South Africa
Wynberg

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    • Day 43

      Den Tafelberg bezwingen

      August 1 in South Africa ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

      Der Tafelberg ist ein 1.086 m hohes Plateau, das majestätisch über Kapstadt thront. Schon von unten sieht es wirklich sehr hoch aus, aber hey, die Besteigung gehört zu einem Kapstadt-Besuch einfach dazu, stimmt's? Eine Entscheidung, die eine(r) von uns noch hinterfragen sollte...
      Bei einer kurzen Online-Recherche stellt sich heraus, dass die Seilbahn zum Gipfel aktuell geschlossen ist. Die Wintermonate hier werden jährlich für Reparaturarbeiten genutzt. Für uns bedeutet das, dass wir nicht nur hinauf-, sondern auch hinabklettern müssen. Also wählen wir die einfachste Route namens Platteklip Gorge, bei der man auf 2,5 km "nur" 680 Höhenmeter überwinden muss. Die Route gilt als Anfängerroute, da man mit dem Auto schon recht hoch auf den Berg zum Startpunkt fahren kann und treppenartige Stufen den Berg hinauf führen. So weit, so gut.
      Wir rufen uns eines der günstigen Uber-Taxis, das versucht, uns zum Startpunkt zu fahren. Aufgrund der Reparaturarbeiten ist die Zufahrtsstraße aber auch gesperrt. Also müssen wir 200 Höhenmeter weiter unten starten, was unsere One-Way-Route auf 4,5 km und 880 Höhenmeter bringt. So war das aber nicht geplant...
      Egal, die Natur ist wunderschön und wir machen uns motiviert an den Berg. Während Andi wie immer wie eine Bergziege losrennt, beginne ich schon bald die Entscheidung zu hinterfragen. Also, das ist wirklich SEHR steil. Im Schwarzwald laufe ich gerne gemütlich meine 400 Höhenmeter auf 12 km, das ist wesentlich angenehmer als hier den Berg hoch zu klettern. Die angepriesenen Stufen sind unregelmäßige, oft hüfthohe Steinquader, die man sich vorsichtig hochkämpft - und das bei meinem Schneckentempo ganze 2,5 Stunden lang. Irgendwann sind wir endlich oben und genießen den Ausblick - in eine Wolke. Die berüchtigte "Tischdecke", die Wolkendecke, die häufig über dem Tafelberg liegt, ermöglicht nur kleine Blicke ins Tal. Es ist trotzdem sehr schön hier, und es gibt coole Tiere! Die Vögel und Hyrax (Klippschliefer) sind sehr zutraulich und freuen sich über ein Stück Brot. Nachdem wir fertig gespielt haben, erkunden wir noch ein wenig das Plateau des Tafelbergs und dann geht es schon wieder bergab. All die Höhenmeter und Steinquader wollen wieder unfallfrei nach unten geklettert werden. Das macht vielleicht noch weniger Spaß als hochzuklettern, aber geht immerhin etwas schneller.
      Pünktlich zum Sonnenuntergang kommen wir unten an und lassen uns von einem Uber nach Hause fahren. Andi fand den Tag schön, ich sehe es als 6 Stunden langes fieses Workout, bei dem man immerhin mit Tieren spielen durfte, und so finden wir beide etwas positives an diesem Tag.
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    • Day 150

      Heimreise ♥️

      October 20, 2023 in South Africa ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

      150 Tage voller Aufs und Abs, Sonne und Regen, Berge, Dschungel und Wüsten, Auto, Bus, Flieger, Kayak, Boot und Schiff sind vorüber. Unsere letzten Stunden in Kapstadt wollten wir nochmal an unserem liebsten Ort der letzten 5 Monate verbringen: der Natur. Also sind wir gestern auf den Tafelberg und wieder runter gewandert bei bestem Wetter und einer wunderschönen Aussicht auf das Meer, die Stadt und die umliegende Natur. Einen besseren Abschluss dieser Reise hätten wir uns nicht vorstellen können.
      Und jetzt stehen wir am Flughafen. Mit einem lachenden und einem weinenden Auge. Voller neuer Erfahrungen und Erinnerungen. Wir sind so dankbar für alles, was wir hier erleben durften und sind uns einig, dass wir es genau so wieder machen würden. Mit einem aufregenden Kribbeln im Bauch geht’s jetzt ab nach Hause. Wir freuen uns, alle endlich wieder in die Arme schließen zu können♥️
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    • Day 138

      Cape Town

      December 3, 2023 in South Africa ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

      Die Zeit zwischen Uni und Praktikum wird auch weiterhin genutzt. Diesmal ging es sogar mit einer 22-stündigen Busfahrt wieder aus Namibia heraus und den ganzen Weg bis nach Kapstadt, Südafrika. Nach der schlaflosen Reise ging es aber eigentlich auch direkt wieder ins Geschehen.

