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Category: South Africa

Chapman’s Peak Drive South Africa

01e Atlantic Ocean M6 N Cape Peninsula ZA (1024x768)

It’s a long ways down to the crashing waves.  But if you like scenic ocean views with sudden drop offs then Chapman’s Peak Drive along the Western Cape of South Africa is a must.

02e Sailboats & Noordhoek Beach M6 S Cape Peninsula ZA (1024x768)

I thrive on curvy mountain roads so thoroughly enjoyed the 114 curves in 5.6mi/9km from Noordhoek…

03e Hout Bay M6 Cape Peninsula ZA pano (1024x469)

…north past Hout Bay.

04e M6 N Cape Peninsula ZA (1024x768)

I saw many bicycles along this narrow shoulderless roadway.  The riders may have been practicing for the annual Cape Argus Cycle Race held in March.

05e M6 S Cape Peninsula ZA (1024x831)

Around 1910, Sir Nicolas Fredrick de Waal, first administrator of the Cape Province, called for a road to connect Noordhoek and Hout Bay.  Between 1915 and 1922 convict labor carved the road out of soft sediments while the road base sits on solid granite.

06e M6 S Cape Peninsula ZA (1024x768)

Frequent rockfalls, mudslides and washouts later required building protective canopies and fences in some areas thus in 2003 this became a toll road certainly worth the 31.00 Rand tariff (4 USD).  Yet because Chapman’s Peak Drive is part of the Cape Peninsula National Park if you have a Wild Card, good for entry into national parks, the tariff is only 24.00 Rand (3 USD).

07e Atlantic Ocean M6 Chapman Peak Dr N Cape Peninsula ZA (1024x768)

Cheaper than any amusement park thrill ride.  So I drove it both ways.

South Africa 7 Comments

Moonglow Guesthouse in Glencairn South Africa

01a Painted rock door stop Moonglow B&B Glen Cairn Cape Pennisula ZA (1024x768)

After rushing to get to the Cape of Good Hope I headed to the Moonglow Guesthouse overlooking False Bay.  Because I’m not really a city gal, and planned to spend my last couple of days in South Africa exploring natural areas, I chose the quiet Glencairn neighborhood located just north of the every popular Simon’s Town.

01a Dixies Resturant & 3-story Moonglow Guesthouse Glencairn Western Cape ZA from website

Dixies Restaurant  (photo from Web)

Plus only a few blocks away I ate a delicious Pesto Chicken for dinner at the locally popular Dixies Restaurant, and then worked it off walking back up to Moonglow in the top row of houses.

02a Sunset view to Cape SE from Moonglow B&B Glen Cairn Cape Pennisula ZA (1024x768)

The out-of-town owner sent a friend to meet me and we arranged a time for her to make breakfast the next morning.  I really wanted to get an early start to Table Mountain, then back to the Cape and stop to see penguins also.  Breakfast could have fed quite a crowd with choices of fresh fruit, yogurt, cereal, coffee and juice plus made to order eggs with bacon or sausage and toast.

03 Moonglow Guesthouse Glen Cairn collage (1024x576)

The accommodations proved to be way more lavish than expected and I was the only guest with free run of this huge 3-story home. My only gripe was not being able to access their WIFI and no one to help but that wouldn’t stop me from staying here again.  Plus the owner, Gillian, has assured me the entire guesthouse now has easily accessible WIFI.

04a Sunset view E over False Bay from Moonglow B&B Glen Cairn Cape Pennisula ZA pano (1024x191)

South Africa is the first place I stayed at Bed and Breakfast/Guesthouses.  I enjoyed every one.  Where have you stayed and been spoiled like the VIP guest you are?

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Cape of Good Hope South Africa

I felt like a bloody tourist hurrying to the next sight to take a few photos, jump back in the car, and speed off to the next stop.  Not my usual mode of slow and take it all in travel.

01a Cape of Good Hope entrance station Table Mt NP Cape Peninsula ZA (1024x504)

After almost a month of exploring from Johannesburg to Kruger National Park, Monks Cowl in the Drakensberg, and the Garden Route along the Indian Ocean I would finally visit the Cape of Good Hope before this journey ended.

02a M65 S Table Mt NP Cape Pennisula ZA (1024x498)

I’d been gifted with multiple rainbows and only a few drizzles along the coastal drive from Hermanus.  But even a downpour wasn’t going to keep me from getting to the Cape.  This lush landscaped peninsula must experience amazing storm activity situated between two major ocean currents.

03a Ostrich by Atlantic Ocean M65 S Table Mt NP Cape Pennisula AZ (1024x610)

And the last thing I expected to find here was ostriches having last seen them, and ridden one, back in the dryer Oudtshoorn area of the Little Karoo.

04a Birds on rock & waves crashing Cape of Good Hope Table Mt NP Cape Pennisula ZA (1024x768)

At any stop along the way I could have just sat listening to the surf, watching the waves and birds.

05a Gaelyn at Cape of Good Hope sign M65 S Table Mt NP Cape Pennisula ZA (1024x768)

But alas, I was in a hurry and Needed the obligatory photo above.  In fact everybody kind of politely waits in a makeshift Q taking turns being photographed and helping out those folks who are traveling alone like myself.

06a Road to Buffels Bay into False Bay Table Mt NP Cape Pennisula ZA (1024x618)

Wanting to get to my accommodations before dark I only explored one of the many side roads in this part of Table Mountain National Park.

07a Seagulls Buffels Bay Table Mt NP Cape Pennisula ZA (1024x703)

The beach at Buffels Bay shows only a part of the amazing variety of marine life found in this region.

08a Shell beach and bay Buffels Bay Table Mt NP Cape Pennisula ZA (1024x768)

And could be a shell collector’s dream, if not in a National Park.

09a De Gamma cross from Buffels Bay Table Mt NP Cape Pennisula ZA (1024x577)

There is just so much to see I’ll have to return.

South Africa 13 Comments

Lijit

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