Crime dodging in Cape Town: is it safe to travel?

"See my friend over there?"

We don't look. This is a well-known pick-pocketing technique; instead we fix our gaze in the direction we're walking. Just another guy pestering tourists for money.

"Don't run or he'll shoot."

Or not. I freeze and look at Matt, unsure whether we should give the guy everything we've got, ignore him or make a run for it.

"Give me your phones and money."

Shit. I have my iPhone and several hundred rand.

Hermanus hideout: 3 day sea life retreat

Hermanus might not have a lot going for it above ground, but what it lacks on dry land it certainly makes up for in marine life. Here's how I spent my time there:

Onshore whale watching

With lookout points, carefully positioned benches and even its own whale crier, the cliff path along the Hermanus coastline is designed for watching the Southern Right whales which frequent the area between June and November each year. We were initially a bit worried we wouldn't see much as someone working behind reception said they'd seen just one whale all morning, but we went out armed with binoculars and cameras anyway, and oh...my gosh. 

Keeping busy in Cape Town: things to do

It's safe to say that Cape Town is one of my favourite places so far, up there with New York and Rio de Janeiro. CT is such a beautiful city: lush green landscapes, dazzling whitewashed houses, bright white sand, shimmering blue seas and iconic mountains - what else do you need? It's going to be a struggle boarding my plane home...  

The plan was to recuperate after nine day's worth of camping, squat toilets and bumpy bus rides, so I've spent two full days on the gorgeous beaches down the West coast. On the days I've managed to tear myself away from the sand, here's what I've been up to: