Much of my knowledge of South Africa prior to landing was from Apartheid-era politics so I know most cities from the political flashpoints that have occurred there and so one of the most surprising discoveries for me has been how stunningly beautiful Capetown actually is.

Everywhere you turn there is stunning scenery and beautiful mountains and in the week that I have been here it has not ceased to take my breath away.

I am staying in a small coastal town called Muzinberg and the picture here is from a cliff top looking over the coast as the sun has just set. This follows a 1 hour trek (which felt a lot longer!).

After telling some of the locals that I climbed Muzinberg Mountain I was sceptical when I was told that it was one of the worst views in Cape Town but I realised how right they were when I went to Cape Point Vineyard!

Every Thursday they do a food market here which was the purpose of our trip – in all honesty the food market is no better than the dozens that have popped up over London but the view is something you don’t get in Borough Market!

It’s hard to explain just how cathartic it is to be laid down ont he grass in the glorious sunshine looking out at this view with dozens others doing the same thing – for a few hours at least there is not a care in the world!

Then yesterday we went to Boulders Beach famous for a place where penguins naturally congregate in large numbers. As surreal as it is to be stood amongst hundreds of penguins it is the view of the sea in between two mountains which took my breath away.

As with all sites of such beauty it is a veneer to a certain extent – it’s impossible not to feel slightly uncomfortable at the sight in a 90% black country to see all these incredible sights being viewed only by tourists or local white people and I can’t escape the feeling that 20+ years on since the end of Apartheid that there are still two South Africas.

Having said that everywhere I turn there is breathtaking beauty and I can’t recall any place in the world I have been to where everywhere I turn I need to stop for hours just to stare at stunning scenery.