“Whoa, what even is this place?” asks my awestruck daughter as we walk past the hulking industrial remains of a grain silo on Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront. “Are we sleeping in a factory?”

The short answer is yes. Well, at least it used to be. Once an ugly industrial complex of derelict concrete grain silos, the reinvented, and now entirely glamorous, structure is the home of the extraordinary Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA),

It’s also houses The Silo Hotel Cape Town, a sparkling 28-bedroom boutique beauty that inhabits its upper floors, offering visitors a unique luxury experience, and some of the most outstanding views in all of kid-friendly Cape Town.

Conveniently located in the Silo District of the V&A Waterfront, the hotel is just minutes from the area’s dining and shopping action and the Robben Island Ferry wharf, and is ideally situated to explore Cape Town’s popular attractions, including the colourful Cape Malay quarter, Table Mountain and Boulders Beach.

The striking, family friendly hotel is a five star celebration of art, architecture, sustainability and style.

Bulging, multi-panelled diamond windows invite Table Mountain and Table Bay Harbour inside, in spectacular style. And the interiors are as splendid as the views, decorated in an opulent bower bird style, with an eclectic mix of furniture and artworks adding a hefty shot of colour and warmth.

Old school chesterfields, Egyptian-crystal chandeliers and Persian rugs meet bright modern canvases, quirky African collectibles and an assortment of colourful artefacts from across the globe, to create an exciting space that the kids and I fall head over heels in love with before we even leave the 6th floor reception.

The kids have also formed a bit of a crush on the charming Irene who, hand-in-hand with her new BFF Sugarpuff (who is positively swooning with delight), takes us on a giggle-packed tour of the hotel, before escorting us to our magnificent suite.

The Silo Hotel Cape Town – Family Suites

“What is your favourite colour?” asks Irene. Luckily their answer is red, because she opens the door to reveal, our startling, stunning multi-level suite, decked out in razzmatazz shades of red and orange. “I love it,” whispers an awed Sugarpuff, who receives a delighted hug from Irene in return. I think we’re going to like it here.

Family suites, like ours, make a stay at The Silo Hotel Cape Town with kids easy. Every room in the hotel is unique and beautiful in equal measure, but we feel like we’ve won the hotel room lottery as our two-bedroom family suite is without question the most dazzling we’ve had the fortune to encounter. Located on the 7th floor,  more of those ingenious pillow-like windows offer extraordinary views out over Table Mountain and Signal Hill, and there’s a lovely balcony from which to sit and watch the sparkling city lights by night.

Part art gallery, part luxury home, the suite is packed with a tonne of personality. The first floor has a private dining area, where a big bowl of fresh fruit, berries and hand made chocolates await the kids, and an ice bucket with a bottle of chilled champagne is singing my name.

The building’s original steel industrial beams peek into the lounge, which is packed with fat sofas, inviting armchairs and original, modern artworks. Indeed, there are so many amazing artworks scattered throughout the suite that a curated art guide has been left for us to familiarise ourselves with each of the pieces on display, as well as the talented artists who created them.

A second lounge area with an equally inviting sofa has been set up for use as a media room, with a huge TV for those who can tear their eyes off stunning Table Mountain. Under the stairs is a magical mirrored cabinet filled with the prettiest porcelain tea cups, a selection of coffee and tea, and a cutting board with fresh lime and ginger to add a hint of zest. There’s also a couple of complimentary bottles of wine, a choice of spirits, and a bespoke box of house made savoury and sweet snacks, just begging us to eat them.

Upstairs are two bedrooms, the main boasting an enormous king-sized bed with an enormous textural red headboard, spunky red faux lizard skin side tables and more of those floor-to-ceiling views of the mountains and the city.

There’s also a decadent red walled dressing room with fluffy robes and slippers, and a ballroom sized bathroom with a huge free-standing tub, a sassy leopard print chaise and a ravishingly red, Asian-style side table.

The twin beds in the kids’ room also boast giant red headboards and there are gift-wrapped surprises at the foot of each… a tribal necklace for Raff, a pretty purse for Sugarpuff, and a couple of arty activity books for them both to complete. They’re suitable chuffed.

Like the rest of our suite, the kids’ room has its own eclectic collection of art, including a funky red ceramic chicken and a painting of lazy zebra lolling on a chaise lounge that the kids take quite a fancy to. They too have their own enormous bathroom, with twin sinks, a freestanding tub and the most divinely fragranced amenities.

The Silo Hotel  – Pool

I find myself wondering if there’s a hardware store nearby, so we can board up the door, because our entire suite is so perfect they may have to forcibly remove us at checkout time.  But the kids scupper that plan when they announce they want a dip in the pool.

Open only to hotel guests, this has to be one of the world’s most beautiful rooftop pools, with towering concrete columns that give off a Grecian vibe, see through glass walls, and dazzling 360-degree vistas over beautiful Cape Town.

Another stroke of genius is the Rooftop Bar, next to the pool, and a gin cocktail they whipped up is as picture perfect as the sunset views. While I sip on my drink, the kids float away on fluffy floating bean bags, giant grins splashed across their faces.

The Silo Hotel – Food

To my galloping gluttons, food is one of the most important elements of any hotel experience. Fortunately, The Silo Hotel Cape Town nails that too.  Their gorgeous Granary Café delivers modern cuisine that showcases the best seasonal, local ingredients.  Breakfast is a splendiferous thing of freshly squeezed juice made to order and an extensive a la carte breakfast menu. The kids order brioche stacked with smoked salmon and hollandaise and I opt for a vegetarian breakfast of eggs, avocado, haloumi, tomato, mushrooms and rosti potato.

Instead of the usual hotel buffet, along with our hot breakfast, a “Harvest Table” is delivered directly to us. Essentially a high tea tower, it’s stacked with local charcuterie meats and cheeses, jars of fresh fruit and berries, decadently creamy potted yoghurt and nutty granola, plus a bulging basket of pastries.

Lunch by the pool is always a good idea, and the kids pick over a cheese sharing plate and some truffle chips on the rooftop, while I devour a delightful wood roasted root vegetable salad topped with tangy labneh, almonds and honey.

At dinner I dive into a spicy Cape Seafood Curry, fragrant with coconut and lemongrass rice and served with cooling cubes of green tea- infused cucumber and a zingy lemon yoghurt. Raff goes to town on the hotel’s signature steak tartare with hand cut chips, while an exhausted Sugarpuff falls asleep in a bowl of noodles.

Every dish is such a winner that we hit repeat the following night. The kids are so happy they suggest we should extend our stay…. by at least a year or two.

The Silo Hotel Cape Town – Sustainability

The Silo Hotel Cape Town’s conversion from derelict concrete eye saw to world-class five-star hotel is the ultimate in up cycling, but the hotel’s sustainability efforts don’t stop there. The plastic-free hotel’s impressive commitment to saving energy and water is just the start.

Their sustainable business ethos is holistic, focusing not only on job creation and training internally, but looking outward to local communities, sourcing local goods and inviting guests to support community initiatives through respectful, authentic and non-invasive tours and programmes.

Produce is sourced from local small-scale suppliers, as are handmade gifts and treats, and many of the curated artworks throughout the hotel are sourced locally to further support and empower local artists and artisans.

Which is why it is the heart behind this hotel, not just its stunning style, makes it such a special place for its guests and the community around it.

The Silo Hotel Cape Town
Silo Square, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront,
Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town with kids – Need to know before you go

When to visit
Great weather makes Cape Town a great year-round destination.
Language
While English is widely spoken, especially in the city, there are 11 official languages spoken in South Africa and the most commonly spoken languages are Zulu, Xhosa, and Afrikaans.
Currency
The Rand (R)
Power
Voltage is 230V and 50Hz. Power outlets are round three pin sockets.
Visa & Passport Requirements
A South African tourist visa is not required for citizens of Australia for a stay up to 90 days.  South Africa requires that all children entering or leaving the country carry an unabridged birth certificate and parental consent affidavits if they are travelling with only one parent. All visitors will require a passport valid for at least six (6) months.
Health
Cape Town is free from malaria and safe for travellers of all age. While there are no essential vaccinations for travellers to South Africa at the time of publication, we advise visiting your family GP at least six weeks before travel for up to date advice on the latest recommendations and necessary immunisations.
Crime
Crime is an issue throughout South Africa. And in Cape Town, like any city, crime does exist but 95% of serious crime occurs in the communities of the Cape Flats area, where it is not advised to go. Pick pockets can be an issue in the city centre and muggings are known to occur in Table Mountain National Park so it’s best to go with a guide and always keep cash and valuables such as flashy jewellery, cameras and phones out of sight. It is not recommended to catch public transport or walk after dark. If you do need to go out at night, UBERs are the safest option.

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A virtual visit to South Africa calls for more South African snacks. Because we can’t possibly head on safari or visit all out favourite haunts without bringing our tastebuds along for the ride. And with a 2pm AEST start for today’s sofa safari, coinciding with afternoon tea, we thought it was time to whip up a big batch of  Hertzoggies, the kids’ new favourite sweet treat.

These old-school tartlets date back to the 1920’s when supporters of the then South African Prime Minister and Boer War General J. B. M. Hertzog, better known as Barry to his mates, invented the Hertzoggie cookie (Hertzogkoekie in Afrikaans), which is actually more of a tartlet, but that’s just semantics.

We had our first taste of South African Hertzoggies completely by accident in a café near the colourful Bo Kaap district in Cape Town, where we were picking up a few treats for a road trip and spotted the inviting delights. On first bite, the regret that we didn’t buy more was real.

With their fluffy pastry bases, pop of apricot jam and the chewy crunch of coconutty meringue, the Hertzoggies recipe to follow is as much about texture as taste.

Usually devoured with a cup of tea or served up as a dessert during Eid in the Cape-Malay community, Hertzoggie cookies are still popular across South Africa today. Because they’re freaking amazing.

Want to try them? Here’s our South African Hertzoggies recipe! Easy to make. Even easier to eat!

