“This Cape is the most stately thing and the fairest Cape we saw in the whole circumference of the earth.” – From the journal of Sir Francis Drake, on seeing the Cape for the first time, 1580
Despite being the middle of Winter, it was a (not unusually) GORGEOUS day in this amazing town that I get to call home... so we decided to hit the road and do a mid-week "road trip"... as well as celebrate "Women's Day".
Off to Cape Point Nature Reserve it was... which is about a 45 minute drive from where we live.
Cape Point is in the Cape of Good Hope nature reserve within Table Mountain National Park, which forms part of the Cape Floral Region, a World Heritage Site. It includes the majestic Table Mountain chain, which stretches from Signal Hill to Cape Point, and the coastlines of the Cape Peninsula. This narrow stretch of land, dotted with beautiful valleys, bays and beaches, contains a mix of extraordinarily diverse and unique fauna and flora.
Rugged rocks and sheer cliffs towering more than 200 metres above the sea and cutting deep into the ocean, provide a spectacular background for the Park’s rich bio-diversity. Cape Point falls within the southern section of Table Mountain National Park. The natural vegetation of the area, fynbos, comprises the smallest but richest of the world’s six floral kingdoms. The scenic beauty of Cape Point is not its sole allure; it is also an international icon of great historical interest with many a visitor drawn to the area because of its rich maritime history… Credit
As you can see, the baboons, are there to greet everyone.... VERY enthusiastically! They are quite a spectacle really, because the tourists are unfamiliar with them and do not guard their food and drinks efficiently enough.... which inevitably get stolen.
off to the "Two Oceans Restaurant" we headed... empty tummies and VERY keen to get them filled! This restaurant is truly one of a kind with views which to my mind are unmatched! The service was also absolutely impeccable!!!
We could not have asked for a better day to go out and enjoy Cape Town showing off... it is the middle of Winter here, but you would never say... There was very little wind (which us Capetonians are ALWAYS grateful for) and the sun was out to play!
Wine was served, and a Cederburg Rosé was the order of the day :) The little bit of breeze that was around was quite fresh, so I was torn as to whether I wanted to drink a chilled rosé or warm myself up from the inside out with a red... but the rosé won at the end of the day and I definitely did not regret it!
Table bread was served, with smoked paprika butter as well as a traditional one. I don't actually eat bread anymore and haven't done so for about two years now... because it is a REAL weakness of mine, but I could NOT turn down this bread... and I simply HAD to give my taste buds the pleasure of experiencing the paprika butter! - I do NOT regret one single mouthful! hehehe
Jude ordered the lamb riblets with chips - he was in his element! Outside of pizza, lamb is his favorite. Both him and his tummy were very happy indeed! I stole a chip or two (bad mommy - lol) and they too were VERY more-ish!
As you can see, the starlings are equally as enthusiastic to eat.... YOUR food! We spent a good amount of time chasing them away from the table. They are so intelligent and exceptionally observant. You literally cannot take your eyes off your plate for a second. According to the waiters, their favourite is the chips and bread...
as @killerwhale likes to say... nom nom nom nom
I decided that I wanted to explore the menu, so I opted for two starters instead of one main... and I began with the Tempura prawns... truth be told - I was so full after the tempura prawns that I skipped the second starter and went on to a savoury dessert...
which was a cheese board served with pickled onions and moskonfyt jam (grape jam)
I was way too full for dessert, but David opted for the baked cheese cake - which Jude really enjoyed too lol... begging at least three spoons... hehe
Lunch done and dusted, full tummies and all - it was time for a little exploring! Jude was enthusiastic... as always... to get "out and about"...
off to the lighthouse it was... it was quite a long road to the top so we opted for a shuttle. I made comment to the fact that my dad would most certainly have frowned at all of us for our sheer laziness to climb the hill, and had he been there, he would most likely have put the shuttles to shame too. hehe :)
The baboons always on the look out for any "easy snacks" - just waiting for that "unsuspecting tourist" to wander past with their packet of chips or cold drink. lol - in fact... one of those two was busy enjoying an orange that it had just stolen from somebody... hehe
WHAT A VIEW, right?! - I was thankful at this point not to be so out of breath from the climb (had we done it), as I got to TRULY take in what amazing beauty I was surrounded by, rather than spend 15 minutes gasping for breath! haha
Sadly, the photos never do any justice to the "actual" scene!
Time for a mid adventure snap shot with my little man xxx - a little windswept but hey... "say cheeeeeese" :)
let the climbing begin! haha - I was actually expecting Jude to get tired half way to the top, but he out walked the both of us - little champ :)
off to the look out we go...
The baboons were not too worried about all of us wandering past, and seem quite fixated on the amazing view... cannot blame them!
It really was a sight for sore eyes!!! and like I said... the photos just DON'T do it any true justice!!!!
.jpg)
Jude was officially the "king of the castle"
....and LOVING IT!!!!
The graffiti and memorabilia on the lighthouse itself as well as on all the surrounding rocks, was quite a sight to behold... so many people and SO many memories shared in one spot!
The last time I was at Cape Point was when I was about 12 years old and I have to say, as somebody who actually LIVES in this one of a kind town, it is nothing short of breathtaking!
Sadly, it was time to head home, but we made the most of the scenery on the way back...
I love photographing nature and I was NOT about to miss an opportunity to capture King Neptune in all his glory!!!
one more stop to admire the magnificent road ahead...
and for Jude to enjoy a little more of mother nature...
during his explorations, my little man shouted repeatedly for us to come nearer... as he had discovered a heart shaped rock! (how beautiful is my child, seriously!)
Officially homeward bound... and how blessed were we to have the most SUPER EFFICIENT (and completely not necessary) navigator with us... hehe (any excuse to play with the Garmin)
.jpg)
the road home was as beautiful as every sight we saw for the day...
and the locals that make a living from begging at the robots are every bit as charismatic... as well as creative with their "promotional boards" (Robots = traffic lights for those of you that might be confused by our South African term)
There appears to be a little bit of bad weather rolling in...
So just as well we headed home when we did...
It was an absolutely amazing day out! It was Jude's first time visiting Cape Point and one he will never forget I am certain!
As Capetonians, we are so blessed to be living in a place that has so much beauty, no matter which direction we choose to look in!
We should all learn to show A LOT more appreciation for it! And for those of you that have not yet visited this breathtaking part of the world... now you know what you have been missing... and you can start booking those tickets ;)
Until next time...
Much love from Cape Town, South Africa xxx