The Travelers
Michael Van Wyk, his wife Jacquie Golding Van Wyk and their four children: Gemma (16), Isabella (14), George (10) and Alfie (7 months).
The Cost
The family prefers flying with Emirates Airlines, because the cost is reasonable compared to other airlines. They have also found that the route via Dubai is cheaper than via Singapore or Hong Kong. In Dubai, there is a three-hour layover, which is when they normally book into an airport hotel so the children can sleep before the long haul flight from Dubai to Cape Town. The cost for a roundtrip flight is approximately RMB 10,000 for adults, RMB 7,000 for children, and just under RMB 2,000 for infants (2 years and under), if you’re okay with them sitting on your lap.
Accommodation
The family stayed with their relatives at five-star hotels or self-catering villas. For those without relatives there, Cape Town accommodations are reasonable, especially for the five-star hotels in and around the Atlantic Seaboard. They recommend hotels at Camps Bay and the waterfront area. In the areas of Newlands, Bishopscourt and Constantia, impressive guesthouses are an option, too. In Claremont, there is a great shopping mall called Cavendish Square and a hotel nearby called the Vineyard Hotel & Spa, which has great spa treatments. Nearly all the hotels have swimming pools for guests to enjoy, and breakfasts are always superb buffet style, with plenty to choose from.
Food and Shopping
Camps Bay is definite must-see. There are plenty of great restaurants and the beach is lined with palm trees. Plus, V&A Waterfront, an acclaimed shopping area, is a short 10-minute drive from Camps Bay. V&A Waterfront has designer shops and coffee shops in abundance, set along the spectacle of many boats and yachts. There is also a large craft market as well as traditional goodies on offer along the roads.
At both the V&A waterfront and Hout Bay, there are mini harbor cruises to Seal Island and sunset champagne cruises. Another option is Cape Town’s world acclaimed aquarium in Two Oceans Aquarium, which is enjoyable for children of all ages. V&A Waterfront also has mini-golf, or “cave golfing,” where kids can fill a bag with semi-precious gemstones that have been mined from different areas of South Africa.
If you fancy vintage and antiques, head to Simons Town. On the way, you will find quaint vintage clothing stores, antique shops, and even an unusual coffee shop set up in a stationary train.
A sunny day must be spent driving around Cape Town’s peninsula, as it is uniquely surrounded by the ocean on three sides. There’s also a breathtaking view of this by cable car to Table Mountain.
A sunny day must be spent driving around Cape Town’s peninsula, as it is uniquely surrounded by the ocean on three sides. There’s also a breathtaking view of this by cable car to Table Mountain.
The Best Part
Highlights include hiking up Table Mountain, spending a day at the beach, visiting iconic Robben Island or the Castle of Good Hope, shopping, and tasting the exotic South African dishes. The cold and rainy months in Cape Town are June, July and August, and the temperatures are rarely below 10 degrees Celsius. The best months to visit are from September to March. The ideal time is just before or after November, or at the end of January when school reopens and crowds leave the beach and return to their hometowns and provinces.
Travel Tips
Crime is high in South Africa, so do your best to not look like a tourist, even if it means pretending you know where you are heading. If you are lugging around a big camera, make sure it is fairly hidden. In general though, South Africans are friendly and helpful. Plus, English is widely spoken. Consider staying in the southern suburbs like Claremont, Bishopscourt, Newlands and Constantia, where you can enjoy a scenic drive around the mountain when heading to the Atlantic seaboard. Furthermore, there is a great shopping mall in the Southern Suburbs called Cavendish which has many shops where you can purchase gift items that are far cheaper than at the V&A waterfront.
When returning to Beijing, it is wise to book a few days in Dubai, preferably a hotel near the airport. That way, you and your family can relax. The family chose the Le Royal Meridien, just 10 minutes from the airport, for the reasonable price, and its two swimming pools. Since Dubai is excruciatingly hot, the family recommends a swim in the early morning and early evening.
This article is excerpted from beijingkids October 2011 issue. View it in PDF form here or contact distribution@beijing-kids.com to find out where you can pick up your free copy.
