Long time, no write! I have recently returned home from an amazing adventure in South Africa, and now I finally have the time to regale my lovely readers with my many stories, photographs and acts of adventurousness that border on the cusp of insanity and the edge of stupidity.
I arrived into Cape Town after several exhausting flights, including an 11 hour flight from Perth to Johannesburg which was not only completely full, but also had a whopping number of children and babies on board – more than 50! I was incredibly exhausted upon arrival, and spent that half day sleeping and trying to regain some energy for the next day.
I awoke to find the city looking dull and grey. I had planned to spend the day exploring the Cape Peninsula, and despite being warned that I wouldn’t see much on such a grey day, I was in the mood to explore, so I chose to go along anyway. Of course this ended up being the first of many encounters with the truly bipolar weather in Cape Town, and before long, the sun was shining and I was seriously regretting not bringing sunscreen.
The first stop of the day was the beautiful Hout Bay. This gorgeous bay is a popular holiday spot for both locals and travellers alike, and is known for its weekly market and for the many seals that live within the harbour. There are numerous boat charters that will take you on a 45 minute trip to Seal Island, which is a tiny island inhabited by thousands of Cape Fur Seals. The trip will set one back R70, approximately $7 AUD, and it is well worth it.
The seals are very playful and the crystal clear water allows for some pretty amazing viewing. The seals did smell rather strongly when the boat first approached, but it doesn’t take long for your nose to adjust to the rather intense odour.
Next it was off for a little hike to get the best possible look at Chapman’s Peak, which overlooks Hout Bay and is pretty damn good looking, despite the clouds making it difficult to take clean and clear photographs.
Then I was off to see the penguins at Boulders Beach. Boulders Beach in Simons Town is renowned for being home to one of the largest colonies of African Penguins in the world. The beaches surrounding the penguin area are pristine and absolutely gorgeous, and the penguins are not afraid to get up close and personal.
My last stops for the day were Cape Point and the The Cape of Good Hope. Cape Point is absolutely stunning, but due to the cloud cover, all of my photographs ended up looking almost blurry! The short hike to the lighthouse is very doable, and despite the cloud cover, it is well worth the views. There is also a funicular to the top, for those who are unable to walk up (or those who just cannot be bothered).
The Cape of Good Hope is well known as it is the most south-western point of the African continent. Despite being accosted by both baboons and ostriches on the way to the Cape, and despite getting my ever worsening sunburn, it was a pretty good place to end the afternoon.
So, my lovely readers! Since I have been too busy exploring for the past few months to keep up with your own adventures, I would love to hear about where you have been or where you are going next, feel free to tell me all about your own adventures in the comments.
THE LOWDOWN
Getting to Cape Town: Cape Town is well connected, but you may need to transit in Joburg
Green Elephant Backpackers: This is my favourite backpackers in Cape Town, click here to learn more
Baz Bus Cape Peninsula Tour: This day tour costs $97.50 AUD, click here to learn more
Camera: Images captured with an iPhone 5
Remember: Wear ALL the SPF
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Welcome back! South Africa looks fab, where’s next? I hope you got the right balance between pretty and practical pairs in the end! The dogs in Iceland next month isn’t happening, how sad 🙁
Not sure yet! Im thinking maybe back to Iceland, or possibly somewhere in the Middle East. Oh no! Why are the dogs not happening?! 😭
Oh wow, the Middle East? Brave! 2 reasons really: We found ridiculously cheap lights to Russia in May so I thought I’d rather do another trip for the same money. The dogs are being used in a competition so they’re unavailable! Pretty gutted tbh.
Yeah! Israel is on my bucket list but a lot of Middle Eastern countries wont give you entry with an Israeli stamp in your passport, so I need to go to all the other countries in the Middle East that I want to see before Israel can happen.
Oh thats such a shame! Can you do dogsledding in Russia?
Wow that seems harsh but not surprising, I guess you’ve gotta know the politics of the Middle East before going there. Hmm we’re only in Moscow for 4 nights and in May I think the weather improves, hoping to fall for Iceland like you did and return swiftly!
What else have you got planned for Iceland?
