On Thursday, 18th January, the Expedition Africa team arrived safely and happily in Cape Town, in South Africa. After being on the road for 20 full weeks, we have finally reached our destination – Cape Town. We’ve had an incredible week traveling to the Cape. We spent a few days at a Vineyard in Stellenbosch, followed by a few days in Cape Town, before everyone goes back home to Canada. Here are some highlights of our last week here in South Africa.
Vineyard Visit in Stellenbosch
The small town of Stellenbosch is considered one of the most well-known towns in South Africa. Discovered in the late 1600s, settlers, such as the Dutch, settled here because of the great potential for agriculture. It was not long until they decided to plant grapevines on the town’s hills and valleys. Today, Stellenbosch remains world-renowned for its quality wine. After spending a few days in Stellenbosch, learning all about the South African wine industry, we realize that this town’s reputation of quality wine is deserved. We spent a few hours on a small hike going from one winery to another, tasting a number of red wines. It was interesting to learn about how the grapes make their way from the vineyard into your glass and how many of these wines are actually available at liquor stores all across Canada. But of course, there is more to Stellenbosch than just the wine. The town is filled with all kinds of buildings, the oldest one dating back to 1689. The town has numerous solid, white-plastered buildings and the streets are planted with numerous oak trees: features that characterize Stellenbosch. The architecture of the buildings reflects over three centuries of occupation, including Dutch, Georgian and Victorian architecture. While touring the city, we passed through a number of Stellenbosch’s heritage areas, one of which includes educational centres, such as the University of Stellenbosch, which happens to be an internationally recognized institution and one of the leading universities on the African continent.
We enjoyed walking around the city, absorbing the historical atmosphere and cultural allure. The highlight of our stay, however, has to be the hotel we stayed at: the Songbird Manor on Devon Valley, where many vineyards are located. The hotel was amazing, with great staff. It allowed us to relax after a few long days of on the road earlier this week, traveling from Lesotho, all the way to the coast.
Robben Island Visit
Immediately upon setting foot on Cape Town, we made our way to the Nelson Mandela Gateway to Robben Island, to catch the ferry and head off to the Island where Mandela spent many years as a political prisoner. The Island, which lies 12 kilometres from Cape Town, has been open to visitors since 1997, allowing people from around the world to see the prison and learn about the history of the island. For over 400 years, the island has been used as a place for banishment, exile, isolation and imprisonment. Many rulers sent those they regarded as political troublemakers, social outcasts and the unwanted of society to Robben Island. Our visit lasted two hours; the first half was spent touring parts of the island and the second half comprised of visiting the actual prison. After forty minutes riding in the old prison vehicle absorbing the Island’s history, we could all sense the brutality and misery that took place on this island for hundreds of years. We saw shipwrecks, old military buildings, wildlife, hard labour areas (such as the Lime Quarry) as well as houses of the people still living on the island. Our tour guide told us that although this island has seen some terrible brutality, we need to keep the following in mind: “Over the years, Robben Island has come to symbolize the triumph of the human spirit over enormous hardship and adversity. Please go into the prison realizing that many of those imprisoned on the Island managed to turn prison hardships into a symbol of freedom and personal liberation.” He made reference to the logo of the Robben Island Museum, which comprises of bars that turn into a human figure, arms aloft, celebrating freedom: this is what Robben Island has come to symbolize. We were guided through the museum by Lionel Davis, a former prisoner on Robben Island. This tour is like no other; everyone who visits the former prison is guided through the prison by an ex-prisoner. This way, one gets a personal experience of what life was like as prisoners on Robben Island. Since 1999, Robben Island is recognized as a World Heritage Site; it is a place that has transformed many people and many leaders, Mr. Nelson Mandela being one. He walked out of Robben Island to become South Africa’s first Democratic President without bitterness, but with the will to make South Africa a better place. We left the Island enlightened and well-educated about the Island’s history. Coming this close to history is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Cape Town Stay
We arrived into Cape Town early morning on Thursday, Jan 18th – we made our way straight to Robben Island. After our two hour visit, we made our way back to the hustle and bustle of Cape Town, looking for our hotel, which happens to be one of the best, here in Cape Town. We’ve seen quite a lot of Cape Town in the day we’ve been here; its age spoke to us all, as we made our way back to the city after being on Robben Island. Cape Town is one of the oldest towns here in South Africa; it is here that the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British stopped their ships to replenish on their supplies and eventually they settled here. It is a melting pot of cultures and peoples; people of European, African and Asiatic heritage live harmoniously here in Cape Town. From the cuisine and architecture to the languages spoken, you can sense all kinds of cultures that make up the metropolitan Cape Town.
Now What? -The Team Embarks!-
On January 18th, Shaunna Burke left Cape Town, heading back to Ottawa. It was reality for most of the team that yes, the end has arrived. This Sunday, January 21st, Ismael and Khairoon will be heading home (Tanzania and Ghana) for two weeks before coming back to Ottawa; some family time, and relaxing…and then back to Ottawa to get back to work. The last day of Expedition Africa, January 19th, has been spent finishing up some writing and collection as well as conducting a video conference between Canadian schools and Lionel Davis, a former Robben Island prisoner. Saturday will be comprised of cleaning up the trucks and repacking them before they are shipped back to Canada early next week. Hopefully, Saturday night, we will all go out for a dinner to celebrate how far we’ve come! Ben will be shipping the trucks back to Canada before leaving Cape Town next week.
The five months have come to an end and we are all very happy, privileged and proud to have been part of such an experience. Thank you to everyone who has supported us and followed our adventures for the time we have been on ground!
