everyone’s top picks. But Oribi Gorge (a spectacular gorge home to more than 300 bird species and one of the world’s biggest bungee swings), Zululand and the Valley of a Thousand Hills are all worth exploring too.

For excellent travel deals, see Drakensberg accommodation  on Afristay.

Then, finally, Mpumalanga province is perhaps one of the most beautiful local regions, and is especially blessed with some awe-inspiring natural attractions. Find accommodation in Mpumalanga .

These include: Blyde River Canyon (the world’s largest green canyon), the Lake District (a grouping of majestic lakes, home to some 20,000 flamingos) and last but not least there’s God’s Window, where one is afforded a truly amazing, panoramic view out across the Lowveld, nearby mountains, rivers and the area’s many waterfalls too.

These are just some of the worthy reasons to visit South Africa during summertime although the favourable exchange rate and glorious, hot weather are always major draw cards too. May your travels to South Africa be safe, wonderful and memorable!

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Why We Love South African Summer: January in Cape Town From England to Cape Town

Monica Lewis 6 years ago in News

I know you don’t need an excuse to plan a surf trip this winter to escape the UK, but if you’re looking for one, here are 10 reasons to take advantage of the South African Summer…

1. The Weather

Let’s start in true British fashion and talk about the weather. The days are getting shorter, it’s time to say goodbye to fresh autumnal days and unwillingly welcome cold, windy winter. But this doesn’t have to be your routine for the next 4 months. Why not swap things up and chase the endless summer (even if it’s just for a bit)? South African summer runs from November-February, so expect beautifully hot, dry, sunny days. With average highs of 29° it’s too tempting to resist.

Let’s be honest, the waves are what we’re all here for. Due to Cape Town’s unique peninsula, throughout the South African Summer months, south easterly winds create amazing offshore conditions in the crystal blue waters of the Atlantic Coast. Then jump over to False Bay and you’ve got a whole new playground in the Indian Ocean. On the Cape Peninsula alone there are over 30 surf spots and waves for all abilities so everyone can get involved! Check out Wavescape for conditions.

3. Food and Drink

Everyone knows that when you’re on holiday you can eat whatever you like and it doesn’t count. South Africa takes eating and drinking to a whole new level, and for very reasonable prices. Famous for their Braai, a bit like a BBQ but better, you’ll have to experience to understand. Pair this with wine tasting in one of Cape Town’s many vineyards or a beer in the hot sun and you’ve got yourself the perfect evening. Make sure you get yourself to Noordhoek winery for a sundowner on a Thursday. You can thank me later.

4. Wildlife

You have traditional African animals on your doorstep and some unconventional ones too. Head Northeast for two hours and you’ll discover Aquila Private Game Reserve . These 10,000 hectares are home to the Big Five – Rhinos, Elephants, Lions, Leopards and Buffalo which were previously on the brink of extinction due to game hunters. Head to Aquila for a day trip or stay overnight for a whole new experience. Don’t miss the chance to see Zebras at the Cape of Good Hope as well. Now onto the unconventional African dweller, the penguin. Join the party at Boulders Beach and prepare to melt from their cuteness but never really shift the confusion of penguins in Africa.

As previously mentioned, the Cape of Good Hope is a great place to see Zebras, but even without this exotic animal it’s definitely worth going for the incredible views. Hiking up table mountain will take you a good 2 hours but you’ll be blown away by the beauty once you reach the top. Besides, you’ll be so surf-fit that that’s basically a walk in the park. Although, if you’re looking for a more cruisey walk and a beer whilst watching the sunset then head to Lion’s head for a spectacle.

It’s time to chill out again whilst watching some local sport and January is cricket season. At this point you’re either really excited or really not, there’s not really a middle ground when it comes to cricket. If it’s the latter then Newlands cricket ground might just change your mind. Imagine lazy days at a unique stadium with a mountain backdrop supporting the South African cricket team, the Proteas, it’s lush.

Photo credit: Sport 360

If sport isn’t your thing then check out the music scene. It’s not the first thing you think of but Cape Town is a buzzing city with a fix for every genre. From pop to rock, jazz to acoustic. There’s even the opportunity for an open mic night if you fancy it. Our favourite thing to do on a Sunday is head to the Kirstenbosch National Botanical gardens for a Sunday evening session. Set out a picnic in the shade of Table Mountain and enjoy. You’ll wish every day is a summer Sunday in South Africa.

