Off to Cape Town for a week

March 24, flying with Air Namibia to Windhoek. A very impressive small airline - although it was a strange experience when the other passengers clapped when we took off and landed.

 

Windhoek is a very Dutch name meaning 'windy corner'. And it sure was the day we stopped rain - rain and such fresh, cool air. Delicious.

Enjoying a Windhoek lager

 

After picking up our rental I drove us over a windy mountain through the rain, dark and poor visibility to our homestay in Noordhoek. A challenging start for me but Jeroen had the navigation job so it was me driving.

Noordhoek meaning North Hook is a little village approx. 40 km out of Cape Town.

Noordhoek Beach - 8km white sand

 

Cape Town is situated on the southernmost tip of Africa.

Cape Peninsula

 

 

 

March 25, time for exploring locally. Lots of Dutch style homes, beautiful 8km white sandy beach and village atmosphere.

 

March 26, a drive around the quaint seaside villages of Fishoek, St James and Muizenberg.  

Colourful changing huts on Muizenberg beach

 

Arty Kalk Bay

 

 

March 27, a trip to the V & A waterfront (Victoria and Alfred) a spectacular merge of eateries, shopping, museums and people-ness alongside a working harbour.

On the V & A waterfront



A working port




Madiba and I

The African Trading Post is 5 full floors crammed with African art/crafts

African Trading Post

Not doing so much these days

 

 

 

We visited the Diamond museum (an estimated 65% of diamonds come from African countries).

 

In Luanda when the new airport was first being built it was discovered there was a treasure trove of diamonds beneath the ground so construction came to a halt. I can't verify when/what/where however there is reference to this happening pre: 2007 so the new airport is not happening any time soon.

 

A happy day wandering around the port, shops, and a great meal of ostrich (for me - YUM!) and springbok (for Jeroen) with a nice South African merlot overlooking the harbour.

Tender Springbok and extreme cutlery

 

 

 

March 27, time to drive around the Cape Peninsula. Firstly to Simon Town  (named after an early Governor) and the very cool Boulders Beach with resident penguin colony. The water was very clear, warm and calm, ideal for families and nesting penguins. There are some 3000 penguins waddling around.

 

Boulders Bay, Simons Town

 

Sentinel penguin

 

Cruising in the sun

 

 

Minding the sign's suggesting we check under our car for penguins before driving off, and continued on our drive to Cape Point.

Coastal way

 

 

The Cape is at the southernmost tip of the Peninsula and is 249 metres above sea-level. It is one of the highest cliffs in the world.

The flying Dutchman in The Flying Dutchman!

 

To reach the peak and lighthouse we travelled by 'The Flying Dutchman', a funicular (cable car). We took a few small tracks with wide, stable steps and saw unbelievable views.

Vertical cliffs

 

 

Cape Point is often cited as the place where the cold currents of the Atlantic Ocean and the warm currents of the Indian Ocean meet. In reality the meeting place of these oceanic currents fluctuates between the Cape Point and Cape Agulhas, 150km to the east.

 

After a photo-stop and wander around at the Cape of Good Hope we travelled on back up the west coast.

How high I got

Cape of Good Hope

That's my 'I did it' look

 On route we saw a lot of wildlife including ostrich, buck and lizards (we saw one crossing the road that was the size of a cat!) and baboons for Africa. These haughty looking creatures were everywhere; on the roads, rocks, grass and looking for any opportunity to get food from a passing car...they've learned to unlock doors and climb in car windows so there are many signs warning tourists to beware.

Sitting proud

We didn't see it but tales of furry looters abound



Elk

Ostrich and elk Co-existing

We spotted the Slangkop lighthouse (c 1919) and travelled through the quaint town of Scarborough.

 

Home to Noordhoek and another fresh fish meal at Slops Kitchen Restaurant.

 

March 28 and time to head to Table Mountain, recently declared one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. Table Mountain reaches 1086 metres at its highest point. Going up in a rotating cable car gave 360 degree views.

Are we going up high AGAIN?

Yep, up to the top

 

Beautiful Cape Town

 

At the top I was hesitant to go further (those knowing my fear of heights will understand why) and I was content to sit in the sun while Jeroen wandered on a few tracks. Jeroen came back to see whether I may try walking with him as he thought it may be manageable for me...and it was! I was happy to be able to take the 'Klipspringer' track circling the plateau (45 minutes). 

Quite close enough to the edge

Check out number 12

Abseiling

We saw lots of Dassie's (rock badgers) and rock lizards.

Dassie

Plenty of these lizards

 

I heard these conversations at the top of Table Mountain:

1. Elderly couple looking at stone map on top. 'Table Mountain, where's that then?'. 'You're on it' replied his wife.

2. A man watching two young women getting ready to abseil down Table Mountain. 'Those women haven't got a clue'. 'I did an Outward Bound course and learned how to propel and all that stuff'.

 

 

March 29 and up at 0500 hours to make our way approximately 200 kms north east to Aquila Safari Park. After a full breakfast and welcome drinks we tootled off on an adventure in safari trucks.Aquila is a relatively new safari built on farmland so it will be a while before big numbers of animals are there due to limited bush/trees.

 

We did see all these chaps and chap-esses.

Water Buffalo

Hippopotamus - the River Horse



Rhinoceri - these girls' resting together. No male as he was poached for his valuable horn



Three rhino' have been born on the estate

Striking zebra

Yellow/ black zebra



As they have very short fur the stripes are said to confuse the flies. Is this true?

 

Big cat

Looking for a resting spot

Resting above these girls will do

Watchful

Proud Lion

Near the water

Here comes the Leader of the Pack

You need to move, he indicates to the Lioness resting by the water. She didn't argue.

Keeping company

Magnificent Leopard


 



The Leopard is housed in the safe wildlife enclosure where there were cheetah, old lions and crocodiles have been rescued from hunting man.

Sad to see this lonely Leopard but he's alive.

 

The only giraffe we saw today - back to base for lunch

 

A long day but very rewarding. We drove home via world famous vineyards and more stunning scenery.

March 30 off to get hair done (1/3 of price of NZ and limited opportunities to get it done in Luanda) plus fill our suitcases again with things we miss in Luanda - cheese, brown flour, and ingredients for muesli being top on the list.

Look who followed us home - fighting over food

 

March 31st. Happy 20th birthday Liam!

Another pleasant trip home via Windhoek. The airport terminal was covered in giant bugs, beetles and grasshoppers - we think there had recently been rain which brings these creatures in.

Back to Lalaland (otherwise affectionately known as Luanda).