Family trip Part one…… Western Cape……….. Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa

Africa 24th January to 6th April 2025.

A road trip from Cape Town, South Africa to Namibia. Up the coast of Namibia, along the Caprivi strip and the tip of Botswana into Zimbabwe. Back to Joburg via Tzaneen. One of the most epic Southern African journeys you can take. It combines beautiful wineries, dramatic coastal scenery, remote deserts, wildlife, and cultural encounters.

Stellenbosch and Wineries

Derek and I left Australia with Jo and Mack and arrived in Cape town on 24th January 2025.
Laura arrives in Cape town from Scotland to join us on 26th January 2025.

Derek still had things to fix on the truck, so I had to put my big girl pants on and brave the roads of Capetown. It is not that bad but we did see an accident nearly every day, have taxis van pass us on the shoulder and hear stories of smash and grabs.

While waiting for Derek we spent our time visiting Stellenbosch, Gardens and Uni.
Some Wineries,
Delaire Graff Estate to celebrate being together again and graduations.
Hazendal Wine Estate, beautiful food, wine and gardens. With a vintage car display thrown in.
Mooiplaas, a little winery near the campsite.

Drove into Capetown and stayed in the Premier hotel at Sea Point, from here it was an easy hotel bus ride to the V and A and then an Uber to District Six.
Walked over to the fort 'Castle of Good Hope' and after lunch at a pub walked onto the colourful houses of Bo-kaap.

I thought that I would take the kids to see the Penguins. Drove around Chapmans peak and through the tunnel, over to Boulders beach at Simons Town.
Paying to see the penguins is our contribution to the wellbeing of these little birds.
Penguins story

1910 there were approx 1.5 million African Penguins.
1983 is when the Penguins first came to False Bay, from Dyer Island. Only two breeding pairs.
2010 classified as an endangered species. The reasons being commercial fishing, Marine pollution and destruction of habitat.

2000s Conservation has grown the colony to over 3000 birds. Creating protected areas, monitoring breeding success and the use artificial nesting boxes. There are plans underway to establish no fishing zones around the major breeding colonies.

On the 2nd of February we left Capetown and headed off to Namibia.
Nights stop in Springbok.