For more music information check out Cape Town tourism

Photo credit: www.capetownetc.com

8. Community Projects

You’re imagining endless fun at this point, so why not give back to the community and share the love? Cape Town is home to some great charities and community projects that you won’t have to look hard to find something that interests you. Whether it’s building, education or teaching surfing, it’s covered. Check out Waves for Change for an insight into just one of the charities working to help the community in Cape Town.

“W4C provides a child-friendly mental health service to at-risk youth living in unstable communities. Through access to safe spaces, caring mentors, and a provision of weekly Surf Therapy sessions, W4C gives children skills to cope with stress, regulate behaviour, build healing relationships, and make positive life choices.”

We’ve skipped ahead a bit though. It’s obvious now that Cape Town has so much to offer, but you also need to get there first. This is where it all gets a little bit sweeter with flight prices. Normally a stress and big expense of your trip, but the beauty of Cape Town is that you can fly there direct from Heathrow or Gatwick in under 12 hours. No longer do you have to sit in an airport on a long layover trying not to look at the food you just can’t afford. Let’s double up on the good news too, it won’t cost you an arm and a leg. It’s cheaper than Indo and there are constant deals too. Check out Jack’s Flight Club – they love a good South Africa flight deal almost as much as we do!

10. The Potential for a Road Trip

You’ve made it here, you’ve experienced the epic lifestyle of Cape Town and your wanderlust cannot be contained. This amazing South African city is the perfect gateway to an epic road trip. Why not join us on an immense 10 week road trip travelling 1000 miles along the coast to Durban, exploring places you couldn’t even dream of and surfing world class surf spots such as Jeffreys Bay. You can even pass your surf instructor and lifeguard training along the way, setting you up for the ‘real world’ of work when you return – but it can hardly be classed as work when it’s living the dream.

How could we not love Cape Town?

Comment with your number one reason why you’d go to Cape Town!

If this sounds like your ideal winter destination then check out our Cape Town Surf Camp and please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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The three culprits behind South Africa’s weird weather patterns

Specialist Scientist (Public Health), South African Medical Research Council

Research Group Leader, Climate Studies and Modelling and Environmental Health, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research

Acting Director and Operations Manager at ACCESS, Applied Centre for Climate and Earth Systems Science

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Neville Sweijd works for the CSIR as Director of the ACCESS programme

Caradee Yael Wright and Francois Engelbrecht do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

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As maximum temperatures soared to 39°C in South Africa’s capital city, Pretoria, during the second week of November, residents were asking: why is it so unbearably hot this year? And why have there been successive heat waves?

It was the second or third heat wave to hit the country’s Gauteng province in the early summer. But it was not isolated to one province. Other parts of South Africa are also experiencing anomalous weather.

There was a heat wave in coastal Cape Town, unusual spring thunderstorms and strange cloud formations in the Western Cape province along with the well-publicised drought in the summer rainfall region all across the country.

The question is why? There are three probable culprits: regular climate dynamics, a phenomenon known as El Niño, and global warming. Which of these is the dominant cause is a matter of scientific climate research, but there are some conclusions we can draw.

Regular climate dynamics and global warming

Inter-annual and decadal climate variability and extreme weather events are natural phenomena. This means that South Africa from time to time experiences years that are unusually wet and cool compared to the long-term average .

At other times the country experiences relatively very dry and warm periods. This type of variability is part of the Earth’s natural climate dynamics and is partially caused by oscillations and complex configurations of global and regional climate systems working in concert to produce our weather .

Climate change is different from inter-annual climate variability. Climate change is a result of global warming which is caused by human activities that have resulted in the emission of various pollutants, principally carbon dioxide. This has altered Earth system dynamics in a way that affects the climate system, ultimately causing trends and changes to climate and weather systems.

Climate models project that, given the current rate of carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere, and some unique features of South Africa’s climate system, like our location in the subtropics and the important role that high pressure systems play in controlling the system, temperatures in southern Africa are likely to increase by at least 1.5 times the global average rate of temperature increase.

The warmer weather South Africa is experiencing now is not solely attributable to climate change, but is likely to be a touch of what we may experience more often in the future. This is based on the evidence from climate scientists running powerful models to compute the climate projections of the future.

Of more immediate concern is the 2015 El Niño. This is a phenomenon that occurs every two to seven years and appears when large parts of the eastern and central Pacific Ocean experiencing above normal sea-surface temperatures. One of the strongest El Niño events ever observed has settled over the Pacific .

In South Africa, El Niño is usually associated with below normal rainfall and above normal temperatures during the mid-summer period of December to February . The presence of the strong El Nino event in combination with global warming means that it is no coincidence that 2015 is on track to be the warmest year ever recorded by humans in the 150-year record of reliable observations .

