Happy Feet in South Africa  

I went up Lion's Head with Mia the Travel Coordinator at New Backpackers, her friend Tammy, and David, an Aussie vacationing here in South Africa.

Table Mountain, Lion's Head and Signal Hill are well known for providing scenic climbs to the top.

But no one warned me you had to be part billy goat to do this...

But first, as we were walking up the mountain, we saw this woman paragliding for the first time. The instructor straps to your back and then you take off running down the slope to catch some air.

Getting to the top of Lion's Head is certainly not impossible but much more difficult if you are out of shape or scared of heights. Fortunately I am neither of these things, nor was anyone else I was traveling with.


But the interesting side trip was going to Boulders Beach, also known as Penguin Beach because it is a nesting ground for African penguins. Who knew Africa had penguins? With it's close proximity to Antarctica, it does make sense though...

The draw is that you can sit on the beach with the penguins and swim with them. It is pretty much I won't bother you if you won't bother me on the beach. The birds are not tame but tolerate the humans among them.
Don't let these pictures deceive you. There are thousands of penguins on this beach. This is just one section of beach easily accessible by both man and bird.

And if you stand there among the penguins...dead silence. It is like you're in the middle of a alien planet.



As for loyal reader "Bonnie", who wanted a picture of me holding a penguin, your wish was granted. I could not hold a live penguin. They are not tame and one could take your eye out with those sharp beaks. But again I come through for my readers!