Table Mountain is such an iconic image here in Cape Town, one has to get to the top and see the grand view. We decided to forego the cable car, and climb up.
Just over 3000 feet; cable car visible.Lion’s Head in the background; another climb for another day.We made several friends as we passed and re passed each other; lots of rest stops; intense sun; didn’t bring enough water; Liam had the good sense to turn back.
Made it!
Robben Island (where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned) in the distanceTook the cable car back down…
Next up was a three day tour of the Western Cape Region, with Greg — the same guide who led our expedition from Durban. (He gets around!)
Sunrise start…Seals at play in Haut Bay…heading south toward the Cape of Good Hope (Cape Point)Haut Bay…note “castle” on the hill
At the spectacular Cape of Good Hope now, this is the old lighthouse — decommissioned because it was too high, and frequently could not be seen in the clouds.Looking down on the newer, lower, closer to the Point lighthouseFrom the Point looking backCape Point — very cool place to be!
Next stop a visit to a penguin colony…
And then to the interior…cool mountain passes…following the route of the Trekboers…into the semi-arid Karoo…into areas where some speak only Afrikaans…into vineyard country.
The inn where we stayed the second night.
Next morning we visit an ostrich farm. What amazing creatures! I had an experience similar to when we saw giraffes, that I must be at a Disney park, because these animals are too strange to be real…
Walking on eggshells…Klaudia has a twinge of uncertainty about this…Unfortunately (?) the men are too heavy to do this.The gray ones are females, and this one decides it is time to lay an egg.She will move it to join others she may have, and when she has a group she and her mate will take turns sitting on them.A single female can lay up to 60 eggs over the 3 month season, so there are plenty for the bushmen to carry water, and to decorate.
Time to visit some vineyards before we return to Cape Town. Huge and beautiful vineyards, tasty and relatively inexpensive wines.
Of course there has to be laborers to pick the grapes, and they don’t live in the gorgeous farms…
Zeke, What an adventure to be able to sail to Cape Town, climb a mountain, see penguins and ostrich and too high light houses!!! Oh ! My!
Fantastic……Kate really wants to go there sometime in her lifetime.
Unfortunately there is no cable car to get down – just me and my hiking poles!!! Have a fantastic time for the rest of your African adventure and catch you when you’re across the sea and I’m on Maui. xoxox Thanks for all the great sharing! Safe sailing, V
ZekeTheSailor 
What a varied and fantastic part of the world!
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Zeke, What an adventure to be able to sail to Cape Town, climb a mountain, see penguins and ostrich and too high light houses!!! Oh ! My!
Fantastic……Kate really wants to go there sometime in her lifetime.
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Awesome post Zeke! One of my favs! Great to get to see so much that you experienced! Glad you got to take the cable car down the mountain – I’m headed for Bhutan tomorrow and there’s an amazing hike that must be done to Tiger’s Nest monastery… check it out: https://www.google.com/search?q=tiger%27s+nest+images&tbm=isch&imgil=mNZKQDH-IsjAoM%253A%253BRy0ZZRn0Nr5wAM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.tigersnestbhutan.com%25252F&source=iu&pf=m&fir=mNZKQDH-IsjAoM%253A%252CRy0ZZRn0Nr5wAM%252C_&usg=__iKrKI46e64YZF9HWgizeGIOLtnw%3D&biw=1252&bih=554&ved=0ahUKEwiJiLn1mYPQAhXlx1QKHQpEAeUQyjcINw&ei=4EEWWImYCOWP0wKKiIWoDg#imgrc=mNZKQDH-IsjAoM%3A
Unfortunately there is no cable car to get down – just me and my hiking poles!!! Have a fantastic time for the rest of your African adventure and catch you when you’re across the sea and I’m on Maui. xoxox Thanks for all the great sharing! Safe sailing, V
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