Written by Alexandria Hilton
I can, as any discerning traveler can, remember international terminal security lines, wherein I have stood and thought to myself, “Yes, the trip was nice but I don’t think I really ever need to come back to this place.”
Cape Town is not one of those places.
I warn you, myself an avid and enthusiastic returner, the energy of the Mother City will rope a traveler in, hold her tight, and beckon her back.
I grew up in a flat place without an ounce of mountaineer in me; as I have set out to find what most moves me, I have found a deep affinity for the dependability of rock, the consistency of mountains and the way they can make a person feel small and held. The diverse elevation here is nothing short of spectacular. Awe sets in as you land at the airport and never really leaves you throughout the entirety of your stay — and beyond, if you can believe it.
And especially as reprieve from a dry and dusty safari, over shoulder season when summer is becoming winter or when the daisies are starting bloom, Cape Town’s coastal influence amounts to almost half the reason to go.
Each time I visit, I find something new I love about the place. This time, it was that, after so many nights in the bush, I woke to the salty smell of ocean air. I love the people and their laid-back approach to their days, that they know no other way than to get outside as often as possible. I love the food and vibrant energy of the city. I love that I can return to the places I know or venture away from the parts I’ve seen before.
As you know, this “So, You Think You Know _______” series of ours is our challenge to your idea of “once-in-a-lifetime.”
Have you visited Cape Town?
If you have, you know the weather is not always great. When it’s a lovely time to be in the bush, for example, the chances you’ll get rained out and have to spend the entire day fireside wine-tasting skyrocket!
So, let’s go back in September! When the entire west coast is blooming and abundant!
If you’ve gone to see the penguins already, have you ever thought about hopping on a paddle board with them?
If you’ve been to Robbin island, have you ever wondered about its shape from above? By helicopter? As you learned about Mandela’s legacy, did you imagine that the opportunity exists to speak to one of the guards who interacted with the man himself, over his years-long stay?
You may have heard that there are over 1500 different species of fynbos in the Cape. Have you ever thought about foraging on the hillsides? And mindfully sipping the buchu tea you brewed?
Or perhaps foraging in the ocean, where upwards of 900 different kinds of sea weed flourish, is more your speed. Let’s shoot for the summer months!
Have you ever wanted to learn to surf at the bottom of the earth?
I spent a lot of time talking about the mountains just a few paragraphs up — I wonder what it looks like from a paraglider’s-eye-view. And yes, of course you saw Table Mountain while you were there! Maybe you even hiked it! Good on you — but what if there’s… more? More to hike? More to bike? More to run?
What do you enjoy doing when you are home? What have you always wanted to learn to do?
To travel can be an escape, sure. To travel, though, can also be a newly-imagined deep immersion into what you already know and love.
Here at ATI, we are stepping into a new definition of luxury travel — one that incorporates the true meaning of value, of which our concept is inextricably tied to the understanding that people are not traveling to tick boxes. Or should not be, at least. Our job as advisors is to get to know you and to be honest with you when we say, “I think this is something you would really enjoy. This is something of value.”
And us knowing that requires us knowing you!
So, get in touch — even if it’s just to let me know what you think of this entry xx
alex@admiraltravel.com
