Day 4- The Cape of Good Hope

Today was our coastal tour.  We started off early again with a 7:30 pickup.  Our tour guide Terrence brought the energy (I took a nap on the way to our first destination).  First stop was Seal Island.  A short boat ride past some more brilliant cliffs and we were there.  Apparently this island is home to male seals who have not quite reached breeding age.  There were some seals frolicking, but mostly they were sleeping (it was only 8:30, who can blame them).  

 Next up we drove down to the Cape of Good Hope.  On the way we passed some baboons (Africa's menace- they literally have baboon police).  Terrence told us stories about his Indian tour buses and their propensity for lateness.  We're timely, so we laughed.  Despite the Cape nature preserve looking like an apocalyptic wasteland, it is beautiful.  Terrence told us there are zebras, rams, and ostrich there- of those we saw two out of the three.  The ostrich was especially photogenic.

 The cape itself has some good kelp and a rough shoreline- It's obvious why ships crashed here

Dad and kelp

We then walked up to Cape Point, and on the way we found an old radio transmitter station which happened to have gorgeous views of the Cape and a cliff.  We tried to walk out to that little white light house, but I twisted an ankle (shocker I know).  Luckily there was a vernacular down.

 After that we headed off to Simon's Town for penguins.  There is a lovely boardwalk so you can look at penguins, and coo over penguins, but not disrupt the penguins in their penguining.  Here's a picture of a bullied penguin that dad took.

And here is the greatest penguin video since march of the penguins (I might have to upload back in the USA).

Anyway, I was pleased to see the penguins.

Post penguins we ate the largest "light lunch" I have ever had, then got some ice cream.  The chocolate here is so rich- I don't know how I'll go back (oh wait, I'm an addict).  

Then off to some wine tasting at Groot Constantia (part of the tour).  It is the oldest winery in South Africa, but doe snot make the type of wine that is distinctly South African according to Terrence.  We decided to be fancy, and really attempt at being experts.  We sampled 5, and I thing our favorite was the Savigion Blanc/Samsillion.  Due to large pours, I was tipsy, and might still be.  Certainly took the sting out of my ankle.  We got dropped off around 4, and have basically napped since then.  Off to dinner tonight, but tomorrow our first safari begins.  We got a mini one today, with the animals we saw, but tomorrow is Kruger.  

Animals we saw today

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