Lizzie Atwood is a student at the University of Denver and is an ISA Featured Blogger. She studied abroad with ISA in Cape Town, South Africa.
Studying abroad makes you realize how quickly money can vanish when you are in a beautiful country with countless destinations and don’t have a job. It’s necessary, therefore, to be wise with your money. Here is some experienced advice about what is worth spending the extra money on in Cape Town:
Safari
It would be unheard of to visit Africa without going on a safari. However, you will soon discover that they are not cheap. There are a few safaris nearby (such as Addo National Elephant Park and Aquila Game Reserve), but the ones further away offer a wider range and quantity of animals. I would suggest saving a big chunk of money and flying to Johannesburg to visit Kruger National Park or to fly to another nearby country (e.g. Chobe National Park in Botswana). The wildlife and beauty will be more than worth it.
Wine Tour
South Africa is known for its wines, and there’s a reason for it. One of my favorite days in Cape Town was getting a group of my girlfriends and going on a wine tour in Stellenbosch. Typically, a wine tour involves three tastings and three different wine estates. It is an incredibly fun way to learn more about wine and spend the day with friends.
Local markets
I have mentioned my frequent Saturday morning trips to Old Biscuit Mill, a weekly market in Woodstock, Cape Town. At Old Biscuit Mill, you can find any type of food you could ever dream of and treat yourself to a new outfit from one of the many local store stands. In Cape Town, weekend markets like Old Biscuit Mill are common—there are others downtown and at every beach town. Trying the food and shopping around is certainly worth the extra money.
Whale Watching
Hermanus, South Africa has been deemed one of the best whale watching locations in the world. Southern Right whales can be viewed from the shore, but it is an entirely different experience to go whale watching on a boat. It may sound a little underwhelming, but when I went whale watching I experienced a whale swimming under the boat—and that moment was priceless.
Ubers (especially to the beach!)
In South Africa, the safest way to get around is by Uber. The Ubers to and from downtown are inexpensive, but the Ubers to Camps Bay and other locations by the beach can get pricey. It is certainly always worth it to spend the extra few dollars to Uber (rather than taxi) and I never once regretted paying for an Uber to visit the ocean.
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