South Africa -Cape Town and Durban

Auriol cooked springbok for lunch on the brai. Delicious. Another hot sunny day in Windhoek and we had a walk through the flower lined quiet streets. Auriol drove us through Katatura, the township. Loads of people but not as many flowers. The Intercape sleepliner bus left at 5pm on time. Comfy big seats. Past the North Korean built heroes monument and lots of mountains to Reheboth home of the basters.

Cape Town and Table Mountain

Robben Island Namibian prisoners including the guy we were privledged to meet at Auriol's home

Nelson Mandela's cell

Table mountain from Robben Island ferry

Durban sea front

click name for all photos Cape Town

Through the night and across the border to stop at a Wimpey for breakfast. Beautiful gardens and mountain view. Mountains, farms and then wineries to Cape Town. Passed Stellenbosch.

click photo name for all photos   Cape Town - Table Mountain

Nervous at Cape Town station but taxi ok. Driven by zimbabwe guy. Hotel head south lodge nice reception another zim guy. Walk along sea front in sun. Big waves crashing onto prom. V&A harbour very exciting. Wine tasting in info centre then t bone steak dinner in pub. Walk back. First time out after dark for weeks.

Next day trip to Robben Island. Tour by ex prisoner. See Nelson Mandela cell.

Following day sight seeing bus trip with highlights Kirstenbosch botanical gardens and fish and chips at huot bay.

Weather still very good on Thursday as we climbed Table Mountain. 6 hours up and down from cable station. Luckily we walked with a german lad Malte, safety in numbers. Superb walk bit like Torridon in Scotland

Friday bit of sightseeing in Cape Town but cold and grey and table mountain had gone.

5.30 and we were off again on the Intercape bus for 24 hours and 1600kms. Comfy again through night. Flattish Karoo country to Bloemfontain then flat top mountains past Harrisberg and Estcourt. The latter is where Winston Churchill was captured in the Boer War.

Down and down through Pietermaritzberg to Durban. Even more nervous arriving at beach front at 6pm. Taxi to hotel which is on the sea front and really good. Belaire Suites. Dinner nearby wine,pizza and sushi. All good.Rains that night and on and off next day. Walk along sea front seeing sights included rickshaw rides and house of fear.

click photo name for all photos Durban

Monday walk through city. Apartheid museum, city hall, post office where Churchill gave a speech after escaping, harbour, bit rough then back on sea front. Swim in sea very clean, warm and lots of waves. Dinner at Casino and a bit of gambling. Lost 1 rand about 5p.
Tuesday sunny again. Great view from top of moses mabidha football stadium.

Check out car hire, another swim and buffet dinner at casino. Worst ribs ever especially those in monkey gland sauce.very windy on short walk back.

Wed.book budget car hire. Visit holocaust centre with lots of school kids. Replica Anne Frank house.

Swim in very rough sea.