It is our last day in Cape Town. We planned a day out on the Cape Peninsula.
http://www.safarinow.com/destinations/cape-peninsula/cape-peninsula-map.gif
As predicted by our waiter last night, a "cold front" has moved in. We awoke to thick fog. After breakfast, about 9.30-ish, it had started to lift. We headed out in the car. As we drove through Camp's Bay it was still foggy. Either side of the bay was completely clear! By the time we reached Kalk Bay (via Hout Bay, Chapman's Peak Drive and Fish Hoek) it was hot and sunny again.
Chapman's Peak Drive is beautiful. It even has its own website!
http://www.chapmanspeakdrive.co.za/
Kalk Bay was a nice little place; plenty of antique shops and eating places. We stopped for a look around and a stroll along the harbour where we watched seals swimming around. Then we headed through Simons Town to a place called Boulder's Beach - this is where they have a large colony of African Penguins. We watched for ages - they were so cute and so funny. The best £1.50 I've spent in ages!
Next, we drove right down the Peninsula toward Cape Point (behind several tour buses). We saw baboons and ostrich down there. At the Point, we walked up the STEEP hill to the Lighthouse, dodging a huge group of Italian tourists all the way. They are so noisy and they "hunt in packs" which means they tend to all clamour in the same small place at the same time, and walk 6 wide across the pathways etc. Apologies to any Italians (or italian residents) reading this.
After a quick stop for sandwich and energy bars, we set off on another walk. This time from Cape Point to the Cape of Good Hope - the most south westerly point in Africa. What a stunning walk! Across boardwalks on the cliff edge (and at some places just on the cliff edge itself) to a small hill overlooking the rocks of the Cape of Good Hope. We climbed to the top of the hill (fairly strenous but not too big!) and I placed a stone on the cairn up there for Dad.
This was in total just over an hour circular walk. Got back to the car and drove down to the sea level of the Cape of Good Hope. The waves were crashing on to rocks and spectacular to watch. We then headed home via Scarborough, Misty Cliffs (they were, too) and Kommetje - all very scenic. We had to stop for 10 minutes just out of the Cape Point National Park as a troop of baboon were crossing the road and decided to stop and play in the middle of it.
We finally drove back along Chapman's Peak again and towards home. We stopped at a beach just past Llandudno to watch the sun set. We were lucky to see loads of dassies on the rocks. These are tiny little guinea pig like animals.
Finally got home at 6.30pm. A brilliant day! Exhausted! Dinner is in the Oyo Restaurant at our hotel. We decided to give it a try after enjoying the desserts here so much. Rain is forecast for the next 2 days, and they're even saying that there will be snow in the hills.
Dinner was good - however, we tried a seafood platter, and we've decided that we're just not "seafood" people. Starters: Jan had duck liver pate, morello cherries, raisin toast and Roy had Crab Cake with wasabi mayo and plum dressing. Both were great. We then shared the seafood platter - crayfish, mussels, prawns, tuna, dorado, calamari and three dressings: lemon butter, peri peri and garlic. We decided that we loved the tuna and dorado, but could take or leave the rest. I personally hated the (huge) mussels. Dessert: I had mocha pannacotta, chocolate ice cream and brandy snap basket. Roy had the Pear and Almond tart again. All washed down with lots of Stellenbosch Sauvignon Blanc. Wonderful.
Early to bed again.