South African Hertzoggies

May 15, 2020

by Aleney de Winter

Cuisine South African

Category Africa African Food Recipes

Ingredients

• *For the pastry:*
• 2 cups of self-raising flour
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• 150gm castor sugar
• A pinch of salt
• pinch of nutmeg
• ½ cup of cubed butter
• 3 egg yolks
• 1 tablespoon cold water
• *For the filling:*
• 3 large egg whites
• 1 cup of castor sugar
• ½  tsp of vanilla essence
• 2 cups of desiccated coconut
• ½ cup apricot jam

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 180 °C.
2. Grease a mini muffin baking tray.
3. Sift the flour, baking powder, nutmeg and salt into a large mixing bowl
4. Add the castor sugar and cubed butter, massaging the butter in to the flour mix until it forms fine crumbs.
5. Add eggs and mix, adding a touch of water if needed, to bring the dough together.
6. Knead the dough on a clean floured surface until smooth, then roll in a ball and cover in a bowl to rest for about 20 minutes.
7. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites to soft peak stage, then incorporating the vanilla essence and sugar in stages until it reaches glossy firm peaks.
8. Carefully fold in the coconut and set aside.
9. Press pastry mix directly into each of the muffin trays so that each tray is filled with a 5mm thick base
10. Add two teaspoons of jam onto the pastry, then top each with the meringue mixture.
11. Pop the tarts into the oven and bake for 25 minutes until the tops are crisp and golden.
12. Allow to cool slightly, then carefully lift them out the tray and onto a cooling rack.

© 2021 copyright www.boyeatsworld.com.au

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While we may not be able to visit South Africa in the immediate future, there’s nothing stopping us from inviting South Africa to visit us! There are dozens of new and interactive ways to enjoy all the riches that incredible South Africa has to offer from your sofa.

It’s no secret my kids fell head over heels in love with South Africa on their recent  conservation based adventures. You can enjoy a little peak of that here!

But right now anyone can enjoy a little taste of South Africa’s many temptations, without a plane ticket. From museum visits and cooking lessons with top chefs to spotting the ‘Big 5’ in real-time on a virtual South African safari, these virtual experiences are sure to help scratch your itchy feet until you #meetsouthafricaLATER.

Making history

Delve deep into South African history at the world-famous Robben Island Museum (RIM) – the former prison where Nelson Mandela served 18 of his 27 years of incarceration, and later went on to make his first speech as South Africa’s president. It is a must-see for anyone visiting South Africa and now, for the first time ever, guests can take a virtual stroll through the World Heritage Site, learning all about the history of the island and its famous prisoners.

In and Art

Cape Town’s centre for art and cultural expression, The Norval Foundation, has launched #60SecondArt for kids video clips via their Instagram account, focusing on one artwork or artist per day from the Homestead Collection or what’s currently on display.

South Africa’s first contemporary art museum – the incredible Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA) in Cape Town is one of our favourite galleries in the world. And you can see it from the comfort of your quarantine couch through a series of 3D virtual tours as well as a collection of audio tours across the museum’s temporary and permanent exhibitions.

Big and buzzy Johannesburg has plenty of art to experiences online too, with the city’s ABSA Art Gallery also shining the spotlight on the works of young African artists as well as pioneering art masters through special 3D tours.

Tickle your taste buds

For a true taste of South Africa at home, renowned South African-born chef and food editor, Warren Mendes, has partnered with South African Tourism to create a series of virtual cooking classes showcasing popular South African dishes including Bunny Chow and Malva Pudding. Running across South African Tourism’s Facebook and Instagram channels from May 25, the six-part video-recipe series is specially curated to take home cooks on a culinary journey as Warren explains how to whip up some of the country’s best-loved dishes to give audiences a taste of South Africa. Followers will be encouraged to share their own re-creations for a chance to win an isolation care pack filled with South African wines, treats and ingredients.  Warren’s first recipe, for Bobotie, the national dish, can also be viewed here on South African Tourism’s YouTube channel.

And, of course, you can check out our tried and tested recipes for South African favourites including Bunny Chow, Samoosa, Hertzoggies and Melktert, right here on BoyEatsWorld. They’re sure to whet your appetite for future South African forays.

The great outdoors, indoors

For those keen on exploring South Africa’s stunning coastlines and mountains, especially those around the West Cape, there are plenty of high-quality live streams to give you a scenic fix. The 12 Apostles Hotel and Spa in Cape Town has a static webcam that showcases the hotel’s exquisite views over the Atlantic Ocean coastline and Lion’s Head. And Wavescape has ocean-side webcams scattered across the Cape Peninsula including at Muizenberg, Noordhoek and Kalk Bay, a place we love as much for its snorting sealions as its golden beach.

If you’d rather a live peek at jaw dropping Table Mountain, there’s also a webcam that streams live across the Rietvlei Nature Reserve all the way to the magic mountain itself.

Sofa safari

To provide further inspiration for future travels and provide kids with some education from home on the majesty of nature and wildlife, you can don your khakis at home to catch a glimpse of some of South Africa’s incredible wildlife, including the Big 5 –– lion, leopard, rhino,  elephant and Cape Buffalo –– in real time on an interactive game drive.

Couch cruisers can join the rangers at Sir Richard Branson’s Ulusaba Private Game Reserve for a daily life virtual safari with the chance to spot the big five in real-time. If the timing isn’t right, you can catch watch the whole safari experience later on their YouTube channel.

Ngala Private Game Reserve and Djuma Private game reserves offer a daily sunrise safari from 2.00pm AEST, while luxury safari hotel group, andBeyond have teamed up with wildlife broadcasting experts WildEarth to live stream personalised game drives twice a day, with direct interaction with their safari guides, just as if they were in the safari vehicle with them.

But the kids favourite sofa safari experience is revisiting their adored Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve via their new series of educational videos called EleFun Escapes in the Wild. These fantastic safari sessions follow the wild daily happenings on the reserve whilst sharing fun and engaging facts about the fauna and flora of the African bush. Their aim of creating a new generation of conservationists appears to be a big success if my two wannabe rangers are anything to go by.

    Moving pictures

The Sydney South African Film Festival (SSAFF) is going online in 2020, screening nationwide from 16 to 26 May, with four feature films, four documentaries and one short film. Question and answer sessions, and interviews with the directors, are planned to run in conjunction with the films. The single premiere screenings are just $8.00 each or you can see all 10 films for $60.00. Tickets can be booked online.

Raise a glass

While the kids soak up South Africa’s art, eats and animals, mum and dad can get their wine on! Waterkloof wines, perched on the slopes of the Schapenberg in the Helderbergare are live streaming sessions on Facebook and Instagram covering winemaking, farming and tasting. While Aussies may not be able to access their wines in readiness, there’s still plenty to be learned from their experts.

Holden Manz Wine Estate  in stunning Franschhoek wine country is all centuries-old vineyards and picture book Cape Dutch architecture. But with lockdown locking us out of experiencing the-22 hectare wine estate for ourselves, the Holden Manz team are also inviting wine lovers to get comfy and enjoy a drop over virtual tastings and Q&As on wine and what it takes to run a winery live on FB.

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You say samosa, I say samoosa. At least I do after our latest visit to Cape Town, where we shovelled the little golden triangles of savoury spiced goodness down our throats at every conceivable opportunity.

The samosa, originally introduced to India between the 13th and 14th centuries by Arab traders as the sambosa, made its way to South Africa when Dutch settlers shipped Indian, Malaysian and Indonesian peoples from what was then known as the East Indies, to work as slaves in the new Cape Colony.

From these dark beginnings, these diverse cultures integrated to form a new identity as Cape Malay. This cultural union saw traditional South African and Dutch cuisine infused with Indian and Malay flavours to create a cuisine that’s as unique to Cape Town, as it delicious. For visitors, charismatic and colourful Bo Kaap, nestled at the foot of Signal Hill on the fringe of the Cape Town city centre, is one of the best places for a taste of Cape Malay cuisine.

Here you’ll find stores selling and sweet treats like melktert (milk tart),  jam-filled hertzoggies and koeksisters (sweet fried pastries), as well as restaurants serving up fragrant favourites including curry, breyani, bredie (stew), sosaties (meat kebabs) and bobotie, a mixture of curried beef mince and fruit with a creamy golden topping that is the national dish of South Africa.

And then there are the samoosas. More petit than their Indian cousins, South African samoosas are frequently filled with bobotie, as well as more familiar vegetarian fillings. Fortunate to be staying for several nights metres from Bo Kaap’s colourful main street, we stocked up on bags of traditional South African samoosa daily, at the Rose Corner Café.  And when we returned to town for a few days stay at The Silo, the Gourmet Samooserie at the V&A Foodmarket became our go to samoosa station.

As our minds wander back to beautiful Cape Town, the kids’ tastebuds are crying out for more. So after a smashing out a platter of delicious bobotie samoosas with apricot chilli sauce, along with a dozen vegetarian potato samoosas with mint coriander raita (my personal faves), for afternoon tea, we’re sharing our recipes with you.

Bobotie samoosa with apricot chilli sauce

May 7, 2020

by Aleney de Winter

Cuisine South African

Category Africa African Food Recipes

Ingredients

• For the samoosa
• 12 sheets filo or spring roll pastry cut into 25cm x 7cm strips
• Egg white lightly beaten
• 500g beef mince
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 onion, finely chopped
• 2 tsp garlic paste
• 2 tsp ginger paste
• 2-3 red chillies finely chopped
• ½ tsp turmeric
• 1 tsp garam masala
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 2 tsp ground cumin
• ½ tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 bunch of coriander, stems and leave, finely chopped
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• For the apricot chilli sauce
• 3 tbsp apricot jam
• 2 tbsp water
• 1 teaspoon white vinegar
• 2 teaspoons tamarind paste
• 1 tsp dried chilli flakes
• pinch of salt

Instructions

1. Place all apricot chilli sauce ingredients into a saucepan and heat on medium/low temperature until combined, set aside to cool.
2. Heat oil and sauté onion in a pan until translucent.
3. Add garlic, ginger, chilli and ground spices and cook 60 seconds or until fragrant (around 60 seconds).
4. Add the beef and cook for 10 minutes, stirring frequently to break down the mince.
5. Set aside to cool before adding coriander, 1 tbsp of apricot chilli sauce and lemon Seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
6. Take one strip of filo or spring roll pastry and brush one long edge with egg wash
7. Add a tbsp of bobotie mix to pastry and fold into a triangle, repeating until you reach the end of the strip.
8. Deep fry in medium oil until golden, about 3 to 4 minutes.
9. Serve with remaining apricot chilli sauce.

