After Shark Cage Diving and visiting Table Mountain yesterday, we had decided to take the 1 day Cape Peninsula Tour by Baz Bus today. We got up early and walked to the Baz Bus office which was close to our hotel. We joined the group there, boarded our bus and began our trip for the day. We drove along Atlantic Seaboard crossing Camps Bay etc. and headed to our first stop, Hout Bay harbour.
Once in Hout Bay, we took the optional boat cruise to visit the Cape Fur Seal colony on Duiker Island. The boat ride from the harbour was smooth and on the way we could see the Lichtenstein Castle Guest House on the Karbonkelberg Mountain. We crossed The Sentinel, the peak marking the western end of the mouth of Hout Bay.
As we approached Duiker Island we could see the colonies of seals on it. The boat slowed down near the island for us to get a closer look at the seals basking in the sun and swimming in the water. After the boat arrived back the at harbour, we had some time to browse around and check out the local shops.
We got back into the bus and started off towards Chapman’s Peak Drive. We stopped at one of the lookout points for magnificent views of Hout Bay. There we were served a light morning snack of fruits, yoghurt, muffins, etc. It was a fantastic location to spend some time and soak in the panorama.
Driving further along, we got a glimpse of the beautiful Long Beach as we made our way south towards the Cape Point Nature Reserve.
After the main entrance, our bus stopped and we had the option of riding a bicycle till the Tourist information Centre which was about 6 kilometres away. Bicycles and helmets were provided, and the guides told us by what time they expected us to reach there.
Everyone was free to ride at their own pace keeping the timeline in mind and enjoy the fresh air and the surrounding vistas. It was great to see the area without being behind the glass windows in the bus.
Lunch was served at Tourist information Centre. There was salad and chips, rolls with cold cuts and cheese along with fruits and juice. There was a small museum there with the history and the ecology of Cape Point. After the lunch break we got back into the bus and headed to Cape Point National Park.
Here we could buy a ticket and ride the Flying Dutchman Funicular up to the viewing point but we just decided to hike up like almost everyone else.
Reaching the old lighthouse we could see the Cape Peninsula behind us and the vast ocean ahead. We also saw the new lighthouse perched on the rocks.
Coming back down we had the option to take the bus or walk to the Cape of Good Hope. I chose to walk and it was a nice trail along a wooden walkway along the top of the cliffs. I crossed Dias Beach on the way as I made my way further down towards the sea.
Unfortunately there wasn’t enough time to go down to Dias Beach; I would have loved to take a quick dip in the water. Descending further I reached the most South-Western point of Africa.
After spending some time there we got back into the bus and started our return journey towards Cape Town. We saw some wildlife of the Cape Peninsula on the drive back; baboons, ostriches and bontebok antelopes.
Our last stop of the day was Boulders Beach, famous for its colony of African Penguins. The bus dropped us off in Simon’s Town and we walked across a residential area to get to the site where these endangered birds could be seen in their natural environment.
These penguins were also called jackass penguins for their braying call. It was fun to see the penguins on the beach up close from the boardwalk.
This was the end of our trip and we drove back to Cape Town. We headed to our hotel to relax for a bit and freshen up. For dinner we decided to go to Mama Africa on Long Street. It was recommended to us for its traditional food, rustic décor and live music.
Wanting to try something new and different, I decided to have Mama’s Wild Game Mixed Grill with a little bit of everything. This was the only place where I would have an opportunity to sample such exotic meats: crocodile, ostrich, springbok, kudu and venison sausage.
We were going to be local in Cape Town the next day, so it was going to be a relaxed morning. After an enjoyable dinner we walked down Long Street back to the hotel.