The Flying Dutchman

South Africa/ Day 15 (Mon.)/ Part II - 09/05/2016

Our next stop was the nature reserve around the Cape. The entrance fee there, like in all the nature reserves we visited, is affordable (never more than €7 per person). As in every park, we received a brochure at the entrance with all the hiking trails, viewpoints, and attractions marked. The vegetation we passed through seemed barren, almost like the semi-desert Kagoo, but colorful. As it is a peninsula, the hiking trails almost always follow the coastline, mostly across mountains and rocks. However, due to our limited time, we drove directly to the "Cape of Good Hope," the southwesternmost point of South Africa. Tour buses filled with loud-speaking and constantly photographing Chinese tourists crossed our path, as well as young, screaming, Chinese, continuously photographing girls with selfie sticks - exhausting. Indians are quieter.

We also encountered marauding baboons and two ostriches along the way, and we observed cormorants nesting on the rocks. Since we were not there during the peak season, we never had to wait long at the entrances or have any parking problems. So, I won't complain about the two tour buses at the Cape, even though we had to wait a bit for our photo opportunity with the important sign of the Cape.

From the "Cape of Good Hope," we continued to the Cape. There is a lighthouse on the rock. We left the car in the parking lot again and took a cable car up to a mountain. It is also possible to ride down again, but we walked, with a view of the sea on both sides of the peninsula. I'm sure I don't have to tell you how impressive the nature, and especially the view, is there. Simply wonderful! Of course, we also had another coffee at the foot of the cable car and let the panorama sink in.

When we returned to the hotel, we were able to check into our room. It is modern, has a small terrace, and we feel comfortable. Since our room on the ground floor was very close to the path to the reception, we always felt a bit watched on our terrace. But let's not complain too much, the view ahead was a dream. We enjoyed a cup of welcome coffee while looking out at the sea and the setting sun. Who would have thought that after driving here in pouring rain all morning?

In the evening, we had dinner at a modern restaurant by the beach.

See you soon...
Tatjana

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