South Africa and Lesotho Part I: A Capetown Sojourn

Last week, our friends Jamila and Chris threw a destination wedding in South Africa. The experience - starting with a dizzying 19 hour flight and culminating with a stunning sunset ceremony high above the bustle of Johannesburg - was intense and unforgettable. But what stood out most (aside from the wedding of course, which I will not post about :) ) were our two days in Cape Town, and our ridiculous road/horse trip through Lesotho.

Part II will be heavy on words, so I've dedicated Part I to pictures.

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So, what can you do with 48 hours in the most beautiful city in Africa? Here are our suggestions and favorites:

#1. Hit the Beach. Nothing welcomes you to vacation like a Camps Bay sundowner. We went to Paranga, but anywhere on the Camps Bay strip is sure to be beautiful. 15 minutes outside of downtown.

#2. Take the scenic drive from Chapmans Peak, around Cape Point, and finally to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. It's desolate and wild, yet remarkably accessible. Think Route 1, but less cars!

#3. See the penguins! These critters populate stretches of beach all around Cape Town, and are apparently quite unabashed when it comes to interacting with humans.

#4. Drink some wine. The areas directly around Cape Town overflow with wineries serving distinctive South African Pinotages, creative pear ciders, and everything in between. The two main areas to head to are Franshoek and Stellanbosch. We hit the former and were not disappointed.