To be even more specific, the Table View region of Cape Town.
Table View is home to Table Mountain, which is known world wide for its flat top and endangered flora and fauna. Common activities at Table Mountain National Park include the cable car ride, hiking, rock climbing, and caving.
Table View is also known for its awesome beaches, which are filled with penguins.
It is also known for the great African wildlife that fill its land like buffalo, elephants, leopards, lions, rhinos, penguins, and many endangered species.
Despite all the great activities, beautiful beaches, and unique wildlife that Cape Town provides, it also has a darker, more depressing side. Many South African locals are living in immense poverty and are faced with terrible living conditions and an out of control HIV epidemic that continues to grow. According to the Southern African Regional Poverty Network, 57% of the South African population is below poverty level,which has remained the same since 1996, and the gap between rich and poor is continuing to grow.
Because of their poor conditions, many South Africans are left unable to care for themselves or their children. These conditions lead to many orphaned children in the area. Many of these children have HIV, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, and many other disorders due to the lack of needs, education, and nutrition in the villages.
The reason that I am traveling all the way to South Africa is not to see the beaches, experience the nightlife, or to see the wildlife. I am going to volunteer 9 weeks in an orphanage and special needs school for children of the desperately poor township regions of Cape Town. (Even though I might be a little excited about the other stuff, too.) The orphanage that I will be at is called Home of Hope: http://www.homeofhope.co.za/
After the 9 weeks in the orphanage, I will be partaking in a week long Cape to Addo park safari. My itinerary:
17 Jul 2011 Cape to Addo Tour - Day 1
Day 1 - Departing Cape Town at around 8:30am, our exciting journey begins as we join the world famous whale route in Gordons Bay for a stunning drive along the picturesque R44 mountain pass overlooking False Bay to the vibrant coastal town of Hermanus. After an opportunity to take some photographs and a picnic lunch on the seafront, we continue to Birkenhead Brewery to sample some fine beers before moving on to the southernmost tip of Africa in Cape Agulhas National Park. After a visit to the lookout point we make our way to the harbour where there is an option to embark on an exciting ski-boat cruise to search for dolphin and whales (June to November). After our cruise we take a walk back to our accommodation along 'Die Plaat', the longest beach in the Southern Hemisphere. This day is designed to be a relaxing one for you to get to know your fellow travellers, to get used to travelling in our vehicle and to settle into the comfortable routine of life on tour. , Included Activities: Beer tasting at Birkenhead Brewery, Optional Activities: Shark cage diving, Ski-boat cruise (possible whale viewing June - Nov).
18 Jul 2011 Cape to Addo Tour - Day 2
Day 2 - Driving inland this morning our journey takes us north through rolling wheat fields to the Langeberg Mountains and on to the pristine semi-desert environment of the Little Karoo. Shortly after Barrydale on Route 62, we stop at Warmwaterberg Spa for lunch and a relaxing swim in 43-degree natural hot springs. In the afternoon we drive through Ladismith and Carlitzdorp to the capital of the Little Karoo, Oudtshoorn. Known as the ostrich capital of the world, Oudtshoorn is situated in a beautiful valley between the Outeniqua and Swartberg Mountains. Here there is an option to view and ride one of these prehistoric birds on a working farm or go on a guided tour of the Cango Endangered Wildlife Ranch for an opportunity to pet cheetah, cage dive with crocodiles and view many rare and endangered animal species. , Included Activities: Entrance to Warmwaterberg Hot Springs Optional Activities: Cango Ostrich Farm, Cango Endangered Wildlife Ranch, Pet a hand raised cheetah (including photos), Cage diving with crocodiles
19 Jul 2011 Cape to Addo Tour - Day 3
Day 3 - We begin the day with a short 20km drive to the magnificent Cango Caves. Here we'll embark on a 1-hour guided tour of the cave system to view its massive caverns and a wonderland of stalactite and stalagmite formations, millions of years old. Cango Caves is a world heritage site and one of the great wonders of the natural world. After our visit to the caves, we leave the Karoo and travel 60km to the coast through the magnificent Outeniqua Pass. Entering the Garden Route for the first time in George and take a leisurely drive up the coast to Knysna, rated South Africa's most beautiful town. Here we'll take a walk to the entrance of the lagoon to explore the captivating scenery surrounding the famous Knysna Heads. In the afternoon we drive to the highest road bridge in Africa at Bloukrans Bridge. At a height of 216m this is also the site of the highest bungy jump in the world! For those wishing to take the leap, this is your opportunity! Included Activities: Standard or adventure guided tour of Cango Caves, Optional Activities: Bloukrans bungy jump (216m), Bloukrans bridge walking tour
