"a visit to Cape Point" Top 5 Page for this destination Province of the Western Cape Travelogue by Alain_Smeets

Cape Point (photo Thieu)

This was already Friday 9 October. Luckily for us has South Africa the same time as we have in Europe, so there is no jet lag. We picked up our car; a Toyota Carolla and I told Jean that he could start driving. This was a little easy of me, because driving at the left side of the road isn’t easy for us righties. But I was the only one who can read card, they say. At first he had problems to know the left side of the car. He hit the boardwalk.

Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve seen from Cape (T

Our hotel was located in Simon’s Town, a place halfway between Cape Town and Cape Point. We found it very easy, but missed the reception and made a tour across the premises. There Jean touched the mirror against a wall. The damn left side of the car. #&*@%$ After checking in we decided to go to Cape Point. It seemed that this was the first day of good weather in the Cape and we had it. It was at least 30 degrees, as my memory doesn’t play tricks on me. Cape point is located in an nature Park named “Cape of Good Hope nature reserve”. When driving there you are getting slowly closer to Cape Point. But we saw no baboons at Cape Point. And there were the signs warning us: “Don’t feed the baboons”.

Cape Point (photo Thieu)

We saw Cape Point were the Oceans meet. But yeah, this isn’t the point were the Oceans meet, but who cares. (This has to be Cape Agulhas) At the lighthouse there was a chilly wind greeting us. But you have some nice views there. Thinking of standing here and the only thing between you and Antarctica or the South Pole is water. Looking around, we could see the 2 oceans, at one side the Atlantic Ocean and at the other side also the Atlantic Ocean called False Bay. False Bay thanks his name on the earlier ships, which sailed in but due to the winds couldn’t sail out again. And therefore its called False Bay.

Cape the Good Hope seen from the Cape (photo Thieu

We also visited Cape of Good Hope (first called Cape of Storms) and..... We also did a cruise across the park in the Cape. But still no baboons. But we saw a snake and a lot of birds. Here I also tried to drive my first k’s. Also looking for the left side of the car. Not easy but it’s to be done. But driving in that park is very easy, only allowed to drive 50 k and no much traffic. So the best place to learn how to drive. Something more about that snake. I was driving and in front of me I saw a car standing still on the road. I was thinking of passing him, but then I saw the driver taking pictures of a snake of the road. Thieu wanted to get out to make some pictures. But I hold him back because it was an rattlesnake.

Cape the Good Hope (photo Thieu)

One thing what we noticed at first was the wood that was stacked next to the road with next to it people sitting there, or a little further back in the bushes. People do cut the wood and sell it next to the road. What a way to make a living making and selling firewood for the Barbecue for other people. An other thing was the people just standing or sitting next to the road. Now and then you see a mini-bus stopping and picking the people up. This is the form of transportation that they know. I believe the drivers are called reckies.

The beach Pegrams Point (photo Thieu)

That evening we went to the restaurant/bar in the resort. And there was our first surprise. The dinner was very good and also the drinks are fine. We started with Castle and Windhoek. And the prices are a lot lower then in Europe. The waiter “John” explained us the menu and took our order. We were brought from the bar to the restaurant and had a very good 3 course meal. Afterwards, before paying our bill we went back to the next room, the bar a few steps higher. We took the bill with us. I still remember that John has a lot of looks to see if we were still sitting there and didn’t skipped with the bill. We gave him a big tip. The next days he joined us even in the bar and holds it open until we left.