Accessible Journey

Accessible Journey is a blog dedicated to sharing travel experiences, tips, and insights from a walker user's perspective, offering guidance on how to explore the world with accessibility in mind.

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Langa and Khayelitsha | Cape Towns Raw Reality.

To fully experience tourism in South Africa, I went to eat regional food, talk to locals, and visit some of the areas inhabited by them. After a trip to Bo-kaap, a neighborhood with vibrant South African traditions, I went to a suburb of Cape Town called Khayelitsha and Langas Museum. Khayelitsha is primarily a region where visitors will experience city life away from the tourist traps and see Cape Town from a different perspective - natural, raw, and what's important - the unjust consequences of Apartheid. It is one of the largest and fastest growing districts located in the Western Cape, South Africa, on the Cape Flats. The history of the area dates back to the 1980s and the Apartheid era. As the 2011 census shows, 59% of the total population of Cape Flats, of which Khayelitsha is only a small part, was made up of Coloureds and 34% Black Africans. 

"Walking tours are a great way to explore the neighborhood and learn about its history" you can read on Cape Town's web page. For sure, you can… but if you are a person without mobility impairments. If you are a person with disabilities, forget about amenities, and prepare for fatigue because the trip is challenging, and the best solution will be to rent a driver who knows those districts. Don't ever think that it's a completely safe area with amenities for people with disabilities. It is challenging, but worth your time and effort to visit those places. At the end of the day, I would call this experience, Tourism 2.0. By visiting Langa and Khayelitsha you won't experience visually effective things, but you will experience African culture in its raw form, reality without beautifiers, genuine perspective then fake, artificial 'reality', and lastly - a great lesson about humidity!

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Two Oceans Aquarium | Explore Cape Town’s accessible marine life.

Sunday, hot weather, and I nearly burnt the wheels off my walker to get to the next place on my ‘things to see’ list. Such was another day for a disabled tourist. Fortunately, I was helped by kind people who gave me a lift in their car. Thanks to them, I was in time for the Waterfront's Two Oceans Aquarium. After munching on a meal from McDonald's eaten inside Two Oceans Aquarium, I was ready to explore a bit.

Firstly, you may ask - why did you decide to visit this place? The answer is simple - because of the huge variety of marine life - more than 8,000 animals from South Africa's oceans. It is worth noting that the southern tip of the African continent is the meeting point of two mighty and abundant oceans, the Indian and the Atlantic. From the small and downright fantastic Knysna seahorses to sea turtles to schools of shimmering fish, sharks, and even penguins.

Another big plus for me was the infrastructure. In the large bodies of water, you could watch the fish as if you were in art galleries or on a big screen in a cinema, spending the whole day sitting in a comfortable chair and admiring the marine life. There was also an impressive tunnel that allowed people to watch the marine life that swam in the tanks right above our heads.

This is a good time to talk about accessibility and infrastructure. For people using walkers - I didn't find significant drawbacks. In any case, several of the exhibition tanks are quite high for wheelchair users, so this can cause visibility problems. The display rooms were generally quite spacious, but there were exceptions in the form of quite small rooms with lots of tanks. My point is that I was not there in peak season, but in November when there were no large crowds to prevent free sightseeing. I remember from past experience, as a wheelchair user, that it is difficult to observe an art gallery, from a seated perspective, for example, when there is a squeeze and visibility is obstructed by crowds of people. Don't think that everyone is generous and will extend a hand in emergency situations.

Overall, I found no more drawbacks. The facility during my visit had great infrastructure that allowed me to almost fully enjoy this amazing experience. The area inside the aquarium was not bumpy and I had no problem getting to the next floors of the building.

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Cape Town City Pass and accessible Hoho bus.

I bought the 5-day tour as a physically disabled tourist moving with the help of a walker. The tour was well worth the price and I have no regrets! The map of the tourist sites was so intuitive that even I had no problems navigating and getting around. During these 5 days, I visited several places, explored the city while driving, and enriched my photo album. My only regret is that I didn't catch the Sunset Bus, because as I mentioned - the sunset in Capetown is mesmerizing. Anyway, I enjoyed similar attractions twice on this trip - Sunset Cruise, and Signal Hill. 

