Trip Report - Cape Town, the Winelands, and Botswana
Jun 21st, 2009, 02:10 PM
#24
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Have you planned a return trip yet? I smile because this reminds me of our trip to Cape Town and Botswana in 2004. We're headed back in October. We won't get to go back to Capetown and its splendid wine country, this time, though, so we'll have to do another return trip in a couple of years. Ha!
While the wildlife and scenery were unmatched by anything we've every seen, the people we met simply swept me off my feet. Not that I'm "looking past" this next trip -- still, I know we will go back again!
Thanks for sharing a wonderful trip report.
While the wildlife and scenery were unmatched by anything we've every seen, the people we met simply swept me off my feet. Not that I'm "looking past" this next trip -- still, I know we will go back again!
Thanks for sharing a wonderful trip report.
Jun 21st, 2009, 04:42 PM
#26
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Oh, I'd love to return, and really hope to. I told my husband just this morning that there's something very alluring about being on safari, particularly. But Thailand is next up on our agenda, and there are so many places we still haven't been at all. I am thinking perhaps in about 5 years or so we can make it back to Africa. The mix there is what was so wonderful for me. The scenery, wildlife, beaches, wine country, all so much in one trip. Amazing.
Next up: Cape of Good Hope/Boulders Beach/Simons Town/Kalk Bay
Tuesday we went to the Cape of Good Hope. The weather was decent this day, a little cloudy and very windy. The drive from Franschhoek was not that long, about an hour and a half total, maybe less, and it was a scenic drive through the mountains and along the coast. At points in time the sand was blowing so hard across the road that there started to be little dunes we had to drive through. We drove straight down to the park all the way to the area where you go up to the viewing area at the old Lighthouse. We walked up, although there’s a funicular you can take as well. The wind was fierce, and that made it even more fun I thought. I can’t imagine rounding that land in a ship. We saw a Rock Hyrax here, and lots of Ostrich’s and Baboons by the water too. After spending some time at the top we hiked back down and then moved on to the most south westerly point of Africa, where we had the obligatory pictures taken with the sign. I wish we had had more time to hike around, but we did as much as we could, and really enjoyed it there. I definitely recommend a trip to the park if you’re in the Cape Town area. The scenery is spectacular, really.
Next on our agenda were the penguins at Boulders Beach. We ended up at the boardwalk area, but were really happy to get so close to them. It was the beginning of the molting/mating season, I believe. We wandered around and down to the beach area enjoying them. So cute.
We then drove back up the coast to Simons Town. We stopped at the museum to see the exhibit on Just Nuisance, the famous Great Dane (our friends have a Dane that we love.) Very nice little museum, I hope people make time for it. Then off to see the statue of him in the town square. Simons Town was cute, but we were starving and wanted to head to Kalk Bay for a late lunch. We ate at Kalkie’s, great local fish and chips by the water. The colorful fishing fleet makes for great photos, we had a good time lounging around enjoying the harbour.
As we had the late lunch, we ended up doing another impromptu picnic dinner that night at our place. This day was really fun I thought.
Next up: Cape of Good Hope/Boulders Beach/Simons Town/Kalk Bay
Tuesday we went to the Cape of Good Hope. The weather was decent this day, a little cloudy and very windy. The drive from Franschhoek was not that long, about an hour and a half total, maybe less, and it was a scenic drive through the mountains and along the coast. At points in time the sand was blowing so hard across the road that there started to be little dunes we had to drive through. We drove straight down to the park all the way to the area where you go up to the viewing area at the old Lighthouse. We walked up, although there’s a funicular you can take as well. The wind was fierce, and that made it even more fun I thought. I can’t imagine rounding that land in a ship. We saw a Rock Hyrax here, and lots of Ostrich’s and Baboons by the water too. After spending some time at the top we hiked back down and then moved on to the most south westerly point of Africa, where we had the obligatory pictures taken with the sign. I wish we had had more time to hike around, but we did as much as we could, and really enjoyed it there. I definitely recommend a trip to the park if you’re in the Cape Town area. The scenery is spectacular, really.
Next on our agenda were the penguins at Boulders Beach. We ended up at the boardwalk area, but were really happy to get so close to them. It was the beginning of the molting/mating season, I believe. We wandered around and down to the beach area enjoying them. So cute.
We then drove back up the coast to Simons Town. We stopped at the museum to see the exhibit on Just Nuisance, the famous Great Dane (our friends have a Dane that we love.) Very nice little museum, I hope people make time for it. Then off to see the statue of him in the town square. Simons Town was cute, but we were starving and wanted to head to Kalk Bay for a late lunch. We ate at Kalkie’s, great local fish and chips by the water. The colorful fishing fleet makes for great photos, we had a good time lounging around enjoying the harbour.
As we had the late lunch, we ended up doing another impromptu picnic dinner that night at our place. This day was really fun I thought.
Jun 22nd, 2009, 08:29 PM
#29
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Awesome report Sealstep, it has really taken me back to some of my favorite places! I am glad you had such a wonderful safari and especially that you were able to experience the spectacular Mapula pack. Thanks for taking the time to write such a detailed and enjoyable trip report.
Jun 23rd, 2009, 05:37 AM
#30
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As I said before, thank you for the trip reports that steered me to these camps. We were very happy. I hope to finish this report this week. I hope it can help others a bit, as I always enjoy reading everyone elses so much! I might try to link to some pictures soon too.
Jun 23rd, 2009, 08:05 AM
#31
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Pleasure, I'm ecstatic that my report helped you find these areas and your report will certainly help others too. It's good to see a volume of reports start to build on some lesser known camps. I would love to see pictures so hope you do indeed link them.
Jun 23rd, 2009, 07:01 PM
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seal...i love your report and it helps with things we will be doing in october on our first SA visit...
btw, i am one of the frequent posters on the thailand (Asia) board....if you have any specific questions please ask them directly to me at [email protected]
i am working on my 12th thailand visit for november, just 7 days after our return from SA...
bob
btw, i am one of the frequent posters on the thailand (Asia) board....if you have any specific questions please ask them directly to me at [email protected]
i am working on my 12th thailand visit for november, just 7 days after our return from SA...
bob
Jun 27th, 2009, 06:06 PM
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I'm going to post a link to see if it works - hopefully it will be our pix for Mapula:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...6&l=da567f0938
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...6&l=da567f0938
Jun 27th, 2009, 06:13 PM
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Jun 27th, 2009, 06:20 PM
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Jun 27th, 2009, 06:30 PM
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