South Africa
Trip Start
Dec 03, 2000
1
Trip End
Dec 23, 2000
Cape Town,
South Africa
Sunday, September 3, 2006
During my apprenticeship / my studies I decided to improve my English skills. Which could be a better place for a language course in December than South Africa? With Alexia, a class mate and friend, I left rainy and cold Germany on 3rd of December and arrived in sunny and warm Cape Town.
Language course at Cape Studies was great, we had enough time in the afternoon to explore Cape Town and the surrounding. First of all I was a little bit afraid of South Africa, many friends and my family told me not to go because of the high crime rate...! Eventually, it is not as bad as it is said if you respect some rules and avoid to visit some places it is ok, nothing happened to us.
We climbed Lion's hill, went to Robben Island, saw the penguins in Simonstown, went to Citrusdale for parachuting, had a helicopter flight around Cape Town, climbed Table Mountain, rent a car and went to the Cape (Cape Point is really nice, Cape of good Hope is nothing special), made a "Safari" and saw rhinos, zebras, ostrich, gazelles, kudu and so on, visited Greenmarket and Green Point Market and of course the Waterfront.
What I recommend:
Visit African Cafe, it is amazing. 16 different dishes from 16 different African countries will be served. Authentic African restaurant.
Go to Citrusdale for parachuting!
Visit Llandudno beach, it is amazing, nearly no tourists. From Llundudno village a 20 minutes walk and you are there.
Visit Simonstown because of the nice penguins (you can also see them on Robben Island).
Rent a car to visit the Cape Peninsula, a nature reserve.
Eat ostrich, the best meat in my eyes, low fat and without cholesterol.
What I disadvice:
Don't visit the financial district after 3 pm, I think it is quite dangerous.
Don't visit Mama Africa, food was not good, in my opinion quite a commercial place...! That's just my opinion...!
One more advice: most time it is not possible to visit Table Mountain with the Cablecar because of wind and clouds. Take the chance when weather is good. And remember, wind is quite cold up there...! Try to find "Klippschleifer", really nice animals. You can find them next to the restaurant.
On 23rd of December I left South Africa with tears in my eyes and I knew I will come back to see other parts of the country.....
