My husband and I returned to South Africa on holiday after 12 years. As an ex- South African it was exciting to visit the country of our birth and a country that we had never visited as tourists but as local holidaymakers.

We flew Mango airlines (a local airline) from Johannesburg to Cape Town. Our 3 night stay at the 12 Apostles was outstanding. I can only speak of the hotel using superlatives - the room, a superior sea facing room was worth every cent - a magnificent view with impeccable attention paid to detail. Each night, different 'treats' accompanied the turn down and aromatic candles burned in the bathroom. Breakfast served in the Azure room was a gastronomic delight - fresh South African produce accompanied by home made watermelon preserve and other South African food. 'Perfect' poached eggs and the Bircher's Muesli remained consistently my favourite. A shuttle service to and from the V + A Waterfront ran frequently. Although we did not make use of the spa (nor the complimentary facilities there), it is easy to understand why it is listed as one of the top spas of the world.
From the moment we set foot into the reception where we were greeted by obliging and friendly staff (not to mention the abundant supplies of dried mango and pears), to the birthday cake waiting in our room, we were taken aback by the excellence. My initial concern about the location (away from the madding crowd) with the magnificent mountain as a backdrop and the sea in the foreground, soon faded into oblivion. We could not have wished for a more beautiful setting - close to Camps Bay, and with the ease of transport to get to other destinations.
I have no hesitation in recommending this hotel.

Just a few other aspects that may be of use. As soon as our dates were set, I booked the trip to Robben Island by phoning South Africa [-]. Their website is [-]. A trip to Robben Island is a must and books up exceptionally quickly. Our tickets were waiting for us upon arrival, only to come across some rather upset tourists who were unable to visit the island as the trip was fully booked.That afternoon we went on a Township Tour with a local who took us to Langa, Guguleta and District Six. Samantha, our guide is a resident of Langa. The tour was interactive and informative. We met locals, visited a shebeen (kind of a pub) and went into different houses, gaining a remarkable insight into township life. My husband, an avid diver, went off to Gansbaai to dive with the Great White Sharks. As we are not wine lovers, a trip to the Winelands was not on our agenda. However, the Cape is famous for their wine and good food. There are many tour operators that take day trips out to Stellenbosch or Paarl.