Cape Peninsula ~ Where are the Jays

Today our tour group is exploring the Cape Peninsula. Not a safari, but we did find wildlife, a bit of history and scenic beauty.

The Atlantic Coast area on the south side of Cape Town is the home of the ultra wealthy of South Africa. As you progress along the coast you have a series of wealthy communities. The desirability/prices is based on view as you would expect, but also the absence of wind. If you read our last post, you heard about incredible winds that exceed even what our Beach Club friends are accustomed to. However, if you live in a wind shadow from one of the peaks you can enjoy the outdoors far more. As befitting a wealthy neighborhood, there is public art on display.

One of a few sandy beaches
Don’t think about getting in the frigid water

We are now away from town and traveling on what becomes a narrow road carved out of the cliff. The road rides upon a bed of granite rock with the sandstone carved away. Trucks and busses are limited to 1 way as the road is narrow with a shear drop.

Note road cut into the cliff

We must cut inland for short time. The beach below is popular for horseback riding, with several stables adjacent.

That ostrich we ate for dinner was farm raised, like those below. Farmers have been selective breeding these birds for a hundred years. Today’s farm raised bird is larger with better leather and feathers. So much better that there isn’t a market for wild ostrich.

The Cape of Good Hope is known for its rough seas and stormy weather. Warm and cold currents meet here generating a challenge for sailors. While it’s not the southern most point in Africa, it is where you change course to head north to Europe. It also is not where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet.

Who discovered the Cape of Good Hope? If you answered Vasco Da Gama, then you are wrong. He benefited from exploration by Bartolomeu Dias who discovered the Cape and the furthest most point in Africa before returning to Portugal to tell of his discovery. Vasco Da Gama then used that knowledge to travel to India.

Seals

We took the funicular up to the top of the cape and its light house for some of these views

Nyala

After a great morning it’s time for lunch and then a visit to a Penguin colony. One of two land based colonies of endangered African Penguins. Man has not been kind to Penguins. Ships would seek out Islands with Penguin Coloneys and collected the Guano, which was feet thick. The Penguins need it to dig a burrow. With it removed, they were left exposed to predators on the rocky surface. People also took the eggs for food. Overtime two colonies were established on mainland beaches near people as the presence of people kept many predators away.

Some Penguins like to raise their young on the beach. Others prefer the dunes and the man made burrows provided for them. Below you can see Penguins trekking up the dunes to reach a more protected home.