What can we say? Cape Town is one of the most spectacular cities in the world. People of all races and religions walk the streets in relative harmony and tolerance.

The food is great and there is an exciting artistic vibe. Most travelers spend a week or two longer than planned. We spent four months!

This small quaint town is the closest place from Cape Town to “get away from it all”.

You can chill out at the hostels, saunter the streets and take in all the flower gardens or head off for some great mountain hikes.

To the north of town lies an impressive pass that leads to the Karoo desert and the town of Oudtshoorn. Shuttles from the hostels will pick you up in George if you call ahead. You can also catch a stream train to Wilderness or Knysna. It winds along the coasst, spanning gorges and ducking through tunnels. I recommend sitting in the last cars to avoid the coal smoke.

This is a great place to sample some of South Africa’s dessert, the Karoo. The famous Cango Caves are nearby if you need to cool off, but we found them a bit disappointing.

The ostrich farms are good fun. You can look at eggs, watch the adults, try to catch a chick, ride the big ones and even get your gal a purple boa of feathers. Be sure to have an ostrich streak while in town. It is a dark, lean meat with a good taste.

There is a lot to do here. You can go hiking in the mountains, biking on country roads or canoe along the rivers.

If the ocean calls you, there is plenty of surf and sand. The hostels are all very nice and clean. The steam train between George and Knysna stops here too.