| s/v Nine of Cups South Africa |
| December 2006 - February 2007 |
Republic of South Africa
Capital Cities: Cape Town (Legislative), Pretoria (Administrative),
Bloemfontein (Judicial)
Land area: 432,000 sq miles...about 3x California
Population: ~48,000 (est. 2006)
Language: There are 11 official languages. Afrikaans, English,
Ndebele, Sepedi, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana,
Tshivenda, Xhosa and Zulu.
Currency: Rand (~R7 = $1 US)
Highest Point: Champagne (Njesothi) 11,076'
Government: Parliamentary republic headed by a President
Political Units: 9 Provinces
Chief products: Gold, diamonds, platinum, citrus, wine
In 1994 when South Africa's new non-racial constitution was inaugurated,
its colorful flag was hoisted for the first time. The multi colors represent the
diversity of the country's people.
Capital Cities: Cape Town (Legislative), Pretoria (Administrative),
Bloemfontein (Judicial)
Land area: 432,000 sq miles...about 3x California
Population: ~48,000 (est. 2006)
Language: There are 11 official languages. Afrikaans, English,
Ndebele, Sepedi, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana,
Tshivenda, Xhosa and Zulu.
Currency: Rand (~R7 = $1 US)
Highest Point: Champagne (Njesothi) 11,076'
Government: Parliamentary republic headed by a President
Political Units: 9 Provinces
Chief products: Gold, diamonds, platinum, citrus, wine
In 1994 when South Africa's new non-racial constitution was inaugurated,
its colorful flag was hoisted for the first time. The multi colors represent the
diversity of the country's people.
We began our exploration in Cape Town proper. Our first excursion was
to the Castle of Good Hope, reputedly the oldest building in South Africa
built by the VOC (Dutch East India Company) between 1666-1679.
During the course of our stay, we visited lots of the many museums the
city has to offer.
to the Castle of Good Hope, reputedly the oldest building in South Africa
built by the VOC (Dutch East India Company) between 1666-1679.
During the course of our stay, we visited lots of the many museums the
city has to offer.
We walked past the stately Parliament buildings
on our way to the Company's Gardens.
on our way to the Company's Gardens.
Table Mountain seems to be the dominant backdrop of the city. Above
the colorful V&A (Victoria & Alfred) Waterfront...a restored port area
and a busy working harbor in Table Bay. It boasts boutiques and shops
of all sorts, hotels, restaurants, bars and every imaginable tourist service.
the colorful V&A (Victoria & Alfred) Waterfront...a restored port area
and a busy working harbor in Table Bay. It boasts boutiques and shops
of all sorts, hotels, restaurants, bars and every imaginable tourist service.
We took the cable car up to the top of Table Mountain for the
glorious view of the bay and Lions Head below. Once up, we
decided we'd hike down. Mistake...our knees, ankles and feet
took a week to recover. Next time, we walk up and take the
car down.
glorious view of the bay and Lions Head below. Once up, we
decided we'd hike down. Mistake...our knees, ankles and feet
took a week to recover. Next time, we walk up and take the
car down.
We rented a car and drove along the picturesque Chapman's Peak
Drive and stopped to visit Hout Bay and Simons Town (shown
above). The scenery is phenomenal. It took us awhile to remember
to drive on the left side of the road, but otherwise we posed no
major threats.
Drive and stopped to visit Hout Bay and Simons Town (shown
above). The scenery is phenomenal. It took us awhile to remember
to drive on the left side of the road, but otherwise we posed no
major threats.
The Cape of Good Hope was exciting, but crowded. One of the 5 great capes
of the world, it was originally named the Cape of Storms by Bartholomew Dias
in 1488, the first European to round the cape. It was later renamed Cape of
Good Hope because of the prospect of opening a trade route to India and the
east.
of the world, it was originally named the Cape of Storms by Bartholomew Dias
in 1488, the first European to round the cape. It was later renamed Cape of
Good Hope because of the prospect of opening a trade route to India and the
east.
Above, a Chacma baboon directs traffic at the
roundabout.
roundabout.
