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...

South Africa 2002 Part 2: Cape Town

We stayed at the Holiday Inn Waterfront at Cape Town (Now the Southern Sun Waterfront). It is very handy for the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. which is the main area for tourists with lots of shops restaurants and street entertainers. There is a shuttle bus to and from the waterfront but it is only a 10 minute walk away. Walking is fine during the day, but we were advised against it at night as it is working harbour and as there are a lot of homeless it would not be a good idea to walk about in the dark.

The holiday Inn is a really nice hotel and would not break the budget and is very handy if you are intending to drive in Cape Town as it has an underground Car Park and is on the main road in Cape Town next to the convention Centre. We love it around the waterfront as there are so many great restaurants and shops to choose from. One of our favourites is the City Grill as they have lots of great choices such as springbok, Kudu and lots of other Africa Favourites as well as steaks - my hubby loves the mixed grill and the beef carpaccio.

I am very fussy when it comes to Steak and mine has to be very well done all the way though with no pink or blood and very few restaurants do this for me. I get sick of sending food back, but here it is always perfect.!!!!! The prices are very reasonable in Cape Town where they use the Rand. You can eat at the best restaurants for very little.

We went up Table Mountain and this is a must for any visitor to Cape Town. You are best going in the morning as there are sometimes large Q's. It takes about 10 minutes to get to the top and has a 360 degrees revolving platform as it travels up the mountain. It is ZAR130 (approx £10) or if you are feeling very energetic you can hike up although this is recommended with a guide and not alone.

If the weather is windy or stormy the cable cars may not run, so it is best to check before going. It was also recommended to us that we try and go up the mountain on a Monday morning (weather permitting) because the pollution is less evident then. The view from the top is second to none. You can see Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated, and all over Cape Town. There are also thousands of different species of flowers and plants - more than are indigineous to the UK.

There are lots of restaurants and shops in the centre of Cape Town just a short cab ride away and you should go to Greenmarket Square where they have a market selling all sorts of African souvenirs, bags, clothes and even food. I would recommend this as you can pick up some bargains just be wary of pickpockets.

We had another trip booked which was a cultural tour to District Six and a town ship in Khayelitsha. District Six was a cultural area where all races lived peacefully together until Apartheid. All the 'Non Whites' were forced out to the Cape Flats which is where the Townships are. The white people left were not happy so they all moved away also and the only building still standing is the white Church. We were taken to District Six and the small museum which is there.

They have a huge map which covers the floor in the museum and past residents have marked where they lived. When the buildings were demolished the street signs were also saved. This is definitely worth a visit. On the tour we were taken to the Chris Hani School in Nyanga. This is run by Maureen Jacobs and provides an education for the children of the Townships who cannot afford to pay for their education. The school relies on donations.

Vickys' B and B is in Khayelitsha and gives people the opportunity to experience a real Township. It is a small community and everybody looks out for each other. We have met Vicky and her children and they are all very friendly and welcoming. You can email Vickys' B and B at vickysbandb@yahoo.com

If you want the stay in the best hotels in Cape Town or if money is no object, stay at the Cape Grace which is a 5* luxury hotel and every room has a view of the mountain. Or as an alternative, our friend Heinrich works at the luxurious Winchester Mansions in Sea Point, Cape Town.

Part 3 coming soon...