      Berge im Rekordtempo besteigen, Strände abklappern, die Umgebung auf der Vespa erkunden, feinste Weine auf traumhaften Anwesen ausprobieren & die grüne Landschaft Südafrikas genießen. Das alles konnten wir in den ersten Zeit hier schon abschließen.

      Es hat Spaß gemacht wieder zu den anderen dazuzustoßen und hier die Zeit mit ihnen zu verbringen. Kapstadt ist noch viel riesiger als ich dachte und hier herrscht nochmal eine ganz andere Atmosphäre als in Namibia. Nicht schlechter, nicht besser, nur anders.

      Als wir dann genug von Kapstadt hatten ging es los auf die Garden Route!
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    • Day 33

      Table Mountain Morning Hike

      February 8 in South Africa ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

      Today was the day. I finally "went up" to Table Mountain. Most of the days the top is covered in clouds but not today :-)

      Shame on me I took the cable car up. #sonotgerman. To my defense I planned a 3.5 hour hike on top of the mountain and I still had client calls in the afternoon and I definitely wanted to do the hike today 😇.Read more

    • Day 20

      Tafelberg

      September 16, 2018 in South Africa ⋅ 🌙 10 °C

      Nach dem heutigen Tag haben wir erst so richtig verstanden, dass Kapstadt zu den schönsten Städten der Welt zählt. Um 11 starteten wir unsere Wanderung auf den Tafelberg. ⛰ Der Weg war hart und steinig aber nach 3 Stunden haben wir es endlich geschafft. 🧗🏼‍♀️
      Wir hatten einen wunderschönen Tag, mit wunderschönen Panoramas und tollen Menschen.
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    • Day 91

      Tafelberg

      June 9, 2019 in South Africa ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

      Heute bestieg ich eins der 7 Weltwunder. Ich nahm die schwerste Route (India Venster) ohne Guide #noRisknofun und es hat sich gelohnt, war aber auch anstrengend. Mit Eisenketten musste ich mich an Felswänden hinauf ziehen, gleichzeitig mit dem Wind kämpfen und die Route im Blick behalten. Allerdings geling mir das nicht so gut und ich kletterte ziemlich abseits der Route, was aber auch klappte. Nach 3 Stunden erreichte ich dann den Gipfel und bekam eine privat fahrt in der Gondel nach unten...Read more

    • Day 5

      Table Mountain

      May 1, 2017 in South Africa ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

      Heute stand die nächste Wanderung auf dem Tagesprogramm. Über den steilen Skeleton Gorge ging es herauf auf den Table Mountain. Da die Mädels einen neuen Rekord aufstellen wollten, wurde das Ziel bereits nach 3,5 Stunden erreicht (angegeben waren ~5h). 💪
      Glücklicherweise verlief der Hike auch ohne Begegnung mit der gefürchteten Kap-Kobra 🐍
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    • Day 3

      Table Mountain

      September 12, 2017 in South Africa ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

      A group of us decided it was time for a little exercise so we walked up Table Mountain rather than take the gondola. It was a very rewarding way to get to the top as it was a steep rocky path up through the gorge with rewarding views all around when we got there. It was not as flat at the top as I would of expected so made for interesting walking about. We had views towards the Cape of Good Hope, the Indian Ocean on one side and the Atlantic Ocean and city on the other. As time was getting on we all took the gondola down, quite different from the ones we use at home. They each hold 65 passengers and the inside of it rotates so you get a view all around. It was lovely to have our own space, bedroom, bathroom, tv... for the first time in 75 days, as we are now staying in a 2 bed apartment with another couple from our trip for our last four nights.Read more

    • Day 5

      An April Fool's Day Abseil

      April 1, 2012 in South Africa ⋅ 12 °C

      Sunday April 1st – To the Top of Table Mountain

      We awoke at 6 am to another perfect day with not a single cloud to blot the sky. The calendar reminded me that it was April Fools’ Day and I could not help starting to have second thoughts about my suggestion that we climb Table Mountain and abseil from the 1100 metre summit. After all there is a perfectly good cable car which could transport us all to the top without any of us even needing to raise a sweat. Why would anyone actually choose to scramble and suffer all the way to the top, especially at our advanced ages ?

