12 Days Itinerary & Places to Stay?

1- Driving Itinerary

I'll be flying in/out of Cape Town in February (staying 12 nights) and renting a car.

Cape Town > Camps Bay > Hout Bay > Simonstown > Cape of Good Hope > Boulders Beach > Franschhoek > Hermanus > Swellendam > Mossel Bay > Sedgefield > Buffalo Bay > Knysna > Plettenberg Bay > Tsitsikamma National Park MPA > Oudtshoorn > Citrusdal > Lambert's Bay > Paternoster > Paarl > Stellenbosch > Cape Town

Due to the time of year I'm going I've excluded things I originally wanted to do (safari, cage diving, whale watching) and focused more on beaches, interesting towns, scenic driving and nature.

Am I being too ambitious?
Should I be removing/adding anything to my route? (Changing the route entirely?!)

2 - Places to Stay?

I'll be travelling with another person (share room/bed), and I noticed that HostelWorld/Hostel.com aren't the cheapest way to go for sleeping, if we want private rooms, so I've been considering AirB&B. Is there something else I should be considering in terms of where to go look for affordable accommodations?

Much appreciated,
Marco

i think that you are too ambitious, your itinerary will include a lot of driving, and not enough time to enjoy what south africa has to offer. you can easily spend 5 days in and around cape town and not have time to do and see all that you want to see. its good if you have enough time for the cape peninsula (you have planned a visit to most of the interesting places there). as you will be driving, make sure to drive the amazing panoramic chapmans peak drive when driving down south the peninsula from hout bay to the cape of good hope. in the false bay, besides the places you are already looking at, you might also stop in kalk bay (especially if you like fish / seafood), there is a small working harbour and a couple of great restaurants (and fish & chips shops). muizenberg is another spot "on the way" btw cape town and boulders beach, with a beautiful wide beach (great for surfers) and small colorful beach houses.

travelling to south africa and not do a safari is total "no do" in my opinion. every season has is advantages and disadvantages, and even though there might be better months than february for going on a safari - i would still do it. also, if you go to tsitsikamma np (and you should, its beautiful), you are "only" 230km away from addo elefant park. being so close to a great national park to go on safari and not go there would be a mistake imo. if you include addo, return the rental car in port elizabeth and fly out from there (via joburg) back home. this will obviously mean that you will miss oudtshoorn and the western cape (you could still include stellenbosch and paarl before you start your trip along the garden route).

i forgot 3 things:
- with both itineraries (the one you are looking at and the one i proposed with addo), you are still looking at a lot of places for 12 nights. with "my" itinerary its doable and enjoyable in matters of kilometers, but i would still "cut out" a few places. its nice if you dont have to change accommodation every night (at least i dont like to move on every night).
- you mention shark cage diving. if you include 1-2 nights in hermanus, you might still look at doing that, as gans baai (which is very close) is "the" place for it
- there are plenty of family run b&b's, charming guesthouses, funky / trendy places etc. to stay in south africa. check out places mentionned in your guide book, get ideas from tripadvisor. there is also a small green book (i think it's called the portfolio collection) with tipps for b&b's and guesthouses in south africa.

Yikes. You obviously don't know how large South Africa is. Doing the West coast & Garden rout in 12 nights plus Cape Town. Just CT will take 3 days off your schedule. You gonna be spending most of your time on the road. That not fun when you could be at the beach. Anyway, Since you want to go up to Lamberts you have to drive past Paternoster & Langebaan. You also left out Kommetjie & Longbeach while you are Driving past Hout Bay to Cape Point. Have fun

Jeez that's a lot of driving!

Cape Town > Camps Bay > Hout Bay > Simonstown > Cape of Good Hope > Boulders Beach you can do as a day trip while based in Cape Town (and include Chapman's Peak).

Franschhoek > Paarl > Stellenbosch > are all part of the Cape Winelands and can either be done while based in Cape Town or spend a day or so there (choose one or two of these).

But then you include Citrusdal > Lambert's Bay > Paternoster which is on the other coast with a long drive and very little to see in between.

http://goo.gl/mBfsdU

I would choose between doing the east coast all the way to PE as Natalie mentioned, or hug the coast/N2 until Wellington and either come back via the west coast (http://goo.gl/4aOlNx) or, more realistically, via the winelands (http://goo.gl/Angk7J).

And you want beaches, you could probably spend 3 days just visiting all of Cape Town's different beaches: Clifton, Camps Bay, Hout Bay, Llundudno, Kommetjie, Cape Point, Boulders, Long Beach, Muizenberg, Big Bay, Bloubergstrand, Derde Steen, Dunes, Strand, Gordon's Bay, etc.

Thanks for all the help!

I've gone over my details and came up with this. Just to reiterate, we'll be going from 2/1 to 2/15 and will have a car the whole time. If anyone has things we should be skip out on, or definitely add, it would be definitely appreciated.