Nine of the 10 warmest years on record have been observed during the last ten years . The current spell of heatwaves and record-high temperatures are a combination of global temperature extremes due to El Niño in combination with the effects of systematic greenhouse gas warming.

The exact mechanisms and linkages across the global climate system are the subject of ongoing research. For example, will El Niño occur more frequently, more intensely and for longer duration with its impacts on global weather in the future?

South Africa was in an existing state of drought even before the 2015 El Niño started to have its impact. This was due to the previous two rainfall seasons being associated with below-normal rainfall over much of the country. There was a weak El Niño in 2014. The situation is therefore more serious this summer with El Nino likely to cause a third season with below normal rainfall and above normal temperatures.

The effects on human health

High temperatures, especially over long stretches of hot days, have a negative impact on human health, animals, agriculture and the natural environment .

Adverse human health symptoms and effects – such as fatigue, fainting, headaches, heat cramps and heatstroke – may become more common with higher temperatures. The impact on infectious diseases, such as diarrhoea, is also predicted to increase with increased temperature.

People with pre-existing diseases, such as HIV-AIDS and TB, children and the elderly, are especially vulnerable. People with suppressed immune systems, or developing immune systems in the case of children, may find it difficult to cope with warm temperatures.

What is to be done

There are two basic options – adapt and mitigate. Adaptation involves engineering ways to cope with our extreme weather and changes to climate. An example would be building more suitable housing or planting drought resistant crops. The other is to try to mitigate the impacts of climate change by reducing its manifestation.

The 2015 Conference of the Parties, COP21, to be held in Paris, France in November and December 2015 under the auspices of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, will be a crucial meeting towards significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions during the 21st century.

The correct strategy is the subject of complex debates especially for developing countries. But as a global community there can be no doubt that this is a critical issue. It will become a looming international crisis and world economies and populations will feel the pinch.

This week, the World Health Organisation called all health professionals to action in the fight against climate change . The health community is being urged to advocate for a healthier and more sustainable future. Other sectors of society and communities have important roles to play in realising this goal and finding creative ways to mitigate and adapt.

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I loved Cape Town so much I couldn’t leave

Home » Blog » Accommodation » I loved Cape Town so much I couldn’t leave

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Somehow I missed the memo that Cape Town is the coolest city ever!

So when I stumbled off the plane from Durban, hungover as hell, I was pleasantly surprised and immediately blown away by this sprawling metropolis at the edge of the world. Holy shit Cape Town, South Africa is all kinds of pretty!

A country girl at heart, I am not usually a fan of big cities but when there are plenty of green places and designed in a way that makes me feel like I’m not in a city, I’m a fan. Cape Town luckily ticks all those boxes, and even reminded me a bit of Wellington, New Zealand where I used to live. Just with more crazy wildlife.

It spreads out all along a wild and beautiful coastline with sandy white beaches, cute little surf suburbs with the iconic Table Mountain looming above you in the background.

Downtown Cape Town is beautiful, and the harbor area is one of the nicest I’ve seen with amazing shopping OOPS. It doesn’t take a lot to understand why the most expensive real estate in Africa is here.

On my first trip over to South Africa , Cape Town was the first stop after a long conference in Durban. And trust me, I was basically sobbing when we had to leave after only 3 days. Couldn’t I just stay here the whole time?

As my time in Africa was drawing to a close, I made a hasty decision outside a market in Joburg. I wasn’t ready to leave. Have you guys ever felt that way about a place?

So I did the only sensible thing, rang the agent that booked my tickets and changed my flights giving myself an extra week and a half in Africa. First I headed out to Phinda , an amazing safari reserve, and then booked myself a ticket back to Cape Town.

Sometimes you have to listen to that inner voice when you love a place so much and can’t bear to leave. And ok, I’ll admit I’m lucky in that I had a pretty flexible schedule at the time and was able to do this. Wahoo internet jobs!

Luckily I was able to time my return to Cape Town when my friends Hecktic Travels were in town on a stopover on their way to Namibia.

Cue long dinners, cocktails in Camps Bay, road trips and photo sessions, plus lots and lots of coffee and catch ups. While Cape Town certainly has heaps of things to do, I found myself just enjoying being there, going for walks and exploring. It’s a great city just to be in, not necessarily be busy in.

Here is my little introduction to this glorious city with 10 things that helped make me fall in love with Cape Town.