Tags

African food,

Recipes,

South Africa,

South Africa with Kids,

South African Cuisine

© 2021 copyright www.boyeatsworld.com.au

Potato samoosa with mint coriander raita

Cuisine South African

Ingredients

• for the potato samoosa
• 12 sheets filo or spring roll pastry cut into 25cm x 7cm strips
• Egg white lightly beaten
• 3 large potatoes, peeled, cubed and boiled
• 1 brown onion finely chopped.
• 2 red chillies finely chopped
• 1 tsp crushed garlic
• 1 tsp black mustard seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/2 tsp garam masala
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp cumin
• ½ tsp coriander
• ½ cup of fresh coriander leaves, finely chopped
• 2 tsp lemon juice
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Egg white for sealing
• Vegetable oil, for frying
• For the mint coriander raita
• ½ cup Greek yoghurt
• ½ cup mint leaves
• ½ cup coriander
• Pinch cumin
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Place all raita ingredients in a blender and blitz until combined, set aside in refrigerator until ready to serve.
2. Heat oil and sauté onion in a pan until translucent.
3. Add mustard seeds, garlic, ginger, chilli and ground spices and cook 60 seconds or until fragrant (around 60 seconds).
4. Add the cooked potato and lemon juice.
5. Set aside to cool before adding coriander and season with salt and pepper to taste.
6. Take one strip of filo or spring roll pastry and brush one long edge with egg wash
7. Add a tbsp of potato mix to pastry and fold into a triangle, repeating until you reach the end of the strip.
8. Deep fry in medium oil until golden, about 3 to 4 minutes.
9. Serve with mint coriander raita.

© 2021 copyright www.boyeatsworld.com.au

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Busy piling a tower of cake on her plate, Sugarpuff nearly loses the lot at a sudden unexpected trumpeting that emanates from beyond our afternoon tea buffet. A parade of noisy elephants is lumbering at speed toward Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge’s inviting waterhole, with a couple of tiny (by elephant standards) tots in tow.

While the littlest leap clumsily into the water, the adults gleefully spray themselves with trunkful after trunkful of water. My daughter is torn. Does she watch the adorable scene or eat cake? The correct answer is, of course, both.

While it is wildlife experiences like these that brought us to Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve, located on the southwestern corner of the Kruger National Park in South Africa’s Sabi Sands Game Reserve, there’s so much more to the Sabi Sabi experience, and the incredible non-stop food action is integral to it.

Our days start with steaming hot tea and early morning snacks on a pre-dawn safari. We return amped up from adrenalin filled Big 5 encounters to a hot cooked breakfast and brilliant buffet of local delights. Lunch is an a la carte al fresco affair overlooking the waterhole.

Not even remotely hungry by afternoon tea, it’s still impossible to resist the siren call of the towers of freshly baked cakes and biscuits. It’s the perfect fuel to keep us energised for an afternoon of wildlife spotting with our ranger until sundowners and snacks appear as if from nowhere. On our return we spy a cackle of hyenas shredding the kill of a sulky leopard, who watches the opportunistic diners from the heights of a tree.

Back at Bush Lodge, we’re almost as ravenous as the forlorn feline so swiftly change for dinner. We’re entertained by the hypnotic rhythms of local singers and dancers as we dine on smoky braai (barbecue) around a roaring fire in the softly lit boma. The following night’s meal is served under magnificent night skies at a starlight bush dinner, where we recount the day’s exciting encounters with our ranger, Dan, who proves to be a witty dining companion with a Pied Piper flair for enchanting kids.

But it is the food that is the real star of each meal, with memorable menus created by a clever culinary team to celebrate the freshest local organic produce and the very best of contemporary African cuisine.

Since our return, the kids remind me daily of the baked aubergine scented with rose water,  addictive boboti-stuffed samoosa, smoky coal roasted vegetables, a heavenly deconstructed crocodile pie, and a traditional warthog potjie (casserole).

And then there are those cakes…

One of Sugarpuff’s most oft repeated requests since our return from Sabi Sabi has been for a slice of South African Melktert, a delicate but decadent cinnamon-dusted milk tart that made an appearance during afternoon tea at Bush Lodge. Lucky for her, they’ve shared their recipe for the popular desert in ‘Bringing the Bush Home‘ – a gorgeous collection of tried, tested and timeless recipes from Sabi Sabi’s talented Chefs.

And Sabi Sabi’s South African Melktert recipe is so good it wings us straight back to afternoon tea under that thatched roof overlooking the waterhole and its hooting and honking elephants. Only after I serve it up it home, the trumpets of joy are coming from a small Aussie girl.

South African Melktert

April 30, 2020

by Aleney de Winter

Cuisine South African

Category Africa African Food Recipes

Notes

Recipe from Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve’s ‘Bringing the Bush Home’ cook book
 

Ingredients

• Pastry
• 125g butter
• 1⁄2 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• Pinch of salt
• Filling
• 4 1/2 cups milk
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 21⁄2 tbsp flour
• 21⁄2 tbsp cornflour
• Pinch of salt
• 1 tsp vanilla essence
• 1 tbsp butter
• Ground cinnamon for sprinkling

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 180°C.
2. For the pastry, cream butter and sugar until fully combined.
3. Add the egg and beat well.
4. Sift dry ingredients and add to the butter, sugar and egg mix, folding in until a dough is formed.
5. Place dough in a greased and floured pie dish and press down gently until its filled.
6. Bake pastry for 20 minutes or until light golden brown.
7. Remove and set aside to cool.
8. For the filling, place milk in a saucepan and bring gently to a boil.
9. Beat the eggs, before adding the cornflour, sugar, salt and flour and mix well.
10. Pour the boiling milk into the mix and stir.
11. Return mixture to the saucepan on stove and stir continuously at low heat for 8–10 minutes over a medium heat, until it starts to thicken.
12. Add butter and vanilla essence and carefully pour the mix into the pastry base.
13. Place in fridge to set (should be firm but still a little wobbly).
14. Sprinkle with cinnamon and serve.

Tags

Recipes,

South Africa

© 2021 copyright www.boyeatsworld.com.au

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Leopard at Sabi Sabi Image © Aleney de Winter

South Africa is a nation that ignites the senses. It’s a place that you smell, taste, touch, hear, see and feel. So much so that after several visits, I’ve become somewhat hooked on South Africa.  And by somewhat, I mean I love it with a fervour bordering on the obsessive. But while I’ve explored its culture and history on previous visits, its celebrated wildlife has thus far eluded me.

This omission is not because of any ninja-like flair Africa’s critters have for hiding. It is 100% down to my offspring threatening to divorce me if I ever dared to set foot on a game reserve without them.

Once the domain of khaki-clad, pith-helmeted adventurers, more and more safari lodges are recognising the benefits of introducing children as early as possible to the natural world to foster environmental responsibility, making the safari experience a more accessible and attractive proposition for families. So, when the stars align and we find ourselves winging our way to South Africa en famille, there is no way we are going to miss getting our game on.

Loved up lions at Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve. Image © Aleney de Winter

Top of my South African safari lodge wish list is what must be the most family friendly of them all, Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge – one of four ultra-luxurious game lodges in Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve, a 65,000 hectare oasis of unspoilt, wildlife-packed bush located at the southwestern corner of the Kruger National Park.

Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge. Image © Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve/Richard de Gouveia

We’d heard that a stay at Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge with kids would be the ultimate introduction to South Africa’s incredible wildlife. But though our imaginations are vast, nothing in our wildest dreams could have prepared us for the true splendour of Sabi Sabi’s incredible wildlife and wilderness, or the incredible opportunities it would present for us to connect as a family through shared learning.

Here are just 9 of the reasons I’ll be returning, as soon as possible, for a bigger dose of the  wonderful Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge with kids.

1. The Big Five

Blessed as it is with a great biodiversity of habitat, and zero fences between the reserve and the Kruger National Park, Sabi Sabi’s biggest stars are the Big Five: the lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros and Cape buffalo, the only member of the Big Five not endangered or threatened. Incidentally, the term Big Five is derived not from their size. It’s history is more grim, coming from19th century big-game hunters, when these animals were considered the most dangerous, ergo the most coveted as trophies.

Elephant at Sabi Sabi. Image © Aleney de Winter

Thankfully, for the past 40 years, Sabi Sabi’s strict conservation policy and dedicated anti-poaching unit have been providing protection and sanctuary for wildlife from predatory hunters. Only rangers are permitted to drive off-road here, and a strict ‘non-interference’ policy is in place, making for happy animals.

Rhino at Sabi Sabi. Image © Aleney de Winter

Needless to say, sightings of the Big Five are frequent. So much so that we’re told we have a great chance of spotting all of its members within two to three safari days.

Lions preening. Image © Aleney de Winter

But being the top shelf wildlife warriors we are, we manage it in the first two to three hours. Okay, so we can’t take any credit for this at all. Our success is all down to our safari crew, legends that they are.

Cape Buffalo. Image © Aleney de Winter

On our very first safari drive, close encounters with lions, rhino, Cape Buffalo and elephant are all ticked off in quick succession. But it is the sighting of a rather miffed leopard, watching from the trees as a pack of opportunistic hyenas devour his kill, that has us calling bingo on the Big Five, at least once we scrape our jaws up off the floor.

This winning streak continues over our next three safaris, with astounding sightings of each of the five wildlife superstars, on every safari, all thanks to the efforts of Ranger Dan and Tracker Crimson, who, according to wannabe ranger Raff, are two of the coolest dudes in all of South Africa.

