Cape Agulhas

Since arriving in Cape Town, hiking has become one of my favorite extracurricular activities. Fortunately, we are centered in the middle of a sandstone mountain range, offering plenty of opportunities to explore. Additionally, joining the hiking club at UWC has offered me the opportunity to travel outside of Cape Town and experience some of the most amazing hikes this country has to offer. This past weekend, the group embarked on a weekend beach hike to Cape Agulhas, which is located at the southern most tip of the African continent. We left UWC's campus on Friday and drove about 2 hours to a small village called Arniston. 

Arniston used to be a profitable fishing town, however larger fishing industries recently ran them out of business, forcing many into unemployment and poverty. In an effort to make a little cash, these former fishermen will rent out their extra rooms to traveling guests. A man by the name of Boeta John was kind enough (or crazy enough) to open his house to our group of 20 college students. He had only 9 empty beds, leaving most of us to double up in twin beds, sleep in tents, or curl up on the floor (thankfully we are not a picky group). Spending a weekend in such a simplistic and rural environment was quite refreshing. 

That next morning, we hiked 13 miles in search of our destination. However due to high winds, the normally placid South Africa beach was turned into a hectic sand storm, forcing us to turn back about 2km early. Regardless, the scenery along the way made the blustering sand winds worth the effort. 

Back at the house, Boeta John arranged a "braai" (AKA barbecue) and even grilled fish for us. According to him, its the best fish in the Western Cape, and I'd have to agree! After a long night filled with songs, dance, and stories; by the time the alarm sounded, no one was in proper shape for a strenuous hike. Needless to say, we cheated and drove the rest of the way to Cape Agulhas.