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| BECOME PART OF A BABOON TROOP |
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Because were accustomed to seeing them, Chacma baboons are a completely under-rated wildlife encounter. But take a three hour walk with Baboon Matters through fynbos on the Cape Peninsula into the baboon’s home territory and you’ll realise why overseas tourists rate the experience as equal to seeing mountain gorillas. |
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| THE PLANETARIUM |
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At Cape Town’s Planetarium you’re assured of seeing the stars – millions of them. Sit back in the tilting chairs and watch a film of the night skies projected onto the dome-shaped roof. The way you see the skies will change forever. |
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| PICNIC AT THE HIGHEST POINT OF TABLE MOUNTAIN, MACLEAR'S BEACON |
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Instead of the stock standard Table Mountain tourist route of Cableway to restaurant and back down again, go a little further and do something different. Pack a picnic and take an easy 5,5-kilometre walk from the cable car to Maclear’s Beacon, the highest point of the mountain; it should take you about an hour to get there and you’ll be far from the crowds. Just remember not to walk up when the mountain’s shrouded in cloud – it’ll be cold, windy and miserable up there. |
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| GO ON A PILGRAMAGE TO ROBBEN ISLAND |
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For nearly four centuries Robben Island, 12 kilomtres off Cape Town, was the place of banishment and exile where those regarded as pilotical troublemakers and social outcasts were sent. During the apartheid year the Island became internationally known as the place where Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress elite were imprisoned, and came to symbolise the triumph of the human spitit over enormous hardship and adversity. Try to visit in a group guided by an ex-political prisoner. |
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| STAND ON THE SOUTHERNMOST TIP OF AFRICA |
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The southernmost tip of Africa, Cape Agulhas, is disappointingly undramatic and fairly indistinguishable from many other bits of flat, windswept, rocky coast. If it weren’t for the plaque – don’t forget to take the obligatory tourist photo – you might think you were in the wrong place. Climb up the old white and red lighthouse, built in 1848, for a view of the area. Oh and this is where the Indian and Atlantic Ocean meet, not Cape Point. |
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| PRETEND YOU'RE ON THE SET OF A WESTERN IN THE VALLEY OF DESOLATION |
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A geological curiosity, the Valley of Desolation about 5km South East of Graaff-Reinet is a valley dominated by 100m rock columns. If you want to sound like a geologist, call it basalt from the Beaufort Series of the Karoo system that dates back some 180 million years and reaches a thickness of nearly 700 meters |
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| SWIM WITH GREAT WHITE SHARKS AND LIVE TO TELL THE TALE |
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If you have a fascination for gnashing jaws and the cry of ‘shark!’ sends you scrambling for your wetsuit, then get on over to Gansbaai – the little fishing village is heralded as the ultimate spot to dive with Great White sharks. If you head to the water between July and December, you might see whales from your boat, too. |
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| THROW YOURSELF OFF THE 260 METER HIGH BLOUKRANS BRIDGE |
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The bungee jump of the 260 m high Bloukrans Bridge is the highest commercial bungee jump in the world. To prepare you for the thrill of the fall, you’ve got to manoeuvre more than 200m along a walk way under the deck to get to the jump platform. But if you’re going to bungee, you might as well go the whole way and take the Flying Fox which will have you flying along a cable, to the platform. Five... Four... Three.... |
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www.faceadrenalin.com |
| WHALE-WATCH FROM THE CLIFFS AT GROTTO BAY AND IN HERMANUS |
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Gone are the days when the arrival of one whale would make the pappers headlines, thanks to the ban of whale hunting. Whatch these huge creatures breach and blow, from May to December, from the the cliffs at Grotto Bay and New Harbour in Hermanus or the sand dunes at De Hoop Nature Reserve. Best sightings are in October. |
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| WALK UP TO THE 'OLD' LIGHTHOUSE AT CAPE POINT, THEN CLAMBER DOWN THE 'NEW' ONE |
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At Cape Point, don’t stop at the base of the original light house, but climb down the ‘new’ lighthouse, which was built in 1911 to replace the original. It’s lover down on the headland so that the beam would be less affected by fog. |
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| SNUGGLE IN KIRSTENBOSCH NATIONAL BOTANICAL GARDEN ON THE EASTERN SLOPES OF TABLE MOUNTAIN |
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The peace and tranquillity in Kirstenbosch, snuggled up against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, is almost spiritual. Lush green lawns are flanked by more than 6000 species of trees and plants that, of course, attract hundreds of birds. Pack a picnic basket, blanket and a good book and relax in the shadow of the mountain. |
