| | Jan 27, 2006 - Cape Town - We reach the most South-Western tip of Africa! | (click to enlarge)
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 | | show all 21 | | Cape Town with Table Mountain and Lion's Head | | Waterfront and Table Mountain | | Our stunning home for our 9 days in Cape Town | | |
| | Cape Town - The Most South-Western Tip of Africa
From Cairo in the north-east to the Cape of Good Hope at the most south-western tip, we have spent over two months travelling through the magical continent of Africa and have experienced nine unique and interesting countries. Cape Town, South Africa was like nowhere else in Africa. Modern and dramatically scenic, the city and its surroundings quickly make you forget you are in Africa. By far the most modern and advanced city on the continent it is a vacation paradise with gorgeous beaches, stunning coastal scenery drives, shopping, unique history to explore, hiking trails, wine regions and much more. For years I have heard about this marvellous city set against the striking backdrop of Table Mountain and Lion's Head and finally it was our chance to get to explore it for nine days.
Arriving in Cape Town was exciting for many reasons. First, I have longed to visit this great city for a long time hearing so much about it from my South African friends and colleagues. Second, we were about ready to wrap up our 20-day road trip we had been on from Victoria Falls - it was incredible, but we were starting to get tired of long days on the road and ready to stay in one place again for a while. We checked in to what turned out to be a luxury 2 bedroom home complete with four sets of French doors to our front and back gardens set in the beautiful DeWaterkant neighbourhood. We were fortunate enough to get an upgrade from our original booking but were still disappointed to find our place did not have a phone or internet access. I guess we can't have it all and easily rented a cell phone for only a couple dollars a day to give us a means of communication while in town and continued to use internet cafes as we have been throughout most of the trip.
Sometimes setting off to a destination with high expectations can be dangerous if you have it too built up in your mind or the wrong image conjured up outlining your dream vacation. Cape Town however, did not disappoint. While in town we explored the incredible V&A Waterfront with its shops, restaurants, pubs set against the port with the Atlantic Ocean on one side and tall flat-topped Table Mountain in the backdrop. One afternoon to took the half hour ferry ride from the waterfront to famous Robben Island where we were taken on an hour long bus tour of the island learning about its history as a leper colony, use in the war and most well known prison where Nelson Mandella was held for 18 of his years in confinement as a political prisoner. The prison tour is a emotional walk through this small prison led by an ex-political prisoner who did an incredible job in bringing the drama of the prison years to life - the hardships they suffered, triumphs they made and how they smuggled a copy of his book 'A Long Walk to Freedom' out of the prison.
No visit to Cape Town would be complete without a tour of the Cape itself and along one of the nicest coastal drives in the world around Chapman's Peak. The drive from the city to the Cape first takes you through beachside suburbs and past neighbourhoods with mansions perched high on cliffs above the ocean and white sands below. Drive through the exclusive neighbourhood of Clifton with its four gorgeous beaches and then on to fashionable Camps Bay with its trendy beachside restaurants and cafes, before moving on to Chapman's Peak where the road is etched into the cliff side with rocky mountains climbing above and the cold Atlantic Ocean crashing on the rocky shores below. From here you can continue on to the Cape where you reach the most south-western tip of Africa and visit the original lighthouse built to warn sailors of the dangerous rocks just off shore that have claimed so many ships and lives in the past. Take a stunning hike along the cape with the surging ocean pounding on the rocky cliffs below or if you want something more active, venture to one of the many beaches nearby for some extreme windsurfing or kite sailing. All along take in the unique and varied vegetation of the Cape while watching for the baboons, penguins and varied species of antelope that roam the area. A day on the Cape is sure to impress anyone with its spectacular scenery.
If you are energetic and looking for one of the best views of Cape Town you can climb Lion's Head - a rocky peak standing just off from Table Mountain and prominent in most Cape Town scenery pictures. The climb to up Lion's Head turned out to be more than we had bargained for with the steep circular trail doing almost two complete revolutions around the rocky formation before reaching the peak. The trail starts off with easy but steep walking and soon changes into a scramble up rocks, ladders and for the more adventurous chains and steep flat rock faces - that was a bit beyond our skill level although I thought I would give it a shot. I quickly learned the 'recommended route' was more my speed! Upon reaching the summit our efforts were rewarded with the 360-degree view (see the video upload). Breath taking views of main city and Waterfront, Table Mountain with the 'table cloth' of clouds curling over the top, the 12 Apostles jutting out of the mountain side, Chapman's Peak, and beaches and neighbourhoods of the Atlantic Coast all sparkling below you - incredible! For those not into a strenuous hike of Lion's Head, you can take the cable car up Table Mountain or choose from various different hikes to the top for different awe inspiring views.
