00:00I'm Lily Douse, and this is Grand Voyager.
00:04In this series, I travel the world to discover incredible places
00:09filled with culture, luxury, and adventure.
00:13Along the way, I meet the people, taste the flavors,
00:17and experience the moments that make each destination unforgettable.
00:27Today, I'm traveling to the southern edge of Africa,
00:30a city known for its iconic mountain and stunning coastal views.
00:35Hello, and welcome to Cape Town.
00:38In this episode, I'll be exploring its rich history,
00:42colorful neighborhoods, and the surrounding landscapes
00:45that give this place its soul.
00:49I'm starting my adventure at the Castle of Good Hope.
00:52To learn more about this historic fortress,
00:55I'm meeting a local resident.
00:57This is the oldest colonial building in South Africa.
01:01The main reason for the construction was so that
01:04the Dutch's India Company have this as a refreshment station.
01:09This fortress later came under British colonial control,
01:13and today, it's still used by the South African military.
01:19Just a short walk away is the City Hall,
01:22where key moments in Cape Town's past took place.
01:26If you look to the balcony,
01:28you will see there's a statue of Nelson Mandela.
01:31That is the exact spot where he stood,
01:34and he made his speech to millions of people.
01:38To get a closer look, we head to the balcony.
01:41From here, Nelson Mandela gave his first speech as president
01:45after 27 years in prison.
01:48He remains one of the world's most influential figures.
01:53Close by is one of the city's historic markets.
01:57This is called Green Market Square.
01:59Started out in 1696.
02:02Around the area, we actually had farms.
02:06This was one of the places where they would sell their produce.
02:09The stores stock everything,
02:11from hand-crafted artwork to African beaded jewellery.
02:15Yeah, very pretty.
02:18It's a great spot to find something to take home.
02:22For our final stop,
02:24we're heading to one of the city's most famous landmarks.
02:28Table Mountain is a giant rock formation
02:31that dominates the landscape.
02:33We're travelling by cable car,
02:35and the view is simply incredible.
02:39This is what makes Cape Town, Cape Town.
02:42Because if you've not been to the top of Table Mountain,
02:45you've not been to Cape Town.
02:46It is one of the seven natural wonders of the world,
02:49and the reason why,
02:51it's because it is a table top.
02:54So it is relatively flat.
02:57Table Mountain is 250 million years old,
03:01and attracts visitors from around the world.
03:06Just outside Cape Town
03:08is a coastal area made up of rocks and bushes.
03:12Hidden within it all is an unexpected animal,
03:15the African penguin.
03:18Grant has been showing people around this area
03:20for over two decades,
03:22and knows all the best spots to see them up close.
03:25These penguins are found only
03:28on the southern coast of Africa,
03:30and are adapted to warm climates.
03:33Each penguin has a unique set of spots on its chest,
03:36which is like a unique form of identification.
03:39All good walkers,
03:41but actually very good swimmers and very good climbers.
03:43We then move on to the Cape of Good Hope,
03:46a rocky point along the coast.
03:48For centuries, trading ships passed this area
03:52as they travelled around Africa.
03:54Today, it's part of a protected national park
03:57known for its stunning views.
04:00We have an amazing beach at the bottom over there.
04:02Over the weekend, this place will be packed.
04:05Great spot to hike.
04:07This is what Cape Town's about.
04:09I mean, natural beauty.
04:11Further along, there are several other viewpoints,
04:14with a lighthouse, coastal walkways,
04:17and dramatic rock formations.
04:19It's a great place to see the ocean
04:22and the rugged shoreline.
04:24After exploring, we round things off
04:27with some fresh seafood overlooking the bay.
04:31The perfect way to end my experience.
04:37Cape Town has one of the most dynamic art scenes in Africa,
04:41and here in the iconic harbour,
04:44I'm staying at the Silo Hotel,
04:46right in the heart of this artistic district.
04:50We are standing in the Silo Hotel's lobby
04:54in what used to be an old grain silo
04:57that was built in the 1920s.
05:00It now houses one of the largest African contemporary art museums
05:03and ourselves, the Silo Hotel.
05:05The hotel is designed as a gallery,
05:09with artwork from every corner of the African continent.
05:13Upstairs, the artwork continues,
05:16with everything from sculptures to the architecture itself.
05:19The building is famous for its distinctive glass windows
05:24and was once one of the tallest structures in Africa.
05:27Africa has such a rich heritage and tradition
05:31of bright colours and materiality,
05:34but I also think, you know,
05:35for the longest time,
05:37the story of Africa has been told
05:39through the lens of the outside.
05:42Hotels such as ours provide a platform
05:45for African artists to tell their own stories.
05:49The hotel has over 350 African pieces on display.
05:54You're surrounded by art wherever you go.
05:59The next day, I'm up early
06:01to explore the Cape Floral region,
06:04home to thousands of native plant species.
06:07Rupert, who works with Travel Designer,
06:10has spent more than 30 years studying this landscape.
06:14This part of the garden is called the Garden of Extinction.
06:16South Africa is blessed with many,
06:19species with very small ranges,
06:21which means that they're especially susceptible
06:23to losing their habitat.
06:25Many of these native plants here
06:27are critically endangered,
06:29with only a handful left in the wild.
06:32Close by is the fragrance garden,
06:35where the smell of perfume is in the air.
06:38It smells amazing.
06:40Along the way, we encounter ancient plants
06:42and pass through shaded forests.
06:45We then reach the garden's tree canopy walkway.
06:48It's a great place to see the many plants that grow here.
06:52We've got sandstone fangirls, granite fangirls,
06:56shell fangirls, and much lower down,
06:59renoster felt.
07:00It's a fascinating garden
07:01that continues to evolve and inspire.
07:05Next, I'm putting that inspiration into practice.
07:08I'm joining a private outdoor art class,
07:12where I'll learn to capture some of South Africa's iconic flowers.
07:16The protea is our national flower,
07:18and it's part of a very diverse floral kingdom.
07:22We believe that it's like our people of South Africa,
07:25and it represents also our culture.
07:28The next thing we're going to do is prepare to paint.
07:31We start by applying a base layer of colour to the canvas with a sponge.
07:37Sometimes it's quite fun to vary the direction.
07:39Perfect.
07:40Well done.
07:41Once the canvas is covered, we begin sketching the bouquet.
07:45And there's no right and wrong.
07:46That's the beautiful thing about a flower bouquet.
07:50It's really whatever you see.
07:52Then we apply different shades of paints.
07:55Please be very liberal with the paint.
07:58Just go for it.
07:59We've got plenty of it.
08:00Okay.
08:01And just have fun.
08:02And you can create brush marks in any way that feels comfortable.
08:05We start by blocking in the big shapes
08:07and gradually build up the layers.
08:10I'm taking this yellow and making a little bit of a green,
08:13and I'm just flicking it across,
08:15because I can see that that's what these ones are doing.
08:19We add texture, and everything starts coming together.
08:23Sometimes people wonder, when is a painting finished?
08:27That's what I'm wondering right now, because I keep on looking at it.
08:29I'm like, I keep on adding to this,
08:31but I'm not sure if I should be or if it is just complete.
08:34Well, one thing you might consider for yourself is,
08:36have I reached a point where when I put down another brush mark, I hesitate?
08:40That can be a really great sign that you've reached the end.
08:43Art often comes down to how you feel.
08:46And for a first try, I am pleased with how it's turned out.
08:51Cape Town's coast is known for its dramatic beauty,
08:55but just below the surface is a kelp forest.
08:58I've come here with an underwater photographer to explore it up close.
09:04I shoot with a trusty old Canon camera,
09:08which I have in this big, hunky housing.
09:12And it's just got a normal topside DSLR camera inside,
09:17but it works really well for the job.
09:21Well, I'm getting to do something very unique,
09:23because my fear of seaweed is going to completely go today.
09:27Yes, it definitely will.
09:29You'll be completely immersed by the seaweed,
09:31and yeah, there's no other way to avoid it.
09:34We put on the snorkeling gear and prepare to head into the water.
09:39The rocks are a little slippery, so I get a little help in.
09:43Once underneath, I swim through the seaweed,
09:46and I immediately notice how beautiful it is.
09:49It really does feel like you're swimming through an underwater forest.
09:54Kelp can grow up to half a metre a day,
09:56making it one of the fastest growing plants on earth.
10:00It's been a real adventure, and one I won't easily forget.
10:08Having experienced the kelp up close, I've worked up an appetite,
10:13so I'm heading to a mountain cottage
10:15to learn how to make kelp-inspired cuisine.
10:18Kelp is one of those ingredients that is, it's considered a superfood.
10:23It's rich in minerals and vitamins,
10:25and it's a beautiful way for us to be eating what's growing locally here
10:30and a sustainable way of getting these minerals into our meals.
10:33Arabella is a chef passionate about cooking with sustainable ingredients like kelp.
10:39Together, we start by preparing a range of dishes.
10:42It's a hands-on process, and I'm really enjoying getting stuck in.
10:48Oh, it smells divine.
10:50We continue chopping and preparing the ingredients
10:53before moving on to cooking a pasta dish.
10:56So we're going to add a bit of oil to the pan.
11:01It's a quick and simple recipe, but smells incredible.
11:06We then take the fried seaweed from earlier
11:09and add it to a blender with a few other ingredients.
11:13So this is our seaweed butter.
11:14Yes, there we go.
11:16Looking absolutely delicious.
11:18Once ready, we spread it out and add the final touch.
11:23Crispy fried seaweed.
11:26Finally, I get to taste the results
11:28with new friends I've met along the way.
11:31It's a delicious end to an action-packed trip.
11:36My experience here in Cape Town has been nothing but phenomenal.
11:40From swimming around in the kelp forest
11:42to driving along the rough shorelines
11:45and exploring the incredible history in this city.
11:48There's even more to do every single day.
11:51But for now, on to my next adventure.
11:54I love you.
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