SAClips

Robben Island Cape Town Double Swim with Dolphins

Graham was accompained by a school of wild Dusky dolphins while completing this magic long distance endurance swim from Robben Island (the former prison of Global political icon Nelson Mandela) to Cape Town and back again (The Robben Island Double), one of only a handful of long distance swimmers to complete this particular swim. The swimming distance was approx 15km and it took place just off the south coast of South Africa in the cold, shark infested waters of the Atlantic Ocean, against the backdrop of Cape Towns most awesome Table Mountain. Time approximately 5 and a half hours. This swim has been recognised by the CLDSA Cape Long Distance Swimming Association of South Africa. This particular swim was recognised by various international news channels, including Carte Blanche, Africa's flagship magazine and actuality programme as an epic achievement, pushing human spirit and endurance to the limits. Graham was nominated by Out There Adventure Magazine as Out There Epic Adventurer of the year 2009 and quoted as 'having achieved one of the toughest extreme events in the world'. The first leg of the swim between Robben Island and Blaaubergstrand was completed with swimming companions Dr. Otto Thaning and James Saunders. The spontanious decision by Graham to turn around and complete the double swim 'carpe diem' resulted in the most awesome of human experiences. Completing this swim accompanied and 'pulled along' by such incredible animals truly was a magnificent experience, which touched those on the boat and reiterated for me the magnificence of our great oceans. At a critical stage of mental and physical exhaustion, five wild dusky dolphins swam side by side with me for about a mile, gently weaving their way under me, next to me and in front of me and it certainly felt like they were enjoying themselves. I completed the swim exhausted but exhilarated and have felt on a high ever since.

dolphins  dolphin  swim  robben  island  graham  long  distance  grindley-ferris  swimming  cape  town  open  water  ocean  extreme  adventure  outthere  epic  endurance  achieve  table  mountain 

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Added: 150 days ago by SAClips

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"An Island and a Mountain" Carlaandmike's photos around Cape Town, South Africa (western cape)

Preview of Carlaandmike's blog at TravelPod. Read the full blog here: http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/carlaandmike/2/1266915783/tpod.html This blog preview was made by TravelPod using the TripAdvisor™ TripWow slideshow creator. Entry from: Cape Town, South Africa Entry Title: "An Island and a Mountain" Entry: "We dropped the van off on Tuesday -- and we were a little sad to see her go; she served us well. But starting Tuesday night we have been staying at a studio apartment in Cape Town with a SWEET view of Table Mountain. We are within walking distance of everything so we don't have to spend money on transportation which is great. Tuesday night after unpacking we sat out on the balcony and watched a TV commercial being made in the Company Gardens below. TV work is tedious it seems because they kept doing the same scene over and over. The apartment doesn't have A/C but in Cape Town you don't really need it -- it's hot during the day but at night it cools off and there is always a breeze. The planetarium is right down the street so on that first night we went to a night viewing which was very cool -- the astronomer on duty showed us how to pick out different constellations in the sky. There is a great vibe to the city -- very multi-cultural. Yesterday morning we walked around the Company Gardens taking pictures of adorable school kids. Then we headed to the Waterfront where we gorged ourselves on fish and chips while listening to various performing street artists. The main event of the day was hopping on a ferry to Robben Island, the prison where Nelson Mandela spent the majority of his 27 years imprisoned. The ferry ride is beautiful -- and also very windy. What really makes you think when you get on the Island is how cruel the location was -- every day the prisoners could look and see clearly Cape Town -- their home -- essentially freedom -- was very clearly visible. In fact, almost all of the pictures of Cape Town for tourist brochures are taken from Robben Island. The tour is led by ex-political prisoners who were also jailed at Robben Island. Here's a telling fact: the political prisoners were jailed in the maximum security prison; the rapists, murderers, and armed robbers were jailed in the medium security prison on the island. And of course the prisoners at the medium security prison had more rights/liberties than those in the maximum security prison. Another fact: the quarries where the prisoners were forced to work caused physical ailments: asthma caused by asbestos, blindness - several prisoners became blind because the sun was so bright -- especially when reflecting off the limestone. Mandela has had several eye operations as a result of the long-term damage of working in these fields. Our guide pointed to one cave in the quarry where the men were supposed to go to the bathroom as well as take their breaks. To eliminate the stench all of the men agreed to go to the bathroom before they went to work -- so that the cave could be a true resting place. The cave was called "the university" -- because prisoners would teach each other english, math, as well as discuss revolutionary ideas. Mandela wrote his book A Long Walk to Freedom while he was in prison -- it was confiscated and burned once -- but another prisoner was able to smuggle it out when he was released which is how the book was published before Mandela was released. In fact, he used to hide it under the olive tree in the courtyard outside his cell (see the video). Our guide also showed us the individual cells -- including Mandela's as well as the group dorms that housed 60+ men. Another interesting fact: even in the political prison the apartheid system was enforced. There were no white prisoners on Robben Island -- but there were coloured. And the coloured prisoners got more food and better clothes than the black African prisoners. Crazy -- but perhaps an overall strategy to divide and create ..." Read and see more at: http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/carlaandmike/2/1266915783/tpod.html Photos from this trip: 1. "Another View of Cape Town" 2. "Mandela's Cell" 3. "Leaving the Harbor for Robben Island" 4. "View from Back of Ferry" 5. "World Cup Soccer Stadium" 6. "The Rock Quarry" 7. "View From Robben Island" 8. "Robben Island Light House" 9. "House Arrest Jail" 10. "Fences" 11. "Mandela's Cellblock" 12. "Behind Bars" 13. "Flag Pole" 14. "On the Rocks" 15. "Next Stop: Table Mountain" 16. "Almost There" 17. "Flower Along the Way" 18. "Nearing the Top View of the Atlantic" 19. "Carla and the Balanced Rock" 20. "At the Top" 21. "The View" 22. "The View 2" 23. "The View 3" 24. "Greene Point Soccer Stadium" See this TripWow and more at http://tripwow.tripadvisor.com/tripwow/ta-0101-4704-83c0?ytv4=1

