After my family left, I hung around in Cape Town for a couple days to try to do a bit more exploring, although I have to say that Jordan covered the "things to do" so well that I had trouble finding anything we hadn't already done! Being that it was Saturday night, however, it didn't take long to make some friends at the rooftop bar and then have a late night out on Long Street! In what seemed like a grand idea at the time, we decided to go for a hike the following morning up Signal Hill. We did it, although with somewhat less consideration given to the mid morning African sun than should have been! Nonetheless, it was a spectacular view at the top, just overlooking the stadium. After a much needed long lunch at a brewery on the waterfront, we again we struck with the notion to go hike Lion's head for sunset ... we were more prepared this time and brought some drinks and snacks for the top and enjoyed an even more killer view, as the top has 360 degree views, and sunset over Camp's Bay was particularly impressive!
It was an early morning for me the next day as we departed at 5:30 am to go shark diving! After a two hour drive, we were given breakfast, briefed, and boarded the boat! Approximately 20minutes after they dropped the bait, the sharks began circling, and it was time to get in the cage! Our guide explained that the shark is not trying to attack us, as he cannot recognize us as being alive through the cage, but rather, he is after the bait, and just often comes fast enough that he comes into contact with the cage. It was certainly a once in a lifetime experience!
The next day I began making my way back up the Garden Route, first stop being Wilderness. This is very much a one-horse town, with nothing to do but sit on the beach and hike by day, and sit around the fire by night. I did just that for the first two days (including visiting the man who has lived five years in a nearby cave and has might quite the elaborate home out of it), as well as seeing some incredible waterfalls and animals. The last day it stormed, which was just fine because I had had more than enough sun, almost no rain yet to speak ofm and the views over the beach from the hostel were second to done, so great fun to watch the storm come in from the covered balcony.
Just an hour away was Plettenberg Bay, another beach town, but slightly larger. On a run around to get the lay of the land, I found myself in a beachside resort with a lovely grassy pool area, from which you were treated to watching the massive waves crash against the rocks, providing something of a daytime fireworks show. Needless to say, I wasted no time in getting back to the hostel, grabbing my suit and some friends, and parking myself there for the next three days, taking breaks only to go boogie boarding or play some beach volleyball. The hostel was great, as well, a hammock paradise with nightly fire and braai!
The beach days had to be put on hold for a couple weeks, though, as I went to hang out with the elephants at a sanctuary for orphaned elephants.
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