Our Beloved Cape Town.

On the way to Cape Town on the North side of False Bay.

 So much has been written about this amazingly beautiful city it seems silly for me to say anything, but of course I will! There are so many ways to enjoy Cape Town, tourists came in by the thousands on cruise ships, dock in the restored Victoria & Albert Basin and get taken on great excursions to the Cable Car which whisks them up to the top of Table Mountain where they enjoy unparallel views of the city and its two oceans. Other excursions include visits to Stellenbosch and the wine country, Cape Point Nature Reserve, the penguins at Boulders, City Tours, a boat ride to Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned and unforgettable walks through the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Then there are the hundreds of tourists who came to Cape Town on organized Tours from all over the world and enjoy much of the same sights included in their tours.

Then of course there are the few Overlanders who camp right next to the famous beaches, like Fish Hoek, Bloubergstrand & Kommetjie and get to do early morning walks along these beaches and interact with the locals like the surf fisherman which row out into the surf with their nets and then row back and pull the nets back in with help of anyone who wishes to join in the fun.  

Early morning walk on Fish Hoek beach

Surf fisherman's boat with its net and rope ready

Beach huts for changing and the shark
warning flag. Black means the water is not clear
 enough for the shark spotters on the mountain to see the
 sharks so swim at your own risk!

We, as Overlanders also do all the same sights but at a much more leisurely pace and maybe at times before the tourist’s busses get there. But then we also have to put up with the troops of baboons which come down off the mountain and raid the garbage cans at some campsites. These nuisances, which are protected by law, have worked out how to open “Baboon Proof” garbage cans. They can’t get the lids off as there are two latches that must be held back simultaneously and they just can’t do that! But they have worked out if they charge the cans with enough force they will knock the can flying and the lid will pop off. They will also attempt to enter any unattended camper and steal eggs and fruit out of the refrigerator which they have found much easier to open than the garbage cans. We had one jump up to our side window and bear its teeth at me, but I stood my ground with my trusty broom stick and snarled and growled at it. Thankfully it jumped off and looked for easier pickings.  Ah, the joys of Overlanding!

Baboons

We spent a glorious day at Kistenbosch Gardens enjoying the quiet beauty framed by Table Mountain. As Annie says everywhere you go in Cape Town the mountain is always there and then you are also never far from the ocean. The day was topped off with tea and scones at the Kirstenbosch tearoom. I have been waiting a lifetime to enjoy these treats again. Of course there was homemade strawberry jam and clotted cream. My mouth waters, just thinking about scones, jam and cream.

Kirstenbosch

Back side of Table Mountain from Kirstenbosch

Kirstenbosch

Sunbird at Kirstenbosch

Kirstenbosch

We spent 3 glorious weeks in Cape Town and probably will find someway to return real soon.

Groot Constantia

The courtyard at Groot Constantia

Slave bell at Spier Winery, Stellenbosch
The bell was used to call the salves in from the fields

Ostrich traffic jam at Cape Point.
They walk slowly in front of the cars. I told you they were stupid.

Condos in Sea Point.
The light blue on top of the building is the glass wall to a roof-top swimming pool

Beautiful bay at Cape Point.

Tidal swimming pool. Each new high tide refreshes the water inside the pool

Cape Point. View of both oceans.

Beach at sunset.

Parking security guard on top of his innovate guard post.

Campsite at Miller's Point with the full moon raising

Tortoise at Cape Point. Its brain is surly bigger than its eyeball

Kelp beds at Cape Point

Cape Point

Hundreds of Cormorants.

Cape of Good Hope. The most South Western point of the African continent.

Lunch stop view out our door.

Recent ship wreck on the stormy Atlantic side

Just real pretty flowers

Protea

Muizenberg Beach from Kalk Bay Mountain

Biggest tent-peg I have ever seen!

Huguenot Memorial, Franschhoek

Huguenot Memorial, Franschhoek

Huguenot Memorial, Franschhoek

Our mascot. Wire bicycle bought for $5.00