Travel
Janet Tripp | Article and Photos
Spectacular South Africa
Travelling and exploring the world has been a passion that my husband and I have had the great fortune to experience over the years . One of our most memorable trips was to South Africa . Several years ago , we were in a small group tour that journeyed from Cape Town , following the Garden Route along the south coast to Durban , then heading up north to Blyde River Canyon , a short visit in Swaziland , and then the game reserves of Kruger National Park .
Flying into cosmopolitan Cape Town , the city bowl opened up at the foot of Table Mountain on one side , flanked by the sparkling Atlantic Ocean on the other . It was stunning ! The initial glance and city tour illustrated the many contrasts of the historic influences of the Dutch , British , and Cape Malays with the modern waterfront and downtown , comfortable suburbs , and the impoverished townships .
A sunny , clear morning provided the opportunity to ascend majestic Table Mountain on a rotating gondola to the plateau on the top , where we were able to enjoy a comfortable hike , offering incredible vistas of the ocean , Cape Town far below , and other sites such as Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for eighteen years .
Spending a day in the Cape of Good Hope ’ s Winelands was enchanting . Driving through the
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