Our first journey to South Africa in 2005 began with a long transatlantic flight from the US, with a flight break after the first nine hours in the Cape Verde islands (only half way to South Africa). Loaded down with more fuel, off again with our cheerful Captain announcing that we had another nine hours of flying before reaching Johannesburg...
But on this trip, that was not our last stop... from Johannesburg, we flew onward to Cape Town, an additional 2 hours away. Whew, what a flight ~ with many laps around the plane to stretch our legs!
With our itinerary beginning and ending in Cape Town, we included day trips East along the Indian Ocean coastline, known as the Garden Route, through the beautiful city of Port Elizabeth, the outlying Winelands, and the adventurous Addo Elephant National Park game reserve ~ (read our separate blog on Addo Elephant National Park)
We picked springtime (their late Fall) as it is off-season for most tourists who arrive from Europe in droves during the summer months of December through February. Plus during this time, weather is still warm and sunny, with comfortably cool nights.
Cape Town was a spectacular vision when we landed, showing off its rich farmlands and growing urban sprawl, against their dominant flattop landmark, Table Mountain. Locals will tell you that usually a cloud cover forms a "tablecloth" appearance over this famous mountain, hiding its flat table-like top. Don't miss the cable car ride to see spectacular views of Cape Town. 
The cable car rotates 360o so all 65 in capacity gets a great view. There are nice walkways among the huge rocks at the top... and the views are not bad, either. Lions Head, Cape Town and Robben Island in Table Bay, where Nelson Mandela spent 19 years in prison.
But the more interesting discovery are the indigenous little inhabitants found only at this table top mountain called "dassie," or better known as the rock hyrax. Though they resemble a rabbit, they are more anatomically the closer living relative to the elephant.
In exploring the sights outside of Cape Town, we took a drive south towards coastline to Cape Peninsular, with a stop in Hout Bay.
Along the way, we made sure that we checked out all local handicrafts. To say that there were thousands of carved animals to choose from is an understatement. Every animal available ~ carved in wood or malachite, offered in various colors and sizes. Even some sculptures were so magnificent that they would require a container ship and a flatbed to deliver to your home. How about a life-size elephant with several lions climbing over him? It would make a fine lawn piece!
Our drive towards the Cape of Good Hope, the most southern point of Africa, was noticeably absent of traffic and tourists. Excitement builds as we approached our destination, hoping that we would have a quiet and all-to-ourselves moment for a photographic opportunity with the “Cape of Good Hope” sign. 
As we climbed out of our rental car, a vision of bees to honey came to mind as a bus load of eager tourists make a mad run behind the sign, 
claiming their smiling pose of their crowning moment with each of their cameras. This built-up excitement was too much to handle for us, so we ventured up the east hill and walked a few kilometers to the Cape Point, for a funicular ride up to its lighthouse.
Back down at the gift shop, we are warned about the infamous Baboons looking for edible handouts. They have been known to come into the store for their fix ~ shoplifting potato chips, candy, or what ever they can grab, even postcards of themselves. Some say their more heinous crime involves purse-snatching... running off with it while rummaging for food, cash, or even credit cards! Hum, sounds like well-trained entertainment.
Near Cape Town, we visited Boulder's Beach on False Bay to check out their famous sunbathers who waddle, nestle and squabble. Though it may sound like a typical beachgoer, we found hundreds of happy African Penguins. The only species of Penguins that breed in Africa; there are about 3,000 penguins living along the beaches... not much room for human sunbathers.
We enjoyed a morning walk through Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens where over 9,000 of Southern Africa's plant species grow, even the bay fig and camphor tress originally planted by Cecil Rhodes. 
The conservatory gave us a chance to see nature rarely viewed such as the pinecone anteater and a green hummingbird working on this yellow Bird of Paradise flower, a variety indigenous to South Africa.
As our Garden Route journey led us southeast towards Port Elizabeth, 
we found driving easy as their roads are in great condition and well marked (just remember that they drive on the left.) We made a stop in Hermanus, a lovely coastal town that draws huge crowds to watch the annual Southern Right Whale migration from Antarctica. After leaving Hermanus, we head north to an ostrich farm in Oudtshoorn. This area called the "Little Karoo" is famous for its rich red soil and farming lands.
Back in the 1870's, European demand for feathers to adorn women's hats made ostrich farmers quite wealthy. Impressive as this dominant male, appropriately named Prince Charles, was with his grand plumage, we could not get over that his eyeball is larger than his brain. That might explain their eating habits... anything that will fit into their mouth, gets eaten. There is a large display of what has been found in their stomachs, everything from coke bottles, spark plugs, and rocks, even heels from women's shoes. Unfortunately, none of it gets digested and passed.
On drive to Port Elizabeth, we took time out for a once in a lifetime opportunity... to pet a cheetah. The Cango Wildlife Ranch is known for hand raising Cheetahs and for 80 Rand ($25US) conservation fee, we were allowed to pet Caine, a very passive and quite relaxed Cheetah. He purred as we stroked his coarse fur.
"Oh, look, he raised his head... he's real."
What a thrill!
Returning back in Cape Town, we chose to stay on the other side of Table Mountain in the area known as the “Winelands.” In this region, wines are produced in spectacular surroundings with results that give the French a run for their money.
Staying the Alphen Hotel, built in the 1750's, is unique as it is one of Cape Town's National Monuments, designed in Cape Dutch style as a former manor house. It was quite comfortable especially since we stayed in the newer section of the hotel. We even had 2 bathrooms with our suite.
One of our favorites is “Anura”, meaning frog with a tail, a small winery near Paarl where the view matched the quality of their wines. The tasting comes with a generous sample of their homemade cheeses and crackers, and of course, their very knowledgeable wine pourers.
There are scores of wineries and estates that could easily take weeks to cover adequately. We only visit a few in our remaining days, but the little time spent make us realize that we are not doing justice to this vast area.
Entering Addo Elephant National Park... (read our separate blog on Addo Elephant National Park) --->
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