Baboons on the Cape!

We had been warned multiple times not to keep food on us and to watch our bags as we exited the bus, as the locals tend to get real frisky if they see something they want! By locals I mean baboons! The way the guide was talking about them, I figured there would be a pack of baboons swarming the bus as we pulled into the parking lot. I was a little disappointed, but somewhat relieved when there was no sign of them as we got out of the van. I have heard that baboons can be pretty vicious! Especially when you’re invade their territory!

We hiked a short distance up to the lighthouse at the edge of the cliff. The surrounding mountains and blue ocean water were breathtaking. Looking down at the waves crashing against the cliffside was incredibly fulfilling. I could have watched those waves all day. I love the ocean!

As we were making our way along the mountain to the Cape of Good Hope, we saw two baboons! Real live baboons in their natural habitat! As excited as we were to see the real thing out in the wild, I can’t say I was feeling butterflies and rainbows. They were not tiny creatures. One of them walked down the side of the mountain with his fleshy colored booty up in the air before we neared him on the trail. The second one was sitting on the edge of the cliff, clearly with an attitude. One girl was posing for pictures within just a few feet of him. She was clearly uncomfortable being that close. The girl taking the pictures kept trying to get her friend to more closer and to get the baboon to look at the camera. Neither of them were interested. Rob and I squatted down for a photo with him and then, giving him a little space, stood back and watched him. He didn’t pay much attention to us. A few minutes later he chased down the girl and her two friends who had taken the photo with him. She looked pretty unnerved. The baboon looked like he was playing a game with her and he won. It was hilarious to watch, but I would have been just as terrified if he had come after me like that! Those were the only baboons we saw. Maybe the others didn’t see anything worth coming out for, either way I am glad we saw the two that we did!

A few minutes later we turned around and there were three ostriches about 150 feet from us!! I was dumbfounded! First baboons and now ostriches – talk about one heck of a day! This small town girls mind was blown! We ran to get closer! Ostriches are the tallest, most awkward-looking birds I have ever seen. Their necks were half the length of their bodies! I loved the few little feathers coming out of their bald heads; like bald babies just beginning to get hair. Crazy flexible, funny looking birds. They were so fun to watch.

The last highlight from the day was standing on top of  The Cape of Good Hope. Never thought we would be living in South Africa and here we are standing on the most South-Western point of the African continent! That to me is an amazing reality. We had a fun-filled day with so many unforgettable surprises. We find more reasons to love South Africa all the time!