Travel tips: South Africa’s Western Cape

If you go

THE BEST WAY TO CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

From LAX, connecting service (change of planes) to Cape Town is available on British, Virgin Atlantic, Lufthansa, Air France, Emirates and Turkish. Restricted round-trip fares generally fall between $979 and $1,539, including all taxes and fees.

TELEPHONES

To call the numbers below from the U.S., dial 011 (the international dialing code), 27 (country code for South Africa) and the local number.

WHERE TO STAY

Farm 215, near Gansbaai in the Overberg region east of Cape Town; 28-388-0920, https://www.farm215.co.za/index.html. Rooms start at about $99 a night to about $163 for the free-standing Fynbos Suites.

Braemar Villa, 6 Harris Road, Kalk Bay, Cape Town; 84-661-0131, https://www.braemarvilla-kalkbay.co.za/wmenu.php. From about $75 a night. Four bedrooms and a view of the harbor.

Babylonstoren, 21-863-38-52, https://www.babylonstoren.com. Near Franschhoek in the Cape Winelands, about a 45-minute drive from the Cape Town airport. A double cottage is about $500 a night.

WHERE TO EAT

Kalkies, a fish-and-chips cafe on the harbor in Kalk Bay (no website). A meal will cost you $5 or less.

Olympia Cafe, 134 Main Road, Kalk Bay; 21-788-6396. Meal about $10.

Bread & Wine Vineyard Restaurant, Happy Valley Road, Franschhoek; 21-876-3692, https://www.moreson.co.za/bread-and-wine/. On the grounds of the Môreson winery. Lunch with wine about $15

Salt of the Earth, R320 Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, Hermanus; 82-922-3815. Lunch with wine about $10.

Black Oystercatcher Restaurant, R317 (Moddervlei Farm), Bredasdorp; 28-482-1618, https://www.blackoystercatcher.co.za/index.html. In the Elim wine district not far from Cape Agulhas. Lunch with wine costs about $12.

WHAT TO DO

Marine Dynamics Shark Tours, 5 Geelbek Street, Kleinbaai; 79-930-96-94, https://www.sharkwatchsa.com/en/home/, offers shark dives out of Gansbaai. About $160, including breakfast before you leave and snacks onboard.

TO LEARN MORE

South African Tourism, https://www.southafrica.net/sat/content/en/us/