Beyond the Big Five

Curly-horned Kudu. Image © Aleney de Winter

But its not all just about the headline acts at Sabi Sabi. Due to its diversity of habitats, the reserve supports 47 large mammal species, 57 species of reptile, over 300 species of birds plus a cornucopia of other critters including bats, rodents, amphibians and insects.

Waterbuck at sunset. Image © Aleney de Winter

Thanks to the eagle eyes and remarkable tracking skills of Dan and Crimson, we witness a wildlife spectacular with a cast of thousands. The Big Five may be the leads, but there’s also a constant chorus line of impala, steenbok, waterbuck, nyala and curly-horned kudu.

Twittering birds provide the soundtrack, distant vultures, eagles and raptors lending a little orchestral support, as happy hornbills dance close by.

Zebra foal. Image © Aleney de Winter

There are frequent flashy sightings of lean limbed and lovely cheetah, dazzling zebras and elegant giraffes, and a hefty dose of drama is added by a supporting cast of wild dogs, warthogs, wildebeest and snarling spotted hyena.

Warthogs by a waterhole at Sabi Sabi. Image © Aleney de Winter

A prickly porcupine and wallowing hippos peeping from a waterhole make guest appearances, while bolshy baboons and a mob of skittish mongoose add a little comic relief.

Directed by mother nature, it’s a triumph of choreography, colour and chaos.

Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge

Bush Lodge Villa Lounge. Image © Aleney de Winter

The grand spectacle doesn’t stop with the wildlife. Another highlight of our visit to Sabi Sabi  is the family friendly accommodation at Bush Lodge. Our lavish two-bedroom luxury villa elicits gasps of delight at first sight. The lounge is a confection of comfy sofas and carefully curated, and extremely covetable, collections of bush trinkets and African artefacts, all overlooked by a mammoth chandelier crafted from gnarled twigs. The dreamy master bedroom boasts an enormous canopied bed, while the main bathroom is accessorised with twin freestanding tubs, floor to ceiling windows overlooking the bushveld and a cavernous dressing room that makes our light on luggage look more than a little lost.

Luxury Villa Bathroom at Bush Lodge. Image © Aleney de Winter

There’s also an indoor shower plus an insane outdoor shower where my kids take the stage, frolicking buck naked in the spray while actual (water)bucks saunter by.

The kids’ bedroom is equally fabulous, boasting twin canopied four poster beds, an en suite bathroom and a seriously cute tee pee play space.

Watching wildlife from the villa plunge pool. Image © Aleney de Winter

But it is the outdoor lounge, with its private plunge pool overlooking a waterhole frequented by Eland and Impala, that’s our favourite spot to relax and play in our luxurious African home.  A place so perfect that we all agree we’d quite like to make it our permanent residence.

A feast of African food

Deconstructed crocodile and chicken pie at Sabi Sabi. Image © Aleney de Winter

Food is an integral part of everything my very hungry travellers do and, happily, it’s also an intrinsic part of the Bush Lodge experience. Menus curated by the brilliant Chef Wilfred Mtshali celebrate the freshest local organic produce and the best of contemporary African cuisine.

We’re served morning pastries and steaming tea, and sassy sundowners and snacks during game drives in the bush.

Afternoon tea at Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge. Image © Aleney de Winter

Back at Bush Lodge, bountiful breakfast buffets, a la carte al fresco luncheons overlooking a busy waterhole, and afternoon tea towers of freshly baked cakes and biscuits, await.

As night falls, it is all about the seductively smoky braai (barbecue) in the boma and lantern lit culinary creations served under the stars.

Dining by lantern light at Sabi Sabi. Image © Aleney de Winter

But what really makes Chef Wilfred’s kitchen shine is how it gives back to neighbouring communities through a 12-month culinary programme that’s training a new generation of chefs.  For a taste of Sabi Sabi without leaving home, try this no fail recipe for mouthwatering South African melktert (milk tart) from their ‘Bringing Home The Bush’ cookbook.

The EleFun kids club

EleFun Centre Hand prints. Image © Aleney de Winter

When my kids actually ask to attend a kids’ club, you know it’s got to be good, because they usually fight going. But part of the charm of visiting Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge with kids is its EleFun Center (for kids aged 4 to 12) which Sugarpuff can’t get enough of. Even Raff has a ball at the fun and educational indoor/outdoor facility, though he is admittedly more taken with leaping around the obstacle course like an action hero and zooming Tarzan-like across the zip line while Sugarpuff bush crafts up a storm.

Obstacle course at EleFun Centre. Image © Aleney de Winter

Both kids love learning all about Sabi Sabi’s wildlife, bugs and birds in the Introduction to Junior Ranger Programme, with its ranger led walks and educational drives into the bushveld. They’re also pretty happy to leave their messy mark amongst the colourful hand prints in Bush Lodge’s take on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, like hundreds of kids before them.

The spotlight on sustainability

Zebra at Sabi Sabi. Image @ Aleney de Winter

The Sabi Sabi team’s dedication to balancing the ecological needs of South Africa’s precious flora and fauna with those of the Shangaan communities leaves us mightily impressed. Passionate eco warrior Raff makes it his mission to find out more, questioning guides, trackers and rangers at every opportunity.

Critically endangered African wild dog. Image © Aleney de Winter

What he discovers is an inspiring commitment to preserving the surrounding bushveld through dedicated Habitat Management and the work of highly trained and qualified rangers, who act as environmental educators. Sustainability efforts go beyond the protection of the park’s wildlife, with the application of environmental controls to remove threats to indigenous plant life, fire management, waste management and a clever sustainable wastewater management system that filters water to create wetlands for wildlife, all part of their continued efforts to provide an environmentally sustainable safari experience.

The connection to community

Making friends at a Shangaan community. Image © Aleney de Winter

More than 80% of Sabi Sabi Private game reserve’s employees, including our awesome tracker, Crimson, hail from neighbouring Shangaan communities. Sabi Sabi’s community efforts include hospitality training initiatives as well as development projects for education and healthcare, and cultural and sporting facilities to support the communities more holistically. We’re thrilled to be introduced to the culture and history of authentic village life by a local guide, with proceeds from the tour fee all fed directly back to the community.

The village sangoma (healer). Image © Aleney de Winter

We visit a school, dance with the local ladies gathered outside the Village Elder’s home, meet a myriad of characters with stories to share, and enjoy an audience with a village sangoma (healer) who reads “bones” – an eclectic collection of bone fragments, shells, coins, seeds and dice – which leaves the kids both bewildered and enchanted in equal measure.

The Amani Day Spa

Amani Day Spa at Bush Lodge. Image © Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve

It’s not only mum and dad who can indulge in holistic rituals, massages and treatments at Amani Spa at Bush Lodge – a tranquil haven with water features and a secluded outlook onto the bush – kids are welcome too. In fact, I barely even get a look in, though a certain 8-year old diva gets to test drive a Paw Pedi and an Elephant Foot Print Massage, which leave her floating and me just a little miffed at missing out.

The people

Ranger Dan and Tracker Crimson with the kids at Bush Lodge

You might think it would be hard to beat the wow factor of Sabi Sabi’s wildlife, but the thing that truly elevates our stay at Bush Lodge is its incomparable hospitality.

Afternoon tea at Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge. Image © Aleney de Winter

From the warm and welcoming reception team, the sweet crew at the Elefun centre, the chatty barmen and waiters, and the always smiling chefs through to our brilliant ranger/tracker team of Dan and Crimson, it is the the amazing people of Sabi Sabi who truly leave us starstruck.

Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge with kids – need to know before you go

When to visit
Sabi Sabi is a year-round destination but the dry season, from May to October, is considered the best time for game spotting. It’s also more comfortably cool and the risk of malaria, slight though it is, is also at its lowest.
Getting there
South African Airways flies from Sydney to Johannesburg via Perth with easy connections available to Skukuza Airport in the Kruger National Park through South African Airways’ regional airline, Airlink.
Language
Though there are 11 official languages spoken in South Africa, including Zulu, Xhosa, and Afrikaans, Shangaan is the language of the people of the Mpumalanga province, in which Sabi Sabi is located. Resort staff and rangers are fluent in English as well as a selection of other foreign languages.
Currency
The Rand (R)
Power
Voltage is 230V and 50Hz. Power outlets are round three pin sockets.
Visa & Passport Requirements
A South African tourist visa is not required for citizens of Australia for a stay up to 90 days.  South Africa requires that all children entering or leaving the country carry an unabridged birth certificate and parental consent affidavits if they are travelling with only one parent. All visitors will require a passport valid for at least six (6) months.
Health
Mosquito borne diseases including malaria are a risk in Kruger National Park. While the Sabi Sands Game Reserve does lie in a low risk malarial zone, only one case diagnosed at Sabi Sabi since 1970, we recommend protecting your family by applying child-safe insect repellent (with no more 20% DEET) at regular intervals and make sure they are dressed in long but light clothing at all times. It is also worth up to date advice on other immunisations, including the use of antimalarials, with your family GP at least six weeks before travel.
Food Safety
Waterborne and food borne diseases are prevalent throughout South Africa. While tap water in major cities is generally safe to drink, it is best to avoid it in any rural and regional areas.
Water is provided in recyclable bottles to guests in suites, on game drives and by request in communal areas. Any unfinished water left in bottles is collected and used for laundry and watering plants, ensuring not a drop is wasted.  

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“I’m terribly posh” declares a giggling Sugarpuff in her best faux snooty voice as our chauffer-driven car pulls up to a set of imposing gates. It’s a good job she is, as the gates open to reveal an impossibly tranquil garden and our luxurious home for the next few nights, AtholPlace Hotel & Villa.

Tucked away in one of the prettiest and most leafy parts of Johannesburg, the nine-suite AtholPlace Hotel & Villa is located a convenient 40 minutes from the international airport and ten minutes from the tourist hotspots of Sandton City and Nelson Mandela Square. The elegant hotel provides us with a stunning, and safe, nest for our Johannesburg adventures.

