Ember & Oak

Casual Welcome Drinks

Wine Tasting in Franschhoek

The Forum Embassy Hill

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Farewell gathering

Our Wedding

Safety 

Walking around during the day, especially in tourist areas is safe to do but avoid walking alone at night, even short distances. If you are renting an AirBNB or guest house get one with a gate, preferably within a security estate. Or stay at a hotel.

Getting around

Renting a car is a good way to get around but only if you are comfortable driving on the left side of the road with a right hand drive vehicle. Getting around using uber is very easy and quite inexpensive so this is what we would recommend. There is a zero-tolerance approach to drunk driving and police do conduct random brethalyzer tests. The limits are very low and penalties are severe!

How to pay for stuff

Credit cards are widely accepted in Cape Town but you may incur a fee for using them. Paypal is accepted in some places in South Africa but Venmo will not work. Bank transfers are sometimes offered as an alternative payment option, but you may want to check with your bank before leaving the US or use an app like Wise. We recommend carry small amounts of cash to buy souvenirs or other trinkets at the markets.

Food 

The food in South Africa is exceptional and reason enough to visit! Here are some must try items that you shouldn't miss:Braai- The S.A BBQ but instead of coals or gas a braai start with burning down hardwood logs. Classic items often include Boerewors and lamb or other grilled meat.Biltong- African beef jerky (but better!). Biltong it air-dried cured meet. You can get all different types from game meat to peppered beefsteak.Roosterkoek- this is a traditional bread served at a braai but you can find it other places. Try one with cheese and apricot jam.Bobotie, Samoosas and Sambals- Cape Malay food is something you find only in Cape Town. The flavors reflect both African and Asian influences.Scones with clotted cream and jam- perhaps not a S.A classic but Kirstenbosch has a lovely scone with cream. Or for a spot of afternoon tea you can try the Vineyard Hotel in Claremont or Hohenort Hotel in Constantia.Seafood- There are lots of great seafood options in CT. Kingklip is a great whitefish choice and Snook is another one you might see, especially in pates. The fish and chips here are reminiscent of the British Classic... Americans be ready to have your minds blown!Wine- Cape town is widely known for its delicious white wines specifically Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blancs, but there are also many other great varietals so try it all!

Tips for CT

. . .

﻿The Smith and Berger crews will be staying in Constantia. That is also where the wedding venue is located. Constantia is in the Southern Suburbs near many beautiful vineyard and Kirstenbosch garden but not a far ride from the the city. If you are looking for a more lively vibe, you may want to consider staying at the Waterfront closer to city center or in Camps Bay.

This is a small boutique hotel very close to where we (and our families) will be located. Check rates on booking.com, or you can book direct by emailing (Wendy) and use the code Smithberger to get a discount rate.<a href="https://www.glenavon.co.za/glenavon-pdf-binder-high-quality/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.glenavon.co.za/glenavon-pdf-binder-high-quality/</a>

Glen Avon Lodge- Boutique Hotel

This is a very small hotel and they recommend booking through Booking.com

Last Word Constantia

Rate are significantly lower if booked through Booking.com and not directly with through the website.

Nova Constantia Boutique Residence

This one is a bit further away but there is a nice walking path nearby and very nice restaurant on site.

Alphen Boutique Hotel & Spa

Book through AirBNB

If you have a larger group or would prefer to book a home we recommend looking in the Constantia, Camps Bay or Waterfront. Do make sure that you are in a gated property or security estate.

Waterfront Hotel Recommendations (from a local)

Cape Grace HotelRadisson Red HotelRadisson Blue Hotel

Where to Stay

Robben Island - Prison where Nelson Mandela and others political prisoners were held during apartheid. Its a very powerful experience but does require a boat ride in Table Bay. <a href="https://www.robben-island.org.za/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.robben-island.org.za/</a>

Boulders Beach - Swim and hang out with African penguins!! But be sure to get here early to beat the crowds.

