Cape Town:
The San Francisco of South Africa
Two penguins that seem very much in love
Cape Town is a very beautiful city.
It is set on the ocean and framed by
mountains that seem to jut upwards in a
defiant manner. The waterfront area is
worth a tour to experience the many
shops and the excitement of the place.
You will have a good time drifting about
the outdoor stalls and street
entertainers. Cape Town has a relatively
small city centre, but it has its share
of tallish glass and concrete buildings
like most cities.
A wonderful day trip is to take the
short drive from Cape Town to the Cape
of Good Hope. Along the way, make sure
you stop off at the "World of Birds
Wildlife Sanctuary", which is a great
experience. You will see many of the
birds, and some of the animals, Africa
is famous for up close. The drive down
the coast is reminiscent of driving
highway 1 in Northern California. The
vistas are of rugged cliffs pounded by
massive waves. This is a truly up
lifting drive. Hout Bay is a lovely
little town to stop for lunch. There is
a restaurant there located right next to
the bay. The place has a feel to it not
unlike Sausalito.
It is easy to mistake the countryside
around the Cape of Good Hope for the
Marin Headlands in San Francisco; they
both share the same low shrubby plants
and magnificent cliffs and beaches. If
you are up for a steep, but short hike,
take the walk up the hill from the car
park to the lighthouse at the cape.
There are many great hiking trails in
the area, but remember you are in South
Africa and you need to be very careful
about your safety.
When you return from the Cape, drop
into Simon's Town that is a gorgeous
little city nestled in the cliffs of the
cape. Its claim to fame is its African
Penguin rookeries. Yes, South Africa,
like Australia and Antarctica, is home
to penguins.