AtholPlace Hotel & Villa with kids

I can’t help but wonder how long it’s going to take for my “terribly posh” daughter to revert back to her normal, not-so-posh self and disturb the peace. But instead a sense of quiet and stillness overtakes her.

Perhaps it’s the pretty white roses blooming in the garden, the expanse of green, the calming colours of the inviting lounge, or maybe it is the warmth of our welcome by the friendly staff. Whatever it is, anything that can stop my daughter wittering and flitting about in non-stop giddy motion is noting short of miraculous and I’m loving it.

But the beauty of AtholPlace Hotel & Villa with kids is that despite the elegance and tranquillity of the boutique beauty, children, regardless of their energy levels, are made feel very welcome indeed.

Once a private home, AtholPlace Hotel is a light and airy confection of soft pastels punctuated with dramatic artworks and modern African sculptures, all opening out to a gloriously green garden. The effect is so enchanting we decide to stop and soak up the atmosphere over a cool drink in the lounge, overlooking a spectacular sculpture garden, before heading to our room.

Indeed, we’re already so comfortable, there’s almost a sense of coming home (at least it would if our home was a luxurious mansion with sprawling gardens).

AtholPlace accommodation  

We’re staying in adjoining deluxe suites, both decorated in their own unique style. The kids are immediately captivated, not only by the space and style of their suite, but by the inviting slices of chocolate cake that greet us.

Cake quickly inhaled, they’re off to explore the two suites. Both are decorated in muted shades of pastel grey with dramatic monochromatic flourishes and a beautifully curated collection of antiques and modern objet de art.

They bounce joyfully on the extra-large beds in each room (because for my kids that’s one hotel tradition that transcends the number of stars attached). They’re “especially bouncy” I am dutifully informed by my thoroughly impressed children. The bathrooms in both suites are huge, with generous stand-alone tubs, separate showers and double vanities complemented with decadent amenities from Africology, which Sugarpuff slathers herself in happily.

Personally, I’m more enamoured with the lovely selection of tea I find in the complimentary minibar, complete with fresh lime, honey and ginger. So much so, I make myself a cup while the kids’ swimsuit-up and make a beeline for the heated pool, which is right alongside the ground floor suites, so I can safely keep an eye on them while I enjoy my tea on our balcony and book myself an in-room massage for later in the day. Ready to explore a little further, I join the kids by the pool.

There’s a petit fitness suite alongside the pool area and the kids test out their stamina on a few of the machines before spying a basketful of pool toys, which they raid before leaping straight back out into the pool, sparkling gloriously in a stream of afternoon sun.

They happily stay submerged for the best part of the afternoon, their giggles merging with the twittering birdsong coming from the surrounding trees.

AtholPlace Hotel Dining

As evening falls, AtholPlace Hotel has more surprises in store. We make our way to the delightful library and bar area of the main house for canapes and a rousing game of Uno (which we always travel with).

Then it is time for what is, without exaggeration, one of the most outstanding meals of our two food-filled weeks in South Africa.

We’re offered a choice of starters, mains and desserts on the creatively crafted seasonal menu that all sound equally extraordinary. If a sublime entrée of squid – looking for all the world like it should be hanging in an art gallery – and a next-level take on beef tartare aren’t already enough for us to see why this restaurant has been called Johannesburg’s best, the pops of flavour and texture in our mains have our tastebuds singing.

There’s more culinary excitement the following morning over an off-the charts breakfast of fresh fruit, homemade granola, yogurt, pastries and a selection of à la carte delights that has us all swooning.  As does our whole AtholPlace Hotel experience.

So, would we recommend a pre or post-safari stay at AtholPlace Hotel & Villa with kids? Or even a longer, more leisurely stay to explore all the great things to do in Johannesburg. That would be a resounding, though not “terribly posh”, hell yeah!

AtholPlace Hotel & Villa
90 Pretoria Avenue
Atholl, Johannesburg,
South Africa

Johannesburg with kids – Need to know before you go

When to visit
Great weather makes Johannesburg a great year-round destination.
Language
While English is widely spoken, especially in the city, there are 11 official languages spoken in South Africa and the most commonly spoken languages are Zulu, Xhosa, and Afrikaans.
Currency
The Rand (R)
Power
Voltage is 230V and 50Hz. Power outlets are round three pin sockets.
Visa & Passport Requirements
A South African tourist visa is not required for citizens of Australia for a stay up to 90 days.  South Africa requires that all children entering or leaving the country carry an unabridged birth certificate and parental consent affidavits if they are travelling with only one parent. All visitors will require a passport valid for at least six (6) months.
Health
Johannesburg is free from malaria and safe for travellers of all age. However, Mosquito borne diseases including malaria are a risk for those transiting to Kruger National Park. When travelling with children prevention is best so apply child-safe insect repellent (with no more 20% DEET) at regular intervals and make sure they are dressed in long but light clothing at all times. While there are no essential vaccinations for travellers to South Africa at the time of publication, we advise visiting your family GP at least six weeks before travel for up to date advice on the latest recommendations and necessary immunisations.
Crime
Crime is an issue throughout South Africa. Criminals are known to target travellers and their bags at O.R. Tambo airport and on public transport. It is advised that UBERs are a safer option than taxis in Johannesburg or better still organise a private airport transfer through your hotel. Avoid high crime areas and keep cash and valuables such as flashy jewellery, cameras and phones out of sight. Ensure you visit townships, including Soweto, during daylight hours and always with an organised tour group.

The post Johannesburg’s AtholPlace Hotel & Villa with kids appeared first on boyeatsworld.

Johannesburg, South Africa © Clodagh Da Paixao/ Unsplash

We manage to make it as far as customs before we’re on the receiving end our first chirpy “Howzit?”. Our honest answer? Excited. It’s our first visit to Johannesburg, or Jo’burg as it is affectionately known by locals, and we can’t wait to see what it has in store.

Johannesburg may not be the first destination that springs to mind for families visiting South Africa. In fact, most don’t even step foot outside of O.R. Tambo Airport, instead bouncing through the sprawling city on their way to other cities or on their way to Kruger for a safari. But not taking the time to explore this ever-evolving city is a mistake, because despite its tumultuous past, the locals are lovely, the weather great, the hotels ultra-chic, the stores trendy and there are so many things to do in Johannesburg with kids, we barely scratched the surface.

It would be remiss of me not to acknowledge that the city, though starting to find its own brash and bold voice, still has a reputation for crime, as does much of South Africa, but it is absolutely possible to have a safe and trouble-free stay – and loads of fun – by being aware and sensible. Which of course, we were not. (Spoiler alert: Despite our foolhardiness, we escaped completely unscathed and surprisingly smitten with the city).

Needless to say, no sooner had we checked in to AtholPlace Hotel & Villa in the chic, cosmopolitan suburb of Atholl, the kids and I were leaping into a gold hatchback with a friend we’d met the previous week in Cape Town, hooning our way to a random part of Soweto in search of a Kota to fill the copious hole that is Raff’s gob, before allowing him to climb up a 33-storey tower! Yep. Sensible stuff indeed!

Soweto with kids

The colourful Soweto Towers

We wanted to see the real Jo’Burg, not just the fancy parts packed with five-star hotels and swanky cafes. And that means a visit to lively Soweto, a place that is a living reminder of the city’s troubled history.

Which is how we find ourselves starting our Soweto adventure in a tiny, local Kota Store in some random back street that I could never find again, chowing down on one of the famous street sandwiches. A relative of Durban’s famous Bunny Chow,  a Kota is a quarter loaf of bread, hollowed out and filled with hot chips, paloney, Russian sausage, fried egg and pickles.

The Kota (quarter) is a popular street snack in Johannesburg

We also gobble a plate of fried chicken so numbingly spicy, my sweat was sweating. Upon emptying said plate, I receive a high five and a shouted “Lekker” (good) from the impressed cook, who was convinced the extreme heat of chilli crust would beat me.

Satiated, though numb-tongued, we head to the brightly painted Soweto Towers, a decommissioned power station, to watch bungee-jumpers leap off the 33-storey platform at the top of the twin towers. It’s one of the most unique things to do in Johannesburg with kids though sadly, my young adrenalin junkies don’t meet the age requirements to take a leap. And by sadly, I mean phew, because I was pooping myself that they’d make me join them.

Raff tackling Soweto Towers

Instead, a determined Raff, channelling his best Spiderman, decides to climb straight up one of the towers. And he tackles it like a boss. It’s an experience that’s right at the top of Raff’s list of the best things to do in Johannesburg with kids.

Easy peasy – for him at least.

Tummies full and adrenalin pumped, we head to Vilakazi Street to do the tourist thing. The long street of small homes looks not unlike the rest of Soweto, but has a very important claim to fame as the former home to of two Nobel Prize winners – former President Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

We wander the street to check out the public art and pop up craft stalls, with lively drumming our soundtrack. Of course, we make the pilgrimage to the former home of President Nelson Mandela and his family.

The modest former home of President Nelson Mandela

Now the Mandela House museum, the modest home is packed with memorabilia, artworks and photographs, along with a few sobering bullet holes dotting the walls.

Winnie Mandela memorial at Mandela House © Aleney de Winter

We experience more sombre moments at the Hector Pieterson Museum and Memorial, just a short walk from Mandela House. The museum is a tragic reminder of the Sowetan school children slain in a police massacre in 1976 and the ensuing Soweto Uprising. While some of the significance is lost on my privileged Aussie kids, they are still suitably fascinated by the stories shared by our guide.

Note: Whilst a visit to Soweto is a must, I would NOT recommend for visitors to Soweto to stray far from tourist strip of Vilakazi, or visit Soweto without a tour guide, as there is a high crime rate. However, we were lucky enough to be accompanied by our friend, a streetwise local and her cool 10-year old son, and they knew exactly what and where, was and wasn’t safe.

The Apartheid Museum with kids

Aerial artwork at the Apartheid Museum

The significance of our visit to Soweto falls into place for the kids at Johannesburg’s Apartheid Museum. The multi-media museum powerfully shares the story of the rise and fall of apartheid. While it was never going to be fun, a visit is non-negotiable because, despite 25 years of democracy in South Africa, the kids have seen first-hand too many examples of the economic and racial divide that still exists throughout the country. To me, an understanding of the oppressive past and how the country is working towards the future was fundamental to their understanding.

