South Africa – the Rainbow Nation, located at the very bottom of the African continent, with a population in the vicinity of 58 million.
Our plan was to have 3 nights in Cape Town, drive the Garden Route from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth via various points then fly from Port Elizabeth via Johannesburg to Kruger National Park. So here we go……
Cape Town’s urban sprawl appeared to have got closer towards the airport from how I remembered it in 2005 – there were still the informal settlements along the roadside though. Some things don’t change. Table Mountain looms over the city to our left as we drive to our accommodation. Our apartment is between the City Centre/Downtown area and the V&A – Victoria and Albert Waterfront, both within easy walking distance. The jetlag didn’t really kick in so to get ourselves orientated we boarded the Hop On Hop Off bus that took us on the red route – from Long Street, up Kloof Nek Road past the Bo Kaap neighbourhood to the Cable Car Station that takes you to the top of Table Mountain (unfortunately due to the weather not operating at this time). Spectacular views back over the city, the waterfront and Lion’s Head filled our camera lenses. Coming down off the mountain the route hits the east coast – Camp’s Bay, Clifton and Sea Point around to the V&A where we get off and head into the Two Oceans Aquarium. A fabulous experience for any age group, exhibiting the incredible diversity of the Two Oceans – Indian and Atlantic, marine life with over 3,000 creatures from the smallest species to the massive great white shark.
The V&A is open into the evening with markets, retail outlets and restaurants to meet everyone’s requirements.
The following morning saw us back at the V&A ready to board the ferry to Robben Island. Robben Island is where thousands of South Africa’s freedom fighters, including Nelson Mandela, were incarcerated for many years. From the ferry, busses tour the island including the graveyard of people who died from leprosy, the lime quarry, the bluestone quarry and then ending with the viewing of Mr Mandela’s cell at the maximum security prison. The tour guides were prisoners of Robben Island and their harrowing experiences are portrayed through their captivating commentary. It’s a very sombre cruise back to Cape Town reflecting on the atrocities that lay behind us.
Incorporated with the Hop On Hop Off bus ticket is a walking tour – we chose the vibrant Bo Kaap tour. The colourful houses, cobbled streets and smells of spices fill the streets of this lively neighbourhood which was formerly known as the Malay Quarter and is packed full of history and culture. During the twentieth century, the Apartheid government declared the Bo Kaap a Muslim only area and forced other religions and ethnicity to leave the area, being very unique as during this time most working class and non white were being moved away from the cities. The Bo Kaap is one of the most photographed area’s of the city.
The following morning we collected our car, right hand drive, left side of the road just like we do here – so it’s a breeze. We head south down the Cape Peninsula taking up past beautiful Hout Bay, a quaint old fishing village, across the peninsula to Fish Hoek and into the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. The mountainous scenery and secluded beaches make for incredible photography. We pass a number of ostrich and a few baboons as we make our way to the Cape Point lighthouse. The original lighthouse was built in 1859 on the summit of Cape Point, 238 metres above sea level with a newer lighthouse built in 1914 and is the most powerful on the South African coast.