flag  pole  waterfront  cape  island  mountain  town  western  south  africa  trip  slideshow  tripwow  tripadvisor  photography  vacation  photos 

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Added: 268 days ago by SAClips

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Mainstay Vintage TV Advert - 'Mauritius Underwater' 1984

This is an original, vintage Mainstay advert from 1984. Mainstay is South Africa's pure and original white spirit originally created in the cane fields of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Launched in 1954, Mainstay shot to national status in 1967 and to this day, it's as special to our country as tequila is to Mexico. There's nothing quite like the unsurpassed quality and smoothness of Mainstay to enjoy great company, lift your spirits and transport you from everyday life. We invite you to live an island-style inspired adventure and escape from the mundane as you reward yourself with the taste of the South African legend that is Mainstay.

Mainstay  TV  ad  ads  adverts  80s  eighties  old  south  african  cane  mainstay  white  spirit  vintage  film  advertisement  1980  advert  classic  entertainment  africa  yacht  yachting  sandy  beach  island  life  tropical  paradise  fiji  holiday  diving  snorkeling  scuba 

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Added: 359 days ago by SAClips

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Cape Town, South Africa - One of the Most Beautiful Cities in the World! (Vlog #50)

Watch me explore this amazing city! From Table Mountain to Robben Island to the wineries of Stellenbosch and more! --- Music by ANSANE

cape  town  south  africa  robben  island  camps  bay  beach  ocean  bo  kaap  bobotie  wine  tour  tasting  vineyard  township  langa  penguin  colony  simmonstown  nelson  mandela  table  mountain  waterfront  kirstenbosch  gardens  world  cup  2010  travel 

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Added: 359 days ago by SAClips

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Vista Point CAPE TOWN South Africa

VPG-DVD-155 - CAPE TOWN Located on the southern edge of Africa and lying at the foot of Table Mountain, the metropolis of Cape Town is certainly one of the world's most beautiful cities, an exciting combination of Africa, Europe and the Caribbean. In the park-lined Government Avenue and Queen Victoria Street there's a wonderful collection of well-restored Victorian houses and the Anglican St.Georges Cathedral is where Archbishop Desmond Tutu protested against Apartheid. Part of the historic harbour is the Victoria And Alfred Waterfront. In 1860, Prince Alfred ordered construction of a new harbour basin, followed by the Victoria Basin that contained two watchtowers. Today, the whole of the old port is an internationally-styled entertainment and shopping complex. The two large water tanks in the harbour's Two Ocean Aquarium contain around 3,000 examples of sea life from the Indian and Atlantic oceans. In the adjoining South African Maritime Museum there are examples of the city's historic ships, its fishing industry and details on the construction of its outstanding harbour. Robben Island is situated 11 km. off the coast and in the 16th century the Dutch used it as a prison. During apartheid, political prisoners were incarcerated there, the prison's most famous inmate having been Nelson Mandela who spent 18 years of his 28 year sentence on the island. After the closure of the prison, in 1997 the South African government opened both the island and its former prison to the public. Thus the face of Robben Island changed from being a place of terror and suppression to one of pilgrimage, a symbol of resistance and also a major tourist attraction! The Cape Of Good Hope is the southernmost tip of Africa and since1936 this section of the Cape Peninsula has been a nature reserve. Cape Town and its environs are completely different to the normal expectations of Africa. No desolate bush land reaching to the horizon and no life-threatening wild animals. But it's certainly another remarkable and beautiful dimension to South Africa's magnificent Garden Of Eden!

CAPE  TOWN  South  Africa  Robben  Island  travel 

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Added: 683 days ago by SAClips

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