From Cairo To Cape Town, More Or Less
Trip Start
Aug 05, 2006
1
42
55
Trip End
Ongoing
Cape Town,
South Africa
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Originally I only planned to visit only five countries in Africa: Morocco, Egypt, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. That list has expanded to include 11 more countries + Yemen and each place has been unique and challenging in its own way. From the insanely slow travel in Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya to the mind-bending experience in Gabon to strenuous trek up Nyrangongo volcano in DRC; travel in Africa has been anything but easy. Even though Africa is the "cradle of humanity" it still remains one of the wildest and most diverse places on Earth
Baaaack Off!
. I told a friend a few months ago that I feel like Africa has taken a few years off my lifespan to which he replied that the experiences and memories I will take away should more than make for the lost time. If Africa has taught me one thing it is patience. When I first heard things here happen on "Africa time" I laughed thinking it was a little funny. I am not laughing so much about it nowadays but I have come to accept it as being a unique part of the culture here. Anyone who has spent a significant amount of time here will know exactly what I mean and anyone who hasn't will likely have a difficult time appreciating this since it is so vastly contrary to the way we think in Western society. Although, I don't claim to really "understand" Africa I feel my time here has changed my perspectives on the World and myself a little and I am glad to have learned what I could about this place.
Now let's talk a bit about my final destination here, South Africa. Arriving in Cape Town was the next best think to coming home. Cape Town is both beautiful and modern, at least until you see the townships which display the shocking divide between rich and poor. The city center is filled with tall buildings and there are even a few McDonald's here and some great coffee shops
Baby And His Mama
. With the famous Table Mountain as a backdrop, Cape Town definitely ranks as one of the World's most beautiful cities.After settling in at a nice hostel called Zebra Crossing I took a boat ride out to Robben Island. It had been a prison colony for many years but was most famous as being the home of Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners under the apartheid. In 'The Long Walk To Freedom', Mr. Mandela talks a great deal about his time here.
I felt like I had still not gone quite far enough south, so the next day I travel to the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point about 70 km south of Cape Town. After that it was time to visit some of the many wineries around the area. The tour I booked included lunch, transport, and plenty of free wine tastings! Since there is a lot of competition between the various wineries some of the smaller ones try to create a theme to attract visitors. One place I visited was called Fairview which had a "goat tower" with one especially large bearded billy at the top of the tower.
On the final day before I had to leave for Jo'berg to catch a plane to Israel I decided to climb Table Mountain.
Beautiful Sunset
After a relatively easy 1 and half hour climb to the top I was greeted by an absolutely amazing view of the city below. It was such a clear day that I think I could see all the way to Cape Point! If you ever thought about coming to Africa but have been afraid of it being unsafe I would say don't worry so much! Statistically, Africa is probably just as safe as the US or any other place and as long as you don't display the fact that you have money by wearing expensive adornments and stay aware of the current security situation where you are at you should encounter few serious problems here. I have spent a fair amount of time traveling "off the beaten track" and it is in those places that remarkably I felt even more safe than in many of the more touristed areas. And I didn't even get malaria once, but you should definately take some meds with you. I hope to return here someday and travel West Africa, an even wilder place if Gabon is any indication. Farewell Africa!
