This is Table Mountain. We visited a farm that is situated behind the iconic Table Mountain in Cape Town.
A happy Friday to all and I hope that many will have a great weekend. Many might not know about the famous and historic Table Mountain, and I will introduce it here below.
Can you believe that 4.2 million people from all over the world visit Table Mountain every year?
Table Mountain (Khoekhoe: Huriǂoaxa, lit. 'sea-emerging'; Afrikaans: Tafelberg) is a flat-topped mountain forming a prominent landmark overlooking the city of Cape Town in South Africa. It is a significant tourist attraction, with many visitors using the cableway or hiking to the top. Table Mountain National Park is the most visited national park in South Africa, attracting 4.2 million people every year for various activities. The mountain has 8,200 plant species, of which around 80% are fynbos, meaning fine bush. It forms part of the Table Mountain National Park, and part of the lands formerly ranged by Khoe-speaking clans, such as the !Uriǁʼaes (the "High Clan"). It is home to a large array of mostly endemic fauna and flora.
You can see much more of Table Mountain from the sea side at this safe site. Source
Our reason for visiting the farm, is that it is well known for it's wild birdlife that I will show you now.
This is a Red-faced Mousebird (Urocolius indicus) with its berry score. Check that long tail.
Early morning and the sun was just clearing the mountain range. It was our first power cut of the day, and I will never sit trapped in our home during a power cut. Too much beauty is waiting outside in nature :)
Here below is a Klaas's Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx klaas). Only the second time that I get one on camera and his song led me to him.
Our little champion singer, a Southern Double-collared Sunbird (Cinnyris chalybeus) was also on the stage.
Here below is a different look at the back of Table Mountain on the skyline. A cable car ride to the top of the mountain will show you all of this and also the whales in the ocean. Big Dolphin pods and other sealife can also be seen and there is even a nature reserve for hikers.
On with the birds and this is a Cape Bulbul (Pycnonotus capensis).
Look! Someone was playing peek a boo, by peeping at me from behind the bulbul at the front :)
And finally, I was trying to get a plane on the moon, but it was early morning, and the light was too bad for distant shots.
Now, check this out. We receive scheduled power cut notices on our phone, and this is what it looks like now.
Thursday evening: 22:00 - 00:30
Friday: 06:00 - 08:30, 14:00 - 16:30, and 22:00 - 00:30.
We have things a bit better in Cape Town than the rest of the country, due to our Steenbras dam Hydro-electric system. It cuts the stages from stage 6 to stage 4, when the rest of the country is constantly on stage 6.
It is Winter here now, and very cold at night so spare a thought for those that sleep outside in the streets. A dire situation, as there is also a scarcity of food for the unemployed masses. And many times, little children have to go to bed hungry.
Such is life, and at Papillon we do what we can to help.
I hope you have enjoyed the pictures and the story.
And That's All Friends.
Photos by Zac Smith-All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon Powershot SX70HS Bridge camera.
