Alan and I are on Option 1 which includes 4 days in Cape Town. Being a nature versus city person, Alan's not sure he wants to spend that much time in Cape Town.

Former ROARer's, what do you think? Did you enjoy the time in Cape Town? Were you there long enough or too long? Would you do anything differently? I welcome your advice!

We are going back for four more days, Donna. We stayed so busy while we were there that we think there's more to be experienced. The Cape Point tour will be all about nature, and the Wine Tasting tour goes well out from the city. Table Mountain is just awe-inspiring.

But it *is* a huge city, there's no doubt about that. Does he hate cities?

Donna, we always enjoy outdoorsy trips, but we also like cities a lot.

For the outdoors fan Table Mountain is a real highlight, you could go independently and spend more time walking/hiking some of the trails. We were rained out the day we were supposed to stop there, but the Kirstenbosch gardens looked like they would be great and as Pam says Cape Point and the wine tour are out of the city. Cape Town isn't a congested city - at least that wasn't my impression - and it has quite a lot of interesting museums and history to learn about and enjoy and is very walkable in the city center.

Donna,
While Alan may prefer to spend those 4 days in the Winelands which are magnificient, Cape Town has much to recommend as well. For nature, there are the Company Gardens and (sp.?) Kirshenboch Gardens, Table Mountain and the Cape Peninsula with the park and Simonstown/Boulders Beach with its penguins and Robben Island. Remember that with jet lag the first day may seem a loss anyway and the 4 days will not be too much in Cape Town. Or maybe split your 4 days? An overnight in the Winelands would be great too. Such tough choices! I don't think you will find that 4 days is too much time to spend in Cape Town or in the vicinity.
Good luck, Debbie

Aside from what's been mentioned, there are great beaches at Camps Bay, Hout Bay and Koggelbaai at the north end of False bay.There's also the Robben Island tour(where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned). Kirstenbach Gardens out near Constantia is also very nice. Believe me, you won't be bored with only 4 days around Cape Town and you'll want to return. The Constantia area has some great restaurants.

Leslie, on the Ngaire sponsored tours, Table Mountain day was beautiful! It was the Cape Point tour that got rained out. Next time, I want more time to spend at Table Mountain. There are trails up there that I never got to explore. We only had about an hour before we had to get back on the lift to go back down. That was on the first day 1/2 day city tour that was included in our trip. We got rained out on the Cape Point tour at about lunch time. Got to Cape Point, but after that it was a deluge, and penguins were a wash, as well as the Gardens.

On ROAR 2 I am NOT going to include the 1/2 city tour at all. I think that is easy to do on your own.

The wine tour again but change it up a little to a later start, stroll in one of the small towns in the morning first, ONE wine tasting and then to the same place we went for lunch with wine tasting and tour of that wine cellar then lunch. That steak was outstanding and the setting wonderful. Then back to town after lunch, cut it shorter and not so many wine tastings.

Cape Point about the same, later start, and be sure all the vans stop at the ostrich farms for a rest room break and I want to see the egg collection, I missed that!!!. I need to kiss a hippo like Suzanne did in the statue "place". The weather really ruined that trip and it is so much nicer on a bright sunny day. We barely got to see the penguins and they are really adorable when the weather is good and you can walk the boardwalks around the beach and the penguins.

Cape Town is a big city but you just dont get that BIG city feel. Unless you are in a rent car trying to find Cape Grace!

We have chartered a boat for TUSK from Birkenhead House and are going out to the white shark tour. I WONT get in a cage but really looking forward to this. Found the best, newest boat down there, not the cheapest but the best. If this is as good an experience as I think it will be that could a really a lot of fun for ROAR 2 as well. At least I will have "been there and done that" so I will know what to tell everyone to expect. Cant wait for Ken to get his big lens around those big sharks!

It's easy to rent a car and drive to the wine country. Groot Constancia is a wonderful stop on the way. It's the original Dutch government house. There's also a neat Heugonaut farm museum along the way. Good restaurants for lunch and a great day trip. For dinner one night try the restaurant at the Mount Nelson Hotel. It's an Orient Express hotel built in the 1930's (I think)and the service and food were supurb last time I was there. It's a wonderful setting.

Actually all of Cape Town is pretty easy to do in a rent car but it just takes the stress out of it to have a driver and guide for the excursions out of town. Then you can just sit back and enjoy the company of the group.

So many good restaurants!!!. What I liked about ROAR is we all kind of did our own thing. Some wanted to go to fancy restaurants, some did not. It was a very independent thinking group that got in small groups of like minds and I believe we were all pretty happy with the flexibilty to do what we wished. Our one big dinner was at Baia and we will do that again, but no fixed menu and all smaller tables.

The rainy night some of us just ate in the library at Cape Grace and had sandwiches - it was cozy and fun.

Thanks everyone. I appreciate the advice. Keep it coming! This will definitely help with our decision making.

The Great White Shark experience is not to be missed. In 2001 we stayed in Simonstown and went out every day to see the sharks off Seal Island. Shark cages are vastly overrated given the limited visibility. The observation of these critters is awesome. Ngaire, please tell Ken that the breeching behavior will test his trigger finger and digital shutter lag - we got some great shots of splashes!

One more thing! For muic lovers, check the programs at the Cape Town performing arts center - I think it's called "Artscape" - clever. We heard the Cape Town Philharmonic on one stay - the Cape Grace provided a car and driver to take us there and pick us up after the performance.

Olivia - I meant we were rained out for the Kirstenbosch Gardens - the Table Mountain day was gorgeous! My sentence was not worded right - I would have loved to see the Gardens.

hrprof - I BET you got some great shots. I have seen your other photography. He is excited about this chance to photograph Great White Sharks and if I remind him about the digital shutter lag he will probably run out and buy an even better camera. Might just keep that to myself!!!!

Susan said the same thing, best to stay onboard to see the sharks. She did the cage and said it was an experience but staying on the ship was actually better.

Again, I appreciate all the advice. We've decided to stay with Option 1 and time in Cape Town.