Monday 11 May 2009 - Behind the wheel of the canopy bakkie, I drive Aldo (People & Conservation Officer) and Lungile aka Jack (Field Ranger) to Cape Town for staff exchange with Table Mountain National Park. Collecting another Bontebok staff member - Elton (Section Ranger) in Mandalay, a suburb of CT, we finally locate him despite dismal directions.All aboard, we travel along the coastal road around False Bay and through Simonstown, towards the Cape of Good Hope, and our home for the next couple of days, Duiker Cottage situated within the National Park.
Due to some confusion within the TMNP P&C team, we are unable to meet with them today, so after unloading our gear and food provisions, we make use of the time and see what the Park has to offer.
Firstly visiting the penguins at Boulders Beach in Simonstown. Despite being warned on numerous occasions that the colony of birds is quite smelly, I was not deterred and pleasantly surprised finding them far from pungent. Wanting to visit Boulders Beach since the days of Judith Charmers and Wish you were here, I sat on the rocks and watched the penguins waddling around me, jumping in and out of the sea swells, or sleeping on land, many in dug out nests protecting their clutch of eggs.
Sadly leaving my monochrome friends, we head to one of the windiest places on the Planet, Cape Point. Braving strong gusts of wind whilst climbing the steps leading to the lighthouse. The view was simply breathtaking overlooking the rugged Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope, jagged cliff face plunging into the blue depths of the Atlantic Ocean.
Sexy SANParks uniform or what!?! Yes, OK, OK - WHAT!
