Townships of Cape Town

We visited 2 townships on the first day of the acacia tour. First to Langa, where we tasted their local brew while sitting in a Shebeen ( illegal drinking tavern ). Interesting, made from sweet potato which i love but unfortunately didn't like the taste.

Next was Guguletu, where we visited a local home, viewed some crafts and had lunch which was included. spicy chicken wings, veg, pork.

Both were very interesting, was taught some local language and was followed by local kids who were very cute indeed.

Camping

I love Camping especially when i have a tent all to myself.......
Most times i had help from others putting it up, but couple of times managed to do on my own, which is easy.
although it was camping we had 2 nights in Swakopmund, accommodation was at a backpacker. Good beds etc and was a relaxing time.
People seem to take camping in the bush for granted, too much..........

Cape Desert Safari

Cape Desert Safari with http://www.acacia-africa.com, 11days camping from Cape Town to Windhoek. Guide Kathryn was from Windhoek herself, Paul the Driver ( a masaai ) and George the trainee. 21 of us, mixed nationalities from South america, Ireland, Canada, Australia & N.Zealand, Uk, Holland, S.Africa and South Korea. There was supposed to be 2 more from the uk but got stuck due to the Volcanic Lava Saga !!!! Four Couples, 2 Cousins and the rest singles.
Good weather, not many days were spent driving long distances, average day was about 4/5 hrs. but stopped every so often for drinks etc.
Fun !

Community Project

The hostel i have been staying at, offers an opportunity to see the other side of Cape Town. They help out by fundraising, collecting unwanted items & money from the guests which all goes to a local community which is run by a group of former gang members who encourage kids to stay on the straight & narrow. The tour includes a visit to Bo-Kaap, a muslim area, and District 6 a place which has been turned into waste land after people were forced out of their homes in the 60s.
Then we visited, although i was the only one until lunch time at the eastern food bazzaar, the 3 of us including the guide went to a local school. we read, skipped and played footy with some of the kids. Good fun, hadn't kicked a ball for at least 20yrs till now ........!!!!
Good experience, worth doing !

Winelands

Started sampling wines at around 10am and an hour later had bought a really nice bottle of Port for 6quid. There was only 6 of us on the tour, 2others from uk, one from S.Korea and a couple from the usa but living in Montreal. Really nice nice, too warm to be drinking lots of alcohol but made sure drank plenty of water too !
visited some really nice places, drank lots of wine and had a really nice lunch. sampled good chocolate and cheese.
Most of us met up in the evening for local african food, even james the tour guide joined us. Live music and a R10 door charge ( 1quid ) Good day Out !!!!!

Penthouse on Long

Not quite what you would expect with a name like that but hey.......
Didn' t really get upto much. Went on the City sightseeing bus, which i know my sister will call a tourist trap. But some of the places on the blue route, you can't get to unless you have a car. So i visited the Botanical Gardens and the World Of Birds all in the rain !!!!
Managed to gain R9 ( 90p ) which i found in the gardens.
Wondered around the town lots and read in the evenings. Met a 71yr old english guy who'd recently retired and had been in South Africa since christmas, he'd just done the 2 Oceans Marathon.....

Cape Town

With me leaving Durban early, i obviously had to change my flight and this is where my voucher would have come in handy, had i not given it away. oh well, these things happen ! anyway, arrived in Cape Town to an airport being refurbished. I was supposed to be picked up by the backpacker bus which i had booked through my hostel but no sign which meant i ahd to contact them to find out what was going on. i ended up taking an airport shuttle which didn't cost much more.
arrived at hostel later than hoped,l whcih was on the 6th floor of a building which was also being refurbed in some places for the world cup. Odd thing is, is that they have only just started all these roadworks, refurbs to airports and hostels and with only 2months to go before the whole footy fun begins........