1. Table Mountain

It’s no secret, I love mountains so to be a really cool and fun hip city with an amazing mountain backdrop, is definitely the best of both worlds. With straight cliffs and a long flat summit, it didn’t take long to understand its name.

We headed up first thing in the morning back through the winding streets leading to the base of the cableway, the easiest way to get to the top. There was beautiful mist layering over the town giving a great ephemeral feel to the start of the day.

As we walked out on top, I promptly lost my shit when I spotted a dassie for the first time. A fat little groundhog looking animal, it is adorable and I spent the next 20 minutes taking photos of them instead of admiring the view. Typical.

2. Dinner with a local family

For me, this was probably one of my favorite parts of our time in Cape Town.

Hosted dinners with local families is now a popular way to get to know the city.  When you are visiting a place for only a few days, it’s often quite hard to find opportunities to get to know the locals and get a glimpse into what life is really like there.

We were kindly invited to the home of a local musician who not only treated us to an amazing traditional dinner with his wife, but also rocked out with us all evening to the most beautiful music.

3. Staying at the One & Only Cape Town

It’s not every day that I get to stay in a 6 star hotel! Holy moley! If they only knew what I was really like, would they have let me in?

The One & Only Cape Town is part of the One & Only resort chain, and their South Africa property doesn’t fail to impress.

The biggest coziest bed ever complete with a pillow menu, great internet, a huge bathtub and an espresso machine – what more could I want?

I pretty much live in hotels with my job, and getting to stay in places like this is definitely a perk that comes with being a professional travel blogger.

At the risk of sounding snobby, while it was an amazing property, I didn’t feel like 6 stars to me until the first breakfast when I discovered not only champagne and oysters, order off the menu, any coffee you want, and oh, the crispy bacon or grilled bacon station.

Yes, 6 stars or sure!

4. Penguins on the beach!

My oh my! You guys know how much of a #BirdNerd I am, so when I first started researching Cape Town and realized there was a beach nearby home to a colony of penguins, I knew I had to make it happen!

Boulders Beach is near Simon’s Town is home to a colony of Africa Penguins, and they are adorable!

And luck was on my side because not only was the beautiful beach covered in penguins, there were fluffy molting babies everywhere! There is a god and he heard my prayers!

Show me the penguin babies!

I’m not going to lie, I loved it so much I went twice!

All the amazing seafood, all the time, nuff said.

6. Saturday Market

Another reason I was so happy to come back to Cape Town was that it gave me the opportunity to meet up with a few of you guys. I got an email from a kiwi expat living over in Cape Town who had spent a lot of time in Wanaka so it was a great opportunity to see the side of the city I probably wouldn’t have known about and hang out with a local.

The Oranjezicht City Farmer’s Market is super cute and in a beautiful part of town. Even though it drizzled the whole time, there were tents everywhere and so much delicious food and coffee, you hardly noticed.

This market has an amazing story – it was meant to be shut down before it was saved at the last minute and now takes place on the premier’s own gardens in Cape Town, which means its setting couldn’t be more picturesque.

7. Cape of Good Hope

I met up with the Hecks who rented a car and we hit the road for the day. First stop – back to the penguins obviously.

From there we headed to the Cape of Good Hope to live out our elementary school geography dreams. Nothing like finally laying eyes on a place you’ve heard about your whole lives, right guys?

Did I mention there are wild ostriches there? And baboons.

Run for your lives!

8. Chapman’s Peak Drive

On the way back to the city from the Cape Peninsula in the moody late afternoon light, we decided to take in the beautiful Chapman’s Peak Drive on the west coast.

I love a good road trip with friends!

And holy crap did this road not disappoint!

The 9km of road connecting Noordhoek and Hout Bay is pretty stunning.

Picture huge cliffs dropping down to the turquoise sea and crazy bends and turns with more lookouts and views than you could ever hope for. Don’t forget your camera.

As we turned the corner to head back to Cape Town, the sun began to shine through the peaks lighting up the houses below and creating those beams of light that I am obsessed with. What a way to close the trip!

9. Sunsquare Cape Town

I also wanted to mention on my second trip back to Cape Town I had to forgo the 6 star hotel for something more in my range and budget, the Sunsquare Cape Town .

Near the Gardens area of Cape Town, it’s in a really cool part of town with an amazing breakfast.

10. Sunset cruise

The perfect introduction to Cape Town is a sunset cruise in the harbor accompanied by a few breaching whales and champagne.

Sigh, Cape Town, you rock!

