And more Cape Town

November 1, 2025

Today was a very full day of activity. We started with a hike up the Lion Head Mtn because we will hike Table Mtn at the end of the bike tour. I only went about 2/3s of the way up because after that you had to climb ladders and use chain ropes to assist with the hike. I wasn’t too worried about going up but rather coming down due to my lack of flexibility. I still had a good workout and saw all of the great views. Because it is Saturday the trail was very busy consequently Robert and Jeannette only went 90% of the way due to long waits at the ladders. There were many paragliders leaping off the mountain for me to watch while I waited for the other two.

While climbing the mountain we saw many running with numbers so I asked if there was a race going on. Yes there was and it is called the 3 Peaks. It happens every year on the first Saturday in November. There are 3 races the longest being 50km where one person climbs Devils Peak, Table Mtn and Lion Head returning to the city after each. There is also a 33km where one only does the peaks without returning to the city each time and finally a 3 person relay. The long one has 2700m/8900’ of climbing while the short one has 2200m/7200’ of climbing over tough terrain. The race starts at 0530 and cuts off at 1730 hours so a maximum of 12 hours to do the whole thing.

Here is the link if you are crazy enough to want to try it next year.

https://www.threepeakschallenge.co.za/

After lunch we took the boat to Robben Island to tour the prison where Nelson Mandela was held prisoner for about 20 years. Our guide had his own fascinating story to tell because he also had been a political prisoner sentenced to 28 years at the age of 15. I don’t remember how long he served in total but at least 3 years were in the psychiatric wing where he also suffered from TB. He credited two physician fellow prisoners for saving his life. He is a very humble man dedicated to irradiating racism a cause that helps him heal many old wounds. This was my second visit and equally as moving as the first. This location is a MUST see when in Cape Town.

The Lion Head Mtn the top of which was challenging to reach.

Jeannette and me part way up with Table Mtn in the background.

Some of the lovely wild flowers on the trail.

A panoramic view of the coast to the east of Cape Town.

Up ahead you can see the trail with the chains to hang on to.

The first ladder on the trail. I went up this one but no further.

The Three Peaks race profile. These guys are nuts. The winning time for the 50km event in 2024 was by a woman in just under 7hrs

Another paraglider many of whom were tandems with paying customers

On the wall at the Robben Island prison.

The limestone quarry where prisoners worked with nothing but picks and shovels.

Looking back at Table Mtn from the island.

There are colonies of endangered African penguins on the island.

A rack used to cane prisoners as punishment.

There is a statue of 6 political prisoners who were here. These are the left three.

The right three including Mandela and woman who was imprisoned here in the 1600s.

From Robert Sobukwe a political prisoner, founder of the Pan African Congress, was kept in solitary confinement for 6 years before being released to house arrest for the remainder of his life.

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