AAC Safari Concierge Madison traveled to South Africa last fall. She joins us on the blog to share more about her visit, from exploring Cape Town to incredible wildlife sightings in the Greater Kruger Area.
I landed in Cape Town in early November and settled into The Silo Hotel, a hotel in the V&A Waterfront above the ZEITZ Museum of Contemporary Art Africa. The hotel takes up the top six floors of what was once a grain silo and has just 28 rooms total, giving it an intimate, boutique feel. I loved my room – it was very quiet with a luxurious bathroom, including a large soaking tub by the windows with fantastic city and ocean views. The windows are tinted so that you can see out and no one can see in, giving you privacy while feeling incredibly expansive.
I also loved The Silo’s rooftop pool with its fantastic views. The rooftop bar again takes advantage of 360-degree views of the city. Pro tip – it’s a great place to watch the sunset over Table Mountain! The hotel reserves half of the rooftop exclusively for in-house guests meaning reservations are not needed, and you have your own private area.
This is “modern” Cape Town. The hotel offers top-notch service alongside stunning architecture and views. The location is excellent and while parts of the building are open to the public, it still feels private within the hotel’s spaces.
Next, I made my way to one of its newest hotels – The Claremont Boutique Hotel. Nestled in one of Cape Town’s greenest and most charming neighborhoods, The Claremont offers an intimate, elegant base from which to explore the beauty and diversity of this coastal city. Housed in a beautifully restored 1920s Cape Dutch manor, this boutique gem strikes a perfect balance between historic character and contemporary comfort with lush gardens, quiet lounges and attentive personalized service that feels more like a private home than a hotel.
Cape Town is known for many things and one of its best offerings is its food. One afternoon, I set out with a small group on a tasting tour through the City Bowl. During our stroll through the City Bowl and historic quarters, my guide wove in rich cultural and historical insights giving insight into how Cape Town’s culinary scene was shaped by centuries of migration, trade and creativity. I learned why Cape Malay curries taste the way they do, how local spices influenced everyday cooking and what neighborhood markets have meant to generations of Capetonians. I also thankfully walked a lot to offset the amount of food we had along the way!
In keeping with my walking theme, I love to explore every new city unhurried and on foot, so the culinary walking tour was a great start. Another day, I set out on a guided hike in the tranquil surrounds of Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, where winding paths lead through indigenous forests, fragrant fynbos and shaded lawns set against the dramatic eastern slopes of Table Mountain. As we walked, our pace encouraged us to notice the small details — birdsong in the canopy, the scent of wild herbs and the ever-changing mountain views. From the gardens, our journey continued into the historic Constantia Wine Valley. The hike culminated in a relaxed wine tasting, a nice reward for our walk!
No visit to Cape Town is complete without a trip into the nearby Cape Winelands and The Claremont is well located to escape the city for the Winelands with ease. During my stay in the Western Cape, I had the chance to spend the day exploring quaint Stellenbosch and visited and two exceptional estates – Oldenburg Vineyards and Tokara Wine Estate.
Tucked away in the scenic Banhoek Valley, best known for its chardonnays and cabernet sauvignons, Oldenburg feels like a secret worth discovering. The open-air tasting room overlooks the valley’s striking mountains. Visitors can sample the full range of their offerings paired with local cheeses and house made crackers and I loved every sip and bite!
Perched dramatically above Stellenbosch along the breathtaking Helshoogte Pass, Tokara is as much about spectacular views as it is about world-class wines. I enjoyed tasting their elegant sauvignon blancs and Bordeaux-style reds, as well as their estate grown and pressed olive oil. Next time I’ll plan to indulge in a meal at Tokara’s acclaimed restaurant.
After five nights in Cape Town, it was time to head out on safari. The Sabi Sand Nature Reserve is one of South Africa’s most celebrated reserves, and is home to one of South Africa’s most unique lodges – Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge. This lodge is a striking example of safari design that feels futuristic while blending in with nature.
Guided by the witty and deeply knowledgeable Jamiel, alongside the sharp-eyed tracker Louis, I set out twice daily to uncover the wonders of the bush. I arrived at Sabi Sabi at a time of upheaval: a trio of young male lions had entered the reserve from neighboring Kruger National Park, disrupting the established pride of resident females and their cubs.
The males were still deciding whether to claim Sabi Sabi as their territory and had spent days stirring tension across the concession. On one drive, we encountered them harassing a rhino and her calf — a futile show of bravado, as the lions were no match and seemed to be taunting more for sport than survival.
In the days that followed, we came across scattered satellite groups of the original female pride, who had dispersed to protect themselves and their young from the looming threat. It was a powerful reminder of the delicate balance that governs life in the bush. These moments also underscored the unique advantage of a safari in a private reserve: the freedom to go off-road and the expertise of guides who know the land intimately, observing, tracking and recording the movements of wildlife week after week.
Earth Lodge has a fantastic full-service spa, but I wanted to spend my time enjoying the wildlife on game drives and walking safaris. I did take advantage of my room’s private plunge pool to cool off between activities. In addition to providing exceptional guest services, Sabi Sabi also helps the wildlife and environment where it operates. The Reserve has a comprehensive habitat management program developed with ecological experts. The program includes controlled burning, waterhole rotation, erosion control and foreign plant control. They also have a dedicated anti-poaching unit to protect threatened species.
The overall experience at Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge blew me away. The wildlife was so abundant there was never a dull moment! I can’t wait for my next visit!
Contact one of our Journey Specialists to plan your own customized journey and subscribe to our newsletter below for more inspiration and information.
Photos courtesy AAC Safari Concierge Madison Noble, The Silo Hotel, The Claremont Boutique Hotel, Eat Like a Local,