Entry #7 - South Africa - July 11 - 22, 2023

Hello from South Africa

The second half of this amazing adventure began as we touched down on a new continent.  We are so thrilled to be in South Africa!  

There is such a variety of things to do and see that we planted ourselves in Cape Town for a full week.  While we were busy every day, we feel like we could have stayed for a month and still not have exhausted the possibilities.

We conscientiously planned to be here during South Africa’s winter season.  As Canadians, this version of “winter” is barely deserving of the term.  It was so refreshing to escape the heat and enjoy the crisp, cool temperature in our new setting.  

Even better than the shift in climate was the breathtaking scenery we were seeing around every turn.  It was so pleasant to walk to the nearby waterfront area where we met the resident wildlife.  

Two days of the Hop On Hop Off Bus gave us an introduction to local history and let us tour around to check out the beauty of this magnificent city.

First stop; a cablecar ride up the iconic Table Mountain. 

We were so lucky to have a clear day to enjoy this stunning perch with its amazing views, adorable mountaintop inhabitants, and gorgeous trail.

This is one of those places that help us remember how small we are in this big world of ours.  

The first day included many stops at beautiful locations, including Camps Bay where we had fun scampering over giant boulders and enjoying the spray from the sea.

It was also nice to join the locals taking in the evening sun on the boardwalk as we strolled along the seawall past various neighbourhoods adorned with giant outdoor art.  

Day two of the tour bus was even more action-packed.  The drive took us to the winery region of Constantia where the kids were able to have another go at swinging from the tree tops in a fun ropes course.

The stop at Haut Bay included getting up close with a local celebrity.  Meet Nicholas.  He’s the best :) 

Our evening was split between sea and sky; first learning some local harbour history and then racing to the top of Signal Hill to catch a spectacular sunset.  

Now... quite often, people seek out the elusive Big 5 when they go on safari in South Africa.  No doubt that wild lions, rhinos, and elephants are breathtaking to behold.  However, we had our sights set on more personable encounters.  Our animal dreams came true with several interactive experiences with the cute and curious inhabitants of local animal sanctuaries.  

The highlight at the World of Birds Sanctuary was our time with the adorable little squirrel monkeys who would pounce all over us. 

We were in constant motion during our time in Cape Town.  We felt especially free when we rented a car and headed out on our own.  Props to Lee for adapting to every kind of driving! In South Africa he mastered driving a manual car with the steering wheel and stick shift in reverse, on the opposite side of the road!  He has been a rockstar chauffeur.  

As we drove along the coast a morning of sparkling sunlight was all we needed to fall in love with the gorgeous beach town of Müizenberg.  This surfers’ paradise was a perfect stretch of beach.

Taking advantage of the warm sunny glow, we made a stop at Boulders Beach to hang out with some well-protected residents; a colony of African penguins!

The sun kept shining for us as we reached the most south-westerly point of the continent and gazed out at the endless sea from Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope.

We loved the sightings of wild ostrich and deer-like springboks. These wild natives are typical sighting for the locals, but for us they were like achieving a major find on safari.

Our animal encounters continued when we visited a beautiful winery with the bonus attraction being a sanctuary for birds of prey.  We couldn’t believe we were cuddling up to these cuties.

Wineries became the name of the game when we travelled to an area called Franschhoek.  We spent a few days discovering the many beautiful spots in this valley full of vineyards.

First, we got settled into our cottage and were greeted by the four-legged friends who make the rounds right in our backyard.

Since the Zwaigens are not a very fancy bunch, we began our tour of wineries in a place that was just our style… a posh barn. 

Here we were in the company of a massive celebrity.  Meet Pigaso! 

This 700 kg porker is a world-famous artist whose canvases of abstract designs bring in enough cash to support the farm and all of the staff! 

We were able to sip our wine and hang with swine… and feed a whole bunch of furry and feathery creatures.  

The rest of the day was full of all kinds of treats as we hiked through the valley to hit up several other boozy establishments.  Since the kids weren’t old enough to get day drunk, their “tastings” included chocolates, candies, and juice pairings.  Cheers to a lovely time in wine country! 

Coming to South Africa, we wanted to prepare the kids to be thoughtful visitors here.  As a family we would spend time reading, watching videos, and having many discussions about South Africa’s past.  We hoped to build a context with which to consider things like the expanses of informal settlements we’d pass along the way: blatant evidence of inequality which persists from such a long history of oppressive colonization. 

It was our hope to tour Robben Island and bring the stories about Nelson Mandela and anti-apartheid activism to life, but stormy seas kept us from making a visit. However, not even the cold rainy weather could dampen our spirits.  There was so much to discover here.   

We spent a rainy day admiring such talent at the Zeitz MOCA Gallery of modern art. 

There is colour and artistry around every turn.  Grey days are illuminated with mulitcoloured homes in the Bo Kaap area.  

Not to mention the endless examples of brilliant artistic talent that can be found everywhere. 

The past week has been full of indulgence.  Cape Town has been such a treat and we appreciate all that we have seen and done.  During our time we would often be gaping at majestic mountains,  breathing in the salty air of the waves crashing against a rocky shoreline, or squealing at the pleasure of being up close with the kinds of animals that we’d otherwise only see on a screen.  It has been a privilege to be endlessly amazed at the artwork and design, music and movement that fills the city.  And it has been eye-opening to learn about the history and consider the plight of people still struggling today. This has been our first stop in Africa and we are inspired to keep exploring.