Funtabulous Africa

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Exploration, adventure, the wilds and anything not plastic and artificial is beautiful, so surrounded are we by artifice and pre-digested pap. Unexpected adventure and amazement peppers the exploration of the beautiful and fascinating country of South Africa. The stunning weaves and wines, safaris through hills and water holes, hats and ebony art, is for me, a cut above the ‘socialite’ holidays of shopping Prada and Tom Ford, which are like eating out of Styrofoam for me.
Driving into Cape Town, the first dramatic visual is of the majestic Table Mountain, the backdrop to the entire city with its crystal aqua oceanfront, sloped roof homes, with ships and boats that dot the view. Nothing prepares for this dramatic vista that my room at the Table Bay hotel affords from the window seat — shores of an endless bluewater ocean with Robben Island (where Nelson Mandela had been imprisoned).
The local sights, sounds and culinary experiences on the picturesque waterfront, at the periphery of the Victoria & Albert piazza, peppered by Italian, Greek, even some French cafés — The Atlantic Grill at the Table bay, Table Bay Hotel’s Conservatory Restaurant overlooking the boating bustle of the working harbour, The Balduccis Restaurant, Belthazzar, Hildebrand — are culinary experiences.
The top of the mountain plateau by cable car, my mind nearly goes off to the cliff side of the Table Mountain to the amazing view from its plateau top with Cape Town, a kilometer or more directly beneath us — the sea, lakes, town, hills and ships, like a magnificent Canaletto painting.
There is actually an ostensible demarcation at the meeting point of the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic ocean standing at the tip on the Cape Point promontory. Gama Point, Trappies Cave and finally to the tip of the lighthouse to the ‘Two Oceans’ restaurant, jutting out with the ocean way below, I enjoyed the local fish delicacy — Kingclip, accompanied by South African red wine.
I thought nothing could top this experience until I am touring the wine district of Franschhoek and Stellenbosch, savouring wines through multiple tastings and tours of innumerable wineries that dot the countryside. It is here that I have my first sightings of the zebra, ostrich, wildebeest, cheetah and impala — though in a relatively tame setting.
The most unforgettable moments of my entire trip though are at the Game Reserve of Phinda amidst many magical ‘sightings’ on sunrise and twilight game drives and breakfasts and tea set amidst mountains and grasslands. It will stay imprinted in my mind forever.
The majestic, magnificent, dynamic male lion on a hunt for a Nayala; a river cruise is a unique setting for breakfast aboard the River Boat down the Mzinene River; the visit to a Zulu cultural village to buy some Zulu artefacts; canoe rides to explore fossil finds. All this accompanied by unforgettable sounds and smells of the African bushveld and uniquely delicious cuisine served at the fireside including “Mieliepap, boerewors en sous” maize porridge, sausage and sauce accompanied by ‘Morogo’, a combination of different types of green edible leaves, including bean and beetroot leaves and other traditional dishes.
Everything is picturesque, grandiose, even humbling in its proximity to nature. But then the natural world untouched is magnificent, exceptional and haunting.
Yet that is the beauty of life, every time you feel life has presented you with that ultimate beautiful experience, another one comes along to surpass it.

The author is a well-known architect and designer