As for the pass, it allows you to bypass queues for several attractions included in the City Pass and is the only option that offers a free hop-on hop-off city bus ticket. Personally, I like the flexibility that the said pass guarantees, allowing me to choose from 80 of the most popular attractions, tours, and things to see and do in Cape Town. You can read on the official website that admission to the 80 attractions is free. In my case, only a few of the places I visited were completely free, more were paid or discounted.

The Hoho bus was well-equipped - there was a wi-fi point on the board, a first floor of the bus allowing you to take delightful photos during the journey and listen to the commentary (the driver gave me free headphones). By boarding such a bus, one has the opportunity to explore the city and enjoy the unparalleled beauty of Cape Town without getting off the bus or getting off at any stop to visit tourists in the city. Depending on the number of attractions that the city ticket gives access to, each owner can decide on their own schedule and plan their own day. 

At the entrance of the double-decker Hoho bus, there was a ramp for tourists with medical conditions to help them get on board. Of course, it is probably impossible for a wheelchair user to get to the first floor, but even on the ground floor, it is decent. As I've already mentioned, the City Pass map has been laid out so that almost every place worth seeing is easily accessible.

It is worth pointing out that, despite the opportunities that the aforementioned ticket provides and the superlatives I have outlined - the advantages of the City Pass and the Hoho bus in terms of accessibility do not always equate to the affordability of the terrain of the chosen tourist destination. After leaving the Hoho bus and the ‘temporary ecstasy’ and the illusory belief that if it was so comfortable on the bus, it would be everywhere - our assumption is quickly thwarted by harsh reality. Personally, I didn't have much trouble getting to the remote corners of Cape Town and navigating, but I got around using a walker. I know from my own autopsy that transport for wheelchair users is a bit more complicated and requires advance planning. If you would like to learn more about the specifics of the city and avoid being surprised by the bumpy and hilly terrain for a long time, I invite you to read my articles on tours in South Africa.

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Bo-Kaap | Cape Town’s Colorful Gem

A district in Cape Town whose tradition dates back to the founding of the Dutch colony on the Cape of Good Hope in the 17th century. From the very beginning, Bo-Kaap was a multi-ethnic and multi-lingual community, inhabited by people from South and Southeast Asia. The ancestors of these people were called Cape Malay. What sets Bo-Kaap apart from today's Cape Town architecture is its strong Muslim roots and the uniquely exotic color scheme of the houses, with brightly colored houses and pastel colors. There are many mosques and museums I'd like to see, but above all, let's talk about accessibility.

The place is mesmerizing, a pastel city with a picturesque landscape in the background and many treasures - sounds cool, right? So listen to what I'm going to say now - Bo-Kaap is not accessible to people with even the slightest physical disabilities. It's a shame because there's a lot to see there, but I think the terrain inside is difficult even for fully fit bodies. Narrow and cobbled streets, hilly terrain, scorching heat, a few photos, and fatigue - this is my experience of Bo-Kaap. Fortunately, I was forewarned before going to Bo-Kaap and hired a car with a driver, which enabled me to take a cursory tour of the area. I must say that even a short stay there is well worth the time spent!

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Essential Tips for tourists intending to visit South Africa.

This article is more about planning a trip to South Africa, my personal advice as a traveler with disabilities, and conclusions on the most important aspects for people intending to visit South Africa. If you are planning to visit SA in the near future and currently you are hesitating, because you didn't find answers to your questions, then this short article should brighten up your mind. Additionally, if you are a person with a disability that is concerned about accessibility, or safety standards - this article should help you clear up any doubts.

1) Internet - You can buy a physical internet sim card from Vodafone on the spot (violet pin on the detached map) which is popular in South Africa. You can also buy E-SIM before your trip and activate it a day before the flight. If you are a person who likes to postpone things to a later date and days before the trip it occurs that your E-SIM card is not working then relax - not everything is over. If you are deciding to rent a hotel room in one of those popular tourist areas like Sea Point, Green Point, Water Front, Hout Bay, or in the city center, then you can be nearly sure that your room will have wi-fi access just like some restaurants close by or even Hop on hop off bus.

