Okavango Delta - from the air (helicopter)

 

To learn more about the delta, you can read here:

Okavango Delta

Okavango Delta - from the water in a mokoro (canoe)

Video

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Catching Up - Animals

 As our 12 weeks in Botswana comes to a close I have backtracked to catch up on a few things I did not post earlier.

This time, the animals we saw on our trip to the Khami Rhino Sanctuary, Maun and the Okavango Delta and Kasane, Chobe National Park and Victoria Falls.

Arguably Botswana has the best opportunities to see wildlife and beats, Kruger in South Africa, Kenya and Tanzania.

First up, Khami Rhino Sanctuary.

The sights of Cape Town

 

Our rented apartment right behind the car with sliding patio door for making it easy to get to the car and out and about.

Building has ground level/street level commercial units. The apartments start on the first floor where were are and go up 6 floors.

Off-street parking is provided on top of the commercial unit i.e. 1st floor.  A pretty intriguing and useful way to provide parking.

Penguin colony down the coast at Boulders Bay.  Quinte fascinating to watch them.  Some stand, some lay on their bellies, some seem to be guarding nests in the sand and some float on the sea.

Lighthouse at the tip of Africa.  You can walk up there which we did.

Looking north from lighthouse back down to parking lot.

Atlantic Ocean on the left (west) and Indian Ocean on the right (east)

Canadian tourist at edge of Africa.

Officially the most south-westerly point on the continent, for those keeping score.

Not a big selfie person like someone else in our travelling party.

Someone had to dip their toes in the Atlantic Ocean.  How many days has this bathing suit been carried around?

Not much in the way of swimming in Botswana.

No one swims because the ocean current on the west side of Africa flows directly north from Antarctica, up the west side of southern Africa.  Thus quite chilly and it never warms up.

 Back to my speed!  Rented lounger for $7.50

Nephew Jamie, like the young, more into the sun.

View back To Cape Town on boat heading to Robben Island.

Container ship from Europe waiting to off-load in Cape Town.

Sleeping mats for prisoners until world pressure created pressure for metal beds.

Single person cell with gate and wooden door.  Prisoners in cell from 4 p.m. to 5 a.m. 

Nelson Mandela's cell for 18 years.

Hallway down Block B where Mandela's cell was.

Entrance from harbour into Robben Island prison. 

11km's off mainland (Cape Town)

Cape Town

 Sorry for the exceeding long gap in the blog.

I succumbed to the "Africa disease" and days have come and gone and I have been quite reluctant to get on the computer.

However, we are 6 days into our mini-trip to Cape Town and this has to be one of the most picturesque and relaxing cities anywhere in the world.

The weather is fabulous but very changeable because we are surrounded on two sides by oceans; Atlantic to the west and Indian Ocean to the east.  

Wait 2 hours and the weather will blow over and the sun will come out.

In between the oceans down the middle of the peninsula is a range of mountains including the infamous Table Mountain.

Very Mediterranean vibe and everywhere you turn outdoor restaurants and patios.

Needless to say, amazing seafood.

And damn cheap.

Later today I will add a bunch of photos to add to the 3 videos.

Or exploration has included:

• Hout Bay for coffee;
• Kalk Bay for supper at Brass Bell Restaurant;
• Boulders Bay to see the penguins;
• Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve to see the end of Africa
• Victoria & Albert waterfront - active harbour with lively and active re-purposed entertainment area

• only have Table Mountain left of the "big sights".

We are staying in an Airbnb in the area known as Sea Point.  Very trendy area sorta like Queen St. W.  in Toronto. 1.5 blocks to the promenade overlooking the Atlantic to the west; 3 blocks to the west the ridge of mountains including Signal Mountain.

The promenade

View from apartment to Signal Mountain

View from promenade to Signal Mountain.  Our Airbnb is back of the apartments you see in the picture.

videos from Cape Town

Sunday March 26:

Camps Bay

 

 Saturday March 25:

Boulders Beach - penguins

Cape Point Nature Reserve - where Indian Ocean meets Atlantic Ocean