The Most South Westerm Point of the African Continent

Our last night in Cape Town was a memorable affair, filled with the exciting sounds and rythms of African music, and dancing. Along with the entertainment we ate delicious local food - much of which was vegetarian - each of the 20 small tasty dishes of food were freshly prepared. I even had my face painted with flowers like the girl pictured above.

We set off in bright sunlight the next morning along the Atlantic coastal route - a very picturesque journey known as Chapman's Peak Drive.

courtesy wiki
and arrived at the Cape of Good Hope

We arrived here early and had it virtually to ourselves, apart from baboons leaping over rocks.

and the occasional ostrich patrolling the beach.
The Cape of Good Hope marks the point where a ship begins to travel more eastward than southward. It was once thought to be the spot where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Indian Ocean, but that is a few miles further around to the east of this southerly point. Known for its spectacular scenery it was originally named the Cape of Storms; later it was renamed, by King John ll of Portugal, the Cape of Good Hope because of the great optimism engendered by the opening of a sea route to India and the East.

This remote spot had us completely spell bound with its roaring Atlantic rollers and the many shades of blue in the sea and sky. The glistening amber coloured rocks, the kelp twinkling in the sunlight, together with the hundreds of glossy jet black Cape Cormorants posing and preening 

it was difficult to drag ourselves away from this magical spot, but drag ourselves we must - we have a flight to Johannesburg later this afternoon.

Cape Town

We landed in Cape Town at lunch time and two hours later found ourselves travelling to the top of Table Mountain in a cable car, and we hadn't even upacked.

Table Mountain is mercurial - even if the skies are blue the summit can still have a white layer of cloud lying across the top like a fluffy duvet - it was totally clear, so we made the most of the opportunity, and up we went.

 Table Mountain is 1067 metres high, and I was surprised at just how exotic the area was as we stepped from the cable car.

I was excited to see these exquisite tiny Orange Breasted Sunbirds feeding on nectar from the Aloe flowers. They were totally unconcerned that I was within touching distance - for me it was magical just watching them and seeing how their iridescent feathers glistened in the sunlight.

We took a stroll around this colourful Malay area of Cape Town before unpacking at the hotel and going for an evening meal down on the lively waterfront. Malay slaves were brought to the Cape Colony from Java in the late 1600s and carried with them an intimate knowledge of spices that was to have a profound influence on Cape cooking.
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We were, however, shocked at the shantytowns that we had seen on our way into the city near the airport, and the way in which so many black people still live today. Gradually some of the shantytowns are giving way to new townships built with what are known as 'Mandela' houses. 'Mandela' houses are made from brick, a big improvement from the chaotic corrugated iron shacks and wooden huts, but still very basic. They have only one small living room and two bedrooms in which eight people or more may reside. I did not take any photos of the shantytowns as I thought it too intrusive, but I will never forget what I saw.

We gazed out to sea through these giant sculptured glasses and could just make out Robben Island lying on the horizon - the spot where Nelson Mandela served 18 of his 27 years in prison.

The ocean that pounds the coast around Cape Town is our own familiar Atlantic, but very soon it will be meeting and mingling with the Indian Ocean, and that is where part of our journey eventually takes us.