South Africa with teens - Cape Town? Vineyards?

[Anonymous]

We are going to Africa and already have the resort and safari part figured out. What we are wondering about is adding on a trip to Cape Town and visits to vineyards. Is Cape Town worth it for a few days? Anyone been with teens? Our kids have been on tours of historic wineries, but I want to make sure this is culturally appropriate in South Africa- anyone taken teens to wineries in South Africa?

[Anonymous]

I loved Cape Town! So much natural beauty and lots of history as well. We also visited Stellenbosch for 2 nights and loved it, but it was just me and my husband. I didn't see any kids at the wineries but I don't know that it's frowned upon. Maybe look at the sites for a couple of the wineries you'd like to visit and see what it says. Honestly, it might be a bit boring for them...

[Anonymous]

No OP just no.

What's wrong with you?

Who does this?

Do Victoria Falls and go back home idiot.

[Anonymous]

Or kids were younger when we went (elementary school), they are teens now. The wineries we went to were family-friendly enough, but my now-teens would be bored. I'd take them instead to Table Mountain, Boulders Beach, or Cape Point.

Cape Town is definitely worth it, though!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Or kids were younger when we went (elementary school), they are teens now. The wineries we went to were family-friendly enough, but my now-teens would be bored. I'd take them instead to Table Mountain, Boulders Beach, or Cape Point.

Cape Town is definitely worth it, though!

Very helpful comment. I'm okay with our kids being bored for a few hours (I think its an important life skill to be bored and be okay with that). I love your suggestions for the beach and hiking. Did you hire an armed guard for those outings, or what did you do to ensure safety?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I loved Cape Town! So much natural beauty and lots of history as well. We also visited Stellenbosch for 2 nights and loved it, but it was just me and my husband. I didn't see any kids at the wineries but I don't know that it's frowned upon. Maybe look at the sites for a couple of the wineries you'd like to visit and see what it says. Honestly, it might be a bit boring for them...

Thanks, I will check out information about Stellenbosch. Yes, they may be bored. That said, one of the places that one of my children talks about the most was a famous winery in France where he seemed to be bored.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No OP just no.

What's wrong with you?

Who does this?

Do Victoria Falls and go back home idiot.

Relax. People can be different from you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or kids were younger when we went (elementary school), they are teens now. The wineries we went to were family-friendly enough, but my now-teens would be bored. I'd take them instead to Table Mountain, Boulders Beach, or Cape Point.

Cape Town is definitely worth it, though!

Very helpful comment. I'm okay with our kids being bored for a few hours (I think its an important life skill to be bored and be okay with that). I love your suggestions for the beach and hiking. Did you hire an armed guard for those outings, or what did you do to ensure safety?

We were in Cape Town in October 2024 when things were getting bad again (idk if they’re getting better or still iffy again). We didn’t use private security cause it was just DH and me and we’re young and superrr low key but our travel agent said lots of families with kids hire security to be extra safe / as an extra deterrent. If you stay at a 5 star hotel like O&O they’ll also have armed guards.

Boulders Beach and Cape Point are perfectly safe. The local sheriff or whatever they call it for the Boulders Beach area is an animal and took a Wild West no excuses approach that’s worked well to get rid of crime.

Would be more worried about exploring Cape Town outside of V&A Waterfront and off the beaten path at Table Mountain in terms of wanting security.

[Anonymous]

PP here - also make sure to use professional drivers for exploring, getting from CPT to hotel, dinners, etc. It’s a lot cheaper than the US and it’ll help keep you safe. You can book this via your hotel usually if it’s higher end.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP here - also make sure to use professional drivers for exploring, getting from CPT to hotel, dinners, etc. It’s a lot cheaper than the US and it’ll help keep you safe. You can book this via your hotel usually if it’s higher end.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or kids were younger when we went (elementary school), they are teens now. The wineries we went to were family-friendly enough, but my now-teens would be bored. I'd take them instead to Table Mountain, Boulders Beach, or Cape Point.

Cape Town is definitely worth it, though!

Very helpful comment. I'm okay with our kids being bored for a few hours (I think its an important life skill to be bored and be okay with that). I love your suggestions for the beach and hiking. Did you hire an armed guard for those outings, or what did you do to ensure safety?

Omg you don’t need private security. Honestly, the things people think of.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or kids were younger when we went (elementary school), they are teens now. The wineries we went to were family-friendly enough, but my now-teens would be bored. I'd take them instead to Table Mountain, Boulders Beach, or Cape Point.

Cape Town is definitely worth it, though!

Very helpful comment. I'm okay with our kids being bored for a few hours (I think its an important life skill to be bored and be okay with that). I love your suggestions for the beach and hiking. Did you hire an armed guard for those outings, or what did you do to ensure safety?

Omg you don’t need private security. Honestly, the things people think of.

It's fairly common among wealthy tourists in South Africa. We've been advised to consider it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or kids were younger when we went (elementary school), they are teens now. The wineries we went to were family-friendly enough, but my now-teens would be bored. I'd take them instead to Table Mountain, Boulders Beach, or Cape Point.

Cape Town is definitely worth it, though!

Very helpful comment. I'm okay with our kids being bored for a few hours (I think its an important life skill to be bored and be okay with that). I love your suggestions for the beach and hiking. Did you hire an armed guard for those outings, or what did you do to ensure safety?

Omg you don’t need private security. Honestly, the things people think of.

It's fairly common among wealthy tourists in South Africa. We've been advised to consider it.

Just don’t walk around dripping in jewelry and counting your money and you will be fine. I walked around Cape Town day and night and it was fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or kids were younger when we went (elementary school), they are teens now. The wineries we went to were family-friendly enough, but my now-teens would be bored. I'd take them instead to Table Mountain, Boulders Beach, or Cape Point.

Cape Town is definitely worth it, though!

Very helpful comment. I'm okay with our kids being bored for a few hours (I think its an important life skill to be bored and be okay with that). I love your suggestions for the beach and hiking. Did you hire an armed guard for those outings, or what did you do to ensure safety?

Omg you don’t need private security. Honestly, the things people think of.

It's fairly common among wealthy tourists in South Africa. We've been advised to consider it.

Well, sure. Playing on the fears of rich white folks is very lucrative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or kids were younger when we went (elementary school), they are teens now. The wineries we went to were family-friendly enough, but my now-teens would be bored. I'd take them instead to Table Mountain, Boulders Beach, or Cape Point.

Cape Town is definitely worth it, though!

Very helpful comment. I'm okay with our kids being bored for a few hours (I think its an important life skill to be bored and be okay with that). I love your suggestions for the beach and hiking. Did you hire an armed guard for those outings, or what did you do to ensure safety?

Omg you don’t need private security. Honestly, the things people think of.

It's fairly common among wealthy tourists in South Africa. We've been advised to consider it.

DP

Who is advising you?

If I suspected a conflict of interest I’d understand.

If it was another seasoned traveler, I would consider this a belittling insult.