Adam Leitch, our Head of IT, recently spent a beautiful weeks holiday in Cape Town, South Africa, which is the home of many timeshare resorts (including Peninsula All-Suite Hotel) before stopping off in Zimbabwe & Botswana. Here are his thoughts on his time away:
TLG: Why South Africa, what made this your holiday destination?
AL: I travel quite a lot, aiming to travel at least two long haul and three short haul trips per year. I’ve been to many of the places I have always wanted to visit, though I am still crossing some of those off my bucket list and South Africa was one of those. We also decided to stop in Zimbabwe & Botswana on the way back home as well to experience the falls and safari wildlife. I had actually read that Cape Town was the 13th most dangerous city in the World! During my time spent there I found it to be welcoming and the people friendly. I think if you use your common sense and check out where you are staying anywhere in the world, you will be able to enjoy yourself without too much concern.
TLG: They say that “west is best” when people holiday, do you think that this is true?
AL: Not really, I have now been to South Africa, East & West USA, Asia, Australia and also most of Europe. There’s so many different experiences to take in it would be very difficult to say one area of the world is better than another, they all offer so much.
TLG: It is a long flight, was it worth it when you arrived?
AL: I think so, if you can get a direct flight at a good price then it’s the obvious choice due to less hassle and time spent travelling, but at the same time a connect flight will obviously save you money. If you know you can get good value on travel and make a significant saving, then you can spend that on tours, food and generally enjoying your holiday!
TLG: When did you travel to South Africa?
AL: I actually went in late December last year and the weather was just right in terms of temperature, I’d say 20 to 25 degrees most of the time, with no rain. Cape Town was actually going through a drought at the time, but there was no issue with water. The only problem we encountered were strong winds which actually caused a few tours we had to be cancelled, which was unfortunate, but we made sure we always found something to do.
TLG: Which location did you stay?
AL: I stayed in the very heart of Cape Town with access to all the main areas and attractions. Places such as Camps Bay, Sea Point, V&A Waterfront, Lion’s Head, Table Top Mountain and of course the Cape of Good Hope. During my time in Zimbabwe I went to Victoria Falls and took a helicopter ride over it, walked freely with some lion cubs in their large open enclosure and even popped across the border to Botswana for a half day safari at Chobe National Park to take in some of the amazing wildlife it had to offer, a great experience!
TLG: Did you travel to South Africa alone or with others?
AL: I travelled with my close friend Chris, who lives in Hong Kong. We still make time each year to meet up, though it’s usually in a foreign country these days!
TLG: Did you eat out in the local restaurants, what was your favourite food on your holiday?
AL: Taking in the local cuisine is certainly one of my favourite pass times when relaxing on vacation. There’s a good range of quality restaurants at decent prices as well (in comparison to UK pricing). I would recommend Nelson’s Eye (for the amazing steak), Kloof Street House for its great service, décor and exquisite menu (including Ostrich). It’s advisable to book though, as it’s very popular. I’d also like to give the Beerhouse on Long Street a mention as well, definitely one for the beer connoisseur!
During my time in Zimbabwe there was a great little place in Victoria Falls called The Three Monkeys I would recommend, which served great food and drink with a good friendly atmosphere.
TLG: Would you return to South Africa for a holiday, if not are there other African destinations you would like to visit?
AL: I think I would go back to Cape Town if it was on the way to somewhere else. Mainly because I missed the Great White shark cage tour we had booked as it was cancelled due to poor conditions. It’s certainly an adventure I would very much like to undertake and I know Cape Town offers one of the best shark experiences on the planet.
TLG: Where would you dream holiday location be?
AL: It’s difficult to say now, I’ve been to a lot of the countries I’d always planned to visit, so I’d have to think about that one! But Asia is still one of my favourite continents to visit.
South Africa,
It’s All About the Memories
TLG: What were the best moments of this trip?
AL: Walking with the lions, helicopter over Victoria Falls and the Chobe safari I would say, as they’re not activities you get to do every day!
Does this sounds like the sort of destination you would like to visit? Are looking for quality accommodation in South Africa? You should consider becoming an owner by calling 0800 071 4674 and speak to our buying department or send us a contact form. Alternatively if you have timeshare you are wishing to sell then please call 0800 071 1372 or complete our form for a free valuation.
