Archive for the ‘South Africa’ Category
January 6th, 2006 | 
Author: Not wanting to spend any time in Johannesburg or minimise its impact at least, we changed our accommodation to the Airport Backpackers. This is located really close to the airport and takes about five minutes to get to. Firstly, they do free pick ups and drop offs plus staying there does away with the long drive back into Johannesburg where the Ritz Backpackers is located and saved us about 64 pounds on shuttle fares!
We both really liked the Airport Backpackers. It’s ideally situated given that most flights to and from South Africa go via Johannesburg, so if you’re in one day and out the next it’s ideal. The place itself was a fairly good place to stay with our room being quite spacious and comfortable. Although not en suite they have good shower and toilet facilities and even a bath! We only met one member of staff and he was really nice and helpful. The only negative was that guests could not use the washing machine and dryer. This place generally attracts people in transit so the atmosphere could be a little variable but this can be true of any place I guess. There were cash points and shopping facilities located about 15 minutes walk down the road which was handy.
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The following morning we rose early again and got the coach back to Johannesburg. This was uneventful after the usual chaos at the border. On arrival at Johannesburg airport we needed to phone Ritz Backpackers to arrange for our collection by shuttle. There were several public telephones within the coach/train terminal that would take phone cards or cash, we had plenty of change so we tried to use a coin operated phone. As soon as Alison put the money in it got stuck, and as soon as this happened an uninvited guest pounced on the phone and then preceded to get in the way when we tried to fish the money out. There were quite a few dodgy looking characters hanging around and I wouldn’t be surprised if they jammed up the coin phones on purpose and came back to collect what they could after you’d gone. The trouble is you can’t help but stick out as a tourist especially with the rucksacks and being Europeans.
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Having cut short our stay in Cape Town, we would make our way to Mozambique. This would consist of a two-hour flight to Johannesburg where we would stay overnight, then a 7/8 hour coach ride to Maputo, Mozambique’s capital city, which would also take us over the border. We used the Ashanti Lodge’s transport to get us to the airport (20 minutes drive) which cost 120 Rand between us. The plane left on time at 12.45 and after a 45 minute shuttle ride we arrived at the Ritz Backpackers (see later) later that afternoon. The arrangements for all of this had been sorted out by Alison in advance which made things much easier. The last thing you want to be doing is turning up in Johannesburg and then starting to hunt around for accommodation, especially as Johannesburg has a worse crime rate than Nairobbery.
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Having decided not to do the Garden Route along South Africa’s South East coastline, our stay was confined mainly to Cape Town. Cape Town itself is cradled by the huge and imposing Table Mountain and is representative of most European cities in its structure and layout. Cape Town centre is a world apart from the other East African cities we’ve visited over the last few weeks, perhaps the only exception being Nairobi. In a way, it was a welcome relief staying in Cape Town with facilities more akin to being back home, it will be interesting to see what effect it has on us when we head back north and into Mozambique.
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This post is especially for Ben Singfield and Mick Howes!
Whilst visiting Table Mountain, I met some of my closest relatives and discovered that my true roots are in fact at the top of Table Mountain!
This is the home of the “Dassie”: Procavia Capensis or Rock Hyrax as I’m affectionately known. I come in two species, the aforementioned and Dendrohrax Arborea or Tree Hyrax. I’m a small, furry, herbivorous, gopher-like mammal. Although being thought of as a rodent, my nearest living relative is in fact an elephant.
I can collapse my rib cage, which enables me to squeeze into small crevices in the rocks and hide from hawks who would otherwise have me for dinner!
As far as I know, Table Mountain in South Africa and Surbiton, Surrey are the only places in the world where I can be found! I will post my picture soon…
You will recall from a previous posting that I had sprained my finger whilst whitewater rafting or so I thought…
After 3 weeks my finger was still playing up so whilst in Cape Town I got an x-ray for peace of mind. The diagnosis is that my right hand has a fracture at the base of the Distal Phalanx of the middle finger which extends into the Articular Surface.
For those of you who are not medically trained. I’ve broken off a small piece of bone at the tip of my finger, right where the first joint is. They could have faffed around and tried to pin the two bits together with wire but this would’ve been more trouble than it’s worth. I’ve now splinted the finger to keep the joint still. Eventhough it’s a minor injury it affects everything you do and is basically a right pain!
Well if you’re gonna have an accident you might as well do it in style !!!!!!
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No trip to Cape Town would be complete without a trip to the top of Table Mountain. This can be viewed from virtually anywhere within Cape Town itself as it is so imposing. A short hike from the Ashanti Lodge would take us to the lower cableway lift. A return journey cost 115 rand (approximately 11 pounds) each and takes about 3.5 minutes to ascend to the top. The cableway car had a built in revolving floor allowing a full 360 degrees panoramic view. Although very well laid out with a pathway all around the periphery of the mountain top there wasn’t a great deal to see apart from, of course, the fantastic views which were pretty spectacular I must say. For those of you who have known me at work, especially Ben, Table Mountain is also home to the “Dassie” (or hyrax) – photo’s to follow.
One activity that they do run from the top of the mountain is the opportunity to abseil down the side of the mountain. Looks like they’ve used anchor bolts resin bonded into the rockface for the main anchor points. Photo’s on the way to Alan Woodhead, Xi Training.
Please note that some of the historical details in the following may not be absolutely accurate as they’re taken from our memory of the trip.
Robben island is reached via the Nelson Mandela Gateway at the Victoria and Albert Waterfront. This waiting area for the ferry contains an excellent synopsis of the history of Robben Island as an area of banishment for South Africa’s outcasts dating back many hundreads of years as well as some amazing personal possessions of those who were political prisoners during the apartheid regime.
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Our ferry back to the mainland was due to leave at 10am but didn’t get underway until nearer 10.30 but this was OK because we had plenty of time in hand before our flight to Cape Town. As mentioned earlier the crossing took a little longer with the tide against us so we arrived at Dar es Salaam at approximately 12.30. Our plan here was just to catch a taxi to the airport – job done.
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