A Side of Sweet

Beautiful Food, Travel & Design

Babylonstoren Gardens Fraenschhoek, South Africa

You have to visit Babylonstoren if you travel to Cape Town, South Africa’s wine country. They have an amazing restaurant, beautiful hotel and their wine is tops!

Things to do in Cape Town, South Africa Wine Country

Babylonstoren Farm & Gardens was definitely one of the highlights of our South African wine country trip. The farm was established in 1692, and many buildings still stand. Gravity feeds stream water into the garden by waterways, just like farming was done centuries ago. Ducks and chickens wander the properties and there are hives of bees nestled among the gardens…. Read More »

Table Mountain + Cable Car, Cape Town

Table Mountain Cape Town, South Africa + Cable Car Information
Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa was one of my favorite things that we did on our trip there. It’s just as it sounds – a massive rock plateau that looks like a table. It’s right in the middle of the city and is only accessible by a cable car.

It’s also one of those places where it’s better to let the photos speak for themselves…. Read More »

South Africa Garden Route Treehouse Hotel

Teniqua Treetops Treehouse Hotel, located along the Garden Route in South Africa, is a peaceful and romantic place and the perfect escape from Cape Town.Teniqua Treetops Treehouse Hotel - Sedgefield Garden Route, South Africa

As a part of our Cape Town trip, Pat and I spent a few days driving from Cape Town to Knysna along the famous South African Garden Route. I have to admit, despite meeting so many South Africans who absolutely raved about the Garden Route, we honestly weren’t that impressed. It’s pretty touristy, and most of the drive itself is actually pretty far from the coast. That’s the last you’ll hear about it here, as I only cover things on A Side of Sweet that we absolutely love.

One absolute gem came out of the drive though, that made the 12 hour round trip drive worth it. That was our stay in an actual treehouse at Teniqua Treetops Resort outside of Sedgefield, South Africa and about 15 minutes from Knysna…. Read More »

Cape Town Township Tour

Cape Town Township Tours Review - Imizamo Yetho & KhayelitshaDuring out Cape Town adventure, we spent an afternoon taking a township tour of Imizamo Yethu in Hout Bay. South African townships are large informal settlements that were put up illegally during Apartheid when black people were evicted from “white only” neighborhoods. The displaced built makeshift houses anywhere they could find space.

Over the years, people have tried to get rid of the townships, but just when one is cleaned up, another springs up in its place. Now, many of these townships in the country have become permanent ‘mini cities’. The townships continue to grow in density and size as refugees from other countries move in seeking a better life for themselves and their families…. Read More »

Cape Point & Cape of Good Hope

MUST VISIT - Cape Town, South Africa. Cape Point - the Southern Tip of AfricaCape Point in South Africa has to be one of the most beautiful places on earth. Most people think it’s the point where the Indian and Atlantic oceans meet, but this spot actually fluctuates between Cape Point and Cape Agulhas about 100 miles away. Because of the mix of warm and cold currents, it’s home to one of the most diverse marine biomes in the world.

The vegetation on the coast is called fynbos. Even though fynbos only covers 6% of Southern Africa, it is home to 20% of all species discovered on the entire continent. Apparently there are still a few zebra that live on the peninsula, but all we saw were seabirds. And baboons…. Read More »