South Africa
Breathtaking, captivating, bustling, endless…South Africa! Every province, around every corner - experience magical moments waiting to inspire. Incredible people - from city to nightlife, wildlife to vibrant culture, captivating sceneries to sun-soaked coasts – experience South Africa.
South Africa, located in Africa’s southernmost region, boasts a coastline 2,500 km long – of both the Atlantic and Indian Oceans – offers something for all five senses. Surrounded by oceans you can expect generally temperate climate. You will find multiple climatic zones that exist due to the topography and the oceans’ influence.
There are extreme deserts in the northwest and subtropical climate in the east. The land rises quickly from the east over an escarpment to a plateau called the Highveld. In the southwest, the climate is like the Mediterranean. The area is famous for producing much of South Africa’s wine. Severe winds also blow in the area nearly all year. This caused the Cape of Good Hope to be dangerous for sailors.
North of Johannesburg, the altitude drops and becomes the low-lying Bushveld. The Lowveld goes to the Indian Ocean beyond the eastern escarpment.
Experience Highlights!
Things to Do
Shimansky Jewellry Store Rockwell
Diamonds are a girl’s best friend. The Shimansky Rockwell Diamond Experience showroom is a unique and engaging destination offering personalized experiences specially designed for group visitors. Known for its beautiful architecture and stunning mountain backdrop, the Shimansky Rockwell showroom is ideally located in the trendy De Waterkant Village in Green Point, Cape Town, home to a variety of niche restaurants, cafes and retailers. This sought-after location is the perfect fit for Shimansky’s new cutting-edge showroom. Visitors are offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to polish diamonds under the guidance of a Shimansky master craftsman. The first of its kind, this incomparable experience is unique to Shimansky and offers guests a better understanding of the skill required to perfect each and every Shimansky diamond jewelry creation.
Places to Eat
Balducci is a restaurant located in V&A Waterfront, South Africa. The restaurant offers an unrivaled menu of simple, everyday home-cooked Italian dishes that reflect the most traditional elements of food and culinary styles. The food is prepared in a relaxed and restorative manner, while at the same time being creative, traditional, and affordable.
Babylonstoren Wine Tasting Floor-to-ceiling glass walls offer breathtaking views over the vineyards towards the small rocky koppie from which the farm derives its name, while indoors the striking central bar bedecked in vivid green tiles mirrors the lush vineyards beyond. A range of tantalizing snack platters with charcuterie, cheese, pâté and fresh fruit and vegetables from the garden are on offer. The platters are an ideal light bite while tasting the Babylonstoren range of wines.
Sights to See
Highlights of a trip down to Cape Point include; one of the world’s most spectacular drives, Hout Bay, Chapman’s Peak, Noordhoek Beach, the Cape Point Nature Reserve, two lighthouses on the tip of Africa, Boulders Penguin Colony, Simonstown, Kalk Bay, and the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.
Chapman’s Peak
Chapman’s Peak Drive winds it way between Noordhoek and Hout Bay. Situated on the Atlantic Coast, at the south-western tip of South Africa, it is one of the most spectacular marine drives anywhere in the world. The 9 km route, with its 114 curves, skirts the rocky coastline of Chapman’s Peak. The drive offers stunning 180° views with many areas along the route where you can stop and take in the scenery or sit down for a relaxing picnic.
Boulders Beach
Boulders Beach in Simon’s Town is ideal for kids as immense boulders shelter the cove from currents and large waves – but please always take care. It is a rare pleasure to swim with the penguins, but don’t touch or feed them. They might look cute and cuddly, but their beaks are as sharp as razors and if they feel threatened, they have no qualms about nipping the odd finger or nose.
Sunset Champagne Cruise
The Sunset Champagne Cruise is an evening cruise set on the coast of Cape Town. Boat cruise options include a sailing boat and a motor vessel. The luxury boats leave the harbor and then sail across Table Bay to Granger Bay as the sun sets, then returns to the Waterfront. Motor vessels cruise slowly along the Atlantic seaboard towards Clifton beach and then return to the harbor. Guests receive a complimentary glass of local sparkling wine.
