Day 4

Welcome to our last full day in Cape Town! We had a very early start and headed to Shift Espresso for a quick breakfast before a two-hour drive to Hermanus for our next adventure, great white shark cage diving! Though the drive was long, it was very scenic, especially because we took the mostly coastal route, winding along the Indian Ocean. I will say, if you get car sick pretty easily, it might be a bit tough for you. I’m not going to get into how crazy driving can be in South Africa yet, but let’s just say it’s speedy and unforgiving. 

Anyhow, back to the sharks! We went with Marine Dynamics because of their ethical approach to cage diving and commitment to marine conservation work. If you do choose this activity, I believe it is essential to go with a company that prioritizes your safety and those of the marine animals by avoiding disrupting them.

After a safety overview and an informational video on the sharks, we headed out on the boat and into the Indian Ocean. The weather was pretty wild. One minute, the skies would be blue and sunny and the ocean calm; the next, it could be extremely windy with rain and large waves crashing around you. The ride out was pretty calm, and we even had seagulls flying along with us, but the way back in felt like a rollercoaster and I was holding onto the railing the entire time.

Once we anchored, we put on our wetsuits and alternated batches of people going inside the cage. To be honest, it wasn’t scary in the least bit. The team was working hard to scent the water to attract sharks, but instead drew a ton of mullet fish and a giant sting ray that stayed around the boat the entirety of the trip. Even after getting inside the cage, I wasn’t afraid. I was too busy freezing my tail off, even in the thick wetsuit, to think about sharks attacking us. With all the fish feeding, the water was also difficult to see anything else besides them and the giant sting ray. We saw a couple of great whites and copper sharks swimming around the boat, but they were easier to spot once we were outside the cage. It was also pretty difficult to take pictures. I have some videos of the great white going for the bait, but it let go of the line, and it actually hit me in the head, so it’s not the best moment And my head was fine…just a little fishy.

Overall, it was a cool experience and I loved learning more about sharks and actually seeing them, but I’m not sure I’d suggest spending such a large chunk of time on the activity. 

When we got back to Cape Town, we took well-deserved and needed hot showers to get all the chum off us, and then went to our final dinner in town at Grub & Vine! I booked this very last minute, and I am so glad we got in. The restaurant is small but so cozy, filled with candlelight. And of course, our multi-course meal was fabulous. Cue pictures. I wish I could tell you everything we had, but I forgot to take a picture of the menu, and I’m too lazy to look up the ever-changing menu. But know, it was delicious, per usual.

Day 5 

When we got to Cape Town, I envisioned many different little street markets for us to eat a bunch of different foods at and browse. That wasn’t really the case, but it also could be that most of them take place on the weekends or during summer. It turns out, there was a market on Sunday morning that we made a pit stop at full of food, clothing, and art stands. I wish we had more time to spend there, but I had to settle for a quick breakfast before heading to Stellenbosch for the next leg of our honeymoon. But if you’re in Cape Town, make sure to visit The Neighbourgoods Market at the old biscuit mill! You won’t be disappointed. 

Once we arrived in Stellenbosch, we explored the town for a bit, but it was a pretty sleepy Sunday, and most shops closed early. However, we did manage to pop into a botanical garden and explore the grounds. You’re probably wondering why we changed locations and what Stellenbosch is, and those are very good questions! Stellenbosch is part of the wine region in South Africa because SA is known for its wine. That was a pretty fun fact for me while planning. While you do see traditional wines in the region, it’s also home to some more unique blends, such as a (red) pinotage, which originated in South Africa, and my favorite, a (white) Chenin blanc. You can find Chenin blanc in France, but this was my first time trying it, and I loved it. It has a light, buttery taste. Stellenbosch and its neighboring town, Franschhoek, are still in the Western Cape and part of the Cape Winelands. 

We went to the stunning Lanzerac Wine Estate for dinner, but first spent some time walking around the property. Though it was chilly, the sunset was lovely and cast a romantic glow on the mountains and the grounds. While it was picturesque at the peak of winter, I can only imagine how lush and gorgeous the area would be with the vines and flowers in bloom. Next, we headed to the whiskey room to warm up, where a wall of bottles and a roaring fire greeted us. Once we had our fill of tennis and drinks, we were welcomed into an even cozier and more romantic space than dinner the night before, where we spent the rest of the evening enjoying different plates of food and glasses of wine from the estate. 

Day 6

Continuing with our theme of wine, we dedicated this entire day to hopping to different wineries. Our hopes were high, as was our desire to see all the different estates and try the various local wines. But, unfortunately, our bodies had other plans. Neither of us felt that great, and the weather was very dreary and cold, but we put on our best faces and warm clothes and headed out. Since I’ve already written an incredibly long post, I’ll keep this day short.

We made it to two wineries, and during fondue for two, Jack decided he physically couldn’t stomach any more, and I was ready for a hot shower. I think he ended up having a stomach bug or food poisoning, while I had some sort of cold. We returned to The Oude Werf (our quaint hotel), where the staff was kind enough to make chicken soup for Jack, and spent the evening resting. Thankfully, both only lasted a day, but it was still a day down during an already short stay. 

Day 7

Our time in Stellenbosch was coming to an end. We tried to make up for it by stopping at the Delaire Graff Estate for a decadent lunch and a glass of wine, but we were still in recovery mode and took it easy. 

After stretching our legs, walking around the estate, and taking in the gorgeous views, we headed to the airport and boarded our flight to Johannesburg. I’ll save our experience there and the last week of our honeymoon for the following two blogs. Yes, two. There’s just too much to cover!