Cape Town, South Africa was Wifi Artists’ September, 2022 trip. As one of the three capital cities of South Africa, Cape Town is located on the southwest coast and is a port city. The harbour is always busy with boats.
One of the biggest attractions in Cape Town is the cable cars that climb to the top of Table Mountain. At the top, there are beautiful views of the city, the busy harbor, and the prison that once held Nelson Mandela. That prison is now a living museum that you can visit.
As a Digital Nomad, Cape Town is one of the best places to be living in. There is everything you need to live a remote working, comfortable lifestyle. There are tons of coworking spaces, Cape Town Garage being one of the most popular, and having high-speed wifi. It is generally a safe area to visit. South Africa has a specific police force for tourists, the South African Tourism Police, and they are in the area of Cape Town daily.
During our trip, we had new travelers join us along with some travelers that have been with us for months, both creating unbreakable bonds and unforgettable moments. Any trip you take with Wifi Artists leaves you with memories for life, and friends for life.
For anyone that’s considering applying for a trip with Wifi Artists, this will give you an overview of the variety of activities that we do in a single month.
Welcome Brunch
Instead of a welcome dinner in Cape Town, we had a welcome brunch! We went to Gigi’s Waterfront Bar and enjoyed coffee, mimosas, breakfast, and tons of conversation. This brunch is important as this is where everyone meets and gets to know each other. There may be members that already know each other, but there are always new faces to welcome to the team.
Everyone had a chance to introduce themselves, and everyone was so welcoming. We also did some icebreaker activities, and discussed different activities to do while we were in South Africa. The activity we were most excited about was a Safari.
Boulders Beach
Seeing the penguins at Boulders Beach was very cool! Boulders Beach is a very sheltered beach made up of inlets between granite boulders (which is how it got its name). There is a colony of African Penguins there that originally settled there in 1982. They can get very close at times, although visitors are not permitted to touch the penguins.
It was a chilly day when we went, however, on warmer days, visitors can swim in the waters and even snorkel. Snorkelling is said to be beautiful there as the water is crystal clear and the sea life is amazing. Even on the warmest days, the water can be chilly so make sure to dress for the water.
Bo Kaap Tour
Bo Kaap is an area in Cape Town known for its narrow cobbled streets and lined with colourful houses. This was a beautiful little tour. It was a walking tour and we find that walking tours are the best way to see absolutely everything. In that area, we also found a beach that was very secluded and beautiful and did a tour along the Atlantic seaboard.
A little-known fact to people visiting the Bo Kaap area is that the houses in that area were bought by slaves and painted bright colors as an expression of their freedom. Many of the families still own the houses.
Safari
The safari was the highlight of the trip. We went for a 3-day, 2-night safari, and not only did we see the big five animals - elephant, lion, leopard, rhino, and African buffalo - we also saw some very rare animals as well. Some animals were as close as twenty feet from us! We stayed at a beautiful lodge while we were there.
Safaris have played an important role in Africa’s economic development, conservation, and sustainability. The earliest safaris were mainly for trading purposes, but in the 20th century, they turned into more of an adventure.
Mountains
We were lucky enough to get to be on top of two different mountains when we were in South Africa. We took a cable car up to the top of Table Mountain which is a flat-topped mountain overlooking the entire city of Cape Town. Taking the cable car allowed us to take in all the views.
When we went to Lion’s Head Mountain, we decided to hike up the mountain. There were ladders and staples that helped us reach the top and we got to enjoy beautiful sunrise views from the top. Lion’s Head Mountain is the backdrop of Cape Town, located between Table Mountain and Signal Hill, and is part of Table Mountain National Park.
Hermanus
Hermanus is a seaside town located southeast of Cape Town. It is known for whale watching and that is exactly why we headed out that way. We rented a car there and saw some whales from the shoreline, some of them got pretty close. We even saw some penguins! Stopping at the beach for sunset made for a beautiful view.
Additional Activities
As there are many different activities to do, some of us break into groups and do different activities. A few of us headed to the Red Bus Tour, a sightseeing tour bus in Cape Town, and there were monkeys crawling all over the bus!
Some of the team headed to the Stellenbosch region for a wine tour, which included many different types of wine and cheese. Others went to the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden which contains more species than in the entire of the UK! There was definitely tons of shopping going on, some in the V&A Waterfront mall, some at different farmers markets, and of course, all the touristy shops.
Braai
Braai is the equivalent of American BBQ. It is very common, and fundamental, in a South African household, and usually gathers friends and family around a wood-fired grill. We were lucky enough to be invited to a Braai by one of the hotel locals. We ate large amounts of good food and made such good friends.
Farewell Dinner
Before everyone left South Africa, we went to Biesmiellah Restaurant for a farewell dinner, where we enjoyed lots of African cuisines. This includes food like Boerewors (sausage), Potjiekos (small pot food), Tomato Bredie (stew), and Traditional Koeksisters (sticky donut).
This can be a sad part of the trip, we’re all saying goodbye to each other. Some people continue with us on to the next location, but some people head home or out on solo travel. Although it’s sad to see people leave, you’ve developed some amazing friendships that continue to develop, even after the trip.
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This of course is not an all-inclusive list of everything that was done. You are able to go sightseeing, take walking tours & food tours, spend time alone, and do anything else you desire to do. The best part of group travel is that at the end of the day, we’re able to come together and connect as a team, you’re never alone. After leaving Cape Town we headed to Thailand.
If you are ready to take a trip with us, we would love to have you. Some of our upcoming trips include Argentina and Brazil, check out our full list of current program availability here and apply here when you’re ready. After applying, you will have a quick interview with one of our program leaders and you will be on your way to travelling in no time! We can’t wait to meet you.
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