Cape Town, South Africa

After a 20 hour flight with stops in Abu Dhabi and Jo’Burg we finally arrived in Cape Town, South Africa! This is the view from our apartment high in the Bo-Kaap hills. The city is flanked by Table Mountain on one side and the ocean on the other, making for some incredible views.

We were steps away from Long Street, known for its shops, restaurants and bars. Unfortunately, it is not considered safe to walk around at night, so we did most of our site-seeing during the day.

We visited the District Six Museum to learn about the forced eviction of some 50,000 people of all races during the 1960s and ‘70s. Their houses were flattened by bulldozers and they were moved to a barren outlying area known as the Cape Flats. The Separate Amenities Act created separate beaches, buses, toilets, schools and park benches. Blacks were even made to carry identity documents at all times.

We decided to “walk” up Table Mountain (ha ha), recommended by a couple we met in Laos. We took a taxi around to the opposite side and hiked up Skeleton Gorge. The name would make sense to us later...

One of the many ladders we ended up climbing, as well as using chains. The hike ended up taking around four hours. We went off trail (as did many others) and at many points I was climbing on my hands and knees. We also ran out of water…lucky for us the top had a “café” for those who took the easy way up (the Cableway).

The top of the mountain was buzzing with ENORMOUS bees! Probably twice the size of a bumble bee. Not sure if they sting or not…did not want to find out!

The water at the top was “tea” colored….almost red. It is stained by the roots of plants. The top of the mountain was like being on the surface of another planet....huge boulders, interesting plants and strange animal life (insects, lizards, frogs, etc.)

The view from the very top….looking over Cape Town and the waterfront. We hiked across the mountain to the Cableway and took the easy way down (after tossing back two huge waters!)

The next day we rented a car and headed for the coast. Made our way to Boulders Beach known for its colony of African Penguins. From just two breeding pairs in 1982, the penguin colony has grown to about 3000. As you can see, you can walk right up to them!

Don’t laugh….they begin moulting in December. So cute.

We then drove down to the Cape of Good Hope. This is Cape Point which is between two major ocean currents with markedly different sea temperatures. You truly feel like you are at the end of the world.

Baboons are commonly spotted. The troops on the Cape Peninsula are the only protected population of this species in Africa. We were lucky enough to see a little guy at the side of the road...

We were very surprised to see huge ostrich walking along the coast! I’m sure Africa has more up her sleeve. On to wine country, whale watching and shark cage diving in South Africa.