Solo travel can seem daunting the first time you book a trip for one, but it is also rewarding. There are the selfish pleasures of not having to compromise (meals are eaten when you are hungry, waking-up is dictated by your internal circadian rhythms, and you determine how the day will unfold). When alone you are also more approachable.
This week marks my one year anniversary in Johannesburg and after one year, I haven’t sufficiently explored my adopted city. This post marks the first installment entitled exploring Jozi. I had a free Sunday afternoon and I returned to one of my favorite spots, Market on Main at Arts on Main in the up and coming Maboneng precinct.
“Shoot, shoot, shoot” James Gradwell, my photography guide instructed. I was trying to get a shot of the tide coming in with Table Mountain looming in the background, but I only managed to get one photo because as I crouched in the sand the tide soaked through my pants.
While Hermanus is probably the most popular base for viewing the whales (they have a whale crier who signals when whales have been spotted), I opted for the tranquility of Grootbos Private Nature Reserve a two hour drive from Cape Town. And while I came for the whales, I was surprised to learn that this was prime blooming season for the fnybos.
Cape Town weather is capricious – at one moment achingly beautiful and the next rainy and dreary. On those stunningly beautiful days it’s near impossible to justify being indoors. So, a cloudy, winter weekend was the perfect excuse to indulge in activities that had been on my Cape Town to do list but that I hadn’t managed to get around to during previous visits.