2) The weather in Cape Town, where I spent most of my time during 3 three-week long trips, was generally warm and a few times even stifling hot. I wasn't there in the peak season which is December - March and the weather then can be 35+. I was there in November, that's beginning of Summer and the weather was for 80% of the trip about 17 celcius degrees in the morning, 25+ in the afternoon, and about 15-20 in the evening. Still, it all depends on the region that you plan to visit - I remember that during a walk along the Sea Point promenade on a warm day, it was so windy and chilly close to the ocean that I wore a jacket. The same situation with Table Mountain - I walked there on a warm day but at the top of the mountain, there were winds. Winds that can be cumbersome, especially in the late afternoon/evening. That's why you should take an additional jacket and keep it in the backpack, if you want to experience the sunset, for example, in comfort. Another thing that you should be aware of is sunbeams. Like I said a few times in my articles - it's so easy to get burned in South Africa even if the temperature is about 25 celcius degrees. Take sunscreen, glasses, a hat, and a jacket everywhere you go, despite the weather! Tip of the day - a jacket in your backpack can work as your protector against the sun :)

3) Finances/currency - Don't take physical money with you if you are going to Cape Town. Instead of this - take a credit card. In each shop I visited during my stay in SA, there was a card terminal that allowed me to pay. I can recommend you use a Revolut card. It's a cantor and internet bank in one. It really saved my ... time, effort, and nerves, of course, many times. It allows me to quickly exchange my national currency for Rands, which is the currency in South Africa. Don't think that you will buy something in Euros. Anyway, if you need some time to withdraw money from an ATM, you can easily find one. If you need to withdraw money then there are a lot of ATM's in Cape Town. Remember that most of them will take a fee but there are some spots, like this on the second floor in Sea Point Checkers, an international ATM so you don't need to worry about your pocket. There are areas of Cape Town where prices are low but if you are a tourist who didn't earn Euros, and plans to live in a tourist area like Sea Point then you should start to respect numbers.

4) Shopping/prices - Prices in shops are reasonable. For example, according to my Revolut app, I paid 560 Rands for big groceries in Spar, and the average shopping there was 180-270R. On the other hand, in Checkers in Sea Point, you will pay for average groceries 270-315 R but remember that it is bigger than Spar, it has its own vine shop, and of course more supplies you will find there. If you are a beer lover then you should visit Sea Points Checkers liquor store - a 6-pack of milk stout is about 100 R.

5) Traveling/Accessibility - If you are a traveler with mobility barriers, like me, then first of all - just forget about traveling alone or you will end your trip exhausted in a short period of time. There are areas in Cape Town where the terrain is QUITE smooth and pavements are of bearable quality, like Sea Point promenade, or Waterfront. Still, remember that Cape Town is a city at the foot of the mountain, so the surface of the terrain in the range of a few meters can vary from flat terrain to hilly where in my case that simple walk was closer to mountaineering and extreme sports, than relaxing sightseeing. Hilly and bumpy terrain that is independent of infrastructure can be a big pain on the a... unless you have a plan, and know specifics about the city. Additionally, pavements in some areas, are obsolete, and completely not adapted for people in wheelchairs. Since the streets in some areas are so narrow that it is almost impossible to fit with a walker, I'm curious how it would be with a wheelchair. After a day of "climbing" on Cape Town's pavements and hilly terrain, I realized that it had no sense to hassle my muscles and I decided to pay for someone to pick me up by car every day and help me to see my planned destinations, either in town or outside of it.

If you aren't traveling alone then there shouldn't be a big problem. There is still an option to rent a car, and it would be much cheaper than renting someone from a tourist agency. Another great and energy-saving solution that allows you to visit places you plan to is Hop on hop off the bus. Cape Town City Pass is cheap, taking into account how many things you can see in Cape Town without a big effort. There's wi-fi on the board and a nice ramp that should help wheelchair users. If you want then read my article on Hoho bus and City Pass. Uber in Cape Town is quite a good option, fast and efficient. If you are a person with a disability who wants to visit SA and want to save time, money, energy, and nerves then I will recommend you to read my short articles about accessibility during my trips from November 2025.

