I made it all the way to Gaborone, Botswana from Cape Town today.

I woke early so I could meet with Nadia Smith from Stellenbosch University, in the Western Cape. We met last year at the SCGIS meeting in California. At the time she was with Peace Parks Foundation, now she is working toward her PhD. involving remote sensing (satellite and aerial captured images of the earth) applications. We had coffee at the airport, and discussed the “state of GIS” in South Africa, as well as ways we may be able to foster a chapter of SCGIS (www.scgis.org) for the Western Cape area. (South Africa is too big to get a single chapter going…)

I was also able to donate an Student Edition of ArcGIS 9.1 to The University, on behalf of The ESRI Conservation Program.

Made the plane to Jo’Burg, and then one to Gaborone… Kyle Good, from Cheetah Conservation Botswana, picked me up, and within one hour, I was greeted by a beautiful, purring Cheetah.

There at the Mokolodi Nature Reserve, they have two tame Cheetah living in a protected area as part of their education and outreach work – see their website for more about this fantastic and meaningful approach to practical solutions for a species having significant challenges to it’s habitat – www.cheetahbotswana.com – what a greeting I had… (and one of the friendliest and hassle-free international airports I have ever passed through – seems like Santa Fe, and so does the place). They also received a copy of ArcGIS 9.1, the “awards ceremony” pictured below…

I had my first Ostrich that night, prepared by an experienced chef, and  I must say it was quite good, and did not taste like Chicken!

I got here almost a week ago for some much needed rest, and to sort out gear, email, and the logistics for the rest of the trip. Two of the days, one on each end, were dedicated to just that, which gave me three days to have a look around… Tour day one featured a day loop down to Hout Bay, and then Cape Point, in Cape Peninsula National Park. I’ll let the pictures do most of the work here…

Latitude 34.24 Longitude 18.30!

Yes, Ostirch!

I had my running gear with me, so I took a nice long run – I liked the feeling I got running along the coast where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet… I was deep in thought when I came upon some baboons! I drove back up the east side of the cape, and back to town. This entire day was a treat for the eyes.

Next day was Sunday – I was going to find a church to visit, something I like to do in foreign lands, but I decided to go on a slightly different quest, still connected to my sprit and passion…
Robben Island, the prison where Nelson Mandela was held for (I think) 27 years. The main waterfront has a museum dedicated to the anti-apartheid struggle, so I started there. Here are several pictures of some of the posters that were (illegally at the time) distributed through the years. Also included are some photos of the photos they had up – I really liked how comfortable they were with me taking pictures. They clearly want people to know about this time in South Africa’s history.

This last photo captures the same feeling that I see in the famous US photo from Kent State… Very interesting museum.

Then we boarded a ferry for the short trip out to the island, in all about 120 people on the tour. Wow, they are still good at processing people here! In very short time, we were boarded onto four buses for a tour of the island itself, each bus with a very knowledgeable guide.

First prisoners, 1960’s

This was the hole in the quarry where the prisoners were able to talk freely, unbeknownst to the guards… it is said that this is where South Africa’s new government was formed…

…Then we entered the prison, and the mood shifts dramatically to somber… Our guide for this segment is a former political prisoner, who for about 30 minutes, shares his story about what life was like here. There were about 30 of us in this room.

Two white South African men on the tour, their wives by their side, each spoke-up and shared what it was like for them during the 80’s and early 90’s. They had two mandatory years of government service, which meant that they were charged with enforcing apartheid. This was a very moving time for everyone there, and I sense that those guys got a just a little closure on some feelings they have carried for some time…

Then we saw the famous courtyard, and Nelson Mandela’s cell…

Freedom!

Very interesting time here for me. I was following the news of the day with interest back then, and it was good to see these places. It seems to me we westerners don’t experience much African history or news…

Next day, I just moved around the area, talking pictures and shooting video – suddenly I saw a shop that rented surfboards… and that was it… Yesterday I got to surf in the Atlantic, in (for me) heavy surf, and this morning a much gentler day in the Indian Ocean…

On the conservation side of my work, I met with two groups here – more on that later!

I leave for Botswana in the morning… so here’ my last (for a while) sunset from Cape Town…

What a day. Up at 3:30 am, and in Cape Town by 16:30, one hour time change west. I’ve gone from 3 degrees south, to approximately 33. From the air along the way, a nice view of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

I also saw Harare, Zimbabwe, and a good deal of Kruger National Park, South Africa as we descended into Johannesburg.

“You’ve been in Kenya & Uganda?” asks the Immigration officer… “Please present your Yellow Fever vaccination document” – which had been strategically placed in my desk drawer at home…  I was able to reach the airport medical services, and get an immunization (for a price), and make my way into South Africa, clear customs, and recheck my bag for Cape Town. A few hours later, I’m in a right-hand drive car, headed into town in search a place to stay and some rest time. I end-up in Camp’s Bay, just south of Cape Town proper. Very nice, small seaside community Here’s the view from my place…