Cape Town 4

Wednesday was another full day of activities with a focus on learning about conservation along the Cape Peninsula.  First was an overivew of key environmental issues with Patrick Dowling from the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA).  WESSA focuses on conservation and education. 

We headed to Kalk Bay for World Wildlife Federation marine site visits.  This area is big with surfers and is also a hot spot for white sharks.  Surfers and sharks don't really have a good relationship, so surfers started training the locals who found parking places for people to spot sharks for them.  The surfers would all chip in to pay them.  Shark spotters now also help collect data for researchers.  We stopped by a shark spotter's stand to have a look for ourselves, but we didn't see any sharks, only surfers.

We enjoyed a presentation at the Save our Seas Shark Center by Paul Miller, and then went to explore the tide pools.



A piece of leathery kelp in my hand.

Gail picked up a sea urchin for me to hold. 

I took a few moments after lunch to run outside and snap some photos of these changing huts on the beach.

As I was taking pictures of the beach, this man wanted to pose for me.

I am fascinated by the women who carry their babies like this.  I can't figure out how the babies stay up.

When they think about African wildlife, most people probably don't think about penguins, but they are there, and I was really looking forward to seeing them.  We drove to Boulders Beach, home to a large colony of African Penguins (also called Jackass Penguins) and one of the few places where they can be seen at close range.

Penguins in action.

Craft sellers at Boulders Beach.  Sharon was a champion shopper.

Some local talent.



We ended the day back at the V&A Waterfront and a brief visit to Two Oceans Aquarium before dinner.