No trip to Cape Town would be complete without a trip out to the gorgeous wine region that is making South Africa famous world wide with their top quality wines. There are many places to visit and do wine sampling and we went with new friends from our 20 day safari to Spier which is more than just wine tasting. This farm has evolved into a day long destination where we easily occupied ourselves by visiting the cheetah park where we got up close and personal with the soft, docile cheetah cubs, a predatory bird park complete with falcon demonstrations and eagle holdings, a great outdoor lunch and of course topped it all off in the afternoon with some wine tasting and the purchase of a few bottles to consume back at 'home'.
Having contacts and new friends in town further enhanced our Cape Town visit. Monica and Chantal we had got to know over the past 20 days on safari from Victoria Falls were living in Cape Town and we enjoyed their company on several occasions including the visit to Spier mentioned above. Also Mark and Tony friends of a friend from home gave us some great company on several occasions and showed us more of the city with their lush neighbourhood and stunning guest house (www.kidgerhouse.co.za) as well. Nothing adds to the travel experience more than meeting good friends along the way.
Our nine days in Cape Town flew by without even giving us enough time to see and do all we wanted to. The destination is stunning and one that we enjoyed immensely and will definitely return to in the future.
10 Travel Tips for Cape Town
1. Taxi's are expensive and Cape Town unfortunately has a very poor public transportation system making it a bit more challenging to get around on your own than some other cities. Consider renting a car for your stay if you are not centrally located and would like the convenience and freedom. You can also take the local taxis that are shared vans packed with as many people as they can fit in and making multiple stops along the way. They are inexpensive but more time consuming and lacking comfort.
2. Chapman's Peak drive has been called one of the nicest drives in the world - don't miss it! The road hugs the rugged, winding coastline as it is virtually carved into the cliff side giving panoramic views of the dramatic ocean and coastal scenery.
3. Robben Island prison is probably one of the most famous prisons in the world where Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners were held and is accessible by a 30 minute ferry ride from the V&A Waterfront and includes a tour of the island and prison. Make sure you allow for some time either before or after the tour to explore the museum in the Waterfront where the ferry terminal is to give you a further understanding of the apartheid era. Reservations for the island tour are recommended as it can book up in peak season.
4. South Africa is forever increasing in its international recognition for their wines, which are available at incredible prices. Take a day or more to visit the wine region, do some wine tasting and experience the wine region scenery. Tours are available if you choose and can include a variety of options including countryside picnic lunches or horseback riding or cycling between wine farms.
5. The V&A Waterfront is a must visit for everyone coming to Cape Town. Set on the Atlantic ocean with Table Mountain in the back drop it is a well done commercial development with a great selection of restaurants, bars, shops, museums, an aquarium and residential complexes to explore and enjoy. A excellent day time or evening outing.
6. Like most major cities crime is a concern however a bit more prevalent in Cape Town than many cities. Do not walk the streets after dark and instead take taxis where you need to go. Day time you should not have any problems at all and feel free to walk and explore the city taking the usual safety precautions when you are travelling in any large city.
7. Table Mountain and Lion's Head are the two predominant features in Cape Town's skyline and either or both are worth a visit to the top for scenes of the city, coastline and beaches. Table Mountain can either be climbed by a multitude of hiking trails or more easily summitted by riding the cable car to the top. Lion's Head gives a different view including an incredible vantage point of Table Mountain and 360 degree views of Cape Town but is much more work to reach the top through a steep, circular climb. Even if you do not make it to the peak of Lion's Head, great views are available by doing the easier first half of the hike.
8. There is no shortage of gorgeous beaches in Cape Town all just minutes from the city centre. The water is on the Atlantic Ocean though and is therefore very cold so be prepared for a refreshing dip. Warming waters are available on the beaches on the eastern side of the Cape but are much further out of the city.
9. A day trip out to Cape of Good Hope is another must for visitors to Cape Town. Being the most south-western tip of Africa the Cape of Good Hope is rich with maritime history as it was a primary trade route from Europe to Asia and claimed many ships and lives in its turbulent stormy and rocky waters. Again, the coastal scenery is gorgeous and there are several walks allowing you to absorb the views and atmosphere.
10. When planning your accommodations in Cape Town you have a lot of options from choosing a city stay in the city centre, near the V&A Waterfront, beachside somewhere like Camps Bay or in a quiet Cape Town neighbourhood. Put some thought into what you want to do most while in Cape Town and choose a location that most suits your style.
www.carlhenderson.ca
www.imagestoframe.com
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