The Potchefstroom campus of North-West University (NWU) has a long and complicated history, in many ways reflecting the broader history of South Africa as a country.

Coffee and tacos for breakfast? Why not? 

Open since 1993 in the iconic “Die Bult” section of Potchefstroom, the Die Akker Koffiehuis claims to have been the first place in Potchefstroom to serve cappuccinos. “Die Akker” means “the oak tree” in Afrikaans, presumably named for the avenue of stately oaks (the longest oak tree avenue in South Africa) on which the restaurant stands. A colorful emblem above the front door portrays a half-wreath of oak leaves with two acorns at the centre. 
 

The Peregrine Farm Stall, about 30 minutes’ drive west of Hermanus on the N2 highway, has all the convenience of your average Engen 1-Stop. Yet Peregrine is absolutely not an average South African rest area.

Hermanus and its surrounding towns offer a huge variety of tourism activities beyond beaches and whale-watching: culinary experiences, wine-tasting, walking tours and hiking, among others. But it can be difficult to experience all these activities during a short trip because they are so widespread. A local tourism company called ChillGuru has moved to solve that problem with its own version of the world-famous hop-on-hop-off bus. 

Hermanus is a stunningly beautiful town, with green mountains soaring over sandy, boulder-strewn beaches and of course the best whale-watching on earth. But even before arriving in Hermanus, visitors can enjoy one of the world’s most scenic drives on the road from Cape Town. If taken at a leisurely pace, this drive can fill up the better part of a day.
 

Hermanus, a small town in itself, is surrounded by even smaller, quainter towns.

Hermanus is a holiday town and there is certainly no shortage of touristy restaurants along the water where visitors can enjoy a good breakfast. But if you want to go where the locals go in the morning, for a serious cup of coffee, conversation and an unbelievably good meal, Tulip Coffe Bar is the place.