Penguins Will Bite – A Visit to Boulders Beach Near Cape Town. One of the things I remember most about Cape Town is the stunning natural beauty that exists in clear overabundance. I thought that I’d get over the amazing vistas at every turn but I never did, and one of my favorite places to visit combined my love of landscape with wildlife – Boulders Beach. Boulders Beach is located in Cape Peninsula, near Cape Town, South Africa and is a sheltered beach dotted with enormous boulders. It would be popular in its own right thanks to the views across the water, but when a colony of African penguins took up permanent residence on the beach in 1982 Boulders quickly became one of the most popular tourist spots in the area. Walking through a quiet neighborhood to the famous beach, I couldn’t help but wonder how much I would see. In the past, my penguin viewing opportunities have been challenging due to the fact visitors usually have to keep their distance and the penguins aren’t that big to begin with.
Five Words To Know Before You Visit South Africa. Every country has its own unique linguistic quirks and picking up on these is inevitable when you visit. I heard many new terms during my trip to Cape Town, but these are my five favorite South Africa words and phrases. 1. Pleasure – Pronounced [Pleeee-sure]. Just like the Brits say “cheers” every chance they get, the South Africans use pleasure for just about any occasion. 2. 3. 4. 5. Have you been to South Africa? A spectacular drive around the Cape Peninsula. EmailEmail The drive around the Cape Peninsula near Cape Town is one of my favourite routes in the world. I’ve driven this loop several times and each time was simply unforgettable. I once watched pods of whales frolicking in False Bay just fifty yards away from the shore. Another time, I stopped at the beach in Scarborough, pulled out my binoculars and spotted sharks breaching the water as the waves rolled in. The scenery is bewitching: from the bright blue expanse of False Bay framed by dark, brooding mountains, to the cute penguins at Boulder’s Beach, the dramatic shoreline of Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope, and the spectacular bends of Chapman’s Peak Drive.
I could do this Cape Peninsula loop a hundred times and I would still be in awe of its beauty. A drive around the Cape Peninsula in photos First off, a map of the route: View cape peninsula loop in a larger map The drive starts in Cape Town. The V&A Waterfront in Cape Town in the early morning Gorgeous houses in Simon’s Town.
Shark Diving in South Africa: No Cage Required. Shark diving in South Africa without a cage is not for the faint of heart. But it offers an incredible chance to first hand observe one of the most misunderstood creatures on the planet. I guarantee it will change your perspective. This was not my first time diving with sharks. I’ve dove with sharks in Honduras, Costa Rica, Galapagos, Red Sea and Palau – all with no cage! But it was my first time diving with Oceanic Black Tip Sharks and Ragged Tooth Sharks, affectionately called Raggies. Me with an Oceanic Black Tip Shark. J.P (my now German husband) and I met shark diving in Cocos, Costa Rica, so we knew that sharks would be part of our Wild South African and Swaziland Adventures.
Our first shark dive was at Protea Banks with African Dive Adventures. Protea Banks is known for its large quantities of sharks, but the tough part can be getting across the rough break. An Oceanic Black Tip shark expresses interest in the bait drum and the surrounding fish. Oceanic Black Tip shark. Cape Town Township Tour. Growing up in the 1980s as an American had its advantages. I have fond memories of the Smurfs, shirts with iron-on decals and big hair. It was also an interesting time to grow up politically, and I remember first hearing about South Africa as a youngster watching the evening news with my father. The news highlight reel was full of soldiers and mobs, repression and sadness. I was brought up not knowing a lot about the real South Africa, other than we weren’t supposed to like the government because of its downright evil policy of apartheid. Then the 1990s came and everything changed, but it’s hard for all of us to learn about the real South Africa, especially living so far way.
From an American point of view we still don’t know a lot about this great country, and sadly many of the memories from those broadcasts still occupy our thoughts. “Watch out for cars and stay in a straight line,” our guide Vivian offered as last minute advice before taking off into the streets of Masiphumelele. Walking the Fringe in Cape Town. When I first heard that Cape Town had been named the World Design Capital for 2014, I didn’t fully appreciate what that really means.
Images of Project Runway filled my brain and I weakly congratulated my Cape Town hosts when I heard the news, secretly wondering why they were so excited. But then I sat down with some of the organizers of the bid and slowly I began to understand what design can really mean. For Cape Town, design is about fusing urban planning with modern efficiency and the goal of the residents is to find ways through design to make the city more accessible and open to everyone.
This in turn will give people more opportunities to work and better themselves and in general should revitalize parts of the city that are in desperate need of change. This change through design is best seen in the perpetually up and coming neighborhood known as the Fringe. The Fringe as a moniker has such a strange connotation to it. Permaculture South Africa. Search results. Tours, sightseeing tours, activities & things to do. South Africa Tours - Discover The Best Tours & Times To Visit - Expert Advice. Guide to South Africa's wine regions. Emerging from the shadow of Apartheid, South Africa is increasingly making better wines which usually represent good value for money at all levels on the quality scale. Although South Africa is classed as a 'new world' region, wines it produces are often nicely poised between the new world and old world styles.
Look out for reds from South Africa's 'own' variety, Pinotage, which makes striking gamey and earthy-tasting wines, often with a savoury, cheesy edge to them. The most famous regions are Stellenbosch, Paarl and Constantia, although cooler regions such as Walker Bay are beginning to attract attention. Click map to enlarge Constantia Historical region that's tucked away in the smart southern suburbs of Cape Town (this is where the first vineyards were planted in South Africa), now undergoing a bit of a revival.
As well as being a beautiful region, the vineyards are ideally sited on the slopes of Constantia Mountain, where they are cooled by the sea breezes. Savanna Private Game Reserve. Primi Seacastle Hotel >> Cape Town. La Petite Ferme - Restaurant | Guest Suites | Winery.