6) Culture - I've said already about finance, and saving money, but... just forget what I said and don't skimp on tips in restaurants, local markets or anywhere you are. Remember to be a decent human being at first, then eventually about savings! I was concerned at the beginning about mobility in Cape Town, or if I could manage somehow with groceries. In the meanwhile, I heard about crimes in South Africa and... I bought flying tickets and a flight of 14k kilometers from home. The people there are just great! I didn't even expect this amount of positivity and benevolence in a culture with such a depressing and injustice history. There wasn't a problem if I asked locals for help in passing the road. Journeys teach a lot and help to dispel myths! Maybe that's right what Seneca said Fears outweigh real threats and we always suffer more in imagination than in reality.

7) Safety - In every society, there are rotten apples. It is not possible to predict crime. However, it can be remedied - be respectful, kind, and generous to everyone. Remember, if you finally decide to visit South Africa, that you aren't in your own home! There are zones in South Africa where danger can be bigger than in others. For example, zones like Hout Bay, Sea Point, Green Point, and Waterfront are generally safe places for tourists. As I had been reading before my trip - there is still thievery comited on tourists. Personally, I didn't experience this during my stay, just don't provoke stealers with fancy clothes or an expensive camera hanging on your neck and you will be fine... for 90% ;)

To sum up, those were 7 factors that I was concerned about before my journey. I had been reading a lot about the specifics of this country in forums and when I was writing those words I was more than 2 months from the South Africa trip, after hit with reality and I must admit that I must go there again in the near future. Besides the aforementioned tips, you need a little bit of courage and determination and you are up to go. Now you shouldn't be postponing planning, chin up and just remember The devil is not so black as he is painted.

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South Africa's Culinary Scene | From European to African Delights

During my trip to South Africa, I visited a few good quality restaurants, wineries, and places where you can drink a beer or eat some mouthwatering dishes. Below there is a short list of places where I've been to during my trip to this country. As always, I added Google Maps to make it easier to navigate. Anyway, on my map there are still just a few places where I went during my 3-week stay and can recommend. There were, of course, restaurants almost in every place that I've been to like Cape of Good Hope and Table Mountain but I chose only those exceptional ones. On the other hand, gastronomy was an important factor during my stay but sightseeing was more important than food. Maybe next time I will focus more on gastronomy than sightseeing.

Ariel's Modern Italian - That's funny, right? Being in Africa and starting my recommendations from an Italian kitchen. I just love Italian dishes - I don't have a better excuse! I admire the simplicity and taste of most of those dishes which is an important factor for a person with disabilities who wants to eat in his/her home something tasty but health conditions like bad manual skills can't allow him/her to do something that consists of many ingredients. On the other hand, Ariel's was the first restaurant that I visited after a long flight. Anyway, if you are an Italian dish lover then you should visit this place. Believe me, you will thank me. I was there just a few times because of priorities, but every time I left this place with my taste buds so happy that makes me want to come back more often. There are a few things on the planet Earth that I can pay for even big amounts, but if you want to save money then you should watch out for too much comfort, limit or cut back on little and sometimes redundant things that you could live without because it kills our pockets the most. Remember that this restaurant is situated in the tourist-oriented zone so prices would be different than in, for example, the Woodstock area. Anyway, that one is still affordable! The restaurant is situated on the ground floor near Amalfi Boutique Hotel so every walker user/wheelchair can easily manage to drive in, without any favor navigating because the object is wide, not cramped. Food is definitely not the only advantage of this restaurant. Well well-designed interior, and a good atmosphere to enjoy your food are important as well. Fully-abled bodies don't need to think about infrastructure barriers or that disability is created by society as well. Unfortunately, or fortunately, they didn't have a huge variety of beers during my stay, so beer lovers will be disappointed that there's no crafted beer on the spot but huge of vines. If you are a true beer lover then go visit Woodstock Brewery and try their testing of 8 different species of beer.

Constantia La Parada - Another place that will wake up your taste buds. Right from the start, this restaurant has a cool disabled ramp, so a big plus for that. Even a disabled person can dine at this restaurant, don't you think it's cool? Come to Europe and see what inclusivity, morality, humanity, civilization, values , and justice mean. No irony, just saying. It was worth flying 14,000 kilometers from home and spending 25 hours traveling (one way only) to have a 3-week break in a distant country. But back to the main topic, another plus is the huge menu of local wines and food stylized after different world cuisines. Remember that South Africa is famous for its good quality wines, so it would be a shame not to have a glass of wine from one of the most popular wineries. I encourage you to visit Stellenbosh Wineries - another place where wine lovers will find another treat. It was also an amazing view as you drove along these vast vineyards. Don't be ashamed of a possible hangover the next day! I call it tourism 2.0, where you travel and experience things by PARTICIPATING IN CULTURE, using more than one sense. A hangover is simply a result of tourism 2.0, something that helps you remember the trip for a long time. Of course, that's my own philosophy on tourism.

