“I Stole a Few Ideas”: Joburg Woman Breaks Down How Much a Cape Town Holiday With Activities Costs

• A Joburg woman flew to Cape Town in December 2025 and documented every activity she paid for, from the Red Bus to Robben Island
• Some of the city’s most popular attractions cost nothing to visit, and a birthday in December made the trip even more affordable for her
• Robben Island tickets are sold online and in person, but the price difference between the two options surprised many people who watched her video

Cape Town does not come cheap, or so most people think. A Johannesburg woman packed her bags, booked her flights, and set out to do Cape Town properly.

Bridgette Mpangane, a TikToker based in Johannesburg, made the trip to Cape Town in December 2025 to celebrate her birthday. She shared the breakdown of what she spent on 22 January 2026 in a clip on her TikTok page, @bridgettempangane. In the post, Mpangane walked her followers through what she paid for and what she did not across a packed itinerary of Cape Town’s most popular spots.

Read also

Boss surprised domestic helper with unforgettable birthday trip to Durban

What a Cape Town trip actually costs

The Mother City has a reputation for being one of South Africa’s most expensive destinations. Mpangane’s trip landed during December, which is a peak season and when prices across the city are at their highest. Return flights from Johannesburg set her back R4 100. From there, however, her story changed.

She rode quad motorcycles at The Dunes at R800. She paid R350 for the City Sightseeing Red Bus tour. Table Mountain would have cost R500 per person, but she did not pay a cent as the visit was during her birth month. The Two Oceans Aquarium, at R250 per person, was the same story. Her birthday did a lot of heavy lifting on this trip.

Birthday perks and budget wins

For Mpangane, being a December baby in a city full of peak-season crowds meant she walked straight through the gates. Between the free entries and the spots that cost nothing at all were Camps Bay Beach, the streets of Bo-Kaap, and the nightlife at Ayepyep on Kloof Street.

Read also

Bonang Matheba dances her troubles away amid alleged tax scandal

See the TikTok pictures below:

Mzansi reacts to the vacation on a budget

Briefly News compiled a series of comments from the post below.

@Lynche_TSHEPANG commented:

“So some activities are free during your birthday month? Please recommend places to stay while you are there. I am going this coming March, and it's my birth month.”

@Thato Moselakgomo said:

“I stole a few fit ideas. 🥰How did you get free entry due to your birthday?”

@CassBruh wrote:

“You made a mistake by booking with booking.com. It is more expensive.”

@keyah said:

“How do you guys manage to book at the dunes for R800, including permit? I'm going there in March. When I include the permit, it charges an extra R250.😫”

@percy_ngwenya commented:

“Do they need my passport to see if it’s my birth month? I am planning to go in November, and it’s my birth month.”

Mzansi loves vacationing

• Briefly News previously reported that content creator Oyama 'Yammie' Botha documented her time in Nigeria during the festive period.
• A content creator known for his generosity surprised a popular petrol attendant with an all-expenses-paid trip to the Mother City.
• Nomcebo Zikode is enjoying her Cape Town vacation with her son ahead of the New Year celebrations.

Source: Briefly News