      In spite of my secret misgivings, we all had an early breakfast and caught a taxi to the office of Abseil Africa (the extreme adventure company which advertised the climb and abseil). It was not too encouraging to discover that their office was in a rather dubious part of town, the atmosphere permeated with the strong ammoniacal odour of fresh urine. Apparently, the lane served as an unofficial urinal for the numerous homeless people living nearby. I looked up at the sign over their door and noted that the proprietors’ motto was “We always let you down”. Was this some sort of cruel joke, intended to scare away everyone apart from the truly insane?

      Although we had arrived at the appointed time of 8.30 am (we had been forewarned not to be late), the office doorway was tightly locked and secured by a forbidding steel grate. The place looked deserted. Just when I started to think that we could just forget the whole silly idea and spend the day in a much more sensible pastime, the door opened, and we were summoned to our execution.

      We were introduced to our guide and to the abseil supervisor, neither of whom looked a day over 18. When I asked if it was safe, the only reply I received was a sort of guilty chuckle. After hearing about a near disaster with a bungie jumping enterprise on the Zambezi Gorge a few days earlier, I was wondering whether occupational health and safety were priorities on this continent. The problem was that it was now too late to pull out without losing all credibility and bringing scorn to the Ghostriders’ spirit of adventure.

      After a few minutes we were ushered to a waiting taxi for the short drive to the foot of the mountain. Soon we were on the rocky path to the summit. I crooked my neck to look above, and the sheer face of the mountain looked a truly formidable challenge. With the sun now beating down on us it did not take long for the sweat to start flowing and the heart to start pumping hard. We found that the hiking route rises steeply and relentlessly all the way to the top. In fact, much of the route is a rock scramble over large and uneven steps. This makes it difficult to get any sort of rhythm going.

      Our route to the top was via the Platteklip Gorge. This rugged opening in the otherwise sheer face of the mountain provides access to the flat plateau at the summit. The only problem was that, when we looked up, the opening of the gorge looked just so far away. Slowly and steadily, we made our way higher and higher. As I turned to look behind us, we could see an incredible vista taking shape below. The buildings of Cape Town were diminishing, and the incredible expanse of the Atlantic Ocean was opening up as far as the eye could see. It truly was a breathtaking spectacle (that is if you had any breath left to take) and I am sure that none of us will ever forget it.

      For one member of our group this climb will be especially memorable. Not so long-ago Jerry had two knee replacements and a hip replacement and yet here he was passing many much younger climbers on the way to the summit. This was an incredible personal achievement and also a testimonial to the quality of modern surgical techniques.

      After about 2 hours of climbing interspersed with a few well-earned rest stops we finally emerged at the flat expanse that marks the top of Table Mountain.

      Unfortunately we had little time to savour our achievement before we were led like lambs to the slaughter for our planned abseil. When the final count was taken, although I had tried to encourage everyone to have a go, it turned out that only three of us were too chicken to say NO to the abseil. I was being joined by Bob and Noel. None of us had ever abseiled before so I guess in one way we would literally be starting at the top. After this act of stupidity, surely nothing else could raise the same level of fear and anxiety.

      I was soon strapped into a flimsy looking harness and a silly looking helmet that looked like it would offer about as much protection as an ostrich egg on my head. We were then pushed out over the safety rail and coerced onto a tiny ledge at the top of the most terrifying drop I have ever seen. I have experienced vertigo in many places, including the top of the Eiffel Tower, however this was more than three times higher than that and there were no more safety fences. The only thing offering any sort of security was a flimsy looking rope. I reminded the supervisor that I was a big bloke and needed reassuring that the rope was strong enough. He replied that it “probably could take twice my weight” – a very narrow margin for error as far as I was concerned. Maybe I should not have had that second serving of bacon and eggs for breakfast!

      Fortunately I had skillfully maneuvered myself into a position behind Noel and Bob, meaning that I would be the final one to go over the edge. On the other hand, since they were both skinny guys about half my size, the rope would not really be getting a thorough test. I would have liked to have tested it with a small elephant or a piano first, just to make sure.

      On the ledge above us we could see the rest of our group looking down and waving to us. I tried to put on a brave face and pretend that I was not terrified. It was just as well they did not know just how dry my throat was or how shaky my knees felt.

