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A safari had been at the top of my list of dream vacations for many years, and I finally convinced my husband that the time was right. We started planning the trip over a year ago, and one of the most important pieces was booking direct airfare from Newark to Cape Town on United, as the flights don’t run every day and business class books up quickly. United is not my carrier of choice, especially not for such a long flight as I think the product is pretty basic (and the food borders on inedible, even taking the ice cream sundaes into account). If I were to book the trip again I would actually book on Emirates through Dubai for a much nicer experience, even if the trip ultimately ends up being longer.

A note on planning, this kind of trip requires a lot of logistics and familiarity with the accommodation, guide, and transportation options in SA. I used a trusted resource who specializes in a very demanding clientele (I put myself in that category) and actually lives in Cape Town. If you are interested in his contact info please let me know and I will pass it along. He is in the midst of planning a return trip for myself and my family, and I would recommend him without any hesitation.

The flight was timed in such a way that we arrived at 5:30 pm which allowed us a quick stop at our hotel and then on to dinner.

Where to stay in Cape Town? I had been enchanted by photos of The Silo (part of the Royal Portfolio group) for years, and was excited to actually see the architectural masterpiece with my own eyes. Not only is it visually stunning from the outside, the hotel is filled with fabulous modern art and chic interiors, and the staff couldn’t have been friendlier or more enthusiastic. Beginning our trip in Cape Town was a perfect way to become acclimated to the time difference and soak up the culture, and The Silo was the ideal place to experience it all.

Upon arrival we were taken straight up to the rooftop bar/pool area with a glass of sparkling wine in order to catch the sunset before we were shown to our room, we made it just in time.

Our two story suite took full advantage of the spectacular windows, with the bathtub being my favorite vantage point of all. The decor skewed heavily maximalist which is right up my alley; a riot of color, patterns and objets. Additionally, the spa on premises was excellent and we both enjoyed outstanding massages/body scrubs.

Our view captured the beauty of the harbor, and the common areas were sophisticated as well as bright and cheery. The owner of the hotel Liz Biden has a passion for design and it is her talent and vision that is responsible for the interiors.

The food and wine in Cape Town is a big attraction and we had several fantastic meals. Due to a very favorable exchange rate the prices for food and drink in South Africa are exceptionally inexpensive, making the very best restaurants and bars exceedingly affordable.

There are many choices when it comes to fine dining, and after much deliberation we settled on a few spots, all of which were delicious.

In chronological order: Kloof Street House located in a beautiful Victorian house accessed through a fairy light lit garden. Fresh off the plane and ravenous; the friendly service, giant salad, tasty fish (kingclip- a meaty relative of eel) and chocolatey dessert proved an irresistible combination. The prices were insanely affordable.

We had a driver and guide throughout our stay enabling us to cover a lot of ground. A fantastic and healthy spot outside the city for lunch is The Foodbarn located in the Noordhoek Farm Village. With a gorgeous setting and an internationally inspired menu the food and service were excellent.

Fyn, currently ranked 60th on the World’s 100 best restaurant list (and #2 in Africa) is a Japanese/South African fusion spot that is really extraordinary. Best of all (for me) they offered a plant based menu alongside their traditional offerings. The food was as tasty as it was beautiful, and the interaction with the waitstaff helped to make the meal extra-memorable. My husband opted for the wine pairings and he was able to taste a wide array of very appealing South African wines. I loved this meal because even after 3 1/2 hours of eating I didn’t feel horribly over-stuffed.

We chose to do some snacking at The Old Biscuit Mill a neighborhood market that features an array of food stalls and vendors. Truth be told I mainly soaked up the sights and sounds while my husband did more of the noshing.

We saved the best for last in this first section of the trip, 3 star Michelin rated La Colombe, currently 49th on the list of the World’s Best Restaurants , and number 1 in Africa. Located just outside the city in Costantia the meal is part food, part theater, part whimsy, but 100% fantastic. Taking the strong dollar into account, it is an unbelievable value (the dinner tasting menu is priced at 2195 Rand, or $128 per person), and well worth the trip. The food was gorgeous, and delectable, and the service was perfection. Another lengthy meal, but truly a special one.

What to do in Cape Town? Some highlights- If you love penguins, and who doesn’t? Be sure to plan a stop at the Boulders Penguin Colony located within the Table Mountain National Park.

Also within the Table Mountain National Park be sure to visit the Cape of Good Hope, the most Southern point in South Africa. Along the way (if you are fortunate) you will encounter all kinds of animals including baboons, ostrich and zebra; it was like a mini safari.

We learned it was rare to spot a zebra, so we felt very lucky.

Another must do activity while in Cape Town is to head to the top of Table Mountain whether on foot or by cable car, the view is spectacular, but be forewarned it is super cold and windy up top.

One special recommendation if the stars align is to head to the stadium downtown for a Rugby match. Our visit coincided with the championship match between arch rivals the South African Springboks and New Zealand All Blacks, the crowd was electric, and there was unbelievable energy. We signed on to Stub Hub before we left and scored fantastic seats (for a price), but it was worth it. Probably the highlight for me was numerous fly-overs and fireworks as well as the pre-game Haka. Icing on the cake, the Spring Boks were victorious.