Blogs from Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa, Africa

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Africa » South Africa » Western Cape » Cape Town September 12th 2023

We kicked off with a visit to the aquarium, alarmed to see – and more significantly hear – a school party of about 60 primary school boys making an unholy racket. Fortunately we managed to dodge them most of the way round. The first exhibit was a frenzied shoal of clownfish straight out of Finding Nemo. We saw tiny translucent jellyfish and miniature pale pink strawberry corals, then moved on to the big tanks with the sharks and a very cute rescued turtle. He had balance problems and was floating upside down, so the staff had attached a ballast weight to the top of his shell to keep him the right way up. But the highlight of the trip was the penguin enclosure. By chance we arrived just as three African penguins were brought out for ... read more
Jellyfish
Entrance to Robben Island
Cell in Robben Island

Africa » South Africa » Western Cape » Cape Town September 11th 2023

We left London in 33 degree heat, packing our sweaters in the cases as it was far too hot to wear them. 11 hours later we arrived in Cape Town to find it was 13 degrees with pouring rain and a howling gale. Hmm, aren’t you meant to go on holiday for better weather…..? The rain subsided enough to allow us to don sweaters and waterproof jackets and go for a walk round the V&A waterfront. Back in the hotel, we celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary with a beer in the hotel bar, watching the locals celebrate South Africa thrashing Scotland in their first match of the rugby World Cup, and had an early dinner before heading to bed to catch up on sleep after our night flight. Next morning we’d booked to visit Robben Island ... read more
Old Cape Town
Lion's Head and Robben Island
The twelve apostles

Africa » South Africa » Western Cape » Cape Town July 21st 2023

Dear All Amazing! I can't quite believe I'm here! South Africa has often seemed to be such a dark and forboding place given its recent troubles, yet at the same time wondrous and stunning. I'm so excited to explore, and so glad to have made this first step in simply coming here, after hearing so many not-so-good stories. Both my flights here were good - I took Lufthansa with a connection in Frankfurt, as at the time of booking it was cheaper than the only direct flight from the UK with British Airways. The first flight was a short one from Heathrow to Frankfurt, filled with not one but two large school groups. I always seem to end up with school groups on my planes! One group had around 120 young teenage brats from Spain, and ... read more
Aerial Cableway
Nelson Mandela's Cell
Me

Africa » South Africa » Western Cape » Cape Town » KIrstenbosch April 15th 2023

After returning to the ship we have a day in Cape Town and plan to go to the botanical gardens at Kirstenbosch. We visited them several years ago but on one of those tours where you have 45 minutes here, a photo opportunity there and feel there was so much you didn’t see. We promised ourselves if we ever had the chance we would return and today is the day. We stop a taxi and he quotes a price. Ian never thinks of haggling and just agrees. The price (while cheaper than a Cunard excursion by some margin) is still much more than we expected. We are driven to the gardens and it is agreed the driver will pick us up later in the day. Ian offers to pay half the fare but the driver waves ... read more

Africa » South Africa » Western Cape » Cape Town November 26th 2022

After breakfast at the hotel, we made sure our suitcases were securely packed and walked from the hotel to our gate for our flight to Cape Town. Security at Johannesburg was quick with fewer requirements than ours in the U.S. We made the approximately 2 hour flight with no hitches and Ben, our guide, was waiting for us at the airport. Having lost the morning for seeing the city, we started on our adventure straight from the airport. Our first stop was the oldest building in Cape Town, the Castle of Good Hope. This fortress was built in the 17th Century by the Dutch East India Company to replenish supplies of the Dutch ships. It is built in the shape of a 5 pointed star similar to forts in the U.S. When built the castle was ... read more
 By the Entrance to the Castle of Good Hope
 Castle of Good Hope
 Cape Town City Hall

Africa » South Africa » Western Cape » Cape Town May 1st 2022

Isn't life gorgeous?? Hope you are hanging there in this world that may have just re-opened...but that is facing the worst disease us travelers are fighting, I call hyper-inflation! So let see if we can make 2022 even better than 2021....after all, we all survived a crazy world, so let's try to get the best of it! Inflation is at work here in South Africa too...but due to the lack of international travelers, if you are a good hunter, this place is actually better than anything you'll find in North America, Europe or currently the few places open in Asia. So be smart...and come down under...the Africa way! I'm finally getting myself up to date with blogging! Impressive isn't it...well....maybe our own schedule pushed me...we are back on a long flight this Friday...and it's only the ... read more
Signature dish at Le Coin Francais, Franschoek...
On top of the world...
Love the colors...

Africa » South Africa » Western Cape » Cape Town November 8th 2021

You dream about this little corner of the world...you may even have your ticket for Christmas....but today, you learn in the news for the first time about B.1.1.529, or newly name, the Nu covid Variant. In few hours today, we found out that most countries could/will not welcome people having visited South Africa the last few days. British Airways and KLM won't fly in and out anymore. From tomorrow Emirates will not fly you out...only in South Africa. Lufthansa will take back home only Germans, with a 14 days quarantine on arrival. Singapore airlines will halt, I guess tomorrow Air France too. Maybe Qatar will remain! Ethiopian is a risky business these days with their own little domestic war going on. Trap in SA....and it's not that bad of a movie! Yesterday we had 2500 new ... read more
Lunch at Silo in the V&A...
The super nice road from Sommerset West to Kleinmond...
La Colombe, ranked 81st in the world....great food...below average service...pace 3/10!

Africa » South Africa » Western Cape » Cape Town October 1st 2021

A Promenade Walk Along the Ocean The walk today started below Lion Head Mountain.The peak forms part of a dramatic backdrop to the city of Cape Town and is part of the Table Mountain National Park. The sun was starting to set as we walked along the promenade of the affluent Bantry Bay Area. We learnt how Charles Darwin made important geological observations here relating to the nature and origin of granite. url=https://www.heygo.com/tours/a-promenade-walk-along-the-ocean-and-a-chat?utm_source=tour_share_link&utm_content=1179https://www.heygo.com/tours/a-promenade-walk-along-the-ocean-and-a-chat... read more

Africa » South Africa » Western Cape » Cape Town July 9th 2021

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden is acclaimed as one of the great botanic gardens of the world. Few gardens can match the sheer grandeur of the setting of Kirstenbosch, against the eastern slopes of Cape Town’s Table Mountain. It is now winter in Cape Town the gardens are full of colour especially the proteas. Kirstenbosch enjoys a Mediterranean climate, with a long, hot, dry summer (November-March) and a short, cool, rainy winter (June-August). Stunning flowers with a wonderful backdrop. http://www.heygo.com... read more




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