10 DAYS TOUR OF CAPE TOWN - there is nothing like the tours we had

For about 3 consecutive years, I visited South Africa and only stopped in Johannesburg, however my luck changed when my boyfriend of 3 years Don, decided we needed some quality time and booked a 10 days trip to Cape Town in 2002. It was such am amazing, memorable trip.

We did 3 great tours: The first was the Cape Point tour which included a stop at the Ostrich Farm,  Penguin colony, Cape of good hope, The point, and Table Mountain. The second tour was a boat trip to Robben Island and a drive to Cape Agulus, and the third was the Wine Route Tour.

ROBBEN ISLAND: Robben Island, the place where Mandela was imprisoned for almost 27 years, was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. It was used as a maximum security prison during South Africa's Apartheid era, and has since become a symbol of the strength and endurance of its political prisoners, and the ability of the human spirit to come out triumphant from oppression, deprivation and denial of human rights.

Discrimination at the highest level - apartheid.

TABLE MOUNTAIN: It is named table mountian because the top of it is as flat as a table top. The most beautiful bird's eye view of Capte Town is seen from the top of table mountain. The trip to the top of the mountain is service by a cableway which takes you to the summit in less than 10 minutes. The Cable car rotates creating an all round movement which allows it's passagers to have a view from all angles - the view from the cable car is breath taking. It is  amust see when you visit Cape Town. At the top ther is a restaurant and bar as well: there is a variety of foods to feast on once you are up there. Because Cape Town/ South africa is  a wine producing country, you find a large selection of local wines to compliment your luch or diner.

It is a big restaurant too because when we were there, we had nearly 50 other visitor up there, could have been more but I did not do a head count, lol!

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE & THE POINT:If you set foot in Cape Town and do not make a trip to cape point, you will have missed the most exciting and memorable part of your trip. Cape point is almost indescribable - one must see with their own eyes. Cape of Good Hope and The Point are actually seperate. Cape of Good Hope is lower and The Point is much higer elevated with a light house right at the top. The Cape of Good Hope is very beautiful with beaches that have soft white sandy  (reminds me of the white sands in the Seychelles). It also have some  breathtaking cliffs.

CAPE AGULUS: This is the southern most poin of Africa, it is the place where the two oceans (Indian & Atlantic) meet

PENGUIN COLONY IN SIMON'S TOWN: Simon's Town is a beautifyl little town that has the olden Victorian houses along the sea side.

What caught my attention down there was how clean and trim it was. I loved the little restaurants and coffee shops. In Simon's town also is the Penguin colony that houses the Jackass African Penguins. Jackass Penguins are the only species of penguin that colonise on the African continent.

THE WINE ROUTE: Stellenbosch & Franschoch. The Wine Route is also known as Route 62 which takes you along the longest wine route in the Western Cape and possibly the whole world :). We visited the Rosendal Winery for wine tasting along the way, Dunstone winery, Savignac De Versailles. We then headed to Franschoek Valley, beautifl, beautiful town surrounded by mountains (a little on the expensive side though).

You can spend your day just walking along the tree-lined streets. The main road was very busy when we were there which means itis a popular place for many. The shops are very expensive and very inviting too - for the impulsive shopper like me, it was like smoke to ther smoker struggling to quit heheheeeeeeeeeeee!

All in all, Cape town was such a delight, I would do it again in a heart beat.