Local/regional food vendors - If you want to try some regional food then you should visit Jay's Kitchen inside Jojo market. Check out their Nigerian Jollof Rice - so flavorful, juicy, and spicy dish! On the other hand, if you want to really immerse yourself in the diversity of African dishes and try dishes from different sides of Africa while listening to live music and enjoying social life then you should visit Old Biscuit Mill. Very atmospheric and local-oriented market organized every Saturday - Sunday! In my case, I ordered Tanzanian beef Mishkaki, which is similar to European skewers. Another great experience or maybe a journey for my taste buds! If you are looking for dishes that have more South African origins, then at almost every African restaurant like Fatimas West African Restaurant, near Green Market, you will find pap. It is a traditional porridge/polenta and a popular dish amongst Africans. In the city center, there are lots of restaurants with pap in their menus, but the best one I ate was at Rands restaurant in Khayelitsha. Additionally, the driver that recommended Rands ordered Chakalaka - another South African dish more sosy and vegetarian that with pap and braai - South African barbecue, gave a great combination of tastes. And the last of them is Deux Freres restaurant in Stellenbosh. There you can drink a broadly popular wine but also order ostrich egg as a main dish.

I admit, I am a food lover and I haven't even tried the most popular dishes/snacks in this part of Africa, i.e. Biltong or Bobotie. Anyway, I leave the 'obligation' to experience these flavors to every 'follower' of tourism 2.0!

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Signal Hill: Accessible viewpoint with a rich maritime history

Chronologically, that was my last trip during my 3-week stay, unfortunately. With tears in my eyes, I drove up Signal Hill, a 350-meter mountain in the center of Cape Town. Before I flew to South Africa, I had planned my trip, but I had missed Signal Hill. Luckily, the driver said it was a place worth seeing. He was right.

In terms of terminology, Signal Hill was historically used to provide weather warnings, as well as anchoring ships to ensure they were properly prepared for the stormy weather in the bay. Today, it is the site of the daily noon cannon firing, slightly lower than the Signal Hill lookout, at Lion Battery, a paragliding launching point, a popular tourist attraction, and a place from which to watch the city skyline bathed in sunset.

It is almost fully accessible – ramps and “balconies” that allow you to see the city skyline from the hill, a fairly even surface. Remember, it's a mountaintop, so sometimes even good infrastructure doesn't guarantee accessibility, because factors like the terrain of a place are beyond the control of those responsible for it. An example is the large photo frames for tourists on the mountaintop. They are difficult to access unless someone helps you across the rocky ground. To fully enjoy the trips, we, the disabled, should learn parkour, dear disabled readers.

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World of Birds: Cape Town's Largest Wildlife Sanctuary

First of all, don't let the name fool you! Like me, you may not have even read that the full name of the facility is "Bird World, Wildlife Sanctuary and Monkey Park" and didn't expect anything more than birds on site. In my case, when I finally got there, I was in for a big surprise. There were various species of wildlife on the large grounds. Over 3,000 birds (and small animals) from 400 different species were presented in a unique way in over 100 spacious, landscaped aviaries, allowing for the most intimate closeness to nature. I was really amused by the size of this "largest bird park in Africa" and the variety of animals I saw there.

The situation there was similar to Kirstenbosh National Botanical Garden - a difficult area almost impossible to explore despite the relatively good infrastructure. At least this time I was not alone. Without the driver assistant, I wouldn’t have been able to walk the narrow paths, open the heavy wooden doors in the bird sanctuary, or walk deeper into the park on the bumpy, hilly terrain because I’d probably be sick of exploring after 20 minutes. I know that this difficult terrain is a Cape Town thing that no one can get over, but when it comes to “accessibility,” the interpretation of that word varies from attraction to attraction. As a walker user, it was a pleasant experience for me, but even with assistance, it was exhausting.