The drive from Cape Town
down the peninsula to Cape
Point Nature Reserve part of
Table Mountain National
Park is stunning. The scenery
again was awesome along
the rugged Atlantic coast
culminating in Cape Point
and the historic Cape of
Good Hope. But quite
honestly we are always most
taken by the animals and the
baboons, though considered
quite pesky, were quite the
novelty for us and were a
highlight of the day. We saw
lots of them and were
fascinated watching them in
groups interact with humans
and each other.
down the peninsula to Cape
Point Nature Reserve part of
Table Mountain National
Park is stunning. The scenery
again was awesome along
the rugged Atlantic coast
culminating in Cape Point
and the historic Cape of
Good Hope. But quite
honestly we are always most
taken by the animals and the
baboons, though considered
quite pesky, were quite the
novelty for us and were a
highlight of the day. We saw
lots of them and were
fascinated watching them in
groups interact with humans
and each other.
Of the two lighthouses at Cape Point, the one shown is the
more picturesque and is sometimes accessible, but the trail
was closed when we were there. We were still recuperating
from the painful trek down Table Mountain so it was just as
well.
more picturesque and is sometimes accessible, but the trail
was closed when we were there. We were still recuperating
from the painful trek down Table Mountain so it was just as
well.
That's OUR rental car the baboon is sitting upon. We
waited patiently for him to leave then wiped the
footprints off the windshield.
waited patiently for him to leave then wiped the
footprints off the windshield.
We saw them in all phases it seems from the courting process and
the mating process as well as eggs and newly hatched chicks.
Despite the crowds on the beach, the penguins seemed quite
content to go on with life as usual on "their beach" swimming and
intermingling with the locals. The award-winning film "City Slickers"
documents the life and habits of these interesting aquatic birds.
the mating process as well as eggs and newly hatched chicks.
Despite the crowds on the beach, the penguins seemed quite
content to go on with life as usual on "their beach" swimming and
intermingling with the locals. The award-winning film "City Slickers"
documents the life and habits of these interesting aquatic birds.
The penguin couples stay together for many years, producing
one to two eggs per year.
one to two eggs per year.
On a separate trip, we ventured along the southern coast of the Western Cape
province and inland for a week. Far too short a period to see everything, but it
gave us a taste for more of South Africa. Above, a Cape Fur seal sleeps on the
beach at Cape Agulhas.
province and inland for a week. Far too short a period to see everything, but it
gave us a taste for more of South Africa. Above, a Cape Fur seal sleeps on the
beach at Cape Agulhas.
We arrived at the Royal Cape Yacht Club (RCYC) early on
the morning of 21 December 2006...just in time for Christmas.
Sailing into the Table Bay was stunning. The RCYC is a lovely
club...very friendly with lots of amenities we hadn't enjoyed in
a long time... like REALLY clean, nice, hot showers and free
email/internet. Not to mention the view above!!!
the morning of 21 December 2006...just in time for Christmas.
Sailing into the Table Bay was stunning. The RCYC is a lovely
club...very friendly with lots of amenities we hadn't enjoyed in
a long time... like REALLY clean, nice, hot showers and free
email/internet. Not to mention the view above!!!
On the same trip, we visited Boulders Beach near Simons Town to view the
African (aka jackass penguins because of their distinctive "bray") penguin
colony. Hundreds (maybe thousands) of penguins were in residence. A
relatively new colony, there have only been penguins here since the
mid-1980s.
African (aka jackass penguins because of their distinctive "bray") penguin
colony. Hundreds (maybe thousands) of penguins were in residence. A
relatively new colony, there have only been penguins here since the
mid-1980s.
At Stony Point near Betty's Bay, a rock hyrax or
"dassie" is quite aggravated by our intrusion.
"dassie" is quite aggravated by our intrusion.
Cape Agulhas is most southern point of the African continent
and the point at which the Atlantic and Indian Oceans
converge.
and the point at which the Atlantic and Indian Oceans
converge.
From the coast, we headed north into the Karoo. Dry and reminiscent of the
U.S. southwest terrain, the temperature rose to an astounding 47C (almost
117F)!!!