Sevruga
If you like the finer things in life, then you’ll like Sevruga. Enjoy the sunset in a spectacular setting by mingling with the hot-to-trot crowd, kitted out from head to toe in designer wear, and sipping on tasty cocktails. Even if you’re not used to dining in a trendy, glitzy environment, the warm, friendly staff, variety of delicious meals and extensive wine list should not fail to impress.
Good to Know
Here are some basic info about South Africa!
Cultural Vibes
Leave a Reply
Do you have some comments or questions for us? We’d love to hear from you! Don’t be shy! Feel free to drop us a message!
Queens of Virtue was birthed through the desire to create a brand for multicultural women – to inspireHER, motivateHER, influenceHER, educateHER, empowerHER, and leadHER to make her passion and purpose, her paycheck. Travel has always been my passion and therapy, with beauty and style being my creative outlet. Originally, the brand was my blog – ‘Travel. Beauty. Style.,’ but I decided to plant seeds of expansion. I focused on becoming a certified travel consultant, but I wanted to create a platform where women can not only travel but connect through genuine togetherness. I did not want just another travel agency, so the brand operates as a DMC (Destination Management Company) and a DMO (Destination Marketing Organization) as well.
As a blogger I noticed that influencers of color were being left out of the “influence” space, especially in the luxury sector. Campaigns continued to go to black and brown destinations, yet the message appeared extremely whitewashed. So, I became the change I desired to see! No longer did I care to come to the table. I realized that my entire life, I was a master chef. I asked myself, why sit at the table, when I am the createHER of the Michelin 5-star menu? Coming from a Caribbean culture, raised in Brooklyn, NY – I knew that it takes a village! So, I built one.
The ‘She Rize” movement is all about the ‘Power in the Pack.” We are Women of Power, uplifting multicultural women, helping them to recognize their role by unleashing their Queendom that exists within. The brand offers resources within pillars of motivation – through coaching and mentoring – for small businesses and entrepreneurship development. As a woman, one of the hardest things to accomplish is being mentored and/or coached by other women. Not too many women take the time to be our sisters’ keeper. I remember looking up to Toni Morrison, Terry McMillan, and of course, Maya Angelou. Their creative works gave me the inspiration and fuel I need to ‘rize’ when the world told me I cannot! “You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I’ll rise!” – Maya Angelou.
I work 1-on-1 with women aspiring to take their brands higher. For those who are interested in the travel industry, you will receive mentorship and coaching, in addition to training and job placement upon industry certification. In fact, you can expect my guidance and support throughout the entire process.
For the last decade, as a digital influencer, I recognized a void within the industry. The goal is to be the bridge that connects the not-so-invisible dots. Working with women influencers and creators of color, is my passion – as well as a privilege! This initiative works with top brands, professionals, and influencers/creators (by invitation only) to create content as storytellers! Throughout the year, this collective hosts exclusive FAMs (familiarization) and Press trips for influencers to experience destinations and events, saturated in luxury and style. I also create luxury campaigns in the Travel and Lifestyle arenas. The initiative also provides a luxury digital magazine for creators and influencers, by creators and influencers called ‘Shades of Beauty, Influence of Color,’ as well as a podcast series called the ‘Queen’s Qorner,’ training, courses, and virtual travel content – all launching soon.
The vision I have for Queens of Virtue continues to transform. I hope to impact over 1,000 women globally by the end of 2022, leaving a digital footprint of change and growth. By 2025, I hope to reach over 10,000 women. When I say impact – I mean to influence, inspire, empower, educate, lead – to shape in some way, helping HER to not just tell her story, but to manifest her dreams into a sweet reality. My goal is to have properties; Airbnb’s, resorts, and Inn’s in exotic destinations around the globe, in addition, catamaran(s), private jet(s) and thousands of sustainable women-led and owned businesses under my wing by 2030. I plan to leave a legacy for my children and grandchildren. Queens of Virtue aims to be a household staple and world-renowned luxury lifestyle brand for decades to come.
