Raisins in the sun.

We have arrived in Cape Town. Our last days of driving included long distances, high heat and some surprises. Here are a few of them.

This beautiful Steenbock stopped for a moment, just long enough to take a photo. Most of the time when we saw them they were on a darting run through the shrubs and grass. Being the smallest of the antelopes, they are regularly targeted by the predators. They really are not much bigger than a large rabbit.

Arriving at the Orange River region, the presence of water made for a dramatic change in the landscape. There were grapes everywhere!

The land was still barren and dry, except for any land within reach of the irrigation canals. This region produces over 40% of all South Africa's wine.

There were such beautiful green colours all along the highway. It was "eye candy"!

Augrabies Falls was such a pretty sight. Unfortunately we were not able to give it our full attention. The afternoon temperatures had risen into the low 40s but because the area consisted of granite, the rock held and magnified the temperature. It was just too hot to fully appreciate the wonder of this lovely place. Augrabies is the sixth largest falls in the world.

                            This colourful lizard is only found in the area of the falls.

At first we weren't sure exactly what was going on when we observed the action pictured above. In fact this area is a large producer of Sultan raisins and what we were witnessing was the process of spreading and drying the grapes.

As they dried, they changed to a golden brown colour. The smell of raisins was everywhere.

                                              Such sweet beauty after so much desert!

      Believe it or not, this shot was taken as we passed a double semi trailer load of grapes.

             You never knew when you would come across the next lovely bird.

                                                  Some were very reflective.

                                    So pretty, this just had to be included.

       Salt pans along the road were being harvested. Huge piles of salt lay ready for export.

Leaving the Orange River, we again rolled through countryside that was greatly in need of moisture. Game farms of ostrich, antelope and zebra, were interspersed with cattle and sheep ranches.

                           Truck loads of sheep often held up the tourists.

Suddenly before us lay thousands of acres of wheat and canola, spreading as far as we could see. The crop had been harvested recently and the region looked so prosperous.

Dropping into a valley as we entered the Western Cape, the land before us took on the emerald shades of paradise. Grapes and citrus grew in such abundance it was like entering a new world.

Oranges, lemons and limes were carefully tended in imaculate groves, their brilliant green leaves shining brightly in the heat of the African sun.

                  And before us lay Table Mountain the iconic emblem of Cape Town!

We will have a few more days to enjoy the warm hospitality that Africa has embraced us with. It has been such an enjoyable, educational and humbling experience.