Our morning started with a selfie as we leave the view tomorrow.

Today was a full on trip to  Cape Point and a Peninsula tour.  The drive takes you down the coast road accompanied by the  Atlantic Ocean.  We passed through several  small towns many with very, very (think £millions) high priced properties, many American or European owned. Then the drive took us along Chapman’s Peak, a winding road with 114 bends with breathtaking views. Named after John Chapman, the pilot of a ship, The Consent, that anchored in Hout Bay in 1607 and he was sent ashore for provisions. They named the road and the mountain that lies above the road. Weather here can be variable, 4 seasons in one day, and we drove this through rain and dark skies.  You know that sinking feeling when you’ve worn all the wrong clothes!!  The road is often closed as regular work must be carried out keeping the perilously close  rocks at bay.

Luckily the skies cleared and we entered the Cape Peninsula National Park

Before we got to the Cape of Good Hope we detoured to a viewing point with a lighthouse, luckily we rode a funicular to the top. There are 2 lighthouses and the newer model was built in 1914 and is the most powerful on the South African coast. The Cape is notorious for its ship wrecking sea – nearly 3000 vessels in the last 500 years. The view was spectacular.

Then we drove on to The Cape.

We had heard a lot about the Boulder Beach penguins and they didn’t disappoint.  To get so close as they sauntered around the beach in front of us, some with babies, was brilliant.

A seafood lunch followed, a first time eating Kingklip, a firm and quite meaty fish.

By now the sun was exceptionally hot and we were exceptionally full but stayed awake on the hour or so journey to the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden.  It was stunning, so many beautiful tropical plants.

If only we had the climate.   We had had a wonderful day and seen so many sights. 

We’re going to need a bigger blog!!