Blogs from Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa, Africa - page 137

Africa » South Africa » Western Cape » Cape Town May 6th 2006

After the rushed drive to the airport frantically filling out forms, going over paperwork with Mom while Dad swerved around traffic all while on the phone with my booking agent trying to finalize and purchase my tickets for the Pacific part of my trip; I arrived tired and car sick at San Fran International Airport. As I boarded the plane the enormity of what I had just done came over me. I was all alone and I was going to Africa! What was I thinking. Sure I had traveled alone before but generally to Europe or for a few days in South America but never for a month and never in Africa. Dispite my feelings of self doubt I could not shake the sense that I needed to do this that there was a reason for ... read more

Capetown, South Africa

Africa » South Africa » Western Cape » Cape Town May 6th 2006

Sunset at Dune 45, Namibia

SailAwayWithMe

Capetown, South Africa and the beginning of the safari (April 25-May 7) Capetown... it conjures images of incredible natural beauty and the hope of a new South Africa. But it also lives with the scars of being home to apartheid and the scorn of the world not but 20 years ago. I was incredibly excited to get there and could hardly rest on the flight but did hit the ground running, wandering around Long Street and down to the waterfront. One of the highlights I also did on the first day was to go to Tabletop Mountain for sunset, which showcased incredible views of the city and the oceans. From the top one can see not only the whole city and bay but the surrounding suburbs with their beaches and all the way down to the ... read more

So Long Africa, But Not Goodbye!

Africa » South Africa » Western Cape » Cape Town May 5th 2006

Soussovlei

Dawn and Pauls Excellent Adventure

We leave the African continent tomorrow and this will be our last blog from Africa. After leaving Swankopmund (Namibia), we drove past Walvis Bay, where Brad & Angie were staying, we craned our necks to spot them from the truck, but no luck! Sossusvlei We headed for Sossusvlei, the area renowned for beautiful red sand dunes. The dunes are amazing and I'm sure you get sick of us saying this, but the pictures don't capture the beauty. It is the coolest feeling to walk along the top ridge of the dunes and look out over the landscape. We drove to Dune 45, one of the highest dunes at 150m and the most famous because of its perfect shape. As a group, we climbed to the top for some great views. I'm sure you can imagine how ... read more

The Last Hurrah

Africa » South Africa » Western Cape » Cape Town May 4th 2006

Into the Sunset

secondhandbreck

The time at the hospital had come to an end and it was time to head down to Cape Town. Cape Town has the reputation of being much more laid back (some say lazy) and very image conscious. Sounds like the perfect place for a snobby drifter like myself. Cape Town is where it all started for this country. It was originally just a stopping depot, like a 7-11 for the greedy little explorers on their way to pillage spices from the East, but soon the Dutch and British realized that it was a very “strategery” location as a Control Point for the spice route. You can guess the rest of the story: sex, drugs, war, and rock-and-roll. Now Cape Town is a tourist town. It is squeezed between the mountains and the ocean. Table ... read more

The Mother City - Travels in a Rainbow Nation

Africa » South Africa » Western Cape » Cape Town May 2nd 2006

Table Mountain

John Miranda

In true English fashion, a weather report. It's been 25 degrees and sunshine all the way so far in the South African autumn. The Rainbow nation contrasts are immediate on leaving the airport, as the first thing that you see are the Cape Flats townships. We are safely installed in our hostel in the trendy Kloof Street area of the city - more coffee shops than West Bridgford to confirm it's up and coming status. The early trip enthusiasm and over- estimation of Miranda's fitness led to the first money saving decision - climb Table Mountain rather than take the cable car. Whilst a sense of achievement was gained - hard work would be an understatement. The tourist trail continued unabated with a ferry across to Robben Island to check out the former prison, a stroll ... read more

Out of Africa

Africa » South Africa » Western Cape » Cape Town April 27th 2006

The hat party!

LJ Gilly

Leaving dusty Australia behind, we flew to the surprisingly lush green South Africa. It's very European looking and in places a little like the land of my fathers (Wales). I actually met my first Welshies since November but that’s another story. On arrival in Jo’Burg we soon realized that the stories about how dangerous it was were probably true. The city was very intimidating, security guards with guns, high security fences and lots of razor wire and no wondering around at night. Our plan was to head down the coast to Durban and finish in Cape Town. Although Durban was less slightly scary, we were stopped by a local who informed us that as we were walking down “the most dangerous road in Durban” maybe we would like to get back to the beach - who ... read more

Totsiens Pretoria, Hello Cape Town

Africa » South Africa » Western Cape » Cape Town April 18th 2006

I'm White, Baby!!!!!!

secondhandbreck

It has been quite a while since I made it to a computer to sit and blog so I guess we have a lot of catching up to do. After the safari in Kruger, I got back to the hospital for my last week. I haven't really described my experience at the hospital too much yet. Basically, if you flew over the hospital in a jet going really fast and all you saw was a giant blur, you might mistake it for an American hospital. If, however, you were to step inside it and walk the hallways for a few minutes you start seeing the differences pile up. First of all, South Africa has a huge AIDS problem compounded by an equally daunting Tuberculosis issue. So of the patients on the ward, AIDS will be a ... read more

Civilisation to Nothing

Africa » South Africa » Western Cape » Cape Town April 17th 2006

Cosy Mountain

She Rambo

Civilisation to Nothing “You’ll be riding up front for most of the trip, won’t cha?” the lovable Canadian asked me as I dumped my bag into the truck. “What makes you say that?” “Do you speak Norwegian?” I pointed to the American couple and the Australian girl “They speak English.” He looked at me with raised eyebrows. Having only met me for a couple of days he had me nailed. “Sure you don’t want to come with?” Crestfallen, he shook his head. It was not a matter of wanting but a matter of time, money and all those things we try not to think about every day. Capetown has a population of 3.5 million and is roughly the size of England. So it was not long before we entered nothing. I would like to say we ... read more

Don't Wait For Me

Africa » South Africa » Western Cape » Cape Town April 16th 2006

Cape Good Hope

She Rambo

Cape Good Hope It was still just me and the boys the next day. We climbed on board the truck and headed towards Table Mountain to see if the Table Cloth had lifted for a wander up to the top. “I’m not joking when I say you are going to carry me.” “I can fit you in my backpack,” Alex winked back at me. Poor sap, he actually thought I was joking. “I could fit in you know.” He surveyed me and nodded in agreement. The Tablecloth was still drapped over and Derick gave us an option. We could take a cable car up now or come back later in the afternoon to see if it is safe enough for us to walk up. I left the decision to the boys. A show of testosterone ... read more

The Tavern Of The Seas

Africa » South Africa » Western Cape » Cape Town April 15th 2006

Sundowner at the Inn

She Rambo

Spier What is more amusing, Derick in his Drifter’s Official Guide Uniform or Derick having to give a briefing with a hang over on top of a hang over? Noon on the dot, Derick and I were the only ones present for the briefing. Ten minutes later and we were still the only ones in the dining room. ‘The boys are in their rooms, I’ll go get them. They do know the briefing is at noon, Nicole would have told them,’ he explained as he bounded up the stairs. I didn’t have the heart to tell him that no one had told me about the briefing time which is why I had to ask him the previous night. Three long blonde haired and exceptionally tanned Norwegian boys followed him down. Is this the group? ‘Guys, this ... read more

Brief history of South Africa

After the British seized the Cape of Good Hope area in 1806, many of the Dutch settlers (the Boers) trekked north to found their own republics. The discovery of diamonds (1867) and gold (1886) spurred wealth and immigration and intensified the subjug...more history

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