Have you ever felt this way about a place? Ever been to Cape Town? Ever changed your flights so that you didn’t have to leave a place?

Many thanks to V isit South Africa and Cape Town Tourism for hosting me in Cape Town. Like always, I’m keeping it real – all opinions are my own, like you could expect anything less from me. 

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85 Comments on “ I loved Cape Town so much I couldn’t leave ”

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So nice, your Pictures made me want to go there RIGHT now ! 😉

Yay love that!

I am single

I heard so many great things about South Africa and Cape Town and dinner with a local family is definitely something I want to try one day! The penguins are so adorable 😀

Such a good way to experience the place!

As always, fab post! I love the idea of joining a dinner with locals – looked fun and a great way to mix with the locals! 🙂

Also…how on earth did you manage to get the cutest penguin pics?!

haha I made everyone wait while I took about 1000 shots of them haha

Love the photos! Cape Town is a magical city, and I’m in the same boat… not a city person either. I spent two months in Africa last year, visiting several places and I had a really hard time leaving at the end.

It’s magical, isn’t it?

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The magic of a South African summer!!!

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Essay on Summer Season for Students and Children

500+ words essay on summer season.

Essay on Summer Season – Summer season is the hottest season of the year. In this season the temperature became so high that water starts to evaporate very quickly. But this is the most entertaining season for kids who enjoy it to the fullest because their school gets off in the summer season. Usually, summers last for mid or later March to June but they can expend up to the first week of July due to a delay of monsoon.

Facts about the Summer Season

The season occurs when the earth tilts towards the sun and a vice versa phenomenon for winter. In the southern hemisphere, December to February are the summer months. The day becomes warmers and nights become cooler. Besides, the day is longer and nights are shorter.

This season, we get a lot of variety of fruits and vegetables . And this is the season in which farmers prepare their land for cultivation. The sky becomes clearer as there are no clouds to give shade. And the sun shines bright.

Effects of Summer Season

Summer is hot for many reasons these include some natural factors and some manmade factors. These factors also cause many changes in climate conditions . Although the season is quite dry the kids love it.

Moreover, too much hotness is very bad for certain things and results in many problems. One problem that it causes in human which is very common is dehydration. It not only causes weakness and dizziness but also can lead to death. So, to keep the body hydrated we need to drink plenty of water.

Small ponds, rivers, and wells dry up in this season. The groundwater level declines and in some areas conditions like drought occurs.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Who Enjoys Summer?

Although anyone can enjoy the summers the way they like the Children loves it the most. They love it because they have a long summer vacation ahead of them which they enjoy fully.

Besides, they can do whatever they want, be whomever they want, and spend their day playing and traveling with family. Most of the children visit their grandparents in summer or go to a hill station in a cold place to enjoy with family. For them, it’s the most relaxing time when they do not have to do any homework on a daily basis.

Moreover, they do all kinds of fun and naughty things they could. In this time they become the king of their dreamland.

Effects on Life

Whether humans, animals or birds all become very irritated of the season. The summer season causes them to stay indoors. And it makes condition pretty harsh to go out. During the day temperature rises to a level which causes difficulty.

What’s Good about Summer Season?

There are many good things about summer that includes the king of fruits and everyone’s favorite ‘Mango’. Apart from that, there is a large variety of fruits and vegetables in the market.

To conclude, we can say that the summer season is not as bad as it looks. It is just like any other season. We can also enjoy summer like any other season by finding the right ways like kids. Moreover, the season is rich in a variety of fruits and vegetables especially the mango.

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Descriptive Essay: My Country South Africa

South Africa is a country situated on the most southern tip of Africa cradled by the icy Atlantic Ocean on the west and the warm Indian Ocean on the south and east. The southernmost tip jutting out into the ocean is called Cape Aghulhas (Cape of Needles) and separates these two great oceans. To the north are Mozambique, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

South Africa encircles the independent kingdoms of Swaziland and Lesotho. Languages The 11 official languages are Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Sotho, Swazi, Tswana, Tonga, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu. The three most spoken first languages are Zulu (22.7%), Xhosa (16%) and Afrikaans (13.5%).

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English is the language of commerce and science and is the first language of 9.6% South Africans. There are also semi-official and unofficial languages.The unofficial languages of the Khoikhoi and San are in grave danger of extinction. They are the aboriginal peoples of South Africa and are physically distinct with an ancient culture founded on hunter-gatherer societies.

