South
Africa - Day 8
Thursday 29th January 2026
Participants: Kev & Tam
Up at 7.30 am and go down for a breakfast of eggs benedict before packing and preparing to leave Cape Town to go to Hermanus for 2 nights. We've had a great time and packed in a lot in 4 days. We've also enjoyed the Zest Boutique Hotel very much, the rooms, the breakfasts and especially the service have been exceptional. When we check out they give us a little bracelet each.
This was our view from the bedroom window at Zest Boutique.
We leave at 10.00 am and stop for petrol which costs about 90p a litre. When you fill up at a garage there is a team of people waiting to serve you. You stay in the car and a guy comes up to ask what you want. They will check your oil and tyres if you require. We just wanted fuel and they fill up the tank while all your windows are washed. When they've finished they bring the card machine to your window and you pay. Most people tip 10 to 20 rand for this service (50p to £1).
We join the N2 and drive to Strand where we pick up the R44 that goes through an area known as Clarens Drive. It's another coastal road with stunning views.
We stop at Betty's Bay where there is a penguin colony at Stony Point. It costs just over £2 to enter and you see the penguins along the shoreline doing whatever penguins do to pass the time. There's plenty of the intriguing little creatures to keep you entertained and there are little concrete domelike structures to act as shelters should they want them. There's been a lot of success with the breeding programme here and it's great to see so many penguins in their natural environment.
When I first saw this I wondered who had left all the old cable on this wildlife beach, but it turned out to be a really weird sort of kelp.
Just before we reach Hermanus I mention to
Tam that I'd read about a winefarm called Creation just a few
miles away and we make a last minute decision to head there for
lunch.
As we come off the main road we are stopped by a barrier as they
are doing roadworks. We sit and wait ... and wait ..... at least
10 minutes pass and we wonder what's happening. It turns out that
this is how they work in the roads in South Africa. They close
off one lane for quite a distance (over a mile) and have barriers
each end with a person with a walkie talkie. They let traffic
through for quite a long time before closing the barrier to let
the other direction through. It can mean that you can have a long
wait at one end if you catch it wrong, but it seems to work quite
well.
We turn off onto a side road that turns into a gravel track and eventually reach Creation. Oh my lord, this place is spectacularly beautiful. There's a lake surrounded by vines and a beautiful tasting room/restaurant. The lawn at the entrance is full of beautiful statues.
We enquire if there's a table available for lunch as the place is full and we are lucky to get a hightop inside. We're given a complimentary taster of Sauvignon Blanc and then a cold soup that we are told is to line the digestive tract. I didn't even know mine needed lining or that I have one. We decide to share the half platter as the full platter is meant to be shared by 4 people. It's a lovely selection of breads, cheese, meats, edible flowers and fruit. We both have a glass of Pinot Noir which is so nice that we buy a bottle. The total comes to about £44 and that includes the wine we bought.
Not the best photo of the restaurant, but it does show the view through the windows.
We have another look around and take more photos, you could just keeping snapping away forever. It's been a lovely impromptu lunch. We would certainly come here again, but would definitely book (and maybe get an Uber) as they do a great tasting menu for lunch.
Onwards to Hermanus about 20 minutes away where we check in to our accommodation for the next 2 nights, Penguino Guesthouse. The owner meets us and shows us around and gives us some information on the town and suggests some restaurants. Turns out that he lived in the UK for a while in Castle Coombe just a few miles from us.
We walk into town along the coastal path past some pretty little coves.
This is Dassie. It looks like a cross between a guinea pig and a rabbit. There's lots of these along the cliff path. Why this one appears to be smoking a cigarette I don't know. 'Ere, got a light mate?'
We drop into a couple of restaurants to book for the next 2 nights. Tonight we are going to the Hussar Bar and Grill, which is a steak restaurant. Back to the guesthouse where we shower and change before heading at 6.00 pm to Ficks Bar and Restaurant. The tables here are right down by the waters edge on a little inlet where local children are having a great time swimming in the evening sunshine. You can't book this place and we're lucky to get one of the few tables left where we have a margarita and mojito (£10 including tip).
Ficks Restaurant.
On into town where we go to Hussar Bar and Grill. We are given homemade crisps and olives to start with while we look at the menu. I decide on the 300 g Filet while Tam has the rib eye. We also have garlic new potatoes, roasted corn gratin and green beans. Both steaks are cooked perfectly and the meal is very good. We both have 250 ml carafes of red wine from Babylonstoren. We pass on dessert, but the server brings us a complimentary chocolate cream martini each, which is very nice. Total for that lot? £60 including a good tip.
We end the night in Skybar where 2 cocktails set us back £10. It's just excellent value everywhere.
Hermanus is famed as being one of the best spots in the world for whale watching in the right season. Unfortunately for us it's not the right season. This one doesn't count.
In case you're wondering Tam's cocktail was adorned with candy floss. Mine was a margarita type thing.
It also appears that Hermanus is not a late night town, so we're back to our guesthouse for bed at 10.00 pm, which suits us fine after a long day.