When Crissa first contacted us, the trip was centred around one specific goal: running the Cape Town Marathon.

Having visited Tanzania the previous Christmas, South Africa would be her first opportunity to experience a different side of the continent. She arrived in Cape Town before the race, spending marathon weekend based in the city before the next chapter of the journey began.

Meanwhile, something unexpected was happening.

A new friend, Jenn, decided to join the adventure at remarkably short notice. Less than two weeks before departure, we found ourselves arranging a South African journey for two rather than one.

On Monday, following the marathon, Crissa moved to The Marly in Camps Bay, where she met up with Jenn and their South African adventure truly began.

Cape Town Delivers

The trip began in Cape Town, with a stay at The Marly in Camps Bay.

Anyone who has visited Cape Town knows that the city can show many different sides of itself depending on the weather. One of the first pieces of advice we gave was to remain flexible with Table Mountain.

That advice paid off.

The timing could not have been better. Conditions were crystal clear, with the famous “tablecloth” of cloud sitting below the summit, creating a spectacular inversion that produced some incredible views and photographs.

“It’s beyond perfect,” Crissa messaged us afterwards.

For many visitors, Table Mountain becomes one of the defining memories of Cape Town, and this was certainly one of those days.

A Day in the Winelands

No visit to the Western Cape would feel complete without spending time in the Cape Winelands.

Just a short drive from Cape Town, the landscapes change dramatically as vineyards, mountain ranges and historic towns unfold across the valleys. For Crissa and Jenn, it provided a wonderfully relaxed contrast to the energy of the city and the excitement of marathon weekend.

The day combined beautiful scenery, wine tastings and time exploring some of the region’s most charming estates. Beyond the wines themselves, it was an opportunity to slow down, enjoy long conversations and take in one of South Africa’s most picturesque regions.

Like so much of the trip, it wasn’t simply about ticking off famous places. It was about experiencing the atmosphere of the destination, whether that meant sitting on a vineyard terrace overlooking the mountains or discovering the stories behind the wines and estates that have shaped the region for generations.

For many visitors, the Winelands become one of the unexpected highlights of a South African journey, and for good reason. They offer a combination of scenery, food, wine and hospitality that is difficult to match anywhere else in the world.

Penguins, Wildlife and the Cape Peninsula

The Cape Peninsula tour proved another highlight.

Of course, there were the African penguins at Boulders Beach, who happily stole the show. Unlike many wildlife encounters around the world, these penguins live entirely wild, sharing the beaches and granite boulders of the coastline with visitors.

But they were far from the only wildlife spotted during the day.

Along the route, Crissa and Jenn encountered baboons, ostrich, eland, bontebok, dassies, seals, sunbirds and red-winged starlings, a reminder that South Africa’s wildlife experiences begin long before you ever set foot on safari.

Their guide, Jethro, brought the journey to life with stories of the region’s history, culture and landscapes, helping transform a scenic drive into something far more memorable.

Discovering Cape Town Through Food

One of the experiences that generated some of the biggest smiles was a food tour through Cape Town.

Travel has a wonderful way of bringing people together, and nowhere is that more evident than around a table.

Exploring colourful Bo-Kaap, the pair learned to make traditional samosas, sampled local specialities, discovered Cape Town’s thriving food and wine scene and gained a deeper understanding of the city’s cultural influences. Along the way there were tea tastings, local stories and even a stop at one of the city’s gin bars.

It was exactly the sort of experience that allows visitors to connect with a destination beyond the headline attractions.

Why We Chose the Eastern Cape for Safari

After several days exploring Cape Town, the friends went their separate ways.

Crissa returned home, while Jenn continued on to one final adventure: her first safari.

When many travellers think of safari in South Africa, their minds immediately jump to Kruger National Park. While Kruger is undoubtedly iconic, it isn’t always the right fit for every traveller.

For Jenn, we felt the Eastern Cape offered something that suited her particularly well. Following an active few days in Cape Town, she was looking for somewhere that felt peaceful, uncrowded and easy to combine with the rest of her itinerary without additional long travel days.

Kariega Private Game Reserve proved to be exactly that.

Set within a vast private reserve, the experience felt intimate and unhurried. There were no convoys of vehicles and no crowds gathering around sightings. Instead, there was space, tranquillity and the feeling of having a remarkable wilderness almost entirely to herself.

“The safari was absolutely magical and pushed me so far out of my comfort zone,” Jenn later told us. “It felt like a dream because it was so magical that it couldn’t actually be real.”

The reserve’s landscapes, wildlife and warm hospitality all played their part, but one person in particular stood out: Their guide, Michael.

After Jenn mentioned she would love to see hippos, Michael spent hours the following day searching rivers and waterways to find them.

“The accommodations, the staff, the guide… everything was spectacular. Michael was so knowledgeable and friendly and completely committed to making sure we had the best possible experience.”

What Jenn had initially viewed as an alternative to Kruger ultimately became one of the highlights of the entire trip.

In her words, the reserve’s private nature made the experience even more special.

“There were only a few other guests there. It felt like we had the whole place to ourselves.”

 

More Than a Trip

What began as a solo marathon trip became something far bigger.

It became a celebration of friendship.

It became a chance to step outside comfort zones.

It became a reminder that sometimes the most memorable journeys are the ones we almost don’t take.

For Jenn, it was a last-minute decision that resulted in memories she says she will remember for the rest of her life.

For Crissa, it was another South African adventure that has already inspired plans to return.

And for us, it was a wonderful reminder that travel is never just about destinations. It is about the people we meet, the friendships we strengthen and the stories we bring home.

We are already helping Crissa plan her next adventure, a New Year escape to the Maldives with her daughters.

Something tells us there will be plenty more stories to come.