Team South Africa is on their way!
Our team safely landed in Cape Town and begin our adventure! After arriving in Cape Town, we hopped on a chartered bus and drove 2 hours through the beautiful valleys and mountains of the southern region of South Africa until we reached our destination - Aquila Private Game Reserve!
What an incredible first evening we’ve had at Aquila Game Reserve! After a day of travel, our group was filled with excitement as we set off for our evening game drive.
As the sun began to set, we ventured into the reserve, where we were greeted by a stunning array of wildlife. We were lucky to see 4 out of the Big 5 today, including elephants, giraffes, rhinos, Cape Buffalo, zebra, lions, hippos, springbok and other amazing African animals. We finished the evening with a bonfire and marshmallows.
Tomorrow morning, we will wake up early for a morning game drive!
What a fantastic second day we’ve had! We kicked off the morning with a morning game drive at Aquila Game Reserve. After our wildlife adventure, we bid farewell to the reserve and set off for Cape Town via our chartered bus.
A beautiful chilly morning with clear blues skies welcomed us this morning. This time, one of our groups was lucky enough to spot hippos lounging near the water. At breakfast, we were even joined by a group of baboons!
Upon our arrival in Cape Town, we headed straight to one of the city’s most iconic landmarks—Table Mountain! We took a cable car ride to the summit, soaring 1,000 meters above sea level. The panoramic views of the city and coastline were absolutely breathtaking, providing a perfect backdrop for some memorable photos.
To wrap up our day, we enjoyed a delicious dinner in the lively Waterfront district.
Today was a deeply enriching day as we delved into South Africa's modern history. We began our morning with a ferry ride to Robben Island, a former political prison where Nelson Mandela was held for nearly 18 years. After our visit to Robben Island, we returned to the mainland and headed to the District Six Museum. After the museum, we headed to an African drum lesson!
We started the morning with an early ferry ride across a rough sea. Once there, we toured the former prison where Nelson Mandela was held for 18 years. Our guide, a former inmate, shared personal stories that gave us a understanding of the struggles faced during apartheid. We visited the cell where Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners were held.
After our visit to Robben Island, we returned to the mainland and headed to the District Six Museum. This museum illustrates the vibrant history of the District Six community and the impact of forced removals during apartheid. It was a powerful experience that left us reflecting on resilience and hope.
After our eye-opening visit to the District Six Museum, we had the fantastic opportunity to participate in an African drum lesson! Our group gathered excitedly as we learned to play the djembe, a traditional drum known for its rich, vibrant sounds.
Under the guidance of a skilled instructor, we discovered the rhythms and techniques that make drumming such an integral part of South African culture. It was a joyful experience filled with laughter and collaboration, as we played together and created a lively atmosphere!
We finished off the day with a tasty dinner at the Waterfront, where we celebrate James' birthday!
Today, we started on first Service Day, where we spent the day picking weeds, composting and planting crops to help out the organization "Love in a Bowl". We ate lunch along the beach and then returned to fields to finish off a rewarding day off hard work!
We started early, boarding the bus and driving along the stunning coastline toward our destination. Our first stop was Maiden's Cove, where we paused to take in the breathtaking views of the ocean and mountains.
After a productive morning, we enjoyed a delicious lunch of fish and chips by the beach. The weather was perfect for a friendly game of beach football. We even had some time for a little shopping in the area!
We returned to Love in a Bowl to finish our afternoon work. To wrap up the day, we shared a great dinner together.
Tomorrow, we’ll head back to Love in a Bowl for more hands-on activities. We can’t wait to continue this meaningful journey!
Once we arrived at Love in a Bowl, we rolled up our sleeves and got to work farming and tilling crops. This organization grows vegetables to help feed the most vulnerable children and elderly in the Cape Town community, and it was felt good to contribute to such an important cause.
Today marked our second Service Day with Love in a Bowl, and while it was a chilly and windy day, the activities kept us warm! We started the morning by making doing some more weeding and farm work, followed by by making sandwiches for vulnerable children, ensuring they had a nourishing meal to enjoy.
After preparing the sandwiches, we hopped on the bus and traveled to meet the children.
Today, we focused on weeding, harvesting lemons, moving hay and preparing delicious snacks for the children who we would meet later.
We also had the chance to learn how to make a marimba, a wooden percussion instrument, that we would donate to the children later.
After preparing the sandwiches, we hopped on the bus and traveled to meet the children. Once we arrived, the energy was electric! We played games, shared laughter, and even had a chance to play instruments together. The highlight of the day was presenting them with a marimba—a traditional African instrument that we crafted earlier. It was a rewarding moment, and witnessing their excitement was heart-warming.
Note: we have decided not to show many pictures of the event to protect the privacy rights of the children.
Today was an action packed day of surfing, seeing African penguins, kayaking in Cape Town's canals and enjoying our last dinner in the famous Gold Restaurant!
Today was an action-packed day filled with adventure and culture! We kicked off the morning with an exhilarating surfing session. The waves were perfect, and it was amazing to see everyone catching their first waves and having a blast in the water!
After drying off, we headed to Boulder Beach to visit the charming African penguins. Watching these adorable birds waddling around was a delightful experience for all, and we got some fantastic photos to remember the day.
Before dinner, we enjoyed a scenic kayaking adventure through the picturesque Cape Town canals. Paddling together, we took in the stunning views of the city and the surrounding mountains while navigating the man-made canals of Cape Town.
For dinner, we made our way to Gold Restaurant for a truly unforgettable dining experience. We indulged in a fourteen-dish tasting menu of traditional African cuisine, each dish bursting with flavor. Throughout dinner, we were treated to face painting and captivating performances, including vibrant dances, songs, and shows that showcased the rich cultural heritage of Africa.
Friday is a travel day back to Macao!
We arrived back in Macao after a long journey and an amazing week in South Africa! It was a week of new experiences, laughter and a few obstacles that we managed to overcome together. Mr. Adank, Ms. Sherriff and Ms. Li are so happy to have been a part of this amazing Experience Week with this amazing group of students! To all the Seniors, we will miss you so much!
The End...