The Cape Peninsula, Boulders Beach, and Chapman's Peak

Today was all about the Cape Peninsula. I set off early in the morning for Cape of Good Hope. The Cape Peninsula is a national park. Thanks to my wildcard, I was able to pass through the gate quickly and free of charge. The journey to the Cape was already a real highlight, with the coast, ocean, rocks, and mountains leading to the southwesternmost point of Africa where the Atlantic meets the Indian Ocean. Cape of Good Hope is marked by a very famous sign, and when I arrived there, I was the only person around. I had read horror stories on the internet that this place is overrun by tourists, but I was lucky to have almost 15 minutes all to myself before another vehicle arrived in the distance. I used the time to take some self-timer photos and enjoyed the fresh sea air and the slowly rising sun over the rocks. After that, I continued on to Cape Point, another highlight of the Cape Peninsula. There is a lighthouse on a hill, which you can either climb on foot or take a cable car up. Since I had been driving all day, I decided to walk up the hill. It was quite exhausting. The whole hill was covered in thick fog, so it was quite chilly at the top. Luckily, I remembered to bring a jacket and a hat this time. I was all alone again at the lighthouse and could look out into the vast ocean. On the horizon, I could occasionally see a fishing boat passing by. The view and the atmosphere up there were fantastic. It was around 10:00 am by then, and I slowly made my way back to the parking lot. As soon as I arrived, two large tour buses pulled up. This is usually the worst case scenario, as not only do about 1000 people get off these buses, but they are usually a very special type of people that I usually try to avoid. I think you know what I mean. In this case, it was a big group of Japanese people who felt the need to let out a morning scream when they got off the bus. Well, I had already been up there, so I continued on with my car. On the way back from Cape Point, I stopped at a few bays. In the summer, this must be really beautiful, with real tidal pools and many barbecue options. But it was a bit too chilly in winter, even though the sun was very warm. The next stop was Boulders Beach. This is the famous penguin beach in South Africa and is located in Simon's Town. Unfortunately, it was quite crowded due to the time of day. I took a few pictures, watched the penguins for a while, and made my way back to the car. The penguin viewing at Betty's Bay was much cooler, even though there were no penguins in the water and I couldn't see any breeding birds or baby penguins. Because of the large number of people, I would rather live as a penguin in Betty's Bay :D After this visit, I got hungry for lunch. Usually, I skip lunch, but today I had a craving for fish. And how could I not, when I had been by the sea the whole time. So, I drove slowly through Simon's Town, looking for a fish and chips stall. It didn't take long and I found a small shop in the harbor that offered fish and chips. I stopped there and got a portion of hake with fries. Then I made myself comfortable on a bench in the harbor and had lunch in the sun. It was a great and delicious experience. Food in South Africa is cheaper than in Germany, and I only paid 4€ for this large portion. Energized by lunch, I still wanted to drive to Chapman's Peak. However, the journey was more important than the destination. Chapman's Peak Drive is a nine-kilometer coastal road on the Cape Peninsula south of Cape Town. The road partly runs directly along the cliff without guardrails. Especially when there is oncoming traffic, your heart can skip a beat. At about halfway, you have a breathtaking view of Hout Bay. It was already getting late, and I wanted to have coffee at home, so I turned around there and drove back to my accommodation in Fish Hoek. Tomorrow, I was planning to take the cable car up Table Mountain. Unfortunately, I found out today that it is closed due to maintenance until August 5th. Well, what bad luck :( But since it's the absolute highlight of any visit to Cape Town, I will try to climb it on foot, provided the weather allows it. The reports on the internet suggest that some found it very easy and others found it hellish. I will find out for myself :D After that, I will head south of Cape Town, where I have another accommodation for the next three nights.