U.S. southwest terrain, the temperature rose to an astounding 47C (almost
117F)!!!
We visited both Bontebok National Park and the Karoo Nature
Reserve and couldn't get enough of the animals. Above, a group
of meerkats check us out as we check them out.
Reserve and couldn't get enough of the animals. Above, a group
of meerkats check us out as we check them out.
We visited Oudtshorn (Oats-horn, we were helped with the
pronunciation), the ostrich capital of the world. Acres and
acres of ostrich farms, bred and grown for their eggs, meat,
feathers, etc. We did not have an omelette, but we had
ostrich meat regularly while in South Africa and it was
excellent.
pronunciation), the ostrich capital of the world. Acres and
acres of ostrich farms, bred and grown for their eggs, meat,
feathers, etc. We did not have an omelette, but we had
ostrich meat regularly while in South Africa and it was
excellent.
We saw colorful guinea fowl in great numbers and though quite
articulate, they were shy and constantly scurrying away from the
camera.
articulate, they were shy and constantly scurrying away from the
camera.
We had every intention of heading back to Cape Town after Oudtshorn, but
the Addo Elephant National Park beckoned us further into the Eastern Cape.
The elephants were incredible. These photos do little justice to the enormity of
the animals and the thrill of seeing them in such numbers and up so close.
the Addo Elephant National Park beckoned us further into the Eastern Cape.
The elephants were incredible. These photos do little justice to the enormity of
the animals and the thrill of seeing them in such numbers and up so close.
The second of the Big 5, the Cape Buffalo, was also spotted
at Addo. The waterhole was a big draw on such hot days.
at Addo. The waterhole was a big draw on such hot days.
At Bontebok NP, we saw lots of "boks" including steenboks
(above), springboks and gemsboks (oryx). At left, a kudu stops for
a drink.
(above), springboks and gemsboks (oryx). At left, a kudu stops for
a drink.
Above, an example of Dutch colonial architecture which is prevalent
throughout the Western Cape.
throughout the Western Cape.
Even thirsty warthogs can be cute and photogenic.
Head on look at a red hartebeest.
Though we saw vervet monkeys in the parks, we were just
as likely to see them on the side of the road, playing in trees.
as likely to see them on the side of the road, playing in trees.
The variety and quantity of bird life was
fantastic.Above, a white stork. With all the
fauna, we barely mentioned the flora which
was abundant. Fynbos (fine bush) are a major
vegetation type found specifically within the
Cape Floral Kingdom. There are more than
7,700 different plant species that fall within the
fynbos category and though it wasn't the
season for full bloom, we were delighted with
what we saw.
fantastic.Above, a white stork. With all the
fauna, we barely mentioned the flora which
was abundant. Fynbos (fine bush) are a major
vegetation type found specifically within the
Cape Floral Kingdom. There are more than
7,700 different plant species that fall within the
fynbos category and though it wasn't the
season for full bloom, we were delighted with
what we saw.
We saw so little of South Africa and we
saw so very much. We would have liked
to venture into the other provinces and
national parks on the east coast and
further north which our schedule didn't
allow...this time around. This is a "must
return" country. Apart from the flora and
fauna, we feel we missed out on the
cultural diversity the country has to offer
and this is an area we would like to
explore further on the next trip. We took
hundreds and hundreds of photos and
choosing the ones most representative of
what we saw was difficult to say the least.
We hope you enjoy sharing some of what
we saw and it whets your interest for a
visit here yourself. It's incredible!
saw so very much. We would have liked
to venture into the other provinces and
national parks on the east coast and
further north which our schedule didn't
allow...this time around. This is a "must
return" country. Apart from the flora and
fauna, we feel we missed out on the
cultural diversity the country has to offer
and this is an area we would like to
explore further on the next trip. We took
hundreds and hundreds of photos and
choosing the ones most representative of
what we saw was difficult to say the least.
We hope you enjoy sharing some of what
we saw and it whets your interest for a
visit here yourself. It's incredible!