Honeymoon in South Africa (Jan 2009)

Finally after some delays, our South Africa travel journal is ready...

But first....

Facts about South Africa:

There are 11 official languages of South Africa – Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Swati, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu.

Local Currency: Rand (About 1 SGD to 6.3 R)

And now...

The South Africa Travel Journal

After touching down at Cape Town Airport, we were met by our local guide, Benjamin. Well not so local – he’s a Malaysian Chinese living in South Africa with his family. According to Benjamin, he’s the only Malaysian in the whole of South Africa!

Our first stop brought us to an ostrich ranch where we were given a tour of the estate and an ostrich ride (stationary…what do you expect?).

Standing on Ostrich Eggs

After lunch at the ostrich ranch, we had a drive along the coast overlooking Table Bay.

Next, we were given a city tour and a stroll in the ‘Company’s Garden’ It was actually a park originally owned by the Dutch East India Company.

Streets of Cape Town

Streets of Cape Town

The Dutch East India Company's Garden

After the Company’s Garden, we had a free and easy time at the Alfred and Victoria Waterfront.

The next morning began with a stop in Camps Bay where we were treated with a scenic view of the Cape Town Peninsula looking out at the South Atlantic Ocean.

Next stop – Hout Bay. We took a ferry out to see a seal colony. This colony is located about 30min from the harbour on some rock outcrops. From a distance, it looked like there were forests of seaweeds around the rocks. When we got near, we realized they were actually seals in the water! And there were hundreds more on rocks as well!

Following the seal colony, we hung out the flea market in Hout Bay. Great place to shop for local handicraft and, yes….ostrich eggs.

Painted Ostrich Eggs

Our next stop was a gemstone factory where we witnessed how gemstones were extracted and processed.

------------------- Agate Crystals -------------------

After the gemstone factory, we went to the Cape Point to have lunch in a restaurant overlooking the South Atlantic. There, we were treated with local singing by the waiters and waitresses.

After lunch, we took the funicular (a tram) to the top of the peak where we had a great view of the Cape Point. Contrary to popular belief, the water currents from the Atlantic and Indian Oceans do not meet here. In fact, it fluctuates along the southern and southwestern Cape coast. And there is no ‘visible line in the ocean’ where these two oceans meet. However, the fact remained that this area is extremely dangerous to ships.

Local Flora

Next, we traveled westward to the Cape of Good Hope. There is a very common misconception that the Cape of Good Hope is the southern tip of Africa and the dividing point between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, but in fact the southernmost point is Cape Agulhas, about 150 kilometres to the southeast.

Our next stop brought us to Boulders Beach where we got up-close in the penguin colonies. Interestingly, the colonies are located next to the local residents’ houses by the coast.

Cape Town at Night

The next day began with a trip to Stellenbosch, west of Cape Town. It is the second oldest European settlement after Cape Town. It is also known as the City of Oaks, because of the large number of oak trees planted by the founder. Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek valleys form the ‘Cape Winelands’, the largest of the two main wine growing regions in South Africa.

Our first stop began with a free-and-easy time in the town itself. After that, we were brought to Neethlingshof Wine Estate for a cellar tour, wine and cheese tasting, and yes… wine shopping.

Streets of Stellenbosch

In a Handicraft Shop

Neethlingshof Wine Estate

Barrels and Barrels of Wine

Cheese & Wine Tasting

After lunch in Neethlingshof, we went to a cheetah Conservation Ranch. There we had a chance to get close and touch/caress/molest one of the cheetahs (at extra cost of course).

Next we proceeded to the cable car station at the foot of Table Mountain. From there, we took a cable car up top the top of the mountain itself. Table Mountain is actually a plateau with unique flora and fauna on its summit. The flat top is about 3km from side to side with hiking trails surrounded by steep cliffs. We had wanted to walk all the way to the end but it would take 3 hours and we had only one hour.

A View from Table Mountain

Our last stop of the day was Century City. It’s large shopping complex with many shops and nice interior deco… your shopper's dream.

We began our next day by taking a flight to Johannesburg. Once arrived, we were met by another guide, Pieter (a white local). He joked that when he used the computer to pronounce his name, it would sound like ‘pie-eater’.

First stop in Johannesburg was a novelty shop called the Cambanos. Nothing special really …. just another touristy shop of trinkets and handicraft.

Stuffed Animal Display

Next we went to Pretoria, where we were given a city tour. Here our guide told us it is not safe to walk around the streets. After that, we proceeded to Union Buildings, the official seat of the South African government and the office of the President of South Africa. This was also the place Nelson Mandela was sworn in. We had a tour of the terraced gardens in front of the buildings. From there, we could see the whole of Pretoria.

Overlooking the city of Pretoria

Union Square

Streets of Pretoria

Streets of Pretoria

Real Whale Bones in front of the Natural History Museum

From Pretoria, we traveled a few hours to Sun City, a luxury casino resort situated in the northwest. There, we spent the next two days hanging out and sightseeing.

Sculptures in front of Palace Hotel

Inside the Palace Hotel Restaurant

Glorious Food

Following the stay in Sun City, we began our journey to the Mabula Game Lodge. Once arrived, we had our lunch and prepared for the drive around the game reserve.

The drive in the reserve began in the late afternoon when it is not too warm and the animals were more active. Along the way, we spotted elephants, giraffes, wildebeests, zebras, ostriches, impalas, antelopes, rhinos.

Interior Deco

A Hippo

Following the drive, we headed back for dinner. The next day before dawn, we went out looking for lions.

On the way back, we came across a few buffalos.

After the morning safari, we left the lodge and went to Gold Reef City. It was a theme park built on a gold mine. We began our tour of the gold mine by traveling down the mine shaft to 500m below the surface. According to our guide, it took 2 tons of ore to produce 8 oz of gold! That's why it's so expensive...

Gold Reef City Theme Park

Map of the Gold Mine

Drilling holes to insert dynamite charges

After that, we witnessed how gold ingots were made and got to touch and feel a real 2 kg gold bar! According to our guide, we get to keep the gold bar if we can pick it up with one hand! Wonder if he’s pulling our legs… Following the mine tour, we were given some time to hang out in the theme park.

The 2 kg Gold Bar .....

Can I take this home?

We ended our day with a drive past Nelson Mandela's residence.

Nelson Mandela Residence

The next morning, we left for the airport for a flight back to Singapore.

---- The End ----