October 2013: A family holiday to the Western Cape and my son's first footsteps on mainland Africa. We flew into Cape Town and then drove the Garden Route, taking in the sand dunes and whales of De Hoop, the beaches of Plettenberg and the wildlife of Amakhala Game Reserve, before returning to the city.
Dusk over the dunes, De Hoop Nature Reserve, Western Cape. This is a stunning place and was the highlight of our trip. It feels otherworldly and despite the huts which you can stay in being fully booked, we saw very few other people
Eland on the dunes, De Hoop, dusk
Dawn view of the De Hoop Vlei – a landlocked body of briny water, also fed by freshwater springs
Herd of Eland, dawn, De Hoop
Rare Cape mountain zebra, De Hoop
Female baboon with sleeping baby
Bontebok, De Hoop
Eland, with accompanying flies
Harry, on the dunes, dusk
In the autumn, southern right whales congregate in huge numbers off the coast of the Western Cape. De Hoop is one of the best places on earth to watch these magnificent creatures from land
Whale watching, dawn, De Hoop
Misty dunes, dawn, De Hoop
Nic and Harry on safari, Amakhala
Adolescent male white rhino, Amakhala Game Reserve
Hartebeest, Amakhala
Oryx – or gemsbok, as they're known in South Africa
Defassa waterbuck
The road from Franschhoek to Theewaterskloof
Looking down on Franschhoek – wine country
African penguins at Boulders Beach, Cape Town
Cape Town, dusk, from Table Mountain
Camps Bay and the 12 Apostles, from Table Mountain
Table Mountain and the city centre
The 12 Apostles, with Camps Bay in the background
Khayelitsha, a township just outside Cape Town
