Embrace Winter in the Wilderness
Location: Alaska
Location: Alaska
The image of Cape of Good Hope used to come from National Geographic photos or Discovery expeditions, but now you can conquer it too. Standing at the southernmost tip of Africa—Cape of Good Hope—thousands of miles away, you can breathe the freshest air on Earth and witness the breathtaking spectacle of the warm and cold currents of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans converging. Perhaps only at Cape of Good Hope can you truly grasp the meaning of boundlessness.
The Ends of the Earth
Cape of Good Hope is a rugged promontory at the southernmost point of Cape Town, South Africa. On the road from Cape Town to the Cape, the Table Mountain range surrounds the highway, and the sky is an intoxicating shade of blue, like a transparent magic mirror. Once inside the nature reserve that encompasses the Cape, you’ll find an unprecedentedly pristine landscape. The rust-colored, uneven ground is dotted with low shrubs, while wild ostriches stroll leisurely along the roadside, occasionally joined by baboons or African spiral-horned antelopes leaping across, eliciting gasps of surprise from visitors.
Accompanied by the sound of crashing waves, a massive promontory jutting into the Atlantic Ocean comes into view. The seawater is as clear and pure as the sky, free of any impurities. Though there’s no soft sand on the shore, the area is covered with colorful pebbles of all sizes, smoothed and polished by the sea. Huge reefs tilt out of the water, as if challenging the ocean itself. You can either climb up the steps or take a small train—either way, you must make your way to the top to appreciate the stunning scenery from the highest point. From the hillside, look down at the emerald waves lifting white foam, crashing toward the shore in overwhelming surges, accompanied by earth-shattering roars. It feels like standing at the bow of Africa’s ship, facing the wind and waves as you sail toward the southern tip of the Earth.
Pro Tip: At the summit of the Cape of Good Hope stands an ancient lighthouse, its base painted black, serving as a guiding beacon for navigators and explorers. Or stop by a souvenir shop along the mountain road to buy a postcard, stamp it with the “Ends of the Earth” postmark and seal, and send it to a friend.
Warning: The baboons near the Cape of Good Hope highway are not to be trifled with—they’re outright bandits when it comes to snatching things and dangerous predators when they attack humans.
Paradise and Cape Town
Unlike the rugged rocks of Cape of Good Hope, Cape Town offers a completely different atmosphere. With its blue skies, blooming flowers, and wine estates, it’s one of the few enchanting vacation destinations in South Africa with a distinctly European charm. The picturesque Cape Winelands’ Franschhoek Valley is home to the top-tier estate Le Quartier Français, where the tranquil surroundings offer couples on honeymoon a rare slice of privacy.
Pro Tip: There’s a scenic drive known as the “Garden Route,” a coastal highway stretching over 500 kilometers eastward from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth. Every section of this route hides breathtaking views.