In 1982 there were only two pair of African Penguins but due in part to the reduction in certain fishing techniques in False Bay, that provided an increased supply of pilchards and anchovy, a major element of the penguins’ diet, the colony has grown to over 3,000. It was wonderful to watch the parent penguins, who incidentally mate for life, interact with their young, building nests and gathering food. www.cpnp.co.za.

The Scratch Patch, in Simon’s Town, has become world-famous where young and old can "scratch" for their favorite polished gemstones from countless thousands that literally cover the floor. For about $3.00 USD you are given a small bag, pick a spot on the floor, settle in and fill the bag with your choice of gemstones. There is also a Gem and Minerals Shop where you can purchase larger stones without all the work- that was my choice. The polishing of the gemstones is a long process, taking several weeks, and can be seen on a short tour of their plant. The Scratch Patch is the world’s largest gemstone tumble-polishing factory.

Our visit to the Cape Town area would not have been complete without standing on the southern most tip of the African continent, the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point. The short drive from Cape Town passes through the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. In springtime, blankets of vibrantly colored wild flowers cover the landscape. The Reserve is also the home to a variety of indigenous wildlife species including Cape Mountain Zebra, Cape Fox, red lynx, caracal and a variety of antelope. Chacma Baboons run wild at Cape Point looking for food, primarily from tourist. They are dangerous and should not be fed. In fact, Dave told us stories of visitors who had food in the car or carrying bag lunches resulting in their run-ins with the Baboons.

At Cape Point, the very best view of the Cape of Good Hope and the surrounding coastline is from the top of the cliffs near the Old Lighthouse. For those of us not ambitious enough for the hike from the parking area to the top, there is a funicular to get us there for a small fee. At the top, there are several walkways to explore and find that perfect spot to photograph the Cape of Good Hope.

Facilities at Cape Point include the Two Oceans Restaurant and two curio shops.

From Hout Bay we drove to Cape Town along beautiful coastline roads, stopping frequently to photograph the Twelve Apostles (mountain formations) or the exclusive beaches behind gated residential communities.

It was from Dave that we received our first African history lesson, the origins of the colonization of Cape Town and the 13 official languages in South Africa. Dave’s first language is Afrikaans, a language derived from the Dutch settlers. I am familiar with German and I was amazed to hear phrases and read signs that I could almost understand.

The first part of our tour included Bo-Kaap, a charming inner suburb of Cape Town, also known as the Malay Quarter, part of Cape Town’s Islamic Community. This area is where many freed slaves first made their homes on the picturesque slopes of Signal Hill. The vibrant colors of the homes in the area welcome visitors and invite them to stop and enjoy their creativity. A photographers delight.

The Community Gardens: The wonderful oasis in the heart of Cape Town is also known as the Public Gardens and was formerly called the Company Garden. This was the first established area of Cape Town. In 1652 it was a stop over for the ships of the Dutch East Indian Trading ships to pick up fresh vegetables and water for the crew’s consumption during the long trip from the Netherlands to the Far East.

Today, the Gardens boast over 8,000 different trees, shrubs and flowers. The east boundary is the oak-lined Government Avenue; an aviary and tea garden at the Mountain end. From the Gardens you can see the House of Parliament and the City Office of the President, The National Gallery which houses 7,000 works of art, the domed and twin towered Great Synagogues and the Old Synagogue, housing treasures of the Jewish Museum; the South African Museum, the Planetarium and the South African Library.

Cecil Rhodes Memorial, is a temple-like structure, situated on the eastern slopes of the Table Mountain Range, and honors the 19th century imperialist, tycoon, politician and controversial visionary Cecil John Rhodes. Young Rhodes and his brother sold all they had to chase their dream of finding diamonds in South Africa. In1871 the brothers staked a claim in the newly opened Kimberley diamond fields, where Cecil was to make most of his fortune. In 1880 he formed the De Beers Mining Company.

Later, Rhodes devoted himself to the development of the country that was called Rhodesia in his honor (re-named Zimbabwe in 1980). He died in South Africa and was buried in Zimbabwe. Rhodes left nearly all his fortune to public service and education, thereby creating the Rhodes Scholars.