The Blue Lagoon, Golden Circle tour, Northern Lights(hopefully!). Hopefully that’ll be enough to wow us, right?
Oh definitely! You have to go to the penis museum (it is hilarious) and eat at Cafe Loki!
Haha hmm that’d be something a bit different I guess! And that cool-looking church? I don’t know what I’m going to eat as a veggie, they seem to like their unusual meats.
Hallgrimskirkja! Yes absolutely, you have to see the city from the top. Hmmm there is a place called Noodle Station that is easy to walk to, cheap (at least for Iceland), and they do great vegetarian noodles!
Cheap + vegetarian gets my approval. As ever, thanks for your Icelandic advice! You’ll be pleased to know it’ll all be over with in less than a month, then I’ll have to bombard ya about a new location!
I can’t wait to read about your adventures! Ha! I look forward to such bombarding
I love it when I read that someone from afar enjoys the places on my doorstep. I visited your country a year ago and that was a blast!
It is amazing to see Cape of Good Hope come alive in that photograph of yours. I had only read sordid tales of adventures round that bend in the ocean. Thank you for sharing your experience; wishing you heaps of experiences ahead Have a great 2015.
Great post! I am going to South Africa for the first time this March. This was really helpful to read about your adventures.
You will love it! I have lots and lots more posts to come so hopefully I can be even more helpful for you! 😊
Glad you are having a great time. 🙂
Thanks for following my blog! We definitely have South Africa on our list – no specific plans yet but we hope to get round to it soon so your impressions are really helpful!
I have visited the same spot on Cape of Good Hope and maybe some of the same penguins 🙂 a couple of years ago. I loved watching the two oceans colliding from Cape point!
Beautiful blog you have! I have never been to your country but maybe one day… Let me know if you need tips from Finland & Scandinavia or Amsterdam!
Some really great looking pics! South Africa is on my travel bucket list actually!
Excellent stories, and excellent photos, especially of Hout Bay. Cape Town is one of the best cities I have visited. Table Mountain NP is particularly special to me. 🙂 Next place in Africa for me will be Uganda hopefully to see the gorillas.
Rwanda and Malawi are the next places on my Africa list! I loved Table Mountain too, especially the abseil off of the top!
Wow – those photos are amazing! Such blue water and you got so close to the animals, love it!
Beautiful photos. Would love to visit SA, so different to Europe 🙂
You are beautiful, and so are your photographs, and your writing is beautiful too. Your work is uplifting and genuine. Keep at it.
Did you try any of the South African wine while you were there? They have some excellent wines, highly recommended.
Oh my gosh, the seals and the penguins! Eeee!!! South Africa looks like a beautiful place…I’m writing from Maui, not as adventurous! I’d love to put South Africa on my travel wish list though.
Great pictures! Looks like an amazing trip!
Did you rent a bike in the city and cycle out there? I want to visit Cape Point and the penguins when I pass through Cape Town.
thanks for the like…and as I am from Cape Town this has made me sooo homesick! Lucky you!
Looks like you had a great time! How long were you there for? 🙂
I was in Cape Town last June/July and I loved every minute of it! I can’t wait to blog about it.
I was only in SA for 6 and a half weeks- nowhere near long enough!
Very nice! Yeah I wasn’t even there that long, I totally agree, there is so much to see and do!
what a great adventure!
Aaaah Cape Town!! My “home town”… well, where I grew up and went to school and sometimes college.
Now however, we live in Ireland so be sure to drop me a line and we’ll do you a good old barbee when you’re next here! I’m sure my kids your age would love to hear some of your experiences in SA and around the world!! 😉
Whereabouts in Ireland? It won’t be for a while yet but I think sometime in late 2016 I should be in your neck of the woods 🙂
Oh my goodness all the penguins on that beach I would love to go there ive made a not of this penguins are my favourite animal I so want to see them in there natural surroundings <3 x
Hi! Will be visiting South Africa soon and looking forward to it more after reading your post! Thanks!
I love getting comments such as these! I absolutely adore SA – I bet you will have an amazing trip!
Been reading your SA post in preparaiton for a visit next year. So looking forward to it! very informative posts! Also enjoyed readng linked posts like worst places you have woken up 😀