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Mesmerizing views! | Waterfronts picturesque Sunset Cruise.

You can read on the organizer's site that it is not accessible for wheelchair users, and I can agree. The entrance on the board was really problematic, it was too small first of all. That’s not an accusation of course. It’s just life. Anyway, I can recommend taking part in this fantastic experience for Walker users. I had the opportunity to take part in this fantastic cruise just because it was free since you have a city pass. Anyway, during the trip you will see such mindblowing views that the regular price is worth paying.

Ok, so after some time of adjustments, I get on the board. For the next about two hours I was chilling in my seat, drinking champagne and taking photos delighted by the landscape in sunset composition. Mindblowing experience! I can recommend it for 101% for every photography enthusiast!       

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Easy! That's only a big cat! | Drakenstein Lion Park.

If Drake would eat Frankenstein… Cheap? Anyway, that park is a great initiative with a long history, first of all. Taking care of oppressed cats all around the world and making shelters for them are really valuable and worthwhile initiatives. Bubbles would appreciate it, for sure. As you can read at their site "Drakenstein Lion Park was established in 1998 to provide lions in distress with sanctuary, where they could live in safety, free from abuse and persecution".  So, on a sunny November day, I decided to visit this place and see if it was really nice like the owners wrote on their page.

The Park is situated on 50-60 sprawling acres of fit-for-purpose lion habitat in the scenic Cape Winelands area. It's about 45 minutes away from Cape Town, by car. The first thing that amazed me at the spot was the variety of different Lions, a total of about 25 big cats. Unfortunately, I didn't find enough energy to see all of these, but later. Every safety matter was maintained. Visitors can't feed cats and get too close to the solid fences. We were there at about 4 PM, so it was eating time for animals and probably the most exciting time of the day for visitors. It would be nice to see all of those animals in their graceful and wild nature while eating, but if the object would be more accessible. 

And on that note - let's talk about the infrastructure of this park because stunning wildlife needs properly exposed to be seen. Was it? Not necessarily when it comes to people with significant physical impairments. If the transition from one end of the park to the other wouldn't be a problem for people without disabilities, then rocky and bumpy roads inside can be a big burden for people with physical conditions. In my case, as a walker user, hard terrain stopped me from tourism after some time of „parkour”. The same, I think, would be with wheelchair users. If you decide to visit that place as a person with a disability on a wheelchair/walker then, after my visit in November 2024, I would suggest you take a strong accompanying person who helps you to drive threw terrain, unless you are a very good wheelchair operator.  

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I like your long neck! | Giraffe House, Wildlife Awareness Centre.

This name can make you wrong. It’s not only a park with giraffes, but a bunch of different species of animals like zebras, ostriches, crocks, and different kinds of monkeys on a 15 ha field. The Giraffe House Wildlife Awareness Centre lies 30 minutes of drive from Cape Town, so if you live near this area, I recommend you to visit this stunning place. For educational purposes, there are boards with information about every animal in the House. As organizers wrote on their official internet page "Most of the animals at Giraffe House form part of our wildlife education program. The giraffe, for instance, is the tallest land animal on earth, the eland is the biggest antelope, the blue duiker the smallest antelope, and ostrich the biggest bird".

Apart from the animals, accessibility is important from my perspective. There are roads for tourists inside the park but there are still bumps, roads are sandy and rocky and that can be a problem for wheelchair users. It is similar to South African trips like Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, and Drakenstein Lion Park. It allows visitors to see in real-life stunning wildlife/nature, but in the same time lack of good infrastructure or just specifics of any place cancels part of society from enjoying tourism. In some parts of park there are pavements, but there is also some bumpy terrain.

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Waterfront Cruises | A Relaxing Harbor and Canal Experience.