      After Noel and Bob were thrown over the edge it was my turn. It was too late to turn back now, and they always say you should face your fears head on. Well in my case I was facing them with my backside as I was calmly told to walk backwards to the edge and then hang out over the 1000 metre drop. If that was not bad enough, they said “Now let go and put your hands in the air” so that they could take a picture for their web site. They had to be joking but they really had me over a barrel (or more accurately a precipice). Deciding that everyone has to die sometime and that falling off Table Mountain would be a pretty memorable way to go. At least I could enjoy a few seconds of feeling like superman before the rapid stop at the bottom.

      With my hands in the air and my face a rictus of terror they took their blessed picture and then told me to walk backwards off the cliff. Sounds easy doesn’t it ? Believe me, it isn’t, especially when the cliff disappears altogether and you are left rotating in space at the end of the rope. At that stage I had no alternative other than to concentrate on what I had been instructed to do and trust that the process will work. Far, far below I could see the miniature buildings of Cape Town and the wide blue expanse of the ocean passing slowly before my eyes. In the background I could just sense the highlights of my life also passing before my eyes. It would be impossible to describe accurately the combination of terror, exhilaration, panic and euphoria that flows through your body at times like this.

      I could not see where I was going but just kept feeding in the rope and continued slowly dropping towards the yawning abyss. At one stage I passed a couple of rock climbers working their way to the summit. With a wave and a forced smile I tried to pretend that I was completely in control of both my rope and my emotions. In fact neither was true.

      After what seemed like an eternity but was in fact probably only 5 or 6 minutes I was pulled onto a small ledge by an assistant and informed that somehow, I had actually survived the ordeal. Abseil Africa had lived up their motto and had indeed “let me down” – safely. Bob and Noel were waiting to welcome me, and we spent a few moments shaking hands and sharing the excitement of the occasion. Now that I was safely on the ground (or more accurately perched on a narrow ledge on the side of the mountain) I began to think of how much easier it would be a second time around. On the other hand, there is no point in tempting fate too much and decided it was best to quit while still alive.

      Unfortunately, our battle was not completely over as we then had to climb along a precarious path quite some distance around the cliff face and then rejoin the main path back up to the summit FOR A SECOND TIME. The combination of emotions had left us quite tired, and it actually took quite a lot of effort to rejoin our waiting companions at the summit kiosk. By that time, I was so thirsty that I promptly drank a whole litre of Coca Cola, just to replace both my fluid and caffeine levels. We then spent some astonishing at the views from both sides of the mountain before catching the cable car back down to the base.

      I have seen some beautiful vistas in my life in the Andes, the Himalayas, Hong Kong Harbour from Victoria Peak, Paris from the Eiffel Tower, etc but I would have to admit that the view from the top of Table Mountain was one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. Of course, we were very fortunate to have crystal clear conditions. When the tablecloth descends on to the summit apparently you cannot see a damn thing.

      Later in the afternoon I returned to our hotel for a shower and to catch up on some laundry before wandering back to Victoria Wharf to watch some free entertainment. In the evening the entire group met for dinner at a seafood restaurant under the stars. It had been a day I will remember for the rest of my life.
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    • Cape town - Table mountain

      December 29, 2018 in South Africa ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

      Eine der ersten Anlaufstellen für Touristen in Kapstadt ist der Tafelberg. 🇿🇦⛰Dieser ist beinahe von überall aus Kapstadt zu sehen und sieht wirklich beeindruckend aus.
      Auch wir sind heute nach einem leckeren Frühstück an der V&A Waterfront mit dem Sightseeingbus zum Tafelberg gefahren.
      Nach etwa einer Stunde Wartezeit in der prallen Sonne (ca. 30 Grad sind es im Moment in Kapstadt) konnten wir endlich in einen der beiden Seilbahnwagons einsteigen. Insgesamt ist in diesem Wagon Platz für 60 Leute, wobei nur schätzungsweise 30 Menschen mit uns zusammen de Tafelberg hinauffuhren.
      Oben angekommen wurden wir mit einem einzigartigen Ausblick auf Kapstadt, das Meer und die umliegenden Berge belohnt. Bewundernswert sind auch die vielen Pflanzen, die dort oben wachsen und die man von unten gar nicht unbedingt erwartet hätte. 🌵🌱
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    You might also know this place by the following names:

    Wynberg

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