Capetown - South Africa (part four)

Table Mountain, named mountain in the sea  by native people, and is an iconic attraction in Cape Town.  Visible from any location in the city, the mountain towers over 1,000 meters above sea level. The plateau, and the reason for the name, is three kilometers across and is filled with different flora and fauna. Table Mountain is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the world. 

The cable way to the top of the mountain is very unique. It begins in two separate bays and connects to a single bay at the top on the mountain. The cable car that takes you to the top is very unique. About ten seconds into the journey, the floor begins to rotate. This is beneficial to riders, who are always attempting to get a window spot, as all riders receive a 360 degree view!

 The top of the mountain was absolutely beautiful. Natural and man-made paths allow you to walk around and enjoy the views. The natural backdrops allowed for some great photo ops with my always willing volunteers!

The rock formations, the plants and the animals were all incredibly eye-catching and we easily could have spend hours exploring this place, but unfortunately our guide kept us on a limit. 

While there were many other people on the mountain with us, it was easy to find peace and beauty in the views. Even the boys would take time to stare off at the connecting mountain range and the beautiful, blue sea beyond. 

We were introduced to a new animal, the dassie. This animal, also known as a hyrax, is natural to the area and are cuddly little creatures. We enjoyed watching them sunbathe on the warm rocks. 

These cuties constantly pose themselves and beg for pictures!

More baboons! We watched these guys run straight up to people, grab items (usually food) and run off. The were everywhere!

After exploring the mountain, we ventured to Cape Point. As we entered to park, we had to pause to enjoy some ostriches walking and searching for food.  

When we arrived, we were taken to a restaurant on the sea. It is this point where the Atlantic and Indian ocean meet. 

The men in my life. I am beyond blessed!!

The view, similar to everywhere we went, was outstanding! In the second picture below, is shipwreck rock. The guide told stories of many ships, in the past, that hit the rock and sank. This triggered the installation of a lighthouse on the point. 

Our hike to the top of the lighthouse was LONG and HOT, but worth it.

Traveling to the next location included scenic stops and interesting roadways. 

Our guide then drove us to the Cape of Good Hope. As stated in the picture, this is the south-western most point in Africa. Please note the giant waves crashing in the background! It was incredible to see and hear!

Our last stop of the day was Boulders Beach. This was the place we were all looking forward to seeing. The African Penguins in their natural habitat! It is called Boulders Beach as there are granite boulders that make up both sides of this inlet.

While there are many beaches with African penguins, this one allows visitors to see them up close and personal! The colony inhabited the beach in 1982 and continues to grow. Beginning with only two breeding pairs, there now are over 3,000 African penguins on this beach! 

These penguins are also know as 'jackass penguins' due to their donkey-like bray. It was a very amusing sound and an accurate description of the noise they create. 

Waddling, swimming, braying and sitting on nests, the penguins were intriguing to us in all situations. The boys never became tired of pointing out what they were doing. 

As we headed to leave, we stopped for a snack and these two little escapees waddled by!

The last day in Cape Town was rainy and unfortunately, we had to change our plans of exploring on the beach to some indoor activities. We began with an American type breakfast and then ventured to a science museum. 

The Cape Town Science Centre offered hours of entertainment for all of us! This center has a construction building with foam blocks and cement. Scaffolds allow children to build the second story and work on gutters! Complete with hard hats, conveyor belts, safety vests and more, children are eager to see what they can create. 

When we were ready to leave, we noticed it was still raining so we went to see a movie. During the movie, the rain had stopped and we enjoyed walking around one last time. We enjoyed one last dinner before heading home!

This concludes our South African adventure. If you would like access to the entire album, including videos, please send me an email or text!

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed!!