The museum doesn’t waste any time in shocking them into what Apartheid – the state sanctioned system based solely on racial discrimination – might have felt like for those who lived through it. When we purchase our tickets Raff is classified as ‘white’ and Sugarpuff and I ‘non-white’ and are separated and sent through different entrances.

Mirrors with life-sized photographs symbolise South Africa’s complex path to democracy

The sheer volume of exhibits at the museum, including film footage, photographs, text panels and artefacts, including a Casspir, a menacing mine-resistant ambush vehicle that the apartheid government used to patrol black townships, is overwhelming. But the museum has been so thoughtfully curated that both the kids, and I, are riveted.

Mandela sculpture at The Apartheid Museum

The power of the entire experience does leave the kids a little emotionally exhausted, but also infused with wonder at the triumph of the human spirit over adversity. As a parent trying to raise good humans, I call that a successful outing.

The Cradle of Humankind with kids

Maropeng Tumulus Building at the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage site © Mafuta/iStock

Ready to head even further back in history, The Cradle of Humankind proves just the place. An easy drive from Johannesburg, The Cradle of Humankind is one of eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites in South Africa. Spread over 47,000 hectares and housing a complex of limestone caves and sinkholes, the site is believed to be the place humankind originated following the discovery of the first hominid Australopithecus.

The richest hominid fossil site in Africa, The Cradle of Humankind boasts 13 excavation sites recognised as heritage sites. There’s an exhibition centre at Maropeng focused on humankind’s evolvement over the past few million years with awesome interactive displays, exhibitions and a short indoor boat ride, all housed in what looks like a massive ancient burial mound. Another must see at the Cradle of Humankind is the Sterkfontein Caves, the dramatic site of the longest continuous paleoanthropological dig in the world.

Gold Reef City with kids

The entrance to Gold Reef City © Subodh Agnihotri/iStock

It takes a while but the kids are finally historied out, our J’burg pals suggest a jaunt to the Gold Reef City Casino & Theme Park complex for a little light relief in the form of multi-level laser tag and a huge games arcade. One of the funnest things to in Johannesburg with kids, the theme park, boasts 18 epic rides, including extreme thrill rides the Anaconda, Tower of Terror and the Storm Chaser, a ride designed to replicate the experience of being trapped inside the eye of a tornado. Which I’m sure people who aren’t cowards would love. Being card carrying members of the latter group, we opt instead for soft-serve and bags of sugary goodness from Candylicous before heading back with our pals to spend the remains of the day lounging lazily around the sparkling pool at AtholPlace Hotel & Villa.

Johannesburg with kids – Need to know before you go

When to visit
Great weather makes Johannesburg a great year-round destination.
Language
While English is widely spoken, especially in the city, there are 11 official languages spoken in South Africa and the most commonly spoken languages are Zulu, Xhosa, and Afrikaans.
Currency
The Rand (R)
Power
Voltage is 230V and 50Hz. Power outlets are round three pin sockets.
Visa & Passport Requirements
A South African tourist visa is not required for citizens of Australia for a stay up to 90 days.  South Africa requires that all children entering or leaving the country carry an unabridged birth certificate and parental consent affidavits if they are travelling with only one parent. All visitors will require a passport valid for at least six (6) months.
Health
Johannesburg is free from malaria and safe for travellers of all age. However, Mosquito borne diseases including malaria are a risk for those transiting to Kruger National Park. When travelling with children prevention is best so apply child-safe insect repellent (with no more 20% DEET) at regular intervals and make sure they are dressed in long but light clothing at all times. While there are no essential vaccinations for travellers to South Africa at the time of publication, we advise visiting your family GP at least six weeks before travel for up to date advice on the latest recommendations and necessary immunisations.
Food Safety
Waterborne and food borne diseases are prevalent throughout South Africa. While tap water in major cities is generally safe to drink, it is best to avoid it in rural and regional areas. Avoid raw foods and food stalls with dubious hygiene standards. Only drink pasteurised or homogenised milk and avoid tummy bugs by following our safe eating mantra of “cook it, peel it or forget it.
Crime
Serious crime and violence is an issue throughout South Africa. Criminals are known to target travellers and their bags at O.R. Tambo airport and on public transport. Criminals posing as Tourist Police may ask to examine the contents of your bags, but this is a scam and no such force exists. Avoid high crime areas and keep cash and valuables such as flashy jewellery, cameras and phones out of sight. Ensure you visit townships, including Soweto, during daylight hours and always with an organised tour group. It is also advised that UBERs are a safer option than taxis in Johannesburg.

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Hair blowing in the breeze, my beaming water sprite flits fairylike from rock to rock, her white dress billowing behind her as her gaze is drawn over and again to the foaming ocean lapping at the shore.

It calls her, as always, but she manages to resist giving in to her usual trick of leaping in fully clothed, the bronze-tipped kelp forest that peaks its way through the churning waters of the chilly Atlantic best left to the  cacophony of sea creatures that call it home.

Instead, she focuses on following the scuttling crabs darting in and out of the smooth boulders that form the beach, stopping only to mewl out an occasional inhuman noise, her efforts at chatting with the whales that swim into the bay to breed.

Yes, she is quite mad. And no, we wouldn’t want her any other way.

Beachside bliss at Tintswalo Atlantic 

Our whimsical wee ocean angel is in her element here at Tintswalo Atlantic Boutique Lodge, a heavenly slice of sustainable boutique luxury nestled on a pebbled beach at the foot of the fynbos-clad slopes of Table Mountain National Park, just 40 minutes from the all the action of the Cape Town CBD.

Blessed with panoramic views over the Atlantic Ocean and the dramatic Sentinel mountain peak, just 10 Suites and a two-bedroom Presidential Suite, each named and themed around iconic islands, perch on stilts under milkwood trees, just metres from the crashing ocean waves , which provide the enchanting soundtrack to our stay.

Sugarpuff sits cross legged on a lone hammock above the pebbled beach and Raff rocks back and forth on a nearby swing while I watch on from the expansive deck of our lovely Lamu suite, themed around the Kenyan island of the same name,  with carefully selected objects d’art and a fabulous vintage travel trunk that I’d love to follow me home.

Inside is an enormous king-sized bed, a seamlessly placed roll out bed and an inviting lounge space, just inside the large sliding doors, that invites the outside in.

I call out to my wildlings to see if they’d like a dip in Tintswalo Atlantic’s heated pool before dinner.

They’re through the ornate antique and in their swimming costumes before I can even finish my sentence and I’m left in the dust as they race down the timber walkway towards the pool.

“I love it here, mama” are my daughters last words as she leaps into the warm water. And I have to concur.  This is not the place for families seeking kids’ clubs, endless entertainment or white sand beaches. Visiting Tintswalo Atlantic with kids offers a more precious kind of holiday. This is a place of nature and nurture, where every pebble has a story and the fun is limited only by our imaginations.

It is a place so enchanting that my nature loving crew don’t even notice the large TV screen in our room because they’re too caught up naming every rock on the beach and dancing under the sea spray that makes its way on to our deck.

Rooms with a view

We watch the sun set from the floor to ceiling window of our enormous shell bedecked bathroom, my daughter wallowing in the large freestanding tub as she washes off the day’s adventures, my son trying to solve the riddle of the bidet, a creation he’s struggling to come to terms with.

“You do what with it?” he squeals, passing on a test run.

We head to the spacious wooden deck off the communal lounge and dining room for the signature Sundowner Cocktail of the Day and a selection of seriously tasty canapés with our fellow guests.

The space is stunning.  Rising Phoenix like from the ashes of a catastrophic fire that destroyed the main section of the lodge in 2018, the resort’s public areas have been completely rebuilt, and the iconic hotel had re-opened just a week prior to our arrival.

The result is a sparkling fusion of homely shell-strewn beach house and bejewelled mansion, with plush, frosted blue lounges, slivers of glistening silver, charming antiques, quirky seaside object d’art and diaphanous chandeliers.

Fine dining at Tintswalo Atlantic 

Just when we think things couldn’t get any more perfect, it’s time for dinner in the splendid Tintswalo Atlantic dining room.

The creative kitchen team, led by head chef and Raff’s new BFF, Thando, serve up a series of sublime culinary creations from fresh, locally-sourced and sustainable ingredients, leaving us wowed. From a gorgeous green salad with torn buffalo mozzarella to crisp skinned pork belly and perfectly pink duck, we have to resist licking our plates clean.

Lulled to sleep by the sound of crashing waves and the dying crackles of the toasty fire in our potbelly fireplace, we awake invigorated. The kids leap out of bed, rushing to get dressed. “What’s the hurry,” I ask?

Food is the answer. They can’t wait to see what magic Thando can conjure for breakfast.

Sugarpuff devours a tower of French Toast while Raff moans over a perfect Eggs Benedict and I nibble on ostrich sausage. When a tower of pastries and cold cuts appears to complement their a la carte selections, the kids politely inform me they are home. I can’t bear to remind them that we’re checking out shortly.

It is this feeling of belonging that sets this resort apart, and when it’s finally time for us say goodbye to this special place, we follow Tintswalo tradition by casting a pebble over our shoulders into the ocean and making a wish.

We all wish for exactly the same thing, a swift return to this extraordinary place.