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| VENTURE INTO THE DEEP OCEAN OFF CAPE POINT ON A WINTER PELAGIC BIRDING TRIP |
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Petrules, Shearwaters, Skuas, Albatrosses... those other great – winged monarchs of the sea skies remain unknown unless you step off-shore. A pelagic birding trip off Cape Point in winter will add a healthy number of tick to your bird list, but it’s not for anyone with wobbly legs at sea. Best in winter, the trip is a notable stomach churner. |
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| NOON GUN SIGNAL HILL |
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The Noon Day Gun in Cape Town started as a time check in the era before wrist watches. The cannon was moved to signal hill in 1902 and is still fired every day except Sunday. At about 3 seconds to the time for every kilometer between you and Signal Hill to allow for the time it takes for the time to get to you. |
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| SANDY BAY |
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If there are too many umbrellas and tourists on Llandudno beach, or the waves are closing out, sneak along the coastal road to Sandy Bay situated at the foot of the saddle that separates Little Lions Head from the Sentinel, this secluded little patch of sand and sea offers some good shore-break waves and, being a nudist beach, some interesting sights – making the 20 min walk from the car park well worth it! |
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| SMELL SUMMER |
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Nothing epitomises summer like the sweet beach-perfume that is suntan lotion and coconut oil on Clifton Beach on a sweltering hot day.
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| SNIFF A SEAL |
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You know when the wind is going to blow on-shore at Cape Cross or Lamberts Bay - when that feted stench that is inviting only to Great Whites comes wafting in – seals. |
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| CRYSTAL POOLS |
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On a glistening False Bay day, join the class ditching students from Stellenbosch University lazing at Crystal Pools in the Steenbras River Gorge. It’s an easy 45 min hike in, and if the laying get’s too lazy for you, take on some of the jumps – anything from 3 to 15 meters. |
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| UP THE CABLE WAY |
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For the most spectacular ride of your life, climb onboard the Cableway. It will take 2 min to reach the top of Table Mountain, and the cable car revolves as it climbs giving you a 360 degree views over the city and the peninsula. There are paved paths to walk along when you reach the top. |
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| V&A WATERFRONT |
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The development of the V&A Waterfront transformed part of Cape Town’s historic docks into a shopping destination with entertainment opportunities attached (including an aquarium, boat trips and cinemas). Gawk at the boutiques in the glitzy mall, laugh at the lobster red tourists, be flabbergasted at the prices. |
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| SPIER WINE ESTATE |
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You not allowed to bring your own picnic to enjoy under the trees by the dams of Spier. Not to worry, just save up for one of the delicious ready packed baskets, or spend a little more at one of the variety of restaurants – the wine is pretty good too. Stroke a Cheetah at the Cheetah Outreach Programme or a raptor at eagle encounters. |
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| WHALE FESTIVAL |
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When the Southern Right’s move in to calf along the Western Cape Coast, the whale watching cliff walk at Hermanus is the place to be. Back in town, the whale festival get’s into full swing in September with a feast of foods, arts and crafts lining the streets. |
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http://www.whalefestival.co.za/ |
| EDEN IN DIE HEL |
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Die Hel in the Grootwinterhoek Mountains near Tulbagh is an easy, if full, days walk from the top of Dasklip Pass – and a bit if a harder uphill slog out. It’s huge and fed by a generous waterfall that marks the start of the Twenty Four Rivers Gorge. |
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| TEST YOUR SELF-SUFFICIENCY IN THE MOUNTAIN DESERT OF THE RICHTERSVELD |
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The Richtersveld National Park, South Africa’s only mountain desert is irresistible to those seeking truly remote wilderness and an opportunity to test their self-sufficiency. It’s hot, harsh and heaven for those who don’t require too many home comforts – water is scarce and facilities nonexistent. |
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| ADOPT A PENGUIN |
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Add a penguin to your family by adopting one through Sanccob, an NGO that aid indigenous, injured, oiled and ill sea birds. (You get a photo and adoption certificate but are, admittedly likely to never get a letter from ‘pengiun’.) If you live in Cape Town consider volunteering; Sanccob needs help year round not only when there is an oil spill. |
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http://www.sanccob.co.za/adopt_a_penguin.htm |
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