South Africa 2002 Part 3: Cape Town (Excursions)

We booked a few trips while in Cape Town as we were not quite brave enough to drive on our first visit to South Africa. So we did our homework and decided to go to Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens about a 20 minute drive from the Waterfront.

Kirstenbosch is more than just Gardens and has nature trails, walks and hikes as well as cafes, shops and even concerts in the summer. It has 528 hectares and houses beautiful flowers and plants. It costs about ZAR30 (Approx £2.50) to get in and is worth every penny.

Whilst we were down that way we decided to take a tour of the Newlands Stadium. At Newlands there is a cricket and Rugby Stadium (the Rugby stadium is also used by Ajax Cape Town Football Team). We could only visit the Rugby stadium as the Cricket Stadium was being prepared for the Cricket World Cup the following year. The stadium holds 40,000 and is a smart stadium. We were shown the dressing rooms, leisure facilities, the pitch and trophy room.

The Football teams do not have their own stadiums as Rugby is the main sport in South Africa so the football teams tend to use the Rugby Stadiums. Newlands is one of the stadiums that will be used in the 2010 World Cup

Another trip that I highly recommend visitors to do is a visit to see the penguins at Boulders Beach which is in Simon's Town. You should go and visit the Penguin Colony and see the Jack-Ass Penguins. There is a boardwalk around the beach so you can get close without disturbing them. There is also an Education Centre within the colony that you can learn more. The penguins are really funny and fascinating to watch. Simon's Town is a really nice small town to wander round when you have finished at Boulders. It is an ex Naval Town and has lots of shops, restaurants and museums. There are many companies that offer all these trips while in Cape Town, but the one we booked through was Springbok Atlas

Springbok Atlas will pick you up and drop you off at your hotel and it is normally only small groups. These tours can be booked direct before you travel, via your Concierge or at the Waterfront in Cape Town.

One other tour that you must take on a visit to Cape Town is the Robben Island Museum Tour.

Robben Island is where Nelson Mandela spent most of his sentence during Apartheid. Most of the prisoners were 'Political Prisoners' who were imprisoned because of their objection to Apartheid. The tour is very moving as you are shown around the prison including the cells, yard and where the prisoners had to work outside all day with no shelter or shade in the burning heat!!! The 'Political Prisoners' were segregated even down to the food they were given!!! Most of the Tour Guides are ex Political Inmates, Guards or staff. There is even a school on the Island for the worker's Children. It is hard to believe when you hear their stories that all this happened just because of different beliefs or colour of skin!!!!!

"Robben Island was also a training and defence station in World War II and a hospital for leprosy patients, and the mentally and chronically ill. Political and other prisoners were still on the Island, but as there was no cure for leprosy, mental illness and other chronic illnesses in the 1800s, Robben Island was a kind of prison for the hospital patients too." (This is from the official website!!!!!)

The boat takes about 30 minutes from Cape Town Harbour and you can get fantastic views of Table Mountain from the boat and the Island. The tour is 3 and a half hours in total and cost is approx ZAR150 (£12.00 Approx!!!)

The fourth and Final part coming soon: Pilansberg Game Reserve and Sun City...