CAPE TOWN

• Driving Route: http://goo.gl/maps/tYCyf
• “Local things to do in Cape Town”
http://www.getaway.co.za/travel-ideas/locals-guide-things-to-do-cape-town/
• City Bowl
• Camp's Bay (go to the roundhouse to see chickens!)
• Company's Gardens
• Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens - check out the Tree Canopy Walkway
• Feb 4th @ 9am - Robben Island (Note: Nelson Mandela Gateway – go here before Robben)
• Feb 14th @ 730pm - Grand Daddy (Pink Flamingo Theatre) – 4 Weddings and a Funeral screening
• Table Mountain (Cableway tix ½ price after 6pm daily) - in the national park you can see: birds, baboons, reptiles, dassies, polecats, foxes, zebras, bontebok, mongooses.

V&A Waterfront - http://www.waterfront.co.za/

• Two Oceans Aquarium (buy tix online/feeding times @ 3pm daily)
• Harbour Cruise (@ sunset - http://www.waterfrontcharters.co.za/).

Viewpoints

• Bloubergstrand
• Signal Hill
• Mouille Point (@ sunset)

Art/History

• District Six/District Six Museum
• Church Street
• Woodstock
• Castle of Good Hope (http://www.castleofgoodhope.co.za/) - If visiting on a weekday, arrive at the main entrance at 10 am or noon for the key ceremony and firing of the signal cannon
• Bo-Kaap
• 6 Spin Street

 
Shopping/Markets

• Neighbourgoods Market (Saturdays @ 9am - come early - best market)
• City Bowl Market (Saturdays 9-2)
• Blue Bird Garage Food and Goods Market (Friday nights)
• Long Street – shopping. At the top of Long Street is Green Market Square. That is where you should buy souvenirs. Go in the middle of the week and you can barter for better deals.

FOOD

• “Best places to eat in Cape Town”
http://www.eatout.co.za/article/best-of-cape-town-2

Things to Try

• Bush braai
• Bunny Chow
• Karoo lamb
• Knysna oysters
• Saleomekhis is a mother of Submarine – One will do for you and your girl, and I know you can eat.

Coffee/Breakfast:

• Origin Coffee Roasting
Mondays to Fridays: 7am-5pm | Saturdays: 9am-2pm.
28 Hudson Street | De Waterkant | Cape Town
The godfather of gourmet coffee in the Mother City, Origin was here as an inner-city first. It has a wide variety of beans from this continent and abroad, and roasts them on site. Its cool interiors include an upstairs and a downstairs area with a warm New York style. It’s popular with the freelancing crowd, and tea drinkers visit for the exotic teas as this coffee roastery has its own built-in teahouse replete with decorative orchids. Sit down, taste, and take away (both coffee and bags of the beans themselves).

• Truth Coffee (City Bowl)
36 Buitenkant Street, Cape Town
Monday to Thursday and Saturday 7am-6pm, Friday 7am-late, Sunday 8am-2pm
Aside from their now-famous coffee, Truth offers a pretty comprehensive breakfast menu and satisfying lunch options.

• Hemelhuijs (City Bowl)
71 Waterkant Street, City Bowl, Cape Town
Monday to Friday 9am - 4pm. Saturday 9am - 3pm.
Sit down to gorgeously plated seasonal dishes by chef Jacques Erasmus at this oh-so stylish restaurant.

• Common Ground Coffee
http://commonground.co.za/common-ground-cafe/

Brunch:

• The Pot Luck Club (also lunch and dinner)
The Old Biscuit Mill, 375 Albert Road, Woodstock
thepotluckclub.co.za

Lunch/Dinner:

• Bo-Kaap Kombuis (Bo-Kaap)
No7 August Street, Bo-Kaap, Cape Town
A must-visit destination for Cape Malay food that’s traditional, tasty and spicy.

• 1890 House Sushi & Grill (Observatory)
40 Trill Road, Observatory, Cape Town
Lunch: Monday to Saturday 12 noon - 3:00pm
Dinner: Monday to Sunday 5:00pm - 10:30pm
The sushi never fails to impress at this restaurant, it’s perhaps the best deal in the city. The rice is always perfect, and the fish cut generously.

• Mondiall (V&A Waterfront)
Monday to Sunday 9am -10pm
A fail-safe Waterfront option. Food from around the world is made with exceptional ingredients and smartly presented. Choose from a classic cheeseburger to vibrant fish tacos and good old fish and chips.

Places to eat near our apartment when we arrive:

• Gourmet Boerie
Shop No. 5, Buitenkloof Studios
8 Kloof Street
Gardens, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa
Supposed to be inexpensive and good, serving a local culinary classic: boerewors rolls (basically a hot dog)

• Marco’s African Place
15 Rose Street
Schotsche Kloof, Cape Town
http://www.marcosafricanplace.co.za/index.asp
for obvious reasons we have to go here

Drinks:

• The Crypt Jazz Restaurant
1 Wale Street
Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town
8000, South Africa
http://www.thecryptjazz.com/
Supposed to have good music, and ok food. Maybe a good place to get a drink and listen to music.

CAPE PENINSULA

• Drive - Table Mountain to Cape Point
• Chapman's Peak Drive
• False Bay - dolphins

Simon's Town

• The Meeting Place (Simon’s Town)
98 St Georges Street, Simons Town, Cape Town
Breakfast: Monday - Sunday 9am - 4pm
Lunch: Monday - Sunday 9am - 4pm
Dinner: Wednesday - Saturday 4pm - 9pm
Grab a delicious breakfast or sit down to a satisfying lunch at this spot, which is, as the name says, a popular gathering place.

