Cape Town




This morning we flew to Maun on a small plane and connected to the non-stop to Cape Town on a large 737.  Upon arrival in Cape Town (one of my favorite cities in the world), I checked in to the Hilton downtown and made a quick change of clothes before heading out to a private party being hosted by Beverly & Derek Joubert (famed Nat Geo photographers and conservationist) and Joss Kent (of the famous A&K family).  The party was a celebration of the Save the Rhino translocation project which has successfully moved over 50 rhinos away from poachers in South Africa to the safety of private reserves in Botswana such as Selinda where I visited earlier in the trip.  It was an amazing gathering of industry professionals and leading conservationist held at a private winery in the beautiful rolling hills overlook Cape Town.  I had the honor to meet the Jouberts in person and was able to reminisce with Derek about the early days of safaris in the 1980’s when a safari in Botswana was a much simpler affair.  It turns out we knew several guides from that era and I felt a great bond with Derek as we laughed about the quirks and personalities of our mutual friends.  Most of the party I hung out with the lead veterinarian who oversees the rhino project and it was fascinating hear his tales of the logistics involved in moving these magnificent creatures across thousands of miles.  I have huge respect for these heroes that are making a big difference in wildlife conservation.  


The next morning I enjoyed a wonderful “foodie tour” with a local culinary expert which involved visiting Cape Town’s best cafes, bars, restaurants, markets and street food stalls.  What an absolute treat and a blast!  Later I took the ferry to Robben Island to visit the famous prison where Nelson Mandela and other leaders of the apartheid movement where imprisoned.  It was a powerful experience to see Mandela’s cell and hear from the former inmates who now guide these tours.  In the late evening I did some hotel inspections including the new Silo Hotel which is located on the wharfs and boasts a superb restaurant.  I rounded off a perfect day with cocktails at the bar at the eclectic Kloof Street House set in a restored Victorian mansion in one of my favorite neighborhoods in Cape Town.  I dined on fresh oysters with a crisp chenin blanc wine from the nearby wine lands and then feasted on a beautiful dish of Kingklip which is a delicious white fish with a buttery texture fresh out of the nearby Atlantic Ocean.  A perfect end to another great African adventure!

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