Cape Peninsula Day Trip

On the quiet side of the boat

For our last day in S.A, we scheduled a day trip of the Cape Peninsula.  The Cape Peninsula is the southern most tip of the African continent - also historically recognized as the place where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. The Cape has a long and interesting history and is home to diverse wildlife from ostriches to penguins.

The day started off with with a short boat ride to Seal Island.  About 95% of the people on board were part of a Chinese tour group and if that was not bad enough, their tour guide commandeered the intercom system...for the entire boat ride!  I felt like I was back on the Hong Kong metro...or on the Star Ferry to be more exact! At one point, their guide told them to look on the left and they all went to that side of the boat...needless to say, the boat began to lean toward that side - yikes!






Seal Island is the home of a few thousand juvenile male seals.  As you could imagine with that many seals, you could smell the island long before we got close.  But when we got there, it was amazing!!  The water was so clear you could see the seals swimming in the water while others floated their backs.  The island itself was covered by seals drying themselves.

As we headed down to the Cape of Good Hope we came across a family of ostriches just along the side of the road - check out the babies!

It was explained to us that this is not technically the place where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet, even though that is what we have been taught in school.  Due to the tides, currents and winds, that actual point shifts.  But the "true" point of the meeting of the two oceans does not have this cool sign or a light house to boot!

Atop the Cape of Good Hope, there is a light house that is guarded by....baboons! Yep, baboons!  The grounds are scattered with signs saying that baboons are dangerous and not to feed them.  Melissa saw some stealing food from tourists on a restaurant patio.

So perhaps not entirely true? 

Baboons.. They were everywhere!

After Cape of Good Hope, we went to a penguin colony that is in a coastal neighborhood.  Some elevated walkways were built in the sand doons giving great access to the penguins.  

These little guys attract A LOT of tourists!