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| Erin's South Africa Journals - 11-07-02 Today we were joining the Baz Bus for a journey to Cape Point. We were up and ready to jump on at 8:30am as ordered, but the bus was late and didn't pick us up till 9:15. Thus delayed, we drove south along the Atlantic coast, with our guide telling us details about the settlement of Cape Town and the small suburbs we were passing through, including some of the stunningly expensive price tags! We drive for about an hour before arriving for our first excursion, a boat tour that took us just off the coast to a small island where young fur seals go to hang out for a few years before they can join the breeding colonies. The island is protected from most predators by a reef, so the young seals flock there and have a chance to grow up out of reach of the local shark population. The seals were all over the place, and we had a good time watching them frolic and bask in the hot sun. After this short 45 minute trip, we returned to the bus for another hour or so, travelling some of the older roads along the colonies of the Dutch East India Company, who'd originally colonized the area to set up a supply station for their ships. Our road took us across the peninsula to the Indian Ocean coast, where the water is about 4 degrees C warmer than in the Atlantic (hence more sharks there!). We stopped to see the rare African penguins (the Jackass Penguin). They were molting and made the funny braying noise of a donkey! After the penguin stop, we boarded the bus for the rest of the way down to the point. The entire journey wasn't too far - could have taken about 90 minutes, without stops. We entered the game preserve that covers the entire point area, and the guide dropped off those of us who wished to ride bikes for a 13 km ride across the peninsula to a beach where we'd have luncn. The guide teasingly warned us to get off our bikes if any wild ostriches approached us and lie down, as they can disembowel you with one swipe of a foot! The only problem with the lying down is the snakes, of which there are apparently many in the preserve! With those sage words, he left us to ride, but nobody had problems with the wildlife on the nice, paved, mostly flat road. This ride was much easier than the ones we'd taken in Kenya!!! No sand to stall your tires, and no bumps to kill your butt! Still, we arrived at the beach tired and ready to eat. After a quick lunch, we had to quickly get back on the bus to get to the actual Point. The 45 minute delay first thing in the morning had put us off our schedule, and the guide was suddenly concerned that we'd be late dropping people off. We headed back across the reserve to the Cape Point lighthouse. There, we took an exhausting hike up the rock steps (15 minutes) for absolutely stunning 360 degree views of the southwesternmost edge of Africa. The water was deep aqua blue, and the sky was clear and sunny. A perfect day! Then we walked back down quickly, as our guide had only given us a half hour for this jaunt before we needed to be back with him to hike to Cape of Good Hope (late returners would have to ride the bus - boring!). Actually, I had planned to ride the bus while Glenn hiked - I was tired by now! But instead I mustered the strength and was glad, as the hike was beautiful and mostly flat along rocky cliffs and a secluded beach inlet. Then we stood atop the rocks looking down at the point which for centuries has been known as the route past Africa. Gorgeous! After this marvel, we were all ready to jump back on the bus and head back to Cape Town. The ride back along the Atlantic was uneventful, and we were dropped off just an hour late. We quickly sat at the bar and waited for Renate, who arrived soon after to take us to the apartment she'd gotten for us. It was great! We settled in, took some sunset photos out the windows at Table Mountain (fabulous view from there), and cooked some spaghetti before totally crashing in our nice new digs. |
| Erin and Glenn at Cape Point, with Cape of Good Hope behind |
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| You can just make out the Cape Point Lighthouse atop the hill from this secluded beach |