Thursday 16th May 2024

Our last day in Cape Town was a sobering but great one.

We started the day by making our own simple breakfast in the apartment with groceries that we received the night before, delivered with our pizza dinner. Toast with butter; yoghurt, passionfruit and banana and a hot cup of tea were a pretty good start to the day, and it was good to feel a little normal having a regular breakfast! Of course, we love eating out all the time, but it does get a bit much on the tummy sometimes!

We caught an Uber to the waterfront, which only takes about five minutes driving but at A$4 for the four of us was well worth it! We arrived about an hour before our departure time on the ferry to Robben Island, so followed the wharf around a little and found a restaurant that served breakfast, although we just ordered coffees (hot chocolate for Dave).

I’m yet to have a bad coffee anywhere in Africa and actually this one possibly tops the lot, although it was a fraction on the too large size. Loved the little ginger biscuit on the side.

We then walked to the wharf (Nelson Mandela Gateway), collected our pre-purchased tickets and queued to get on the fairly sizable ferry to head on the half-hour journey across to the island. I was surprised the swell was quite large, but then it is the South Atlantic Ocean!

The trip included a bus and walking tour of the prison and other facilities on the island, and the part where we looked at the cells of the prison area that housed political prisoners until the late 80s was hosted by an ex-inmate who had been jailed here for seven years for terrorism activities in the 80s. We saw the cell where Nelson Mandela was housed for 18 of the 27 years he was imprisoned. ‘John’, who guided us around, told lots of stories of the time he spent here and spoke articulately of his both good and bad experiences and his forgiveness of, and now friendship with, the warders. After seeing and hearing a lot about this island lock-up in the news when I was a teenager, it was interesting and humbling to see the place in person.

The ferry trip back gave me just enough time for a nap to re-energise in readiness for a delicious lunch on the waterfront at a Turkish restaurant overlooking the bay. The Hummus dip was creamy and tasty, and the ‘mixed grill’ platter Dave and I shared was particularly flavoursome and delicious, though way more than even the two of us could eat. Will and Emma both had wraps – my favourite was Emma’s who choose a delightful falafel filling. (PS Thanks Emma and Will for letting me taste everything – appreciate you may have shared some of my germs!)

A quick look around the shops (Will and Emma clothes; Dave and I supermarket) then back to the apartment for a rest before heading to Camps Bay, again via Uber. Camps Bay is the Palm Beach of Cape Town, with super fancy houses, gorgeous wide golden-sand beaches, a hilly backdrop and lots of upmarket restaurants to choose from. We arrived just before nightfall, having booked at a Restaurant called Paranga, which is directly opposite the beach. It’s known for its fresh seafood, so I ordered Salmon Sashimi, followed by Grilled Langoustine and a side of buttered broccolini. Will and Dave enjoyed Angus Beef Burgers and Emma a chicken Salad. I was the only one who was a piggy and had two courses… both of which were fresh, flavoursome and delicious.

The 30-minute each-way Uber drive was about A$10, and I do wonder if it was worthwhile us hiring a car, though it certainly made the trip down to the Cape of Good Hope and the wine regions easy.

Time for bed, packing, and a slightly nervous broken night’s sleep; firstly, while I waited for the kids to get home (they were checking out the CT nightlife), then worrying I’d miss the alarm and our plane to Kruger 🤣

Good news, neither ended up being a cause for worry. Kids were home by 11pm (even after visiting Long Street known for its great pubs, but dangerous situations!) and we were all awake, up and at the airport well before our flights and with time to say fond farewells to the kids. But more on that tomorrow!