• The Lighthouse Café
90 St Georges Street | Western Cape, Simon's Town 7975, South Africa
http://www.thelighthousecafe.co.za/

• The Sweetest Thing (deserts)
82 St Georges Street, Simon's Town, South Africa

Things to do:

• Seaforth Beach (safe swimming)
• Boulders Beach (swimming and penguins)
• Foxy Beach (more penguins!)
• Hout Bay – Boat trip to Seal Island. http://www.circelaunches.co.za/index.asp

 
Cape of Good Hope

• Platboom beach (swimming)
• Bordjiesdrif (tidal pools and artificial rock pool above beach for swimming)

Kalk Bay/Muizenburg

• Muizenburg - park your car in Muizenburg and take the train to Kalk Bay. Have some fish and chips at Kalkies, then walk up the mountain and walk back to Muizenburg along the Shark Spotter trails back to your car. Took us about 5 hours to walk the whole stretch a couple of years ago. If there are Sharks in the bay you will be able to see them.
• Olympia Café and Deli
134 Main Road, Corner Windsor and Main Roads, Kalk Bay
Monday - Sunday 7:00am - 11:00pm
It’s hard to fault the generous portions of bistro fare that emerge from the kitchen. It’s simple, rustic food that delivers on flavour every time.

• Kalky’s Fish and Chips
Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday: 10am – 8pm
Kalk Bay Harbour | Main Road | Kalk Bay
Perched right on the water’s edge at Kalk Bay’s small working harbour, the casual Kalky’s is well loved by locals and tourists alike for its reliable offering of cheap seafood and a classically Capetonian experience.

• C’est la Vie (deserts)
20 Main Road, Kalk Bay, Cape Town
Breakfast: Wednesday to Sunday
Lunch: Wednesday to Sunday
This tiny eatery bakes all its artisanal goods on site. From a lovely breakfast to lunch options of gourmet sandwiches, you can’t go wrong. There are also supposed to be cute stores around this area

Beaches

• Swimming - Muizenberg or Fish Hoek
• Bloubergstrand Beach - this long sandy beach 12 km (7 miles) north of the city centre offers the most spectacular view of Cape Town; Table Bay glittering in the foreground against a backdrop of Table Mountain in its flat-topped glory. The beach, though busy with locals in summer, is seldom crowded. There’s a fair chance of spotting dolphins and whales in season in the chilly waters off the beach.

 
GARDEN ROUTE

• Knysna (forests/hiking) - there will be places to stay and a good place to take a boat trip, but more importantly just a few minute north of Knysna is a beautiful long surfers beach. Ask the local when the dolphins feed along the beach, it is amazing to see.
• Plettenberg Bay (if Knysna is too busy for accommodations, go to Wilderness - less developed beaches/lagoons)
• Tsitsikamma
• Route 62 (inland route driving option)

KLEINMOND

• Pringle Bay, or Betty’s Bay beaches (and penguins)

HERMANUS

• Voelklip Beach
Address: 7th Avenue, Hermanus, South Africa

SWELLENDAM

Things to do:

• Bontebok National Park
• http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Attraction_Review-g469397-d469470-Reviews-Bontebok_National_Park-Swellendam_Overberg_District_Western_Cape.html

ROBERTSON

Things to do:

• Affie Plaas
On the R60 towards, Robertson, Breede River Valley, Western Cape
This farm stall was established almost 30 years ago, when it began as one man selling apricots on the side of the road. Since then, it has blossomed into the well-loved institution that it is today. Local goods that can be found on its shelves include waterblommetjies, fresh farm breads, pies, traditional desserts, homemade rusks, pickles, jams, quail eggs, chocolate salami and dried fruits. For those who are looking for something different while not negotiating on their responsible tourism standards, the organic jams and locally-produced organic wines are a must to try. While shoppers are perusing the many tasty delights of Affie Plaas, traditional Afrikaans music (“boeremusiek”) completes the experience. Local farmers and crafters supply much of the produce being sold at the stall, which means that it is fresh, original, and uplifts the local community. De Oude Kombuis is the restaurant next door, and offers visitors delicious meals as they journey through the Western Cape Province. There is a children’s play area here, and little ones can play safely as their parents enjoy great flavours. Sunday lunch, usually accompanied by live music, is a must for those passing through or staying in Robertson. De Oude Kombuis is closed on Saturdays.

OUDTSHOORN (SA’s ostrich capital)

• Swartberg Pass

WINE ROUTE

• Franschhoek (best wine town)
Franschhoek Pass (RR R45) –scenic drive

• Rickety Bridge
http://www.ricketybridgewinery.com/
has restaurant and B&B

• Chamonix Wine Farm
http://www.chamonix.co.za/
has restaurant and B&B

• If we have time/along route, visit: Paarl and/or Worcester

FYI

• Opening of Parliament is on Feb 12 (?) - avoid any travel in Cape Town on that day

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