The Peninsular Tour
Another glorious day
greeted the group as they set out from Bergvleit for a full day’s excursion to
the very tip of Africa . Spirits were raised
further when a telephone message from Mr Lewis informed us that Matt having
seen both the doctor and a physiotherapist was well enough to be discharged and
able to rejoin the tour.
The first port of call
for the day was just on the outskirts of Simons Town, a naval seaport south of
Cape Town. Here the group left the coach for the short walk to Boulders Beach a
very popular tourist destination where from observation platforms people can
stand above the beach and watch at close range African penguin; nesting,
tending for the young or even showing them how to swim out past the tumbling
surf.
The whole group stood totally transfixed by these charming birds for
quite some time before reluctantly leaving, via a series of walkways, above a
variety of areas where penguins just happily rummaged amongst the low level
shrubs.
A short stop for a
first serious attempt at bartering with local traders for various artefacts
followed before re-boarding the coach for the 45 minutes drive to the Cape of Good Hope . As we left Boulders we had our first
encounter with the Baboons unfortunately considered to be a little bit of a
problem by the people who live in this area of outstanding natural beauty. The afor
mentioned large male climbed up a garden wall turned over the wheelie bin and
rummaged through its contents, unconcerned by the homeowner.
The Cape of Good hope
the South Westerly point of the African continent has so long been consider by
those of a maritime persuasion as a significant landmark as it indicated to all
who navigated the dangerous waters that they were over half way on their return journey home from their
travels from the East. A group photograph followed by a clamber on the rocks to
watch the rolling seas crashing continually on this rocky promontory was a
wonderful way for each member of the group to collect their thoughts and
perhaps consider the wonderful place they were visiting.
Shortly after getting
on to the coach en-route to Cape Point the coach paused to watch 3 ostrich who
were calmly wandering seemingly unperturbed by the side of the road. A few
scattered buildings and an impressive lighthouse appeared to be precariously
perched on the cliff top ahead and those who made the effort were rewarded with
spectacular views of the Atlantic and Indian oceans and a dramatic coastline as
the mountains dropped sharply into the beautiful assure waters below. An
intrepid few also took the opportunity to walk even further to the final
observation terrace which was seemingly precariously perched at the end of this
spectacular point.
A rather tired and
surprisingly subdued bunch were however instantly perked up by the sight of a
large family group of gibbons sat on the roadside preening their young. The
whole group appeared oblivious to the large our vehicle and the faces of
fascinated people peering at them through the windows.
A slight deviation for
a quick dip in the sea brought our peninsular tour to a close. The group
chilled with some cool sounds for the short journey through the suburbs of Cape
Town to our new hotel opposite sighted below Table Mountain
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