South Africa 1

South Africa

Am hoping we can publish our 2 posts from here before we leave - we are at the airport in Johannesburg, on our way to Finland. Haven’t had regular enough internet connections since we arrived in Africa a few weeks ago.

From high mountains & altitude problems, to dry desert with wild animals up close, to a stormy coast where many ships have perished. Before the last part, we have enjoyed local info and expertise staying with Bev’s sister Jenny, and her partner Roy, outside of Cape Town. And more visiting with friends here, and then in a totally different setting, Finland, is coming up. A lot of contrast, which probably is why we don’t feel any need to go home soon, even though we are looking forward to catching up with our friends there in a few weeks.

Link to South Africa 1



As Bev, a long time ago,  said we would, we have now seen African Penguins, one of I believe 17 species of these fun birds. One should be careful as they apparently bite if threatened. Near them were Dassies - a furry, rotund small mammal, related to the elephant!

Stellenbosch is a nice town outside of Cape Town, and we spent a few hours walking around, admiring sculptures of bicycle stands, and later visited a nature preserve. This area west of the city, is full of vineyards, and we naturally had to go to a tasting - mid morning... Craig said his first time ever to feel drunk!

It’s been very windy in Cape Town. The forecast was for a 100% chance of rain, but we walked along the waterfront for quite a ways and stayed dry. No one should complain if it rains here, as they have had such a severe drought that there has been a risk of all public water being shut off. So we wear our clothes a bit longer, and reuse water as best we can.

The Cape Point National Park is on the peninsula south of Cape Town, and we did a few walks, and one that qualifies as a real hike here. Met Bev & Chris with family here, and son Jeffrey stayed at our cottage for a night - fun!
Saw Bontebok, more penguins and baboons, the latter now in a natural setting. An Eland at a distance - the largest of the antelope. And ship wrecks by the beach, where we definitely would not want to be in the stormy waters.
Ran into the ‘Striped Socks Men’s Hiking Club’ - who explained that the stripes are the bar codes that let them back into the old people’s home! Seems they would fit right in with our gang at home.

Lucked out with gorgeous sunshine, and the wind had died down when we walked around the Cape of Good Hope, and also when we returned to Cape Town for a day.

I really enjoyed going to Robben Island, where both our guides were excellent. One of them is a former political prisoner from this prison, and having heard them both speak, it is extra difficult and sad to see what state their country is in. Crime is increasing also in Cape Town, where we were told it has been safer than in other large cities.
After our tour of the island, we took the cable car up for a quick glimpse of the view from Table Mountain and came back down with the sun. Unfortunately hiking up here for 2 foreigners alone (especially later in the day) is not considered safe.

The Cradle of Humankind, and especially the nearby Sterkfontein Caves were very interesting. We came here after flying north, on our way to our second Safari experience of the trip, and saw where many of the skeletal remains were found, which have helped clarify human ancestry.
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