We couldn't leave Cape Town without doing the trip out to Robben Island. This is the prison where Nelson Mandela spent twenty seven years of his life. Although he served most of his imprisoned life here, this is not the prison that he was released from though. He spent the last few years of his sentence in a prison called Victor Verster. It is near the town of Paarl in South Africa. Once you get off the boat at the dock on Robben Island you are put onto buses. We were taken around the large island for a tour. We were shown many buildings and told of their purposes. A lot of the … [Read more...]
Chapman’s Peak Drive, Camps Bay and Long Beach
Chapman's Peak Drive Chapmans Peak. is claimed to be one of the most scenic drives in the world. It was originally constructed during World War I. Several vehicle commercials have been filmed here showing cars hugging the corners around the steep cliffs that are carved into the mountain. There are a total of 114 curves on the nine kilometer road that follows the rocky coastline. On one section of the road you have to drive through a notch that has been cut out of the cliff side. It is like a three sided cave, but with a cliff dropping off on the open side that faces the ocean. It is … [Read more...]
Cape Point And Cape Of Good Hope
The entire drive from Cape Town to the Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope offers scenic ocean views. When you get to Cape Point there is a funicular railway that will take you up to the top. You have to climb some stairs on final stretch up to the lighthouse, but the stunning views you receive all well worth it. Beware The Baboons This area is a very popular spot for baboons. They can be a real nuisance and very dangerous. You will be heavily fined if you are caught feeding them. We got to witness an incident with a very large male. He spotted a family getting out of their … [Read more...]
Hermanus
Land Based Whale Watching? Hermanus is one of the few places in the world where you can do land based whale watching. The whales come very close to the shore. Unfortunately we are not here in the right season to see them. The town is nice enough to come here though at anytime. Zoete Inval Backpackers This backpackers we stayed at is called Zoete Inval. It is run by a Canadian lady from Saskatchewan, my birthplace of all places. Our room was adorned with many things to remind of us home. A real maple leaf glazed on a plaque, a framed set of many Canadian stamps and a sunset picture with … [Read more...]
The Magnificent Mountain With The Table Top
No trip to South Africa would be complete without seeing Table Mountain. This iconic landmark towers over the skyline of Cape Town and to fully appreciate the mountain you need to get to the top of it. The panoramic views from the plateau allow you to get a full perspective of the Cape Peninsula. If you are fit enough you hike up one of trails leading to the top of the mountain. There are several different routes, each one is a good strong climb but offers a rewarding experience. People were asked to stay off the trails during the time of our visit. There had been several fires because of the … [Read more...]
Victoria And Alfred Waterfront, Full Of Entertainment Day Or Night
The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront is one of Cape Town's biggest attractions. It is a functioning commercial harbour with a backdrop of mountains, and set in the midst of it all is a huge entertainment venue. There are pubs, restaurants, specialty shops, two shopping centers, two craft markets and movie theaters. There are probably enough restaurants here to keep you eating at a different one for each day of the year. The menus are very creative and the food is excellent. The atmosphere is great, there is something for everyone here and for every budget. This is a great area to come … [Read more...]
Our Stays At Two Cape Town Backpackers
A Bit Difficult To Find Accommodation Without Pre-Booking In Cape Town For six weeks we traveled in South Africa and flew by the seat of our pants. We would show up at a destination and have no issues finding accommodation. That was until we reached Cape Town. We were informed that Cape Town is busy with tourism all year round. The only time of the year that is a bit slower is the month of May, this would be the peak of their winter season. We were having issues finding a place that had vacancy for more than a few nights. We decided we would break up our time in Cape Town. We booked a few … [Read more...]
Cosmopolitan Cape Town
Cosmopolitan Cape Town Just when you think you have seen the most spectacular views and scenery that South Africa could possibly offer, the country pulls out another punch. Cape Town is a city that should be on everyone's must see list. You have the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Indian Ocean on the other, beautiful Table Mountain smack in your face and the city circling around it. Cape Town is a very upbeat and vibrant city with so much to see and do. It has a very cosmopolitan atmosphere, some call it's Africa's New York. Long Street And Kloof Street Long Street stretches for over … [Read more...]
Franschhoek, Fantastic Wine And Gastronomic Delight
It was finally the time that Jack had been dreaming of. We were about to enter the wine lands of South Africa. The wine lands encompass several regions, with the most popular towns being Stellenbosch, Paarl, Wellington and Franschhoek. Each place has it's own unique character and atmosphere. After doing a bit of reading on each we decided that Franschhoek appealed to us the most, we would make it our base. The mountain pass from Montegu to Franschhoek was full of stunning scenery, but the best was yet to come. We were driving along a bend through the mountains when there was a sudden … [Read more...]
Sleepy Little Montegu
We basically used it as a one night stop over en route from Oudtshoorn to the wine land areas. It was a very cute and quiet little town that is nestled in the mountains. It has a small population of friendly people. There is one main street that has a few restaurants and a small supermarket. We stayed at De Bos Guest Farm. It was a very charming and rustic place with free run chickens and some peacocks. Your typical farm dogs and cats too. We went out for dinner to a restaurant that had been recommended some time ago on our travels. It had just recently been opened. The name of the … [Read more...]