Bruno2013 Loc: Fort Myers, Florida

I will be in Cape Town from February 2-9 and have signed up for a three day excursion to Cape of Good Hope, Betty's Bay and wine country. I don't expect ever to return to the area so I do not want to miss out on any unforgettable photo opportunities. Any suggestions?

JPL

Have a good camera with you. Ask the tour guide/excursion company about photo opportunities. You have no choice but to stay with them and take the opportunities they offer you. If you have a dslr, bring one wide lens and one in the 50-200 range. And a tripod is a very good idea. I think it is quite windy down there.

TREBOR77 Loc: Winchester Kentucky

Check local tourist brochures for the info you are looking for.

I would like to be there too...My Dr. that I had here was from there and has returned...he said it was beautiful there..

John1959 Loc: Newcastle upon Tyne, England

Head north for the best views of Table Mountain, Penguins at Boulder Beach, Muzinberg for the beach huts, Stellenbosch on the wine tour and tasting and if you get time do Robben Island great mountain views but also a sobering human experience....have a smashing time sadly wrong time the whales at Hermanus but still a nice place to go....happy to help further if needed.

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Bruno2013 Loc: Fort Myers, Florida

Thanks. I will bring along my dslr, wide angle and zoom lens, but the tripod may be a problem. Maybe I can find something locally

Allen Hirsch Loc: Oakland, CA

I visited Cape Town & Stellenbosch in 2007, so these are a little "old" now (and unfortunately for us, Robben Island was closed at that time), but these will give you some idea of places to photograph:

Cape Town: http://allenh.zenfolio.com/p956962325

Stellenbosch: http://allenh.zenfolio.com/p1047421503

DrWilk Loc: .

Make sure you take the cablecar up Table Mountain. Lots to see up there and an incredible view out over the city and the ocean(s). Often paragliders launching up there as well.Cecil Rhodes estate, Groote Schuur, is on the mountain slopes lower down. There's an excellent private safari company outside of Cape town. Can't remember the name off hand but will ask my wife and let you know. They'll pick you up at your hotel, take you out for the day and then return you later that evening. Elephants, giraffes, zebras Cape Buffs etc.roaming free but the lions are in a huge compound.
You likely wont have time to head up to the Drakensburg Mtns.

DrWilk Loc: .

My wife remembered. It was called: Fairy Glen Game Reserve. Their email is: www.fairyglen.co.za

Bruno2013 Loc: Fort Myers, Florida

Thanks

richie200948 Loc: Staffordshire Moorlands UK

Kirstenbosch is also worth a visit. Botanical gardens with a tree canopy walkway. If you go to Table View and like Indian Food, try the Indian Chapter restaurant. The owner is Prim Reddy, a former TV presenter. She is there every evening and is a wonderful hostess. Tell her Richard(Rick)sends his best wishes and is looking forward to seeing her in May

PattyBWest Loc: Jacksonville, FL

It is too bad you are limited to only 7 days there. There is so much to see and this is such a short amount of time. The Kirstenbosch gardens and Tabletop Mountain are of course beautiful and you will enjoy those. Great photo ops along the way.

While at Kirstenbosch, if you are so inclined, you can catch a bus to tour the city of Cape Town. The guide gives lots of information and stops often, where you may get off to take photos and then catch the next double-decker tour bus. Takes you back to Kirstenbosch where you have parked the car, or you can catch the tour bus all around the area. Right now is their summer time, so you won't need extremely warm clothing, but do take a windbreaker.

Try to find a trip to some of the animal "parks" to get an opportunity to see the wildlife. You are probably too far away with short time to go to Kruger National Park, but I think there are some closer to Cape Town you could go to visit. You won't be able to get out of the car, but, you can stop, roll down the windows and carefully take pictures of some of the larger animals.

The Cape of Good Hope, Betty's Bay and the wine country are also very good places to visit. Do try some of the South African wines. They are very good.

For me, two weeks driving through Kruger National Park, did not allow enough time to explore and photograph everything, but with 3800 pictures when I returned home after a total of 3 weeks there, I was glad I had enough SD cards and an iPad. Enjoy your trip. It will be one you truly remember and will leave you wanting more.

A Dossie, Closest Living Relative to the Elephant, Taken on Tabletop Mountain

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Bruno2013 Loc: Fort Myers, Florida

A belated thank you for your recommendations. This upcoming trip will be my sixth or seventh to southern Africa over the past two years, so I am hoping three or four days will suffice to see the best of the cape town areas. Although I have visited a coupld game parks in S.A. and Namibia, I hope to make it to Kruger on my next trip. I have to date seen very very few cats. Again thanks

PattyBWest Loc: Jacksonville, FL

If you do go back for Kruger, I suggest you rent a car and drive through the park without a "safari", as you will be able to go pretty much wherever. Spent almost 2 weeks in the park, staying at the campgrounds throughout. The campgrounds were beautifully maintained, with air conditioned rondavis (round buildings, not sure of spelling) complete with kitchens. They had wonderful restaurants in each campground and offered evening bus tours for those nocturnal movements of the animals.

I had to laugh while in Cape Town. I felt like I was in New York City or Los Angeles -- there was so much traffic there, as compared to other cities we drove through which did not even have a traffic light. And the only McDonalds I saw in 3 weeks was in Cape Town. There is a park outside of Cape Town (maybe 30 minutes or so) in the general direction of the Power Plant, but, for the life of me, I do not remember the name of it.

Have a wonderful trip and post lots of photos when you return home.

Bruno2013 Loc: Fort Myers, Florida

Dr Wilk above cited this park outside Cape Town: www.fairyglen.co.za