Happy Places in Cape Town
Dominique Rinderknecht
In our last article, we reported on the former Miss Switzerland model and her life in South Africa. Today, Dominique Rinderknecht tells us about her happy places in South Africa. After more than a year and a half in her chosen home, she has discovered, experienced, and seen a thing or two. We're listening and will show you what you shouldn't miss on your next visit.
But first, a brief introduction to Dominique Rinderknecht and why she ended up in South Africa? Since May 2021, she has been engaged to South African pilot and musician Drew Gage and has found her second home in Cape Town. She recently moved into a new apartment and runs her own business locally as an advertising ambassador and jewelry designer. The Zurich native still prefers to keep the details of her relationship to herself.
Lion's Head and Table Mountain
Dominique Rinderknecht: Lion's Head and Table Mountain are Cape Town's iconic mountains and two of my absolute favorite places. The view is breathtaking, and from both points, you can admire the amazing light that the city is known for. I love this scenery, it touches my heart! Of course, I also took my father and sister here when they visited.
Clifton Beach
Dominique Rinderknecht: Clifton is one of the best beaches on Cape Town's Atlantic coast, with white sand, clear water, beach volleyball, and nearby bars and nightclubs. I love coming here two hours before sunset. The sea is very cold, but I usually go in anyway (laughs). The atmosphere is unique.
Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa
Dominique Rinderknecht: London designer Thomas Heatherwick converted this museum into an old grain silo. It's worth seeing for the architecture alone. My father, who is an architect, took me there for the first time, and it has had a place in my heart ever since. The rooftop terrace is an insider tip.
Karoo – Semi-desert landscape
Dominique Rinderknecht: I love the South African desert! It's my happy place. In the Karoo, as it's called, it's so quiet you can hear a mosquito hum. A great place to unwind. There's no cell phone reception, but an incredible starry sky. Magical!
Clay Café
Dominique Rinderknecht: The Clay Café is a special place I like to go with friends or family. Besides food and drinks, it also offers the opportunity to paint pottery. That means: As a group, you can drink coffee or champagne for hours and be creative together. It's interesting to see the dynamic and atmosphere that develops in the group.
De Waterkant
Dominique Rinderknecht: One of Cape Town's chicest and hippest neighborhoods, with its famous brightly colored semi-detached houses and cobbled streets. A great area with cool restaurants and bars and a wonderful view of the harbor. I love to stroll, shop, or eat here.
The Athletic Club and Social
Dominique Rinderknecht: One of my absolute favorite bars in Cape Town. It spans three floors in an old colonial building. You really feel like you've been transported back to the 1920s of "The Great Gatsby." I like to enjoy an after-work drink here with my fiancé or with my friends.
Old Biscuit Mill Market
Dominique Rinderknecht: The largest market in the city and South Africa's answer to London's famous Camden Market. Here you can eat or drink anything your heart desires, from breakfast to dumplings to gyros and locally brewed beers. There are also small shops by local designers and always a flea market on Saturdays. I love browsing there and enjoying food from all over the world.
Camps Bay
Dominique Rinderknecht: Tourists and locals alike like to call Camps Bay's white sandy beach the Côte d'Azur of South Africa. It's perfect for a sunset drink with a view of the Twelve Apostles mountain range. The beach and promenade with its upscale fish restaurants, cozy cafés, and cocktail bars are unique, even if it sometimes gets a bit too turbulent (laughs).
Kalk Bay
Dominique Rinderknecht: There are plenty of seals in Cape Town, and in a fishing village like Kalk Bay, they sometimes just come out of the water, as my grandmother experienced on her last visit (laughs). We both love encounters with animals. The picture symbolizes how often you come into contact with wild animals in South Africa.
Township Help
Dominique Rinderknecht: This is a children's home in South Africa that I support. Children are very close to my heart. Helping them – especially when they are in such need – is a great concern for me. What particularly moves me is how these children, despite their difficult fate, always greet me with a radiant smile.
From 27.11.2022, Blick.ch