TINTSWALO ATLANTIC
Chapmans Peak Drive,
Hout Bay, 7806, South Africa
Tel:+27 11 300 8888
W: tintswalo.com/atlantic/

Cape Town with kids – Need to know before you go

When to visit
 Cape Town is a great destination all year around.
Language
Though there are 11 official languages spoken in South Africa – most commonly  Zulu,    Xhosa, and Afrikaans – English is widely spoken in Cape Town.
Currency
The Rand (R)
Power
Voltage is 230V and 50Hz. Power outlets are round three pin sockets.
Visa & Passport Requirements
A South African tourist visa is not required for citizens of Australia for a stay up to 90 days.  South Africa requires all children entering or leaving the country carry a certified birth certificate and parental consent affidavits if they are travelling with only one parent. Visitors require a passport that is valid for a minimum of six (6) months.
Health
Cape Town is free from malaria and safe for travellers of all age. While there are no essential vaccinations for travellers at the time of publication, we advise visiting your family GP a minimum of six weeks before travel for up to date health recommendations.
Crime
Crime is high, but 95% of serious crime occurs in the communities of the Cape Flats area, where it is not advised to travel. Pick pockets can be an issue in the city centre so it’s best to visit with a guide and always keep cash and valuables out of sight. It is not recommended to catch public transport or walk after dark, UBERs are the safest option.

The post Cape Town’s Tintswalo Atlantic with kids appeared first on boyeatsworld.

I can’t remember my kids ever being as excited about an adventure as they were when they discovered they were heading to Cape Town, visions of rhinos and lions dancing through their heads. And while Cape Town delivered on its wildlife promise – the kids even getting uncomfortably (for me) friendly with a couple of wild rhinos and taking a splash with a penguin or two – the city and its people left the kids wowed and changed in all the best possible ways.

Best known for its coastline and the omnipresent beauty of Table Mountain, it turns out that there is a tonne of other great stuff to see and do in Cape Town with kids. From engaging with its beautiful people, learning about its history, discovering its epic art, exploring its untamed natural beauty, to scoffing its tasty cuisine scene, Cape Town is made for families.

Here, Raffles (11) and Sugarpuff (8) share their thoughts on the best Things to do in Cape Town with kids.

Things to do in Cape Town with Kids

1. Explore Cape Town’s Great Outdoors with kids

Exploring Signal Hill

Cape Town, happily sandwiched between the mighty Table Mountain and an extraordinary coastline, is one of the world’s most naturally beautiful cities. With dozens of public nature reserves, lush forests, fields of fynbos, some of the world’s most spectacular beaches and that majestic mountain, it is a nature-lover’s delight. It certainly left my two eco tourists in a state of giddy. green-hued joy.

Grootbos Botanical Safari – Image © South African Tourism/Sherilea Gaspar

He said: “Going up the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway to soak up the views from the top left my jaw on the floor. This place is so darned beautiful it’s ridiculous. Then there was Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, which is kind of at the bottom of Table Mountain and heaving with all this amazing native flora. Our friends Bud and Kristy showed us some really cool stuff there like the Braille Trail for visually impaired visitors, and the Boomslang, a really long canopy walkway through the trees. But it was at Grootbos Private Nature Reserve (which technically is a few hours from Cape Town but still part of our Cape experience) that I was left truly awed by nature. I mean, this place is off the charts. Surrounded by water and mountains and covered in flowers and plants, everywhere you look is eye popping. We went on horse rides through the fynbos (fine bush), saw humongous whales right off the beach, and went on the coolest safari in search of South Africa’s tiny five. Insects. And while we learned about the most vital of all the animal species in Africa, and their importance in the ecosystem, we also got to learn about the incredible native plants of gorgeous Grootbos, one of my new favourite places in the whole world.”

A fluffy find on a Botanical safari at Grootbos

She said: “I have always loved plants and bugs! But after staying at Grootbos Private Nature Reserve I love them both even more. Especially bugs. Because we got to spend a couple of days with the resort’s entomologists who are kind of like insect scientists. They were super nice and taught us all about how important insects are to the world’s ecosystems. They took us out into the bush on horses and taught us about all the plants and even let me catch some of the bugs who live there. I caught stick insects, a praying mantis, a cool patterned beetle and Fluffy Jeff, a super furry black and orange caterpillar who loved cuddles. It was one of the best days ever. I think I was a good student because now I am growing my own garden at home to attract and care for all the insects to help the environment.”

2. Wildlife experiences in and around Cape Town

A rescued rhino at Aquila Private Game Reserve

Of course, South Africa is famous for its incredible wildlife and while most kid friendly safari experiences are located outside of the Cape region, you can still  enjoy a Big 5 Safari experience in Cape Town with kids.  In fact, you don’t need to stray far from the city to see and experience a huge variety of wildlife. Surrounded by mountains and oceans, you’ll find furry critters scampering on the rocks of Table Mountain, flocks of flamingos, bolshy baboons and the Big Ocean Five – whales, sharks, dolphins, seals and penguins – frolicking just off the coast. And while the majority of game reserves are further afield, there are options for Big Five game safaris not too far from town that left my wildlings in animal heaven.

Meeting the locals at Aquila Private Game Reserve

He said: “OMG! Is South Africa spoiled for wildlife or what? You hardly even need to leave Cape Town to see it. Seriously, they even have a herd of hippos in Cape Town, not to mention Cape penguins, baboons and cute little animals called dassies that look a cross between a wombat and a Guinea pig but are actual related to elephants. But it’s when you get just outside of Cape Town things really go off. I mean I got to hang out with rhinos at Aquila Private Game Reserve, which is only about a two-hour drive from Cape Town. And by hang out, I actually mean I got out of a jeep about 15 metres from a pair of them without getting shish kebabbed. Epic!

Then there were the elephants, giraffes, zebra, a bazillion varieties of antelope, Cape buffalo and, of course, lions. We were only a few metres away from two male lions when they got into this big growly fight over who was boss. We stayed and got to watch as the younger lion overthrew his dad to become Aquila’s new resident Lion King.

To the victor go the spoils at Aquila Private Game Reserve

Amazing! But the real reason Aquila is so awesome is because its purpose is to protect and preserve Africa’s threatened wildlife and they are doing really great things with Rhinos through their Saving Private Rhino program”.

She said: “I loved all the amazing animals at Aquila Game Reserve like rhinos and elephants and all the zebras, antelopes and giraffes.  I liked the ostriches too, because they were kind of silly and funny. When we were in Cape Town we got to see loads of penguins. We went to a place called SANCCOB where they take care of hurt penguins. Cape Penguins are adorable, but you have to keep away from them because they are wild and have super sharp beaks. After we learned all about how endangered they are at SANCCOB, we adopted an injured one who we called Chidi. Then we went to visit Boulders Beach where penguins live in the wild. It was really pretty, and we saw babies and even got to swim with some off the beach.”

3. Cape Town’s best family beaches

Relaxing on the beach at Tinstwalo Atlantic

With it’s prime location on South Africa’s coast, Cape Town is spoiled with beautiful beaches. Some wild, rocky and inaccessible, some where the hefty resident seals play coast guard, and others where the softest white sand meets calm clear waters that are so inviting you have to compete with penguins for a patch of ocean. Whether it was soaking up the scenery or the sunshine and sea, the kids found plenty to love about Cape Town’s glorious coastline.

The brilliantly blue Boulders Beach

He said: “Cape Town has some of the prettiest beaches I’ve ever seen. I loved Boulders Beach because the water there was so amazing, all still and clear and a freaky shade of pale blue and scattered with big smooth boulders, hence the name. But the best bit about it was sharing a towel and a swim with the cute Cape penguins that live there. At Kalk Bay beach they have these cool coloured beach huts, but I preferred staying dry and watching the show pony seals who kept twisting and striking poses for us at Kalk Bay Harbour. 

A friendly local at Kalk Bay

But my favourite Beach was the private beach at Tintswalo Atlantic, a gorgeous eco resort in Hout bay where we stayed for a few nights. The ocean was way too rough for us to take a dip, but I loved sitting on the balcony of our awesome villa and listening to the crashing waves. And there was no sand either, just millions of smooth round rocks that we could collect and pile up into towers. It was the best.”

Beach fun at Tintswalo Atlantic

She said: “I liked how wild the beach was at Tintswalo and all the cool rocks that we could build things with, but my favourite beach ever has to be Boulders Beach because it was pretty and calm and we had it all to ourselves, except for a couple of penguins who waddled around the beach and even swam with us. I love penguins!”

4. Explore Cape Town’s museum’s and galleries

Exploring the Museum of Contemporary African Art in Cape Town

One thing my family wasn’t expecting was to be blown away by the burgeoning art scene and how accesible art is in Cape Town with kids. Already colourful, the city has redefined itself in recent times as a world class art centre, with thriving art schools, dynamic street art, and a great gallery scene which includes the new and extremely exciting Zeitz MOCAA (the Museum of Contemporary African Art), which little my little art-lovers seriously wowed.  far poignant but vitally important museum experience is the Robben Island Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where Nelson Mandela served 18 of his 27 years in prison. It is a lot for children to take in, but I believe it is one of the best ways to educate them on South Africa’s oppressive past and how the country, and heroes like Nelson Mandela, have fought and are working towards a better future for all its people, is fundamental to our visit..

The sculpture garden Zeitz MOCAA

He said: “A big surprise for me was how cool Cape Town’s art is. I mean, Cape Town has legit the best art gallery I’ve ever seen, Zeitz MOCAA. While the exhibitions themselves are super cool, especially “And So the Stories Ran Away,” which was all interactive and super clever, the actual building is a masterpiece. It’s an old grain silo that’s been chopped up and transformed into towering space age tubes of awesomeness. Like, seriously, this is the coolest modern building I’ve ever seen. Even the hotel sitting on top of it, The Silo Hotel Cape Town, is like a gallery. Every wall in every area in every part of the hotel is covered with some of the coolest artworks I’ve ever seen.”

Getting hands, and bottoms, on with the art at MOCAA

She said: “ I loved MOCAA because the art was really, really good and I loved dancing in the sculpture garden and playing hide and seek with my brother in all the bendy, twisty places inside. There were cool sculptures outside the gallery too that you could sit in and they would roll around. They were super fun. And I loved all the life-size painted rhino statues in the city that were really colourful and cute, and the giant wall painting of a swimming elephant because it made me giggle.”

5. Experience Cape Town culture with kids

The Isibane Se Afrika  Choir

South Africa is famed for its musical culture which is highly participatory and an integral part of everyday life. South Africa’s musical traditions have influenced many musicians around the world. During the racial segregation of apartheid, South Africans were divided and defined according to ethnic groups. Music drawn from deep rooted traditions became a powerful tool for social comment and political opposition. Joyfully defiant, infectious and utterly irresistible, the kids found it impossible not to join in.

