Wildlife and the good life in South Africa

The fact that I’m a world traveler is the thing I love most about my life as a performer. Memories and photos of my experiences (and precious frequent flyer miles — who doesn’t love free flights?) are my true treasure.  

I’ve dreamt of visiting South Africa for some years now. It’s not a country where many Filipinos would migrate to for work so there would be little chance of me bagging a singing gig there. It’s a destination I had to plan, pay and carve out time for. 

Last May 23, my husband and I, along with another couple, excitedly set out for South Africa on a 2-week adventure, each with our own purpose. His was to fulfill a childhood dream of diving with a great white shark. Mine was to see wild animals on safari and of course, visit Cape Town, which I’ve been told by many is a city anyone would fall in love with.  

For those of you who have never considered South Africa as a vacation spot or — like me, before my trip — had limited knowledge about the great Nelson Mandela’s beloved country, I’d like to share my personal top 5 reasons why you should definitely round up the troops and make plans to go. I think it’s better than a long-winded narrative of our trip, don’t you think? 

This is why I urge you to visit South Africa:

1. You’ll get to see the “Big 5” up close and personal. The Big 5 of Africa is a term that refers to the top 5 animals that are most difficult to look for on foot: lion, African elephant, Cape buffalo, leopard and rhinoceros. I was concerned that because we’re dreadfully nearsighted (both my husband and I practically legally blind) we would miss them. But we saw these magnificent creatures as well as impalas, zebras, kudus, wildebeest and giraffes sometimes as close as a few meters away. 

We stayed at Arathusa Safari Lodge in Sabi Sands, which is a group of private game reserves inside the Greater Kruger National Park. I totally recommend that you book your safari with them, and ask to be included in ranger Rien’s group. 

Rien is super knowledgeable and incredibly lucky spotting the animals with the help of a tracker, and was witty and funny, with rugged, boyish looks. Yup, it constantly crossed our minds that our single gal pals at home would love him and almost asked to bring him home as a pasalubong (souvenir).

Our private rondavel (the traditional African hut) was luxurious and comfortable. Even the food, which comes with the package along with two 3-hour game drives  (sessions riding around in an open top jeep looking for animals) per day was fantastic — every meal a sumptuous feast. What more can I say? 

2. You can wine and dine for less than what you pay in Manila — seriously!  One of the things I always say when I try to entice non-Filipinos to visit the Philippines is that eating out and partying in Manila is so much cheaper than other cities. So I was shocked that everywhere you go in South Africa, even at a small eatery in the middle of nowhere, every meal is fit for gourmands. I’m talking 5-star quality and huge portions at a fraction of the price of what you would get here. 

In Franschhoek, a quaint town surrounded by wine estates about an hour drive away from Cape Town, we stayed overnight in a lovely room with en suite jacuzzi at a bed & breakfast place. 

The next morning, we woke up to the most amazing meal you could imagine — a selection of fine cheeses and several different types of bread, a full English spread of any-style eggs, bacon, sausages, mushrooms and tomatoes. I felt like a little princess because the dining table was set up with so much attention to detail. All this for the price of a crappy hotel stay in Malate or Burgos. I could barely believe it. 

Then of course, South Africa is known for its great wine. At Boschendal Winery, we did a tasting of six different wines for the equivalent of $3. Even at a fancy bar or restaurant there, a bottle of good wine would cost you 40% cheaper than here. 

You simply get more bang for your buck as a tourist in South Africa than most places in the world. 

3. You’ll be wowed by Cape Town. How can I describe this place? One minute you think you’re in one of the great European cities, teeming with history and culture and the next minute, you could swear you’re in Malibu … but then it’s all very low-key.

Oh, and then there’s that jaw-dropping view of Table Mountain in the background. Every where you turn, it’s a visual spectacle. The old and new blend effortlessly here without even a hint of kitsch. There are no big malls with designer brand stores. In fact, most locals are what I would call comfortably, casually dressed.

It’s the opposite of walking around Manhattan or Tokyo where I always feel like the most shabbily, least fashionably dressed person on the street. The vibe you get from Capetonians is that they have a lot more going on in their lives than wanting to be “seen.” 

We “splurged” a little bit here and booked a one-bedroom suite at Cape Royale Hotel – great location and impeccable service. The price was actually less than the cost of a standard room in a Makati 5-star hotel. It’s also a 10-minute walk to the V&A Waterfront, a boardwalk full of charming cafes and shops. From there, you can take a ferry to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was first imprisoned. 

4. You’ll get face to face with sharks! We were turned away by the tour operator in Gansbaai, a town most famous for great white shark cage diving, because of bad weather.

My husband’s dream seemed like it was slipping away, but then he found out that there was a chance we could do it in Mossel Bay, about a 4-hour drive away. 

June is winter in South Africa and thus the perfect time to see the sharks, but unfortunately sea conditions can also be quite rough. However, two days before our scheduled flight home, we were blessed with a few hours of great weather.

The hubby got his biggest wish in all the world — we all got to meet not one but two massive great white sharks! The cage that they lowered into the water looked safe but that was not enough to lure me in. This little Pinay would die in freezing water so it was just him and his friend who went in.

The view from the boat was more than fine because the sharks were a few meters away and would breach the surface often. For almost 30 minutes they kept close to our boat. I’d never seen my husband so deliriously happy. The look on his face alone was worth the journey.  

5. It’s the perfect trip for couples. Ladies, even if you and your man are not cheese balls like me, it’s just impossible not to up the romance between you when in Hermanus, a town famous for whale-watching, you walk hand in hand along a path covered in a canopy of thick foliage that suddenly opens up to a view of the ocean. You catch your breath and in that instant, you thank your lucky stars that you have someone to share that moment with.  

With the exception of parents traveling with small children (the safari game drives would not very convenient for changing diapers), I would recommend a trip to South Africa to just about anyone. There is a unique adventure waiting for you, no matter your budget or preference.

For adrenaline junkies like my husband, you can bungy-jump off Bloukrans Bridge on the Garden Route. Not my cup of tea, but there were so many activities to try between that craziness and my wimpiness. 

After all, what is an adventure? The dictionary defines it as “a risky undertaking of unknown outcome; an exciting or unexpected event.” But the way author Pico Iyer put it resonated more with me. He wrote: “Adventure has as much to do with leaving your habits behind as leaving your home; it’s about moving your perceptions as much as your limbs.” 

For me, travel is so much more than education or entertainment. It changes you from within. – Rappler.com

Rachel Alejandro is a singer-actress and entrepreneur. She co-owns the health food delivery company  The Sexy Chef, OBC 5Star Inc. She has co-authored a healthy lifestyle and recipe book with her sister called The Sexy Chef Cookbook which is available now at National Bookstore outlets as well for order at www.thesexychef.ph. Follow her on Twitter @SexyChefRachelA.

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