An African Adventure
Well, after all the researching and reading we’ve been doing, we have our white, Nissan car (with air-con, but stickshift), and we’re beginning our southern Africa adventure tomorrow. The plan – a 6 to 8 week (flexible) driving adventure around southern Africa. Destinations include Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Swaziland, and Lesotho (crime permitting). The car was only $28 U.S. per day, but when we factor the cost of the country permits ($100 each to enter Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique and Swaziland) it comes to $38 U.S. per day. Which is still a very good deal. We spoke with a couple of German guys who are in the room next to us and they had rented a similar car to ours and drove around South Africa for 3 weeks without any problems.
We took the car for a “test drive” today, about an hour and a half drive down to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope. Although Fred has driven all over Europe, Asia, and in South America, it still takes a little adjusting to get used to shifting gears with your left hand, using the clutch with your left foot, and driving on the left hand side, but we made out just fine, and at least all the signs are in English 🙂
After eating a delicious cheeseburger in paradise on the waterfront at Bertha’s (Simon’s Point), and listening to a live African calypso band playing Christmas songs, we drove to Boulder’s Beach (False Bay) to see the “African Penguins”. Hundreds of penguins were wandering freely on the beach, some were nesting in holes in the sand. From just two breeding pairs in 1982, the penguin colony has grown to about 3 000 in this protected environment.
The African Penguins
Here are some fast facts about the African Penguins:
– the African penguin is listed in the Red Data Book as a vulnerable species
of the 1.5 million African Penguin population estimated in 1910, only some 10% remained at the end of the 20th century. The uncontrolled harvesting of the penguin eggs (as a source of food) nearly drove the species to extinction.
– Because of their donkey-like braying call (and we got to listen to them), they were previously named the Jackass Penguin.
– Their diet consists mainly of squid and shoal fish such as pilchards and anchovy
they can swim at an average speed of 7 km/hr and they can stay submerged for up to 2 minutes
– their enemies in the ocean include sharks, Cape fur seals and, on occasion, killer whales (Orca). Land based enemies include mongoose, genet, domestic cats and dogs, and the kelp Gulls which steal their eggs and new born chicks
– their distinctive black and white colouring is a vital form of camouflage (white for underwater predators looking upwards and black for predators looking down onto the water)
– the main breeding season is in February and they are a monogamous species. The lifelong partners take turns to incubate their eggs and to feed their young
Their peak moulting season is December, after which they head out to sea to feed (since they do not feed during moulting), so we were very lucky to be able to see them on the beach. Most of them had moulted except for a few that were still losing their feathers. They return again in January to mate and begin nesting from about February to August. Tourists are warned that penguins have very sharp beaks and can cause serious injury if they bite or lunge. We were able to get so close to them that we could have pet them. Afterwards, we watched some footage of “City Slickers”, a story about a penguin named Henry and his life. It is very well done so I picked up a DVD (53 minutes) to show my Grade 4 students as part of their Science Unit on Habitats and Adaptations 🙂
We continued south and entered the Table Mountain National Park, “Cape of Good Hope”. I remember first learning about this famous location in Grade 6 (Famous Explorers Unit) that is still taught today. Finally, I could add a vivid image to my mental schema (pre-existing background knowledge) – hahaha, just thought I’d throw in some teacher-talk! It was just as I imagined – crashing waves, white caps, and gale force winds. What I hadn’t visioned was the dozens of Japanese tourists and seeing wildlife. We saw a family of baboons (wow, they look mean), and an ostrich grazing by the ocean. Apparently there are also zebras but we didn’t see any.
Baboon crossing
Here are some fast facts about the baboons we saw:
the Chacma Baboon Papio ursinus troops on the Cape Peninsula are the only protected population of this species in Africa
they subsist on fruits, roots, honey, bulbs, insects and scorpions
during low tide, they may be seen roaming on the beaches, feeding on sand hoppers and shellfish, behaviour believed to be unusual in primates
baboons are dangerous and are attracted by food (visitors must not feed or tease them)
baboons that have been conditioned to receive food from humans may have to be destroyed
The landscape reminded me of the Snowden Mountain region of Wales – rocky, scrub grass, and very hilly/mountainous. The Cape lies between two major ocean currents, the Indian and the Atlantic Oceans. Apparently, there is a difference of marine life between the two major ocean currents, due to the differing sea temperatures.
Cape of Good Hope
After three VERY windy days (southeasterlies called the Cape Doctor here), we are ready to begin our overland adventure. We have spent the last few days getting ready for the next leg of our journey. Fred was able to get his Canadian eye prescription filled for replacement eye/sunglasses/contacts (from when his daypack got stolen at the bus terminal in Tumbes, Peru) and we’ve also stocked up on toiletries, and other supplies (have still to hit a music store to pickup some CDs for some very long drives ahead). I also went to a Kodak store and had our 500+ photos on the camera put onto a DVD (only $2) and did some shopping (I bought 3 Billabong swim suits, 2 light weight tank tops (Viscose/Spandex), and a cotton pullover for a swimsuit, plus, 2 folding, small beach chairs), getting our hair cut/highlighted (I absolutely must recommend “Scar” hairdressing salon), taking our clothes to the landromat, and watching a movie at the cinema (in English “Body of Lies” starring Russell Crowe and Leonardo di Caprio – excellent). We also purchased a couple of “buffs” (National Geographic theme), which are made of a lightweight, breathable material which are used over your head/ears/nose/mouth to protect you from high winds, sun, and sandstorms.
Today, we are heading 200 km east to a fishing village called Gansbaai, on the Indian Ocean. Fred and I will be engaging in our first, hopefully of many, “extreme” adventures here in AFRICA 🙂
Stay tuned,
Lisa n Fred
Tags: African Penguins, Cape of Good Hope, Cape Point, Cape Town, Driving around Africa, South Africa, Travel
frednlisa
Lisa I am totally captivated by your adventure! Thank you so much for sharing it with the home bound people! (me) I wish you were my kids’ teacher! THANKS, take care, kristen
Hey Kristen,
I am glad to hear you are enjoying the stories. Ask your kids if they know about “Flat Stanley” – children’s book. I am taking “Flat Stanley” with me on these adventures and have been sending postcards from everywhere we have visited to 3 different schools in Kitchener and Toronto. Send me your address and I’ll send your kids a postcard!
Lisa
Hi Lisa and Fred! What amazing adventures! Dylan and I check everyday to see whats new and exciting. Dylan really enjoys the pics. We are in Calgary for christmas where it’s been -26c for over a week. Met a lady last night visiting here from Cape Town and had a great chat about your adventures! Wish you both a merry and safe christmas!! Jeff Beam and family
Hey Jeff & family,
I’ll post the rest of our adventures as soon as I can! Keep checkin’ back!
-26 eh??? Try 41 C here! At least most places we have been staying at have a refreshing pool 🙂
Merry Christmas and I hope Santa’s good to Dylan 🙂
Lisa