March 2008 - back to reality
We've been back from South Africa now about 4 weeks and it's all a distant memory (along with our tans!). The whole trip was just brilliant and I keep looking back at all our pictures, almost in disbelief we were actually there!
The first few days we spent taking a city tour, lying on the beach, Table Mountain, visiting the V&A Waterfront and eating the most amazing food.
We had pre-booked a safari game drive before we left and so around 5am in the morning (after a city blackout thanks to some political issues) we were up and ready to start our expidition. After reading online that Kruger is the only place worth going on safari in South Africa, we were a bit sceptical of Aquilla Game Reserve - only 2 1/2 hours drive from Cape Town. But when we arrived, the place was so beautiful and remote we forgot all about our doubts. After a huge breakfast spread we jumped into our 4x4 and spent the next 3 hours cruising about the reserve trying to spot some animals...
After the safari, we got to relax by the pool for the rest of the afternoon - bliss!
The next day we then hired a car and made a trip down to Chapman's Peak, Simons Town (home of the African Penguins on Boulders Beach), Cape Point and Fish Hoek, with coastal roads all the way.
Chapman's Peak
Cape Point
Dave
Dave at the Cape of Good Hope sign - people were queuing to get their photo taken here, so we thought we would too!
Penguins at Boulders Beach
Boulders Beach
After staying in a gorgeous lodge on Boulders Beach, we drove most of the day to Cape Aghulas (and a little bit further) to stay at Buschu Bush Camp.
Only an hour to go...
The Bush camp!
De Hoop Nature Reserve
The Bush camp at night
From Cape Aghulas, we drove back to Cape Town for a two day breather by the beach.
Table View from Bloubergstrand
Dave snapping the kite surfers!
Then on Friday, we stgarted our journey to Stellenbosch to get settled in for the wedding weekend!
On our terrace at the guesthouse
Stunning wine estate
After finding our bearings, we toured a few of the wine estates and even found the Uiterwyk wine farm - Colin and Sarah's wedding venue for the following day:
The weekend of the wedding was by the far the hottest couple of days of our trip. The sun was so strong, even I wanted to stand in any shade available - any longer than 10minutes in the direct sunlight and you could feel your skin burning! As a result, Dave and I spent the day of the wedding in the pool and left getting ready to the last possible minute. The wedding started at 5pm and we were hoping it would have cooled significantly by then... but we were wrong! I was feeling pretty uncomfortable in my dress, but the poor boys in kilts, waistcoats and jackets were really suffering!
After downing several glasses of water, the wedding was underway and everyone forgot about the heat.
Colin and Sarah - don't they look lovely!
After the ceremony we all gathered in the stunning gardens and sipped champagne, then made our way into the shade for dinner.
Spit Braii - the owner of the wine farm preparing our dinner!
And of course, no wedding is complete without a bit of singing and dancing...
After a great weekend in Stellenbosch, we found ourselves in Greenmarket Square, on our last day and it was raining... very fitting we thought (although I had planned a last blast of sun before the flight home!)
We stocked up on loads of African goodies and had a steak dinner to finish it all off.
A fantastic trip, would definitely go back... anyone thinking of heading that way for the world cup in 2010 will love it too.