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden - Beautiful botanic garden in Constantia

Table Mountain - Classic landmark of Cape Town with stunning views of the city and the surroundings. Take the cable car or hike to the top

Hop on Hop off bus - Not usually our cup of tea but the one in Cape Town is great and an easy way to get a taste of many parts of the city. You can catch the blue line from near Constantia Nek and stop at all the great sites around town.<a href="https://citysightseeing.co.za/en/cape-town" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://citysightseeing.co.za/en/cape-town</a>

Lion's head - Hike with great views of Table mountain

Clifton and Camp's Bay - Ritzy area with a beautiful beach and many restaurants

V&amp;A Waterfront - Downtown area with many shops and restaurants that is a central tourist area of Cape Town. There is a great tourist market with local goods and lots of good restaurants! Or you could try the Oranjezicht City Farm Market for some local food options!

Simon's Town - A pretty seaside town on False Bay where you kind find nice fish and chips and a small local market right near the water. Don't forget to say hi to Able Seaman Just Nuisance!

Cape of Good Hope - Where the Atlantic meets the Indian ocean. Beautiful scenery on the drive there. Watch out for baboons!

Constantia - Cape Town's wine region, hosting many great vineyards with excellent wine and stunning views. Some of our favorites are Constantia Glen, Beau Constantia, Buitenverwachting and Klein Constantia.

Tips from the locals Kirstenbosch garden is great place to try scones with jam and clotted cream!! Vineyard Hotel in Claremont does a nice afternoon tea on their terrace.Hohenort Hotel in Constantia also offers a lovely high tea in the afternoon.It’s probably a good idea to book ahead as March is a busy time of year around town. Four&amp;Twenty Cafe or Chardonnay Deli at Constantia Uitsig have great breakfast and lunch options Coffee Bloc at Buitenverwachting wine estate is also great for coffee and/or breakfast and wine tasting. Bistro 1682 at Steenberg Wine Estate - great bubbles and they do a lovely breakfast and great sundowner/tapas spot. For those who want a morning dip/swim - Dalebrook tidal pool in a Kalk bay and then you can pop straight over the road to Chardonnay deli for coffee/breakfast, or swim at St James Tidal pool and next door is Folk Cafe.

Things to do around town

Wedding Party

Registry

﻿If you've come this far, you might as well see some of the surrounding sites! Here are some of our recs:

Safari - What would a trip to Africa be without a safari? One of the best areas to go within South Africa is Kruger National Park. It is a flight from Cape Town, but worth the trip. There are also private game reserves and smaller parks around Kruger in other parts of the country that allows you to customize your safari for both time and cost. This is a great place to start:<a href="https://www.sanparks.org/parks" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.sanparks.org/parks</a><a href="https://www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger</a><a href="https://www.rws.co.za/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.rws.co.za/</a><a href="https://www.shamwari.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.shamwari.com/</a>

The Garden Route- a beautiful drive along the coast that highlights some of the natural beauty and unique ecosystems of South Africa. As it is a self drive this trip its completely customizable.<a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/partner-content-ultimate-road-trip-garden-route" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/partner-content-ultimate-road-trip-garden-route</a>

Or if you want to go a little farther we can let you know about the highest and lowest places on the continent and many in between!

Things to do before or after

YAY!! So you think you might come?!

Please let us know if there is any way we can help youFeel free to text or Whatsapp with any questions: Cassie +1-206-519-7336 Greg +1-240-498-4565 Or email us at: Smithberger2026@gmail.com

Contact Us

<a href="https://pixies.et/4n3ShXQ2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Day 1: Welcome Drinks</a>

<a href="https://pixies.et/tPzb2udy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Day 3: Wedding</a>

Photos

Your presence is our present

We know you all will travel long distances to be with us on our big day(s), and we are so grateful! Having you all with us is the best present we could ask for.

Greg & Cassie

Greg & Cassie

Photos