Chatham Hall in South Africa

On Saturday morning we checked out of the hotel and loaded up the bus bright and early to head to the De Hoop nature reserve. After a long and tiring four hour drive, we finally arrived and got into our rooms (wooden floors and bunk beds- it felt like we were at sleepaway camp!) to change our clothes and get ready to head down to the beach. After a short presentation about the beach cleanup we would be doing that day, we drove another 45 minutes to the beach.

When we arrived at the beach, we were completely amazed by the gorgeous view of the Indian Ocean – it was the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen. We walked along the beach in small groups picking up litter, and I couldn’t believe how much we found – tires, bottles, glow sticks – it was disgusting. After we finished working, we walked over to the tidal pools and went wading in the Indian Ocean.

Tee-jay was unfortunately stung by one of the many small blue jelly fish swimming around, and the rest of us just barely avoided them. By that point we were very tired, and very ready to head back to the reserve for dinner. We ate, showered (warm water was unavailable ) and some of us went on a nocturnal nature walk (complete with a very exciting South African beetle sighting) while the rest of us headed to bed early. On Sunday morning we took a very beautiful, and very strenous hike up Potberg Mountain to the radio station situated there, and when we reached the bottom again we were very glad to have made it back down. 

We ate lunch, packed up, and headed back to Cape Town. We were very, very glad to see the cityscape once more. A few of us headed down to the waterfront for some gelato and shopping (our friends and families are going to love their gifts) and then back to the hotel for an early night. The weekend was fun and packed with some interesting and priceless experiences, but personally, I’m ready to get to bed.

More Later.

Jessica