After leaving the Karoo, we travelled along the barren N2 towards Cape Town. We stopped off at Worcester and walked round the gorgeous botanical gardens, where we saw our first Paradise Sunbird.
Pete in the Worcester Botanical Gardens
Our new lodgings were at Houts Bay; a wooden cabin on the side of a hill, which had great views and comprised a kitchen/lounge area, a bedroom and a shower - it was in a great spot and suited us well.
Cabin at Houts Bay
Tuesday, 13th December 2010
We spent the day at the V&A Waterfront, visiting the aquarium, which had the most enormous spider crabs, black seahorses from Knynsa, and local types of beautifully coloured fish. After lunch at our favourite Italian, we did a bit of shopping and then went into the cinema to watch 'The Dawn Treader' in 3D. When we came out of the cinema, the Salvation Army Band were playing and singing a mixture carols and pop hits. It was so wonderful to see so many different races brought together to produce such a glorious sound in the open air; I found it particularly touching when they finished with 'He aint Heavy, he's my Brother.' Excellent ending to a particularly brilliant day.
Wednesday, 14th December 2010
A cold and windy day! In the morning we went into Hout Bay to do some shopping. Two little black boys and a black girl were playing in the rough sea. They jumped off the pier into the shallow water, but unfortunately, the tide was coming in, the wind was strong, and the little girl was out of her depth. She was drowning in the strong currents. Pete ran for a rope, but all around people stood and watched, unaware that the girl was in distress. Pete managed to get the rope round her and pulled her to safety; if we had not been there, we think the girl would have drowned. By now a crowd had gathered but still no-one seemed to know what to do; the people were like children themselves, oblivious to danger; it was so sad!
We drove along Chapmans Peak Road to Boulders Beach where there is a small colony of African Penguins. On the way, we had to stop for a troop of baboons on the road; there are about 16 in this area but they are killed by the local inhabitants as they raid the bins etc. As we still had a valid wild card, it cost us nothing to walk along the boardwalk. The penguins are also called Jackass penguins as they bray like donkeys when they are trying to attract a mate; its a wonderful sound.
African Penguins at Boulders
We drove back via Table Mountain for a walk at the Silverdale reserve; it was so cold! A guy was swimming in the resevoir in a wet suit - so brave!
Cold & blustery day on Table Mountain
Thursday, 15th December 2010
The weather was much warmer today so we visited the beautiful Kirstenboch Gardens. The proteas were the star performers on this visit. We had a fab english tea at the restaurant; cheese and cucumber sandwiches, quiche and cheesecake with Earl Grey tea, beautifully served on a tiered cake stand! In the afternoon we walked along one of the tracks up from the gardens along the side of Table Mountain. The view over the Cape is glorious from up there, albeit it is a large urban sprawl!
Proteas in the Kirstenbosch Gardens
King Protea
Friday, 16th December 2010
Today we thought we would visit the Tygerberg Zoo to see some of the conservation work they are valued for. We knew is was on the N1 and for some inexplicable reason, we thought it would be sign posted. Silly us! We drove back to the Tygerberg reserve and asked if they knew where the zoo was - 'oh', they replied, 'so many people ask us that question.' So - where is the zoo? 'We have absolutely no idea!' We drove away and saw a Protea Hotel - the receptionist could not have been more helpful - she gave us a map and we found the zoo was where we had given up and turned back!
Anyway we found it, and it was worth it! The zoo looks run down compared to European Zoos with huge cash injections, but it was clean and the animals seemed to be healthy and happy. There were rescued bat eared foxes, wild dogs, raccoons, monkeys - all ex-pets or in the way of the farmers. The collection also had a pair of white lions which were beautiful and an extensive breeding programme for beautiful African cats. Gerald Durrel was a supporter of the zoo and we could see why. However, it really needed more information on the animals, why they were there, breeding programmes etc.......I think I should volunteer....!
Saturday, 17th December 2010
We meant to spend the day at the V&A, but as we drove along the cliff road, we realised that the movements we could see were Cape Fur Seals chasing the shoals of pilchards. We spent ages watching them and, because it was such a beautiful day, we went back to the the Cape of Good Hope lighthouse and reserve. The conditions were so different from earlier in the week; more flowers and proteas were out, birds and butterflies abounded, the bontibok shone in the sunshine, it was glorious. We walked up to the lighthouse and watched another seal just below us. The path was lined with blue agama's and black skinks and we saw a mongoose in the rocks. A tortoise crossed our path - heaven!
In the evening, our dear friends Nikki and Simon joined us for dinner at the Groot Constantia vineyard in the aptly named Simons restaurant for a lovely meal; Simon treated us to a bottle of champagne for starters and the rest followed through nicely!
Carole, Simon, Nikki, Pete
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