Cape Town
(Part 2)
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| Location of Cape Town in South Africa! |
The first and only World Wonder of South Africa is the magnificent Table Mountain. This natural icon is located in the Cape Peninsula National Park, which consists of Table Mountain National Park and the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. A sight to behold when entering Cape Town, a combination of rugged cliffs, steep slopes and sandy flats makes this a truly remarkable, scenic, historical, cultural and recreational asset both to South African’s but also for international tourists, this mountain stretches from Signal Hill in the north to Cape Point in the south.
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| The Cape Peninsula National Park! |
The mountain also is recognisable globally for the extraordinary rich, diverse and unique flora and fauna that can be seen around the mountain in varies areas and nowhere else on earth can such a large variety of diversity be seen in such an cosmopolitan city.
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| The rich, diverse and unique fauna that can be see on Table Mountain. |
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| Extraordinary flora can be found on Table Mountain! |
Another unique feature about Table Mountain is the fact that only three points charge money to visit the site, which includes the Cape of Good Hope, Boulders Rock and Silvermine, the rest of the park is open access for everyone to enjoy. The most populated way to get up to the top of Table Mountain is by cable car, but for adventures at heart, there are well designed rock-climbing paths up the mountain.
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| The most popular way to get to the top of Table Mountain! |
Table Mountain is known as the ‘South African Jewel’ and was named a Natural World Wonder in 2011. Cape Town equals Table Mountain (Cape Town = Table Mountain), and a visit to the top of Table Mountain and looking out over the oceans is a sight you will never forget, there are a variety of shops on Table Mountain ranging from restaurants and kiosks to memorabilia shops.
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| Cape Town = Table Mountain! |
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| A view of Table Mountain from one of the many beaches located in Cape Town. |
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| View of Table Mountain from the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, in the Cape Peninsula National Park. |
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| Cape of Good Hope, most south-western point of Africa! |
Another family friendly natural attraction that is a must see in Cape Town, is the large amount of sandy white beaches located around Table Mountain . These beaches offer relaxation for the whole family, in a save and monitored environment. Other natural attractions in the area consist of the Drakenstein Lion Park, the Two Oceans Aquarium and Robben Island.
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| Family-orientated beaches, like this- can be found in Cape Town! |
The Drakenstein Lion Park is one stop you have to make when you decide to visit Cape Town, but note this park is not for the faint of heart! This park is located about 30 minutes’ drive from Cape Town and this specific park offers a real life “African experience” during the summer months (November to April). In this park people are given the opportunity to spend a night in a specially designed safari tent, surrounded by real life African lions. Sleeping with lions is definitely a once in a life time opportunity and the sleeping environment is safe to use and has been approved by the Department of Tourism in South Africa and the safari tents are monitored 24/7 by park-managers/trained-guides.
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| This park offers a real life "African experience"! |
ANOTHER must see attraction, located in the V&A Waterfront is the Two Oceans Aquarium. This family orientated aquarium is home to more than 4000 creatures – ranging from the smallest of Knysna seahorses to the mighty Great White Shark. This diversity of species can be seen through a specially designed glass windows, offering tourist the chance to almost touch these magnificent sea creatures! Thousands upon thousands of photo opportunities will arise when you visit this renowned aquarium in the V&A Waterfront!
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| A must see attraction, located in the V&a Waterfront! |
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| This marine species can be seen through a specially designed glass windows, offering tourist the chance to almost touch these magnificent sea creatures! |
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| Knysna Seahorses that can be seen in the Two Oceans Aquarium! |
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| The Great White Shark can also be seen in the Two Oceans Aquarium, in the V&A Waterfront! |
Lying 11 kilometres of shore from Cape Town in the Atlantic Ocean, Robben Island is probably most famous for the place where former President Nelson Mandela, was imprisoned for 27 years, in cell 46664. His sell until today can be visited, accompanied by tour guides, and for a few minutes you can experience his life for the time he spent on Robben Island. Seeing Nelson Mandela’s sell is included in the Robben Island experience described below! This island since 1994 when the first democratic elections took place in South Africa became a symbol of the triumph of democracy and freedom over oppression!
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| The Ferry to Robben Island! |
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| Robben Island, with Cape Town in the distance... |
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| Cell 46664, Nelson Mandela's home while imprisoned in Robben Island! |
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| Former President Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years of the 27 years on Robben Island! |
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| Former President Nelson Mandela, revisiting cell 46664 as a free man! |
This island is also a save haven for many fauna and flora, that include the endangered African Penguin, other mammal species that can be seen on the island include small herds of Bontebok’s, Springbok’s and Elands. On the boat trip to Robben Island people are given the opportunity of seeing marine animals in their natural environment! Species include the Cape Fur Seal, Humpbacks Whales, but also the Dusky Dolphin that can be seen following the boat as you travel to Robben Island for 20 minutes, large groups of the Dusky Dolphins can be found around the Island. The Island was originally used from 1846 to 1931 as a centre for leprosy patients and for the chronically and mentally ill.
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| The endangered African Penguin found a save haven on Robben Island! |
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| Bontebok's are some of the mammals that can be seen on Robben Island! |
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| Springbok's on Robben Island (The Springbok is South Africa's National animal and the name of the countires Rugby-team.) |
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| Elands that can be seen on Robben Island! |
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| The Cape Fur Seal can also be seen on the way to Robben Island! |
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| The Humpback Whales are some of the marine animals that can be seen when travelling to Robben Island! |
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| The ever playful, Dusky Dolphin! |
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| The Dusky Dolphins will be seen following the boat, and will supply the "entertainment" on the way to Robben Island! |
Most of the islands buildings were built during the Second World War, when the island was used as a training and defence station for South African troops. Everything on Robben Island is located around the maximum-security prison.
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| Entrance to the high-security prison on Robben Island! |
The Robben Island experience mentioned above includes:
1. Boat trip from Cape Town harbour to Robben Island!
2. A return boat trip across Table Bay! (The Ferry Service leaves every hour on the hour between 09:00 to 15:00 from the Nelson Mandela Getaway at the Clock Tower, in the V&A Waterfront)
3. An opportunity to explore the layers of the history of the Island through the multi-media exibitions that can be seen at the Nelson Mandela Getaway.
4. A visit to the maximum-security prison, which includes visiting cell 46664 where former President Nelson Mandela served his sentence.
5. Interaction with an ex-political prisoner, which can tell you first hand, the way of life on Robben Island during his sentence.
6. A 45 minute bus tour around the island accompanied by a guide providing commentary along the way, the bus tour includes stopping at important buildings and seeing animals that call Robben Island home!
7. Stopping at the Robben Island Museum were memorabilia and books are available for purchasing.
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| The prison was converted into the Robben Island Museum! |
This city won’t disappoint in any aspect and is definitely a city that has to be visited when planning on coming to South Africa for a holiday, from cultural to natural attractions the city will amaze you in variety of ways. And I would recommend Cape Town for every person nationally and internationally to come visit this amazing city and experience the Capetonians way of life for yourself…
Till next time…
C.R.
