Just as I can’t imagine anyone traveling to South Africa and not going to wine country, no trip to the Cape would be complete without visiting Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope. Cape Point is not, as many believe, the convergence of the Atlantic and IndianOceans. It is, however, the most southwestern tip of the African continent. Plan for a daylong adventure, because there are not-to-be-missed stops on your way to and back from Cape Point.
Skip breakfast in Cape Town in order to get an early start on the tourists who flock to these attractions. More importantly, this gives you an excuse to stop at the Olympia Cafe right on
Main Road
in KalkBay. This landmark restaurant has a true Bohemian/beach town feel to it. It’s not the cleanest restaurant, as you will notice when you walk through the kitchen and storage areas to get to the restrooms, but who cares? There is art from local artists hanging on the walls and seemingly something delicious always coming out of the ovens at the bakery. Olympia has the best cappuccinos in the Western Cape. They are both delicious and artfully presented. You will be tempted to linger, but don’t do so. There are many more adventures just up the road.
Do not, under any circumstances, bypass the penguin colony at Boulders. For a small admission fee you can walk along a boardwalk and observe penguins just feet away from you. There is also a public beach where you can sun and swim (for the same admission price). Historically, the penguins have been referred to as the jackass penguin, but now they are called the South African penguin. You may see penguins on your tour of RobbenIsland, but you will not get as close to them as you will at Boulders. Of course, there are gifts to purchase at the “all things penguin” shops that surround Boulders.
Next stop…Part 7: Cape Point
