A day on the road.
You can't leave Cape Town without paying a visit to Cape Of Good Hope and visiting those adorable African penguins along the way. It's one the most popular attractions around, and you will meet lots of tourists but it’s still worth your while. The drive itself is very picturesque as well.
We got up early, knowing that we will make several stops and we don't t want to rush anywhere, just enjoy the views, maybe hike somewhere along the way.
Muizenberg.
First stop - Muizenberg beach. What we are looking for are iconic Victorian bath houses, seen many times in magazines and postcards. Although these candy coloured beach boxes are abandoned now, they still have their charm and invite you to have a closer look. This white sandy beach stretch is washed by almost perfectly lined waves, so it is home for local surfers and surf schools. If that’s your thing - this is the place. Be wary of shark watch signs as there is always the chance of an encounter.
A less cold dip in the ocean.
Leaving Muizenberg and continuing along the coastline towards Cape Of Good Hope, we soon join a train rail on our left. I couldn't believe this railway line is still operational as it goes through along the coastline and with those notorious winds, sand piles up along tracks. We are following the rail and soon we see another batch of colourful bathing houses by the ocean pool. Those seeking bath temperature ocean waters, this is the place to make a stop and dip yourself in this salty shallow. Look for a St. James train station, and walk through the underpass. Place is mostly known to locals only.
Penguins. The easy way.
Following the train tracks we head to its last stop - Simon's town. In the end of it, there’s the famous Boulders beach, home to a colony of African penguins. It’s unbelievable to see so many of them posing for tourists and taking sunbaths. There is an entrance fee which goes toward conservation of these endangered animals. Keep the ticket you will need it twice.
There are two entrances, one leading to wooden walking paths over the beach, and the other leading to the beach where you can literally swim with these cute creatures, and walk next to them if you are lucky enough to meet them. Just don't be mindful, don't chase them, don't try to touch them, give them way as it's their home after all and they feel safe here.
The Cape.
From Simons town we head southward up the cliffs, opening up some additional views of False bay, leading right to the Cape Peninsula. We reached Cape Of Good Hope Table Mountain National Park. There are two main points in this park - Cape Of Good Hope point and Old Cape Point Light House, apart from them there are so many other things you can do - walking trails, beaches, wild animal spotting, if you are on a right season you can sit on a cliff and watch whales all day...
Most attractive trails are at the tip of the peninsula, where you walk on the edge of the continent dropping down in to the Atlantic Ocean, and picture Antarctica somewhere a thousand miles away in front you... The wind will literally blow you away at time. If you do however find a non-windy spot - enjoy a picnic with a view.
Sunset.
We were wondering around until the sun dipped in and burned everything in gold. It was hard to leave these golden views and rush to the exit, as the park was already closing, and it seemed we were only ones who are still here. We felt like we missed on so many things in the park itself. We’re sure that we’ll come back.
