Cape of Good Hope

Not surprisingly, we had a good sleep after a fairly long and tiring flight, and were up bright and breezy for an early start. 

Breakfast with the rest of our small tour group was our chance to meet everyone. Introduction all round. So it was three from the UK and three from Oz, plus the two guides, one from Tasmania and one from South Africa. There is plenty of room in the twenty seater minibus for the eight of us plus the driver. There is even a trailer for transporting our luggage when we move on from Cape Town.

Eric checks out the lemon trees in the hotel court yard.

A quick look around the car park and we spot a Speckled Pigeon with its distinctive bright red eye, which must not be confused with the Red-eyed Dove, which doesn't, at first glance. Technically, the Speckled Pigeon has a red mask rather than red eye. 

 

Then it's all jump into the bus and off on the start of our tour, with a trip to Boulders beach to see the African Black Penguin. 

Passing some of the the smaller towns, almost suburbs, along the way

Walking along the path to the Penguin colony there were some dazzling flowers.

They Penguins must have known we were coming as there was an individual waiting to welcome us (and yes that is a real Penguin). Couldn't have posed better if he or she had tried.

 

Had good views of the penguin all along the boardwalk and on the beach.  This species used to be called Jackass Penguin, named for the distinctive sound they make. We'll leave you to guess what that sound may be.

Some of the penguins had chicks.


 

 

See those spots on the penguins tummy? Apparently that's how they recognise each other - each spot pattern is individual. Amazing.

 ...and we also saw them in the water, where they look much more at home

There was also an Angulated Tortoise - it was a bit camera shy.

 

and a great view of this mammal - a Rock Hyrax. It looks like a rodent but is a close relative of the elephant! 

So Eric found a new friend or two

Next it was off to the Cape of Good Hope. 

Driving along and suddenly spirited out of the window were these Eland - these are the largest antelope, about the size of a cow - very exciting.  Apparently this is the best tasting of the Antelope meat as well.

 

Arriving at The Cape, Eric strikes a pose - That's the Cape in the background - for such a well known landmark it looks like a rather insignificant bit of rock really don't you think?

Just along the coast is the far more impressive Cape Point where they had to adjust the ideas of -

                                                 WHERE TO PUT A LIGHTHOUSE?

Which one do you think they built first?

Eric points out exactly where we are.

We park up at the point and our guide tells us there's a good interesting walk to the lighthouse ( the one at the top that is!)

That looks quite steep - luckily (or perhaps not), there are steps interspersed with sort of paved bits. 

 

There are quite a few things to keep our minds off the steep ascent - like these rather colourful caterpillars. Moth caterpillars we think, but don't know which species.

 

Some nesting Cape Cormorant

Their feet look huge when they take off.



There seems to be a rain shower occuring out to sea, with a shaft of light coming through the clouds giving rise to a rainbow in a very small focused area.


A large Aloe shrub or tree.


A Tree Fuschia (think that's right!)


Plus some other interesting bushes

 

On the way to our next planned stop we pass some monuments to the early discovers, and have a quick visit to do some discovery of our own.




After the Cape our officially planned next stop (for lunch followed by wildlife spotting) is just behind False Bay.

But are waylaid yet again as we enter Cape Point National Park by the flowers on the wayside.  There are three stages of development visible at the roadside.
Flower

 Seedhead

 Seed
 


A little further into the park, another stop to view another Antelope species, a Bontebok and it's baby (ahh, so cute).
 

So much so that we thought it deserved a picture all of its own.

Then - Ostrich - a whole family of them - some rather good rocks in the background too.
 

Eventually we arrive at our picnic spot at...

Eric wonders whether this translates as Elephant's Bottom but apparently it doesn't, although he was right on the first part.

Lunch was partaken of and then a number of strolls in different directions to make the most of what was there.

A rather smart cricket or grasshopper or locust was spotted (we are still investigating it's exact nomenclature). 

Followed by a stroll to a spot overlooking False Bay itself.

 

A view of a Karoo Prinia - it was quite a long way away.

Next, some of the flowers of the Fynbos (that's the habitat). Proteaceae species - many are not fully in flower yet, but look quite spectacular anyway.

 

 

Look away now if you don't want to see any more flora

An Euphorbia, but not as we know it. 

And some rather pretty Nemesia

 

 Now for some birds - a Kelp Gull - and there's a lot of kelp around here.

 

 A Cape Cormorant

Sacred Ibis on the rocks (sounds like a band or an alcoholic cocktail)

 

 Oh we do like to be beside the seaside...

