Anika’s and my wedding anniversary is at the end of February, and for the last few years we have always tried to spend it at a lodge. This year, with our little guy only being nine months old at the time, we knew this would not be possible. We had to come up with another plan. Safair now has flights from East Gate Airport (Hoedspruit) to Cape Town, and with their specials, we decided that we would take Perry on his first flight and go down to the Cape.
As a WanderingThru team, we had mentioned that there were a few places we wanted to check out down in Cape Town, but none of us had had the chance. Well, here was mine, and I pitched the idea to Ale. After a few phone calls and emails, we sorted out that I would be going to visit two different venues, completely opposite to one another, giving us a full Cape Town feel. Obviously these places were also child-friendly, which was great to see for families that are planning to travel down there.
The flight and first night
As the flights are only on Tuesdays and Thursdays, we decided to fly down on the Thursday afternoon and return home on the Tuesday midday. The flight from Hoedspruit was in the afternoon, and after two and a half hours, we landed in Cape Town. All flight attendants were great with the little one, and we were very lucky that he had a good flight, keeping everyone around him very well entertained.
By the time we landed in Cape Town, though, it was sleep time for the little guy, and so we had booked accommodation close to the airport. I had stayed at Hotel Verde before on one of my previous trips and so knew it was close by. We hopped in the shuttle and were there within five minutes. The staff were all great and understood the situation, getting us checked in quickly and up to our room, where the cot was ready and waiting for our now-sleeping baby.
As I remembered, the hotel was neat and tidy, with everything we needed in it. The hotel rooms are quite modern in comparison to some of the older hotels. The first evening we had room service, as we were as tired as the little one. The food was good and service was quick. The following morning we headed down to breakfast, and again, the food was great.
The hotel is perfect for anyone that arrives late or needs to stay close to the airport. It is neat, tidy and safe, with good food and everything that one could need or ask for out of a single night stayover.
Tintswalo
As I have done quite a bit of work with Tintswalo, they were one of the properties we approached to check out for a site inspection. I was thrilled when I found out that we would be staying down at Tintswalo Boulders in Simonstown. This is one of my favourite parts of the Cape. Beautiful views of the ocean, history of the country and, of course, the penguins!
First though, we had to get there. I was back on the shuttle to the airport, where I picked up a rented vehicle. I have never had the pleasure of driving Chapmans Peak Drive. This is an incredible road that hugs the mountains and coastline between Hoet Bay and Noordhoek. We enjoyed it so much that we did it twice before heading towards Simonstown, where we had a lunch overlooking the ocean. Everything is so fresh, and so there was no doubt we had to try the fish. After a great lunch, we headed to Boulders.
We arrived at Boulders and were greeted by the management team. They were all very helpful and welcoming, and we immediately got the feel that we were going to love it here; we weren’t wrong. We had a short check-in and briefing on the balcony overlooking Boulders Beach. We stopped a few times to listen to the penguins shouting in the background (it is breeding season, so they are very vocal in February). By the time we headed to our room, more than half of the staff had introduced themselves to us, and we already felt right at home.
Our room was beautiful, with views of the ocean and a little garden right outside. Perry immediately fell in love with the carpets and was all over the show. The large walk-in cupboards and bathroom were fantastic, and the cot for Perry was just like the one we had at home, so the little one was comfortable. After unpacking, we headed up to explore the rest of Boulders. The swimming pool on the roof had amazing views, and with a heated pool, it is the perfect place to enjoy a cocktail. In the main area there are some large lounges, again perfect for the little man to crawl around and explore.
The kitchen is open to the dining area, and it was great to watch the chef at work. Breakfasts are included at the hotel, and then you can order dinners if you so wish. This is what we decided to do, as the food looked and turned out to be really good. Both of the chefs that we had during our stay were outstanding. Anika can be quite picky and fussy at the best of times, and they both got her orders spot on. The view while having your meals is also amazing, and you can sit and just take in the sounds and sights of False Bay at sunset.
The following day we spent walking around Simonstown and decided to head back to Noordhoek for lunch. Cape Point Vineyards is situated there, and we headed there for a picnic, as they have beautiful gardens and are perfect for playing on the lawns. With their great vantage point, there are good views of the ocean, beach and Kommetjie in the distance.
After another incredible dinner, good rest and breakfast the following morning, we bid our farewell to Tintswalo Boulders. This property truly is incredible. The great location, with many activities around it, including Boulder Beach, Cape Point, Simonstown, Fishhoek and so much more, makes it the perfect base for anyone wanting to explore these areas.
Busy Cape Town
Luckily for us it was a Sunday when we headed back into the heart of Cape Town, as there was no traffic. Our next stop was the Commodore Hotel, close to the V&A Waterfront. We were early, and so we headed to the Waterfront for lunch before checking in. The Waterfront was a buzz, with live bands and acts all over the show. I don’t think Perry had ever seen so many people before, but he took it all very well. We found a magic seafood restaurant right on the harbour and enjoyed some people-watching and the odd seal here and there.
After lunch we headed to the hotel for check-in. The hotel staff were all very friendly and helpful, showing us around the restaurant and common areas. The hotel itself is old, giving off the old British colonial feel. It is very well maintained, though, and it was almost like taking a step back in time. For dinners we used the restaurant on site, and as expected, the food was great.
We had a good rest, and after a hearty breakfast (included), we headed out to explore more of the Waterfront and, later on, Camps Bay. The hotel is very well situated for those that want to explore the buzz of Cape Town city itself. It is within easy walking distance of the Waterfront and in a very safe, secure area of the city.
Heading Home
After two nights at the Commodore, our time in Cape Town was up. We had a great last breakfast and then headed back to the airport. Perry slept the entire flight back to Hoedspruit which was a miracle. We will definitely be taking him on more trips down to the Cape now that we have this easy flight. It certainly was good to be back in the bush though, my natural habitat.