After being quite tense for days I decided to give my muscles to rest and do some cruises. I really love passive tourism, the kind of tourism that allows you to see some sights, but more in a relaxing atmosphere, without much movement. Especially when you after a few days of intensive journeys, want rest. Today when I know that it was a great day, full of new for me experiences I must admit that it was worth spending time at boats while regenerating energy. But one at a time…

My first stop was in Victoria & Alfred Harbour, Waterfront. First, today's cruise -open-air harbor tour was the one I was looking for a long time ago. I needed this chilling atmosphere, a slow-tempo trip that didn't burden my muscles while watching seals and listening to maritime histories. It’s a trip ideal for visitors, school groups, or anybody who would like a quick introduction to the city and the Waterfront. In addition, it is accessible for walker users for affordable prices with restaurants nearby. After about 25 minutes when the cruise was coming to an end, I felt insufficient. It was so a cool experience that I could continue it almost every day.

Not so far from the first cruise, I found a starting point for a canal cruise. There were a lot of similarities between those cruises. Stunning, more urbanistic than natural landscape, sluggish tempo of swimming, and of course kind and helpful crew. Our ship was this time an efficient water taxi between the CBD & V&A.  

Both of those cruises were accessible for walker users for sure. At the entrance, there were even platforms that led to boats. The crew helped me to get on board. Before the second cruise, my own folded walker was taken on the board. I'm not sure how it would be with wheelchair users. I don't think it's possible to get on the board with it because the entrance was narrow.

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Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens: A Challenging Paradise for Mobility-Impaired Visitors.

Have you got green fingers? Me neither. Anyway, you can visit this place even if your gardening skills are below average. The name of this garden was used for the first time in 1795 by the British occupying forces, but its origin is uncertain. Anyway, it started to work in 1913. It lies on an estate that covers 528 hectares and supports a diverse fynbos flora and natural forest. The place is situated on the eastern slope of Table Mountain. Today, it is claimed as one of the greatest botanic gardens in the world. 

It is nice place to have a picnic, so you should reserve a lot of time for the trip. 

The pavements inside the park are of good quality but the terrain is so hilly that I saw maybe half of this garden and exhausted went back home. Tip for disabilities, if you are a lone tourist, like me, then bear in mind that wheelchair/Walker users can find a problem. Better ask friends for help or buy a good quality electric wheelchair because there will be a lot of 'climbing' in front of you.

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Table Mountain: A Scenic Cape Town Wonder with Accessibility Tips

Besides that we have one in Poland, Table Mountian is also situated in the heart of Cape Town and allows you to see the city panorama from the top. But from the beginning… to get to the top of the mountain I caught a Hoho bus and then I used a Table Mountain Aerial Cableway to get to the top of the mountain. During the journey uphill you can listen to the guide's amusing comments, but in my case, I was conversating with a German family about the bad effects of the sun rays on the skin. Do you know that Table Mountain, which is home to the richest, yet smallest floral kingdom on earth, was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2011. The 57-square-kilometer area comprising Table Mountain and the Back Table is home to more than 1470 floral species, many of them endemic to the area. 

Generally, the trip was amazing. The weather was great, it was a sunny day but on the top of the mountain sometimes it can be windy. Be aware of this but still - don't forget to use your sunscreen. 

 

Tip for disabilities, pavements at the top are bumpy and narrow. It is understandable that it is still a mountain, so everyone should be prepared for hilly terrain, but hilly terrain means something different for non-disabled people and something else for people with disability. If you are decent wheelchair/walker operator then you shouldn't be afraid. The best option will be to take someone who can assist you in case of physical impairtments. In my case, I didn’t see all the mountains since it was too exhausting for me. Fortunately, there are nice "balconies" at the top so it allows you to see the panorama and allows you to enjoy the picturesque landscape.

After two hours long at the top of the mountain, time for an epic selfie and tasty dinner at the restaurant at the top of the mountain, I was filled with food and experiences, so I decided that it was enough experiences for one day. As for the restaurant, you can also use their free wi-fi and send pictures to Mom or post them on Instagram. That's cool, right? Excited, with some memories I came back to my hotel, so I can recharge batteries for another trip.

[accessiblejourney]

Boulders Beach: Where Wildlife Meet Universal Accessibility

Imagine, 25+ celsius degrees, a sandy beach surrounded by trees and bushes, and all of a sudden, Penguins. Rare view, right? For those who were geography buffs, African penguins aren't probably a novelty… I wasn't one of them. It was a mystery for me like during my childhood - where does mr/mrs from Polish Kyosk make a pee?

