Cape Town, The Argus, Johannesburg and the end of Africa - 21 Days 160km

Cape Town - Johannesburg

There was a day or two of celebration and an excellent dinner before I was invited (Thanks Nadia) for an early morning climb of the Lions Head. It was a bit of a climb but with the views and the excellent company it was well worth the effort.

I had planned on biking the route of the Cape Town Cycle Tour later in the day so the climb up the Lions Head was just warm up.

I had been told the the ride was very nice but it was spectacular. It was the best day of riding in Africa and quite possibly the most amazing day I have ever had on a bicycle. It had climbs, descents, twists, turns and all the time it was incredibly beautiful.

New York - Its not that far

I also visited the Cape of good hope along the way. It was a few extra kms but worth the effort, event if it did mean I got back in the dark.

So that was Cape town. There was great food, the night life on Long St outstanding and some of the best biking I have ever experienced. Throw in the fact the they love rugby, its relatively safe, cheap (even with the NZ$), the history and the friendly people and its a winner. It has all he best bits of Auckland, Wellington and Melbourne all rolled into one with an African twist. Its my favourite city in Africa and probably my favourite City in the world. I would say sign me up for a South African passport but I'm sure I could just buy one if I needed to.

From Cape Town I made my way to Johannesburg to visit Teddy, a friend from my days in the UK and to check out what is supposed to be one of the most dangerous cities in the world. It wasn't that unsafe, just follow the usual African rules of know where you are going, get a taxi if its at night and watch your stuff all the time. It helps that every house has a 8 foot fence outside their house usually topped with razor wire and after that there are bars on the windows and another security door to get into a house. Apart from that its totally normal - in African terms.

Africas tallest building the Carlton Centre

Ellis Park is in there, the scene of the 95 World Cup final.

Teddy and his nephew outside Ellis Park. Thanks Teddy, Conrad and your family for some fun times in the Republic. The Lions are now my S.A. team.

I watched the Lions beat the Cheetahs in a closely contested game. It was a fantastic venue with a beer garden outside and a place to you to Braai. 

I visited the Apartheid Museum but the only photo I took was this. It kind sums up the madness that was the Apartheid system. Its an incredible museum and it explained a lot of why South Africa is that way it is today.

During the visit I learned the significance of both Nelson Mandela and the 1995 Rugby World Cup final to the people of South Africa. I have previously read the The Long Walk to Freedom so I had some idea of his role in saving South Africa from civil war but after a visit to the museum I realised that without him the country would have torn itself apart.

Nelson Mandela Square in Stanton. Also home to a Ferrari dealership and shop selling Ferrari, Lamborghini and Aston Martin Furniture.

The Rugby World Cup of 95 also played a major role in bringing the country back together. it was the first time that everyone in the country supported any national sporting team. I watched a video of the crowd chanting Nelson, Nelson, Nelson before the beginning of the game began and it was very emotional. I still remember exactly where I was watching Joel Stransky kicking that drop goal. That loss still hurts (I will never watch Invictus) but the All Blacks did have their revenge in 96. However it had a far greater impact in saving a nation that it would have ever have had if the All Blacks had won.

The legacy of Apartheid still remains in South Africa and its hard to believe that this existed just 20 years ago. Its past still has a profound effect on the way it is now but I do think that of all the Africa countries I visited South Africa has the best chance of becoming a prosperous nation for everyone who lives there. There is still a long way to go but it has a chance where most other African countries have none.

So that's South Africa. Its not a place to be scared of at all. Its an incredibly beautiful country with amazing people and many great places to visit. I had many ideas of what it would be like before I went there but none of them were true. Its relatively safe if you are careful and follow the same basic rules you would anywhere else in Africa. 

Would I live there? In a heartbeat but only in Cape Town and only if I had a job - These are very hard to come by in South Africa.

Finally I couldn't end this without showing this. It sums up the good and the strange that exist in South Africa. The bad you will have to ask me about.