Our first stop was on Muizenberg beach with the colourful beach huts. Here we stopped for some photographic tips and I took a few shots in between down pours. The next stop was Kalk bay harbour which was a fishing wharf. You could buy some fresh catch here.
The scenery on this drive was breathtaking. The blue sky came out in between rain showers and although cold and windy was a gorgeous day all round. I couldn't have asked for a better tour guide. Peter was very knowledgable on the area plus very knowledge about photography. He stopped wherever I wanted to get some good shots. I asked him to pull over at a railway line to get some shots of Fishhoek beach.
One of the highlights for me was Simon town with the penguins. We arrived there and it was pouring rain but a few minutes later it passed and we were able to walk down to see these delightful creatures. They are now called the African penguins but were called the jack-ass penguin because the sound they make is exactly like a donkey. I could have stayed there all day watching them waddle into the
surf.
As we continued our drive I saw signs saying baboons are dangerous and beware. I asked Peter if would see any and no sooner did I say that and we took a corner and 2 baboons were coming down the roadway. We pulled over at a lookout and there was a car already there. This was at Smitswinkel. Peter was concerned because this troupe of baboons are known for going into cars. They actually listen for the beep of you locking the cars and if you don't they will go and open the doors. These baboons are very clever. We warned the tourists to shut there doors and lock them. They informed Peter their keys were in the ignition. By this time the alpha male baboon was on the hood of his car. Peter quickly reached in and grabbed the keys and locked the doors. The alpa male jumped down and literally went and tried the door handle. Amazing! This male had a GPS around its neck and no sooner did I get the great pictures but the baboon patrol arrived to scare them off with paintball guns. Peter told me that another alpha male and young male baboon had to be out down because they became so aggressive, so it is important no to feed these animals.
Peter entertained me with great stories of baboons. He says they are afraid of snakes so he keeps a rubber snake in his car. He would use this to through into a vehicle to get the baboon to retreat.
We then entered the cape of good hope nature reserve. We spotted some ostrich here as well as a oryx I believe it was. Or maybe it was a kudu. Didnt get a good look at it before it ran.
Once arriving at the Cape Point we had a lovely lunch at the Two Oceans Restaurant.
Before we walked down to the newer lighthouse and then way way up to the older lighthouse. Spectacular views from the top and it was extremely windy. I also took lots of pictures of the waves crashing against the rocks here. Upon our decent it started to rain so we ducked into the tram station store to get out of the rain and wait it out.
From here we drove to the cape of good hope which was once called the cape storm but was renamed as no one wanted to go to cape storm or more importantly sail around cape storm.
Here is also where the story of the Flying Dutchman came from. There was a sailor who tried and tried to get around the cape but kept getting blown back so decided to tie himself to the mast. He died trying and to this day people still say they see the Flying Dutchman out at sea.
We drove. back to sea point via chapmans peak drive again the most spectacular scenery. Table mountin and the 7 apostles is one of my favourite rock formations. Camps bay was a beautiful beach area where some condos are said to go for 13 million. They film a lot of movies there and were filming the day we drove by. Apparently the summer can get very busy. This is were the rich and famous have their holiday homes.
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