20 Jul 2011 Cape to Addo Tour - Day 4
Day 4 - This morning you have the opportunity to explore the Tsitsikamma National Park, either via a hike across the suspension bridge at Storms River Mouth or by means backwater tubing. Tubing is a unique, four hour fun adventure, filled with splashing, swimming, rock jumping, kloofing and hiking (seasonal). The National Park, declared in 1964, encompasses a marine reserve made up of 80km of coastline and offers magnificent scenery. Approximately 30% of the park is covered in fynbos, scattered amongst the forest vegetation, boasting a wide variety of beautiful flowers, including proteas and heath. Many species of forest, fynbos and sea birds are present. We stop off at the fun waterfall zipline at Tsitsikamma Falls Adventures. This "foefieslide" tour takes you on 8 cable rides over the Kruis River and down a ravine over three waterfalls. Afterwards we make our way inland towards Addo and our accommodation for the night, in the Sundays River Valley. Set in a wild and scenic location on the banks of the Sundays River, we take the time to relax under the African sun as well as explore the river by canoe. Around the campfire tonight, this is what you've come to experience... Wild Africa at her enigmatic best! Included Activities: Canoeing on Sundays River, Optional Activities: Entrance to Tsitsikamma National Park, Tsitsikamma Blackwater Tubing, Tsitsikamma Falls Zipline.
21 Jul 2011 Cape to Addo Tour - Day 5
Day 5 - Up early this morning, we begin our Addo Park Safari along a network of winding roads stopping regularly for photographs and information on the animals we encounter along the way. On our game drive we'll also disembark from our vehicle at the main lookout point for a spectacular view over the evergreen wilderness that is Addo. After our game drive we'll take lunch at the park restaurant before a leisurely drive down to the coast and Port Elizabeth. Proclaimed a National Park in 1931, this malaria free, 145 000 ha. Park, extends all the way down to the Indian Ocean and is home to the densest African Elephant population on earth, totalling over 500 elephant. Addo Park is also famous for being the only park in Africa playing host to the Big 7 i.e. Elephant, rhino, lion, buffalo, leopard, the Southern Right Whale and the Great White Shark. A major sea port and tourist destination, Port Elizabeth is set along the beautiful shores of Algoa Bay and is fondly referred to as the Friendly City. We then head for the pristine beaches of Jeffrey's Bay! Renowned the world over as one of the best surfing waves on the planet, we'll take time out to view the waves at 'supertubes' before exploring the town and visiting the ever-popular surf wear factory shops i.e.: Billabong, Rip Curl, Roxy, Quicksilver and more. You have to chance to rent a board to experience the waves for yourself or do a surf lesson. Included Activities: Entrance fee and 3 hour game drive in Addo National Park, Optional Activities: 2 Hour game drive with 4x4 vehicle in Addo National Park, Surfboard & wetsuit rental, 2 Hour surfing lesson, 2 Hour beach horse ride.
22 Jul 2011 Cape to Addo Tour - Day 6
Day 6 - This morning we begin our relaxing journey back to Cape Town with our first stop for the day at the Crags Orphaned Elephant Sanctuary for a truly wonderful close encounter experience. Here you have an opportunity to walk, feed and ride an African elephant while receiving instruction from a knowledgeable African guide. After the Sanctuary we continue down the Garden Route, stopping occasionally to take in anything we may have missed on our way up. We arrive at our accommodation overlooking the sea at Myoli Beach in Sedgefield. Situated right on the beach and close to the Swartvlei Lagoon, here are loads of water sports and other activities to partake in for the remainder of the afternoon before a delicious dinner. Optional Activities: Elephant walking and feeding, Monkeyland, Paragliding, Kite/Wakeboarding lessons, Various board rentals at Myoli Beach.
23 Jul 2011 Cape to Addo Tour - Day 7
Day 7 - After breakfast below the ocean in Sidgefield, we start our journey back to Cape Town. We visit an Aloe factory in Albertinia and enjoy a wonderful scenic drive via Swellendam and Sir Lowry's Pass. We arrive in Cape Town early Saturday afternoon.
Needless to say, I am super excited about this summer experience (technically its a winter experience in South Africa, but winters there are filled with moderate temperatures, with a low around 50 at nights, and a high around 70 in the days.)I can't wait to see what this experience has to offer!!! My accommodation has wifi, so I should be able to keep the blog updated every few days or so. Stay tuned for updates!
