A wonderful day spent watching African wildlife from the comfort of a jeep with a fantastic guide and friendly companions

I found Johannesburg to be a vibrant and fascinating city with neighbourhoods which varied in character. I stayed with a friend and heard first hand how she and her community are committed to the developments in South Africa.

and that's it...... the end of a wonderful adventure and months of discovery. Until the next town, Africa will remain in my blood and memories.

I spent my last day in South Africa and on this trip, taking local transport to Camp Bay and then walking along the coast before taking transport back from Hout Bay to Cape Town. Walking along this coast line which is still undeveloped in sections was a great way to get out of the city and into the fresh air.

Paarl is surrounded by mountains and vineyards and is set on the banks of the Berg River. Close by is the Drakenstein prison, from which Nelson Mandela walked to freedom on 11 Feb 1990. There is a superb statue of him outside the gates.

This is a most beautiful place at the foot of Table Mountain - 52,800 square kms of unique flora most of which is endemic to S Africa. The fynbos is the vegetation of the mountains and coastal plains of this SW Cape area. 'fine bush' - in Dutch.

It's been pouring with rain today and I've felt the heavy weight which comes with thoughts of the imminent end of my travels. I've tried to remain distracted by visiting the sights in this fascinating city which oozes with history and vibrance:

A visit to Robben Island has been something I have wanted to include in a trip for many years. Having read much about the various freedom fighters who spent time in the prison there, I was keen to see it for real. Had I imagined it correctly from the descriptions and narratives?

I decided to walk across the lower outcrop to the Cape of Good Hope. Here you can climb up onto the view point to see out west and up along the coast line to the north. It felt incredible to be at this point - a key navigation landmark on the trading route.

My first stop when exploring - a coffee shop in the Methodist Church. What a blast from the past!