Uncategorized

Southern Most Tip of Africa

The Southern Most Tip of Africa is a short drive from the Struisbaai, about 10 mins. There is parking at the bottom of the hill and it is free. There are bathrooms at the parking lot, these are the only ones in the area so if you are walking around a bit make sure to use them.

The Lighthouse is 33R to do the Museum and climb the tower.
The Museum goes through the history of the lighthouse as well as the history of South African lighthouses. The museum is small room with boards all over the walls. Then you head to the central area to climb the 71 ladder steps to the top. The view is lovely from the top but it is imperative you know that they are steep ladder steps. One up and one down.

It is a 1km walk down to the Southern most Tip of the continent and then another 4km to the Meisho Maru shipwreck beyond.
If you would prefer; you can drive to both of them, it is down a gravel path. It is an easy walk under foot in good shoes, gravel and stony just like the drive. It is not shady however, so ensure enough water and you are covered up.

The southern most tip is marked by a stone, and where the two oceans meet. In front of it, you can see a map of Africa with the mountain ranges highlighted. It is huge and the photos can not do it justice.

After this I suggest you head on a 30 mins walk, 4km you reach the Meisho Maru Shipwreck it is so close to shore, you can almost walk to it, but the rocks are a little sharp and slippery. – Good at sunset apparently. I didn’t venture down that far at suset.

It is a lovely morning out and about; Agulhas has a few nice restaurants again mainly fish is available, but it is all fresh fish which makes it so worth it.

Uncategorized

Lions Head

Walking the Lions Head is no small feat. It is a hike – a good hike but definitely a hike. Although saying this…I did it in Sketchers/ Trainers.

Let me start at the bottom – get it? It is free to get in, you just need to get an Uber to the base of the walk. It is dusty to wear hiking clothes or clothes you don’t mind getting dusty at least. Many people I saw were wearing Gym clothes and I wish I had done the same in hindsight.

It is about an hour walk or so (depending on breaks, fitness, how fast you want to go), but it is all uphill, some with stairs but initially just a steep slope.
Once past the stairs you come to the clambering bits up and over rocks, you end up watching your feet constantly.

There is a cave to find on the way up if you wish to, however it is a very narrow and quite cumbersome to get there. Although the view and the pictures are lovely when you get there.

Anyway, you clamber up and you come to a plateau where you can see both sides of Table Mountain, the 12 Apostles, Clifton and Camps Bay and the City too. It is a gorgeous view.

There is a walk up to the very top of the Lions Head (the bit I am looking at in the photo – yes you can climb to the top). However, it is more clambering on hands and feet and not many passing points. Therefore if you are doing this at Sunset as we did I wouldn’t recommend going up unless you are very sure on your feet and have good strong shoes on. It is easier to go during the day as the people traffic is more fluid and less of people wanting to stand or sit and take photos of the sunset.

It is a tough climb, I will be the first to admit I am not in the best shape but I still managed it in Sketchers. I did enjoy it. We stopped a couple of times and took it really easy. It is definitely a walk to do if you are in the vicinity and enjoy your hiking.

Table Mountain at Sunset featuring the Tablecloth

Uncategorized

Apartheid to Freedom

Free Walking tour Part 2.

Another worthwhile walking tour.

Starting in the same place as all the others – Motherland coffee opposite St George’s Cathedral. Green Umbrellas – they are hard to miss.

You go through the history of Apartheid, from its inception, the laws and how they progressed. To District Six, Mandela and its abolition. My guide was Kenneth, he really personalised the tour with stories from friends and family. It made the realities of what happened come to life. It was eye opening.

We started at St Georges Cathedral, moved on to the court house, where you can see the rules for Europeans and non Europeans, the benches of whites and non whites. Ken explained about the pen or pencil test: you were considered white (yes they had to determine your race, wasn’t just skin colour), if when a pen or pencil was put into your hair and you jumped up and down, it didn’t fall out. How humiliating. 7 categories of races were the initial list and then it soon become 11. Can you imagine having to go to a court house to determine your race nowadays? The thing is, it probably still happens in some places…

We walked through Company’s Garden and Cecil Rhodes was explained to us and the garden shed which is now a grand building. Walking through that to the edge of the old District Six. Also saw Parliament and walked back through town to the back corner of the City Hall. Nelson Mandela’s speech was explained as well.

What was an added bonus was that throughout the tour, Ken added in about places to eat and drink which was a bonus. One of these was Truth Coffee in District Six, just up the road from the Museum.

Truth Coffee is a coffee shop with a twist – it is steam punk themed. Everyone is wearing something steam punk-esque. You can get super detailed on your coffee going on the flavours of your coffee in order to choose your beans. How you take your coffee next.

Or you can just do what I did and order from the already created menu. I know boring but I am not massive coffee connoisseur.

District 6 Museum was a no brainer after a cold coffee and a sit down. It is R45 to get in. Be aware they do not take card for under R80. You can do self guided or a guided visit (surcharge for the guided visit). The boards are easy to follow, and there are so many images of the previous tenants and what the streets looked like before and after the demolition. For those that don’t know the story of District Six it is perfect. So many stories and memories shared in an accessible way. There is a small gift shop with books about District Six and the people that lived there.

A very exhausting afternoon – but so worthwhile. Walking tours – still recommended.