Raffles joins the Isibane Se Afrika  Choir

He said: “I don’t know why but when I hear African music, I can’t stop dancing. It’s so loud and infectious and the musicians are so talented. Everywhere we went people were singing and dancing, but my favourite performance was at a township called Khayelitsha, which we visited with Uthando South Africa, a not-for-profit tour company that helps empower young people in the township. Anyway, there was this amazing group of singers called Isibane Se Afrika who performed for us. They had these awesome drummers that really got under my skin. It was so exciting I just had to join in. The dancers were so cool that later that night when we bumped into them performing in the city, they remembered us and invited me to join them and I pulled out my best “Waka waka eh eh” moves when they started singing ‘This Time for Africa’.

Singers and dancers at Kasi RC Shack Theatre Cape Town

She said: “People in South Africa seem to really love music. And I really loved listening to it because their music is so bouncy and fun and dancy. I loved that the performers always tried to include us. We sang the Waka Waka song so much that our South African tour guide called us the Waka Wakians, which was really funny.”

6. Visit Cape Town’s townships with kids

Visiting Khayelitsha with Uthando. Image © South Africa Tourism/Sherilea Gaspar

I don’t believe in showing only the shiny bright sides of a destination to my children and never hide the reality of the places we travel to. In South Africa, that reality can be rather confronting. The vast majority of Cape Town’s residents live in townships, originally formed through a systemic segregation that saw black and coloured labour forces separated from the city’s affluent white suburbs under the discriminatory rules of apartheid. Though Apartheid was abolished in 1994, many of these townships remain underdeveloped and the residents, many residing in tiny tin shacks with no running water, live well below the global poverty line. And there is still a great sense of division. It was this sense of division that saw violent riots break out in Overcome Heights, where we sponsor a lovely little girl called Christal-Lee, during our visit. But we were eager to give her a special day away from the danger, so we took our girl and her mum out for a day by the seaside where the kids bonded for life with their little South African sister. While Raff and Sugarpuff were definitely shocked by the poverty they saw and horrified by a racial divide they find hard to comprehend, they left educated and determined to do their bit to help in sustainable ways. I chalk that up to a success!

Playing tag with the locals at Khayelitsha Cape Town

He said: “My mum had already explained to me about how almost half of the population of South Africa lives below the global poverty line and many people live in Townships. But I wasn’t really prepared for the reality of that. When we visited Khayelitsha with Uthando South Africa, I was so shocked to discover the township had a population of over a million people, most of whom live in tiny shacks made from corrugated iron and with no running water. But what didn’t surprise me is that the people in the Townships are awesome, because most people I met in South Africa were.  While we were in Khayelitsha I got to play tag with the local kids who were so funny, and then Xolani from Uthando Tours took us to Kasi RC – Shack Art School & Theatre, and that blew my head off. It’s a drama and arts school where the Township kids are given a voice and a chance for a better future. We got to join a drama lesson which was fun but intimidating because these kids were legit best actors I’ve ever seen! I mean every one of them should get a Best Actor Oscar because they gave me chills with their performances. And then there was this hectic guy called Blaqshade (you should totally check him out) who can outrap just about anyone. I wanted to stay there for days.

Raffles and Christal-Lee

But the person who moved me most was my South African “sister,” Christal-Lee, the cutest and chatteriest little girl who lives in a Township called Overcome Heights, who we’ve been helping for a few years with stuff like school uniforms, clothes, shoes and books through our friend Bud at Tin Mugs Africa Trust. Sadly, when we visited Cape Town there were violent riots in the township and it was too dangerous to visit, but we managed to get Christel-Lee and her mum out to take them to the seaside for the day, and it was just about the best day ever, except for the part where we had to send her back, which made us all cry.”

The kids hanging our with their South African “sister” Christal-Lee

She said: “The Townships made me feel happy and sad all at the same time. Happy because the people were all so fun and the kids played with me, and because I finally got to meet my South African sissy, Christal-Lee, who is sweet and funny and super cute and who I super love! But it makes me sad too because all these nice people don’t have very much and where they live is really scary and dangerous and that’s not very fair. I was so, so sad when we had to say goodbye, because I want her to have a better life.”

7. Eating out in Cape Town with kids

Mopane Worms at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens Cape Town

Cape Town’s culinary scene is truly world class, with every imaginable cuisine on offer and incredible fresh local produce showcased at its brilliant restaurants, bars and cafes.  We tasted our way through everything from fine diners and family-friendly seafood markets to laid back burger joints at the V&A Waterfront. We scoffed the world’s best ice cream along with brai and biltong at the excellent V&A Food Market. At Bo Kaap we dove into sensational Cape Malay curries and addictive boboti and potato stuffed samoosas. And at Kalk Bay we enjoyed brilliantly fresh fish and chips. We tasted our way through township treats. And of course, we tempted our tastebuds with traditional South African flavours from ostrich and springbok to mopane worms. And it was all good.

Spicy Cape Malay Curry

He said: “The first thing I did when I arrived in South Africa was go on the hunt for a Bunny Chow, because what isn’t there to love about a hot spicy curry served up in a hollowed-out loaf of white bread, right? But turns out South Africa had loads of other culinary surprises in store. Like the most tender squid I’ve ever tasted, awesome Cape Malay seafood curries which I could eat for days, crispy fried samoosas, addictive bags of biltong made from meats I’ve never even heard of before, plus only-in-South-Africa stuff like ostrich carpaccio and mopane worms, which are essentially fried grubs. Yummo!

This foot and half long beast is a half Gatsby

Then there’s my new favourite take away treat, The Gatsby! This brilliant creation is essentially a three-foot-long sandwich stuffed with salad, masala beef (or chicken, baloney, or calamari) and a ridiculous amount of hot chips and is big enough to feed a whole family or one me. Genius!”

Braaibroodjie at Grootbos Private Nature Reserve

She said: “They have the best fish and chips ever in Cape Town and awesome barbecues called Brai where they make yummy sausages called Boerewors and barbecued cheese sandwiches called Braaibroodjie that are so, so tasty. There are also cakes called Hertzoggies that are filled with jam, and yummy melk terts, which are a bit like a custard tart only better. And mummy took us to an ice cream shop in Cape Town called Unframed that was voted the best in the world and I had beetroot and chocolate flavour and it really was the best ever.”

8. Cape Town accommodation with kids

Rooftop pool at the Silo Hotel © Aleney de Winter

From charming B&Bs and spacious self-catering apartments to historic boutique hotels, luxury resorts and stunning vineyard hotels, there’s an amazing array of family accommodation in, and around, Cape Town that is ideal for families of all shapes and sizes, and every budget.

He doesn’t know much about art but he knows what he likes at The SIlo

He said: “There was something to love about all our hotels in Cape Town. We stayed in this massive apartment at Mandela Rhodes Place, which is right where Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who was the first black archbishop of South Africa, led marches and campaigns for the end of apartheid.  And its right next to Bo Kaap and all that yummy Cape Malay food, which was a huge bonus. Then there was Tintswalo Atlantic Boutique Lodge, just outside of town at Hout Bay, which was like another world. I loved that it was so sustainable and our room was  on a pebbly beach right on the water. And the food there was crazy good! I mean seriously amazing. But The Silo Hotel, right on the V&A Waterfront, was my pick because it is legit the best hotel ever. Our two-storey family suite like a work of art itself with its bulging criss-crossed windows, ultra-arty furniture and so many amazing original artworks that we had our own in-room art catalogue. Even the rooftop swimming pool is art, with huge towering columns like from a Greek myth framing epic views of Table Mountain. And it had a glass wall, so you can see underwater.”

Playing pool in the playroom at Grootbos Private Nature reserve © Aleney de Winter

She said: “I super loved The Silo Hotel because I made friends with Irene who is the nicest lady ever and took me on a hotel tour and gave me a present and hugged me loads. And I loved the pictures all over the walls in our room at The Silo Hotel, but it was the statues and sculptures that I liked best of all. I especially loved the little gold statue in our lounge room because he looked like he was blowing kisses. And the swimming pool on the roof had amazing views and floating bean bags and it was like being in the sky. If you go a few hours from Cape Town you can sleep in a Safari Lodge at Aquila Game Reserve and see animals everywhere, even Rhinos and lions. But I think Grootbos Private Nature Reserve was my favourite of all, even though it technically isn’t actually in Cape Town, because it was super fancy and it had massive big wild gardens, and they grow vegetables and have a cool games room and there are loads and loads of bugs and frogs!”

Cape Town with kids – Need to know before you go

When to visit
Great weather makes Cape Town a great year-round destination.
Language
While English is widely spoken, especially in the city, there are 11 official languages spoken in South Africa and the most commonly spoken languages are Zulu, Xhosa, and Afrikaans.
Currency
The Rand (R)
Power
Voltage is 230V and 50Hz. Power outlets are round three pin sockets.
Visa & Passport Requirements
A South African tourist visa is not required for citizens of Australia for a stay up to 90 days.  South Africa requires that all children entering or leaving the country carry an unabridged birth certificate and parental consent affidavits if they are travelling with only one parent. All visitors will require a passport valid for at least six (6) months.
Health
Cape Town is free from malaria and safe for travellers of all age. While there are no essential vaccinations for travellers to South Africa at the time of publication, we advise visiting your family GP at least six weeks before travel for up to date advice on the latest recommendations and necessary immunisations.
Crime
Crime is an issue throughout South Africa. And in Cape Town, like any city, crime does exist but 95% of serious crime occurs in the communities of the Cape Flats area, where it is not advised to go. Pick pockets can be an issue in the city centre and muggings are known to occur in Table Mountain National Park so it’s best to go with a guide and always keep cash and valuables such as flashy jewellery, cameras and phones out of sight. It is not recommended to catch public transport or walk after dark. If you do need to go out at night, travelling by Uber is the safest option.

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