A Kittlitz's Plover

 

An unknown but fierce looking reptile (still to be identified) - but we think it's a Black Girdled Lizard, its Afrikanns name is ouvolk, which refers to the ancient crocodilian appearance.

 

 This flower is an Oxalis species - but just look at that grinning monster guarding it

 

 A brightly coloured Yellow Bishop

 

And you know how much we love rock shapes that look like something else - well check out that big rock bird sitting on top of the cliff

A few (understatement) more flowery and bird pictures have been added in here later, from further forays into the immediately adjacent areas, but as we have an extra early start tomorrow it's time for bed now. 

 

 

Nice beetle!

 I know- it's difficult to see.

 

 

 A landscape shot just to break it up

 

 

 

 

 

 

The other seaward side of the picnic side revealed some rather large waves

as well as some Hartlaub's Gulls

and an Egret

Our day tour ended at this beach - 

Eric admires the view in this little seaside town.

 

He was so intent on gazing out to sea he missed the one looking the other way

A delicious Tapas meal was enjoyed near the hotel before retiring. 

Flight to Cape Town

Today has been spent at the airport and then flying. Breakfast of organic yogurt,muesli and banana is a good start to the day after running the gauntlet of security into the departures lounge.  Find our names on a list at the gate - we need to report to the desk - they've changed our seats (well at least they haven't bumped us off).  Check on seat guru and the KLM app where our new allocation is and find there are no such seats for our flight. Bit worrying!  Check with desk again and find they have changed the plane to a bigger one.

Boarding was easy and just before we are due to leave - the person supposed to be sitting next to us doesn't appear. Bit more space for us then!

Eric checks out the window seat view.

Choice of movies at first seemed not too bad, but after watching part of three thought that maybe it wasn't such a good option after all. Pity we'd watched 'Hidden Figures' in the hotel last night  as that was one of the choices, and a very good movie it was too. They had audio books, music, and somewhere - newspapers to read. Kept fed and watered throughout the flight by very pleasant and helpful staff.  Some good views from the window seat at times.

Flying over the Alps - bit of a fuzzy picture

As long as one didn't think about it too much the flight was bearable - had enough after ten hours mind, but luckily landed soon after that. 

We had someone waiting for us in arrivals with our name on a board and everything. It's raining, and has been for two days. Should bring the flowers out anyway. The drive to the hotel was quite a long way, so we were very glad transport had been arranged.

Eric relaxing in the room before bedtime. 

A reviving cup of tea, shower and a piece of delicious nougat makes for a relaxed bedtime. Another early start tomorrow. 

First Stop Amsterdam

After being dropped at the bus stop in plenty of time to catch the airport bus, the bus turns up fifteen minutes late! Comfy seats with plenty of legroom and no hold-ups on the motorway ensured a smooth ride to Heathrow Terminal Four. It was so comfy that Eric dropped off to sleep and had a long snooze. Pre-prepared sandwiches, crisps, water and courgette cake ensured that, after an earlyish start, there were no embarrassing tummy rumbles to disturb the other passengers.

Security checks were quick, including body scan, pat down and explosives detection checks that seem to have become the norm for one of us.  One bag sidelined, searched and tested resulted in a major repacking event to ensure binoculars, camera, head torches, water bottles and other equipment essential for a safari tour all fitted neatly back in place. But all in all it went very smoothly thank goodness! 

A tour of the various duty free shops, a bit of a sit down and it was time to go to the gate.  

That's a pretty blue aeroplane.

Eleven planes ahead of us in the queue meant a slightly late take off, but the flight is only forty-five minutes. In that time the cabin crew managed to come around with a wrap snack, water and a cup of tea - all very pleasant.

Amsterdam from the air before we land.

Schiphol Airport is huge but we find our way to the airport hotel for the night. 

Mmm - a toilet pod and a shower pod - interesting.  Inside the shower pod. The shower doesn't work until you close the doors.

Sign in the hotel bar and dining area.

Outside of the hotel Eric meets his first new friend - that's some baby - I can see right up it's nose. 

Out for a Dutch stroll to find something edible, one very tasty and one very very big mistake (forgot that carpaccio isn't a veggie option). On the menu it looked like the name of a mature cheese salad  - honestly - double portions for the lucky one, well I needed to shed some pounds anyway). 

Return to the hotel and Eric meets some more new friends -

I thought we'd have to wait until we arrived in Africa before we saw anything like this. 

The hotel is quite unusual and very cosmopolitan. Display of lights in one of their lounges

Just time to put a few words together on the blog before an early night and try out the mood lighting in the hotel room

South Africa Here We Come

The first few days of the SA adventure are based around Cape Town.