Hallo Suid-Afrika: the one where I eat springbok

Hallo!

So much to update on and it’s only been another two days! Yesterday we were up fairly early again and took a tour of the greater Cape Peninsula. Our first stop was Table Mountain, the backdrop for most of Cape Town. We took a cable car to the top instead of hiking the mountain. The cable cars are extremely fast (top speed of 10 m/s), and turn a full 360 degrees as they’re climbing so you get a complete view. I definitely want to hike up at some point during my stay. The view from the top was incredible, and completely unlike anything I have ever seen. Looking out over the ocean, one feels like they can see where the earth starts curving; and since it was a completely clear day the ocean and the sky become a single entity in the distance.

Cape Town is surrounded by and built upon mountains. Besides Table Mountain there is Lionshead and a multitude of unnamed peaks. Our tour continued with driving along a coastal route, stopping at various scenic overlooks. We ate lunch at Cape Point (right next to the Cape of Good Hope) and stopped at an Ostrich Farm. To finish up the day we went to Boulders, which is famous for its colony of African Penguins. Like Cape Point, Boulders is part of Table Mountain National Park, and its conservation is taken very seriously. I was so excited to see the penguins! They’re an endangered species and only nest along the Southern Beaches of Africa. Several walked right up next to us and waddled around. It’s the nesting season so we got to see chicks and other younger penguins that were just molting.

Today we intended to go to Robben Island, the site where Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners were held during apartheid. However by the time we made it to the V&A Waterfront all the tours were sold out for the day. Instead we wandered around the waterfront for most of the day and ate a long lunch of traditional African food and wild game. Dad and I each had a venison sampler that included springbok and impala. The Impala reminded me more of a flavorful beef, with an almost spicy or gamey flavor, while the springbok, my favorite, was a white meat that brought to mind a spiced and extremely flavorful poultry. Grilling or BBQ-ing is called a braai here, and is extremely popular. So good! Mom tried ostrich, and said that she couldn’t tell much difference between that and beef. Along with the game we had traditional side dishes, including bread that was baked over hot coals, and phutu which is similar to couscous that was served with a bean and spiced tomato mixture.

We came back to the hotel on the early side and just caught a beautiful sunset over the ocean. Tomorrow we are going on a mini safari! The game preserve is about an hour and a half away and we’re leaving at 6am. I am so excited to see elephants and cheetahs. There is reportedly a place nearby that you can visit cheetahs and also pet them, something I am dying to do.