Time's up in South Africa

Well having left Port Elizabeth  we picked up the Bazbus which was a hop-on hop-off bus which took us along the garden route to Cape Town over 5 days. The first stop was Storms River Mouth where Obed, the hospitality manager of the Storms River National Park very kindly arranged a lift for us from the drop-off point in the village. Unfortunately that day started with torrential rain, although by the time we got to our little wood cabin it had stopped, so we were able to have a lovely walk along the rocky coastline, spotting some blue duiker and some rock dassies (like rabbits without the ears - Robin says more like giant guinea pigs).

Obed gave us a lift up to the Bazbus the next morning and we continued on to Mossel Bay via stops in Jeffrey's Bay, Plettenburg and other beachside locations. The scenery was stunning in places, e.g. Knysna, George. At Mossel Bay we stayed in a converted railway train, right on the beach. Sounded cool when we read about it but it proved the saying that location is everything, as it had little else to recommend it! Mossel Bay was OK though, a good coastal walk to St Blaize's cave and beyond, and an interesting maritime museum all about Bartholomew Dias, a Portuguese explorer who first landed there. We posted postcards in the oldest post box in SA, which will probably arrive in the UK about the same time we do!

Next stop was Hermanus, we stayed in a really friendly backpacker's hostel, where (Robin will probably not forget ), someone stole his toothpaste! We arrived just at the best time for seeing the Southern Right whales who come to the bay to calve and mate. They didn't disappoint, we saw several both days, just from the shore. Some put on a good display of 'lobtailing' and breaching for us.

The previous week there had been a 'Whale festival' and the place was still busy with people all along the clifftop peering out to sea with binoculars.


Without a telephoto lens this is the best shot we could get of a whale diving! The other notable event which Robin won't forget (also!) was a delicious chicken pie we had for lunch in Annie's. We left Hermanus around 7pm for the 2 hour trip into Cape Town, during which we were treated to a stunning sunset, and some very scary driving. Our driver delivered us safely (and relieved) at our hostel, the Backpack.It doesn't look much from the outside but is very comfortable and is in a great location with views up to Table Mountain and the Lion's head.

While here in Cape Town we've visited the beautiful Kirstenbosch botanical gardens, the Waterfront, (and aquarium, and also taken the boat ride out to Robben Island (where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned). Our guides were both political ex-prisoners. Yesterday we took the cable car up table mountain. The weather was perfect and we had some excellent views over the bay and beyond to the Cape of Good Hope. See the pics below.

 

 

Mandela gold Strelitzia (and Jane)

Crusty old turtle (and Robin, in case of confusion)

On top of Table Mountain (Lion's Head on the left, Robben Island in the background)

Tomorrow we fly to Nairobi, via Jo'burg and Dar Es Salaam. We arrive there Saturday morning and then fly to Kitale to start our volunteer placement on Monday (17th Oct). Who knows what the next 5 weeks will bring? If you have been, thanks for reading ;)