Blogs from Western Cape, South Africa, Africa - page 261

So on my last full day in Cape Town I actually got to see all of Table Mountain from the more famous side. YAY (have a photo...will try to add when I get a chance). Early morning flight means very early morning wake up call. My hotel is awesome. They gave me a wake up call...and left me a big pot of coffee outside my door and also packed me a HUGE breakfast to go...awww...was a really great place! Decided to use the hotel driver to take me to the airport. Turned out to be the same guy that picked me up from the hospital. I have such bad luck at this airport because as we turned off the highway to the airport...there was a big accident involving at least two trucks. Waited...waited...no other way into ... read more

Hello again! So I've really hit the ground running since my last entry! Yes, I made it to the wineries and the peninsula AND Robben Island! Horray!! So much to say. So much history. Instead of blabbin away I've added more photos (1000 words each right?). In brief, Saturday I went on a winery tour. Stellenboch, Paarl and Franchoek regions (you'll see these regions in our SA section of the liquor stores). Sunday, Cape Peninsula, beautiful! Sunshine most of the day allowed this fabulous shot of the cape...WOW hey?! Also saw African Penguins and Dassies (plus many other creatures). Then today, Monday, Robben Island. This is where Nelson Mandela and many others where held political prisoners for the many years during apartheid. Remember, apartheid only ended in 1994. If I get a chance later I'll elaborate ... read more

Since the last entry we have stayed at Bucanneers in West Cintas. Took quite an adventure to get there (4 hours late and many wrong turns). Seems the South Africans like to change the names of their freeway exits to confuse travellers. Really nice hostel on the beach with lots to do. Friendly staff and free wine. Spent 3 days on the beach, suntanning and boogie boarding. Nights drinking, playing pool and bbq'ing. Then we were off to Plettenburg bay. Arrived in the evening and left early to see Monkeyland. Lots of different types of monkies and even more hungry mosquitos!! Highlight of the day was definately Cheetahland. Many crocs, lions, tigers, jaguars (but no bears, oh my!). Got to play with and get pics with a cheetah and a white bengal tiger. Up close you ... read more

Hello from South Africa. Hello from Cape Town! I made it! Well...some of you may have heard and some may not so I'll keep it brief. First of all I'M OK! But a couple of days ago...few! On the flight I got real sick. Turned out to be really bad food poisoning and as a result I became severely dehydrated and as a result of that I fainted a bunch, and barfed a bunch, flight attendants, paramedics, customs officers, ambulance, hospital, nurses, doctors...WHAT A STORY! It all ended (hours later) with a call to my hotel. They sent someone to fetch me and wow what a fabulous hotel it is! I LOVE IT. Anyway...back on track... Today I managed to get out and wander my neighbourhood. CIVILIZATION HORRAY!! I'm staying in an area call the V ... read more

After the delights of Hermanus, we moved to Swellendam - best described as rural. You couldn't fault the view, if you could see it through the cloud of mosquitoes, so we swiftly moved to ostrich country. Oudsthoorn is a nice little town, built on the wealth of ostrich feathers. The last big boom came to an end in 1914, so they have now diversified into eating them as well as selling the feathers - a damn fine chilli the mince makes! The area is known as the Little Karoo or desert, as the mountains block the weather fronts coming in from the sea and the fields around town are full of ostriches. The town is full of grand buildings or "feather palaces" as they are known and for the first time so far, you actually feel ... read more