All ye who enter the Cape of Good Hope abandon all hope of a mobile data connection. The Cape is a wild and desolate place with a tollbooth at its entrance and a good tarmac road all the way to the Point. Looking down on the wild Atlantic you could imagine early explorers making their way around to the East and the riches of the distant and exotic Orient.
We snacked and rehydrated at the cafe and bought some souvenirs, the first of the trip as we were unsure as to luggage weight on next week’s flight back from the game reserve. Our concierge Llewellyn Lewis (yes) had earlier ascertained that we could use the DHL office nearby to post a bag to our Joburg Hotel for collection after the trip into the bush. We have no weight issues on the long haul flight home.
The day has been full of thrills. We picked up our hire car at ten ish, bypassing the long queue due to our Avis Preferred membership, and were also upgraded to an SUV. Superdooper. Some sort of Hyundai, fwiw. Hyundai Venue I’m told. Took me most of the day to get used to the indicator being on the right. People must have thought it odd that my windscreen wipers came on every time we hit a junction.
First stop was Boulders Beach and the penguins. They were great. V cute. We sat in the caff looking out of the big open picture window and took in the scene. Then down to the beach for a dip. I just paddled but Han took full advantage of the lovely little bay and swam around for a bit. I’m not v good in the sun really and certainly wouldn’t have been particularly comfortable after a salt water bath.
We continued to Cape Point and passed many reminders that baboons were wild animals and should not be fed. We looked hard for them and had given up when, on our way home the traffic was stopped by two lots of mothers and babies, one in the middle of the road and one sat on a fence post, or stone or summat. Result.
Then back in Cape Town I have to say I was quite impressive negotiating the traffic. Just as we were turning right into the hotel complex a convoy of black security cars turned in just before us. I said “I bet they are going to our hotel – must be something kicking off”. It was Dricus du Plessis who you will know as the world middleweight UFC (kick boxing) champion. You couldn’t make it up.
Sat now in the bar near him and his entourage. The funny thing is how much security he has brought with him. You’d a thought he could take care of himself 🙂
All in all a highly successful day in Africa. Next up, dinner at Gold, a must do disher out of local nosh.
PS I find my life to continue to be surreal