Explore More Magazine Summer 2019

14 VIKINGCRUISES.CO.UK |

14 VIKINGCRUISES.CO.UK | SUMMER 2019

TRAVEL PHOTOS: © I-STOCK Before leaving our safari guide, Phumlani, stressed that we should keep our voices down, and that if a snake falls in our lap to click our fingers and he will remove it. I glanced around horrified, only to realise I was one of the last to get that this was a joke. Pumba Game Reserve is 6,500 hectares, double the size of Tala so there are more miles to travel. Yet just 15 minutes into the safari we spotted a majestic white lion lazing by a tree. Then we found a pride of lions. The king was tucking into fresh prey while the lioness hungrily waited for her share. The male always eats first, Phumlani told us. We were lucky to see many animals, including kudus, giraffes, impalas, buffalos and a hippo. As we headed back to enjoy a lunchtime braai (South African barbecue), we suddenly spied an elephant family. The mother stayed back in the bushes, but her eightyear-old had more bravado and we delighted in seeing him pluck the grass with his trunk and munch it contentedly. With Cape Town as our final stop, we were always going to end this extraordinary cruise on a high. With Cape Town as our final stop, we were always going to end this extraordinary cruise on a high Savouring my breakfast blueberry smoothie on the World Café terrace opposite Table Mountain is a moment I shall never forget. After taking a trip to Table Mountain for the must-see view of the panoramic city scape, we meandered around the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront and visited the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa – the building’s architecture is a work of art in itself. At lunchtime we nibbled on a seafood platter watching the boats pass through the Marina Swing Bridge and paused to take in the live African music filling the air by the fairground-like Cape Wheel. The Cape Town excursions included a trip to the inland town of Stellenbosch for wine tasting, and another that offered Table Mountain & Signal Hill Sundowners in the late afternoon. I’m glad I headed back to Viking Sun though, as I think my private sundowner moment from the infinity pool topped them all. Clockwise, from above: seeing so many giraffes was an unexpected treat; guests can visit South Africa’s vineyards to taste delicious local wines; the African Trading Port by the marina in Cape Town; seafood was a culinary highlight SUMMER 2019 | VIKINGCRUISES.CO.UK 15