We set off mid-morning from the cottage and headed back towards Cape Town along the R44 coastal road, making our way to Betty’s Bay, which was high on Rachel’s list of places to visit. We arrived just after mid-morning and decided to visit the main beach first to stretch our legs. We parked in a small lot, unsure of what to expect, but after a short stroll over some sand dunes, we were greeted by a vast expanse of white sand in a beautiful bay, which we mostly had to ourselves. We spent just over an hour walking up and down the beach. I could’ve easily stayed there all day, but we had more to explore.
Our next stop was Stony Point, which intrigued us both. A few years ago, it was home to 1,600 pairs of African penguins, which are found only along the southern coast of Africa and Namibia. Today, fewer than 900 pairs remain due to both man-made and environmental impacts. The penguins were smaller than I expected, but they were still absolutely fascinating to watch. Though not very active in the midday heat, they were mostly resting, but it was still delightful to see them. Further along, we found a colony of cormorants who seemed to have claimed the rocky peninsula as their own.
We ended up chatting with a group of travelers, who, after learning we were heading east, recommended a few places to stay and things to do. Interestingly, our trip seems to be increasingly shaped by local recommendations—something I absolutely love! Afterward, we stopped for coffee at a local spot that was another recommendation. The coffee here is amazing, and it’s quickly become our main source of local intel.
Next, we arrived at the Harold Porter Botanical Garden, nestled at the foot of the mountains. The garden offered beautiful fauna, with trails leading into the foothills. We took a short hike to a lovely waterfall and had an unexpected encounter with a family of baboons feeding on the reeds. It was a little unnerving, especially since they weren’t the friendliest-looking mammals, and they had their young with them. We didn’t get too close, but it was still fascinating to watch them from a distance.
Dream Chasers 