S outh Africa had been a dream destination of mine for many years. In planning a trip I decided on the popular ‘Garden Route’ experience. A route which offers much of what South Africa is famous for: breathtaking scenery, outstanding cuisine, outrageous activity experiences and of course those famous world-class wine lands, not to mention stunning safari adventures. I opted for the West to East route flying into Cape Town and spending five days in the Cape peninsula. Prior to travelling I had made contact with our IPA friends in Cape Town and was invited to a traditional braii (barbecue) in the IPA house ‘Timour Hall Villa’, on the edge of the beautiful Constantia Valley. The manager, Deon Huysamen and his daughter Jo, welcomed us proudly. The villa is set in large and beautiful gardens with guinea fowl roaming free. The 19th century house is a triumph of restoration and has become a popular bar with its enormous collection of police memorabilia. I can honestly say it is amongst the most cosy and friendly places I have ever had the pleasure to stay in. Cape Town is one of the most beautiful, interesting and vibrant cities I have visited. The tourist will inevitably be drawn to the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, which is still a lively working harbour, having an eclectic mix of shopping, entertainment and dining with boardwalks and esplanades. First stop in Cape Town has to be the city bus tour combining excellent value for money with a fascinating and educational insight into the city and the greater Cape Peninsula. I would thoroughly recommend it for getting your bearings early on and establishing the locations of attractions which you may want to explore further. Naturally, Table Mountain via cable car (or indeed the strenuous hike up) is a must see. Despite glorious weather, Table Mountain is regularly shrouded in a tablecloth of low cloud which often precludes any opportunity to visit. The view from the top however is a sight you will not forget quickly. My other top recommendations for visits in the Cape Peninsula would include: Camps Bay – a small upmarket resort or picturesque Simonstown – home of the South African Navy and of course you cannot miss Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope, the most southerly part of the African continent. For eating out, Cape Town offers a plethora of restaurants and my top tip is try the mixed grill of crocodile, kudu, ostrich and venison at Mama Africa’s in Long Street. A venue where meals are accompanied by live marimba and other swinging African sounds to fuel the atmosphere. Or, for a more relaxing evening, try the Green Dolphin down at the V&A Waterfront which has excellent food and some very laid back quality jazz. I would say five days is an appropriate length of time needed to see the best of Cape Town. On leaving we made the short 45 minute drive to Stellenbosch, a stunningly beautiful small picturesque Dutch colonial town, gateway to the remarkable wine lands of South Africa. There are over 150 vineyards close by, most of which offer wine tastings. Whilst it would be impossible to visit them all I can recommend La Motte, Boschendal and the fabulously ‘Hollywood style’ Delaire Estate with unparalleled views from its manicured terraces (but you will need your platinum card!). Next stop was Franschoek, a tiny one street town, noted for some of the best cuisine in South Africa and a collection of quaint little shops offering local crafts. With no shortage of sublime restaurants to choose from, we picked the very non vegetarian friendly Grill Room, which we scored at a creditable 9.5/10. Located on the beautifull L'Ormarins vineyard is the Franschhoek motor museum. This museum houses arguably one of the most exquisite collections of motor cars in the world including several unique and priceless examples. As an ex traffic policeman and motor enthusiast, this place was like heaven to me, but I would defy anyone not to be extremely impressed by the beauty of L'Ormarins and the dazzling quality of the museum. If you choose the Northern R62 route towards Oudtshoorn you will be treated to a variety of spectacular and ever changing scenery which becomes more semi-arid ‘karoo’ as you travel east. It is a five hour drive. Oudtshoorn is famous for the miraculous Cango caves, ostrich country and of course the Swartzberg Pass, a barely developed road built by convict labour in 1888. This road, despite offering some of the most awe- inspiring scenery in South Africa, also presents an unnerving challenge for a driver. Leaving Oudtshoorn our route took us south in the direction of Knysna, again a beautiful drive, where you can absorb scenery which has to be seen to be believed. Unfortunately we saw none of it because it started to rain and visibility was reduced to one hundred yards. Knysna’s beautiful lagoon was also obliterated by the weather and it was the next morning before we could appreciate the delights of the Featherbed Nature Reserve and the Knysna Elephant Park. Being up close and personal with these beautiful and gentle creatures was an experience we will never forget. Knysna is also a convenient base for exploring the Plettenberg Bay area and I would recommend stopping for lunch at ‘The Lookout’. Knysna also offers one of the magnificent ‘34 South’ chain of restaurants, a bizarre but fascinating mix of restaurant, delicatessen, wine and gift shop with a world class collection of model cars on display. Undoubtedly the most interesting restaurant I have visited in years. Leaving Knysna en route to Port Elizabeth, a must see attraction is the Bloukrans Bridge, at 216 metres, the highest bungee jump in the world. It’s not difficult to stand and watch, incredulous, as people pay £70 to launch themselves off this engineering marvel into apparent oblivion. Tempted though I was, I acceded to the call of maturity and common sense. Less daunting, but in its own way equally spectacular, is Tsitsikamma National Park which was our next stop. The tranquil 900 meter board walk to the wobbly suspension bridges is an excellent way of working off your picnic lunch or impromptu barbecue. After a brief overnight stop in Port Elizabeth we gave up the hire car and were transferred to Rippon Safari Lodge which is part of the Shamwari Game Reserve. This was arguably the high point of the South African adventure. The food and hospitality and ambience at Rippon was simply second to none and the two day safari exceeded all our expectations. With two three-hour safaris each day there was barely time for a snooze and a picnic lunch between but there was an overwhelming feeling of becoming one with nature. Photographing lion, white rhino or bull elephant in the wild in their natural habitat from about ten feet away was high on my ‘bucket list’* and is an experience I recommend you should have on yours. Be prepared for 5.30am starts, cold early mornings and a rough Land Cruiser ride, but be prepared also to treasure those amazing memories forever. Many folk would recommend leaving the safari until the end of a South African trip and I would have to agree. After that, the short internal flight from Port Elizabeth to Johannesburg and subsequently homewards paled into insignificance. We barely scratched the surface of the treasures which South Africa has to offer. Although this was my first trip to this splendid country I can guarantee it will not be my last. There is too much to see and experience to limit yourself to one visit. If you are contemplating South Africa as a travel destination in the near future my simple advice is this, ‘just do it’. *Editors Note: A bucket list is a wish list of things to do before you die. Article Police World Vol 56 No.3 2011 17 Police World Vol 56 No.3 2011 16 Article Breathtaking scenery, world-class vineyards and a reputation for culinary excellence and sporting prowess. South Africa has all this and so much more. Brian Kennedy, Publicity Officer for 2 Region, Northern Ireland, takes up the story. Timour Hall Villa Cape Town Brian samples the local produce Some of the local inhabitants of the Shamwari game reserve Brian and Deon Want to visit South Africa then contact Deon or Jo at: www.timourhall.com or visit: www.ipa-iac.org/houses/ Just do it!