Live update from South Africa on March 5th, it’s really amazing
Sisters! Just got back from South Africa! This time I used all the photography poses I’ve ever learned, and my Moments got flooded with likes! If you’re planning to visit this Rainbow Nation, this secret photo and experience guide will definitely make your trip stand out!
🚗【Transportation and Itinerary Suggestions】
1️⃣ Best Route:
🛫 Enter through Johannesburg, exit through Cape Town, no backtracking.
📅 Suggested itinerary: Johannesburg (1 day) - Kruger National Park (2-3 days) - Fly to Cape Town (2-3 days) - Garden Route self-drive (3-4 days).
2️⃣ Self-driving Tips:
🚗 Choose an international brand rental company and buy full insurance. Drive on the left with right-hand drive cars. City traffic can be complex, but it’s easier once you leave the city.
⚠️ Note: Some highway sections have speed cameras, watch your speed. Always park in guarded parking lots.
📷【Must-visit Photo Spots for Besties】
1️⃣ The signpost at the top of Table Mountain
📍 Table Mountain Summit
⏰ Best to go in the morning when the wind is lighter and visibility is better
💰 Cable car tickets required
💡 Insider tip: The classic “Table Mountain/Cape Town” signpost is popular and crowded. The summit is large, so just find a rock to use as foreground with Cape Town city and bay in the background for more natural and beautiful photos!
2️⃣ Under the old lighthouse at Cape of Good Hope
📍 Cape of Good Hope
🎫 Entrance ticket required
📸 It’s a bit of a climb from the parking lot to the old lighthouse. Near the lighthouse, there’s a sign that says “Cape of Good Hope” where tourists line up for photos. But it’s better to find a rock nearby with the crashing waves and ocean as the backdrop for a more powerful shot.
3️⃣ Penguin boardwalk at Boulders Beach
📍 Boulders Beach
🎫 Ticket required
📸 Don’t just focus on the penguins. Walk along the wooden boardwalk to find a spot where you can see penguins swimming in the sea and resting on the beach, with white sand and blue sea in the background. People and penguins in the same frame make for a very heartwarming photo.
4️⃣ Thesen Island in Knysna
📍 Knysna
🎫 Free entry
📸 This is an artificial island on a lagoon with beautiful scenery, many pretty houses and docks. Just pick any dock, sit on the pier with sailboats and lake views behind you, it feels like a European town.
5️⃣ Vineyards at any winery
📍 Wineries around Cape Town (like Stellenbosch, Franschhoek)
🎫 Free entry, wine tasting costs extra
📸 Visit a winery, walk into the neat vineyards with mountains in the background. Every shot looks like a masterpiece, full of pastoral poetry.
🍽️【Must-try Food Experiences】
1️⃣ Karibu Restaurant
📍 V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
🕒 11:00-22:00
💥 For a one-stop taste of South African specialties, this is the place! Great atmosphere, authentic flavors. Order a platter to try grilled meats, sausages, stews, and enjoy traditional song and dance performances.
2️⃣ Coastline Oyster Bar
📍 Knysna Waterfront
🔥 Knysna oysters are famous! Find an oyster bar at the Waterfront, order a dozen freshly shucked oysters, squeeze lemon on them, and enjoy the taste of the sea.
💰 Around 300-400 ZAR per person (about 120-160 RMB)
3️⃣ Lunch at a small winery
📍 Winery in Franschhoek town
🕒 Lunchtime
🍷 Book a winery lunch in advance, usually includes wine tasting and a few dishes. Sitting on the terrace facing rolling vineyards and distant mountains, enjoying fine wine and food is one of the highest pleasures of a South African trip.
🚫【Bestie Trip Pitfalls to Avoid】
1️⃣ Avoid staying long in Johannesburg city center; if you must go, better to hire a car or have a local friend accompany you, don’t walk around shopping.
2️⃣ On safari, wear neutral colors (khaki, army green, brown), avoid bright colors to not disturb the animals.
3️⃣ Check the weather forecast before departure. Table Mountain cable car may close due to strong winds, and Cape of Good Hope visibility can be affected by bad weather, so have backup plans.
4️⃣ South Africa uses a unique plug (large three-round-pin), different from many countries, don’t forget your adapter.
✨【Hidden Gems Revealed】
🌙 Watch the sunset at Signal Hill in Cape Town: Besides Table Mountain, Signal Hill is also a great sunset spot. You can drive up and sit on the grass with locals, watching the sun sink into the Atlantic Ocean.
🦈 Cage diving with sharks: If you’re brave enough, go to Gansbaai for cage diving with great white sharks, a close encounter with the ocean’s top predator that will definitely get your adrenaline pumping!
🚁 Helicopter tour over Cape Town: From Cape Town Airport or V&A Waterfront, take a helicopter ride to see Table Mountain, Signal Hill, the Twelve Apostles, and Camps Bay from above — the ultimate God’s-eye view experience.