Layout The country is made up of nine provinces Western Cape, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, North West, Limpopo, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumulanga and Free State. The main cities are Durban (coastal Kwazulu-Natal), Johannesburg (inland Gauteng), Cape Town (coastal Western Cape) and Pretoria (inland northern Gauteng). Population and Size South Africa takes up four percent of Africa’s landmass i.e. 1 221 040 square kilometers making it three times bigger than Texas and five times bigger than Britain. This area is populated by about 52 million people.

History Our first peoples were the San and Khoikhoi established for thousands of years before the arrival of the Bantu-speaking tribes who were established hundreds of years before the Europeans. The Europeans were sent by the Dutch East India Company and arrived at the Cape in 1652 to build a fort and start a garden for ships on the eastern trading route. Eventually, this route also brought slaves to the Cape until slaves were freed in 1833.The Afrikaans speaking Boers, descended mainly from Europeans, trekked north and east to establish the Boer republics of Orange Free State and Transvaal. They did not want to be under British rule.

After diamonds were discovered in 1867, and gold in 1876, a war broke out between Boers and British. In 1902, the Boers were defeated and in 1910 South Africa became a Union of 2 British and 2 Boer colonies.The ANC was founded in 1912 but in 1936 black South Africans were expunged from the voter rolls. In 1950, more than 1 million black South Africans were forced from cities to rural areas and poverty.In 1961, South Africa became a republic under the white supremacist Nationalists and the country was gradually weakened by internal black opposition and international boycotts. In 1990, this led to de Klerk releasing Mandela from 27 years in prison.

In a 1992 referendum, white South Africans voted to support de Klerk’s negotiations and in 1994 the ANC won the first democratic election and Mandela became president on 10 May. Conclusion My country has experienced a tragic history but today, all South Africans strive equally for a better future and to maintain democratic values e.g. the country is united in preventing current President Zuma from restricting freedom of speech. Our biggest challenge is reducing poverty but this is possible due to tourism, mineral wealth and Johannesburg being the thriving power-house of business on the African continent.

References http://www.edusouthafrica.com/south-africa.htmlhttp://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0107983.htmlhttp://www.factmonster.com/country/profiles/south-africa.htmlhttp://www.southafrica.info/about/history/521109.htm#.UzKlhqiSzxI

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Descriptive Essay: I Am African

In 1996, when Nelson Mandela was president and Thabo Mbeki vice-president, Mbeki made a speech in Cape Town to honour the passing of the Constitution of South Africa. That speech was entitled, “I am an African” and the depth and poetic cadence showed he is a gifted public orator,but it was his ability to touch and awaken what is the tender part of the psyche of South Africans that brought tears to our eyes.

That speech took us further than our own borders because it reminded us that our history and our daily struggles are not that different from the rest of Africa. Our sorrows, joys, shortcomings and achievements go hand-hand with the rest of our African brothers and sisters. We have to continue the struggle for equality, fairness and opportunity in all areas of our own country so our immediate neighbours could also benefit and extend those benefits further afield until Africa thrived. The soaring speech encouraged us but never said it would be easy.

It is hard to define what makes anyone African because the continent is overflowing with diversity. Is it because you are born in Africa? Is it because you have citizenship of an African country? Is it because you own property in Africa? Is it because you have African ancestry or roots? You could satisfy one, all or none of those questions. I say I am African because my future is here. I see the beauty, potential and wealth but I also see the corruption, greed and poverty.

It is believed that most of Africa’s natural wealth has still to be discovered. Right now, the continent is harvesting only a fraction of woods, petroleum, bauxite, uranium, iron, diamonds, tropical fruits, cocoa beans, copper, silver, iron, oil and cobalt. This already represents enormous wealth and there is no reason for Africans to continue living in poverty. If you want to call yourself African then speak against poverty and find out where the wealth is going.

There are still areas of conflict due to the resistance of democracy by one side or ethnic and/or religious divisions like the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan. I am African so it is my duty to spread tolerance by respecting other Africans I interact with.

It is easy to love Africa because of the open spaces, big sky and natural wonders but no matter where you go, or what problems there are, you will always find Africans who are friendly, generous and helpful. Many are poor and some are wealthy and I see them every day.

Living in South Africa is seeing people from North Africa all the way down south. I am South African but I am constantly reminded that I am African because I meet Africans of every description in my own neighbourhood and city. Many have fled war and the terrible crimes of war and have nothing but their willingness to work alongside South Africans for a better future. It is them and my fellow countrymen who bring Mbeki’s speech to life and remind me that I am an African, this is my place in the world and these are my people, from the largest country of Algeria to the tiniest of Seychelles.

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