So, besides nice, uncommon views for me, the trip was an accessible experience. Once you leave the ticket office, you can go directly to the pier leading right down to the beach with the penguins. The walkway itself is a great convenience for penguin watchers and wheelchair users as it is solid and wide. Price was affordable this time but remember to use sunscreen or wear long-sleeved t-shirts because sunbeams take no prisoners... also beach sand during windy days.

To sum up, from today's perspective, 3 months after my comeback I realized that it was the most accessible trip in South Africa that I've been to during my 3 weeks stay.  

[accessiblejourney]

Cape of Good Hope: Through history, nature, and challenges.

Yes, I only knew the place from geography lessons and never even thought for a second that I would ever visit it. Even today, almost two months after my trip to South Africa, it still sounds like an abstraction to me. The trip to the Cape of Good Hope, located at the southern tip of the Cape Peninsula, was very important to me because it is a historically and geographically iconic place. 

As a reminder, there is a common misconception that the Cape of Good Hope is the southernmost point in Africa. In fact, it is located about 100 miles to the southeast, at Cape Agulhas - the official meeting point of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. The marker located at the Cape of Good Hope is a little more fanciful - it is the most southwestern point of the African continent. As for the etymology of the Cape of Good Hope's name - it was first discovered by Portuguese sailor Bartolomeu Dias, who named it ‘Cape of Storms’ in 1488, but soon it was renamed Cape of Good Hope by King John II of Portugal.

Despite the controversy and myths that have grown up - it would have been a huge shame for me if I had not seen the Cape of Good Hope during my stay in South Africa. To get there I hired a driver from a local tourist agency, as the site is located outside Cape Town. On the way to the Cape of Good Hope, there was a chance to see baboons, zebras, or ostriches, which, undeterred by the presence of tourists, strolled along the road. I guess that for people in African countries, the sight of these animals crossing the road is a normal everyday occurrence, but for a European tourist, definitely not. And that's another reason why to visit South Africa.

As for accessibility matters, I didn’t spend there a lot of time, but visited only Cape of Good Hope, because the terrain didn't allow me to visit Cape Point Lighthouse and take Flying Dutchman, so don't take it as a representative, full of details review. The terrain was hilly which enabled me to see more than a board with the name of the place. Bumpy terrain was the biggest barrier during my South African trips. I took a picture, went to the toilet, bought souvenirs and unfortunately, they took 100% of the ticket. I finished my Cape trip with a decent meal in a local restaurant, paid in rands like a local and we headed to another destination. To sum up, that trip wasn't worth its price because of bellow-average accessibility but on the other hand, being in South Africa and not seeing Cape of Good Hope is like being in Italy and don't eat pasta. 

[accessiblejourney]

Cape Towns Serene Beauty: Sea Point and Green Point.

Even if you are a physically disabled person with movement impairments and want to see some mindblowing views, join a very climactic trail for walkers, joggers, and people who are looking for tranquillity, and contemplation of nature, then Sea Point promenade is for you! Don't expect to see some monumental sculptures - it's not about that!  This is an oceanside trail, which starts in Sea Point and ends in Green Point. Unfortunately, I didn’t see the sunset in this picturesque and mesmerizing landscape, but I can recommend waiting for it – the views are mesmerizing during this time of the day! Check out my article about the sunset in Signal Hill, or Sunset Cruise to verify my opinion. 

Somewhere at the end of the See Point area, I dived deeper into Green Point. Exhausted after little effort, I decided to take a break and take a break in Green Point Park. Did you suspect that Green Point is green? Such a refreshing experience. Especially tourist-oriented areas of Cape Town and big parts of the South African landscape are very natural and clean with lots of greenery. Just like in GP park, so naturalist.

Nostalgia reminds me of this sunny November day in Cape Town whenever it's below 0 degrees Celsius in Poland. Memories of this sea breeze, subtle winds and fresh feeling of greenery that characterize this oceanside area, make me miss this place already. 

If it comes to accessibility remember that pavements and their quality vary in different parts of Cape Town, For example in Green Point pavements are quite decent in quality with no bumpiness because of hills nearby, with almost no bumpiness or hilly areas like in the center of Sea Point district, so even wheelchair users can enjoy his/hers trip while the sea breeze subtly tickles his/her… What!?