Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Goodmorning!
Exactly a week ago today I arrived in Cape Town as my first stop in my journey, and it has been GREAT. Got to do and see so much, and mostly because of the fact that I am couchsurfing. I had a great time on Wednesday when we hiked up St. James Peak, and the view of Cape Town was amazing.
Last time I wrote that I still had 2 hands and 10 fingers. At the moment it is 2 hands and 9 functioning fingers.. And it all happened on the day I went diving with the Great White Sharks!
The morning started very early, namely at 04.00 hrs.. I was picked up from my house, and together with 12 other people we were driven to Gansbaai, THE place to go shark cage diving. When we arrived we had to sign a form agreeing that in case of death it was not to blame to the company, and contact details of who to inform, etc. etc. I must say it definitely sets the mood!
At 08.00 am we got into the boat and out on the ocean. We passed an island flooded with seals, and you realize than why there are so many sharks here.. When the anchor was lowered, everyone put their wetsuits on and the cage was lowered into the water, so that everything was set in place once the shark(s) came. I first spotted a baby seal swimming right next to our boat. A minute later, about 100 meters away from the boat, something JUMPED out of the water, right where the baby seal was supposed to be swimming.. I screamed SHARK to the rest of the boat, and right after that the shark jumped twice more out of the water, and than all was gone. It was like nothing had happened! Except the world had 1 baby seal less..
After this 1-on-1 nature event, it took a very long time for sharks to come to the boat. A few times they swam around the boat or passed it, but none of them stayed to linger, and there was no point to get in the cage. Finally the boat lifted its anchor and tried one more time at a different side of the island. When we got there, there were 2 more shark cage diving boats, and we could see from a distant that sharks were 'attacking' the cage when going after the bait. So we found the right spot! 6 Of us, including me, got quickly into the cage. And WAUW. I think the time I spent in the cage, so amazingly close to (3!) white sharks, was the most epic of my life so far. I was mesmerized. I could not get enough. Seeing them pass by so calmly in front of you, as if he is looking at you with his beady eye.. Wauw!
At the same time the crew members on the boat are trying to get the sharks as close as possible to the cage by constantly throwing bait out in front of the cage, and than pulling it in when the sharks come near. And it works! I must say it is very easy to accidently stick hands and feet out of the cage, and as they can come from left, right, front and even below you that is not so comforting..
All together the whole experience was epic, and by luck I got to go in the cage twice, but I still didn't have enough. I could have stayed hours and days just looking at these animals. But unfortunately it was time to go back. When I arrived at the house, I grabbed for the keys, and while doing that I jammed a piece of glass right up my right finger. Apparently I can survive a day in the water with white sharks, but I can't stand a glass cut in my own finger, so I was happy my host came home right after me to find me laying on bed, working hard on not passing out. Prepared as I was I had my first aid kit with me for patching me up. The next day my finger was taped, and it was stupid not to go for stitches right after it happened. But I will end up with a nice v-shape scar, just like the size of a tooth of a white shark...
On Friday we hiked up Table Mountain from the Skeleton Gorge trail, apparently a 6 hour hike. Sure, no problem.. But I must say it was a lot of fun and not as hard as I first thought. We climbed about 800 meters in 4 hours, and on the way passed a lake with actual beach sand halfway the mountain. Very strange indeed. We reached the highest point of the mountain, 1082 meters, and go to see Cape Town in full, which was amazing as well. After the highest point its another 2 hour walk to Table Mountain where the cable car took us down after another great day.
In the evening I went to a club together with another host, and on Saturday afternoon I went with my host to Biscuit Mill, where there is a food market every Saturday. It was probably the best market I have ever been! The food was great, all locally produced and organic.
In the evening my host invited me to a party in a penthouse in the middle of Cape Town centre, and that wasn't so bad either! Met a lot of new friends with whom we will probably go ice skating in the evening today. I might even go check out a rugby game, as next to cricket it is THE sport of South Africa.
On Monday I take the Bazbus to Hermanus for 1 night, and hope to spot some whales. Tuesday and Wednesday night I will be in Plettenberg Bay, and Thursday night I will spend in Port Elizabeth. On Friday I will be picked up by people from the hostel at Addo, the Elephant Park, where I will be working for about 2 weeks probably. Lots of exciting things happening again!
Thanks for travelling along via my blogs, and will speak to you all soon :)
- comments
Any i can die if I saw a shark! Super djandra!
Diandra The Giant scares them away, muahaha!
marjet Hoi hier eindelijk slome mol, goed verhaal weer! Wel echt iets voor stoere dd om een dag met haaien te zwemmen en het supervet te vinden, maar dan je vinger dramatisch open te halen aan een stukje glas :p maarjaaa om vervolgens 6 uur te hiken met zo'n zere vinger, respect ;) heb vandaag nog niks gehoord, lig je nog uit te brakken? :p xxxx
Corina Hoi zussie, wat een heerlijke verhalen! Geniet, doe voorzichtig en stel je niet zo aan ;-)!!! Als ik nu aan Nicky vraag waar tante Didi is zegt ze; Afrika, als ik dan vraag wat je daar aan het doen bent zegt ze; zwemmen met haaien :-) Succes met je busreis morgen en spreek je snel weer. Kus van ons!