Die Kaapse Toer is al vir baie jare ‘n hoogtepunt vir elke graad 7 van Laerskool Aliwal-Noord. Die tyd het aangebreek en op die 8ste September vertrek die busse na hulle eerste bestemming. Veilig in Oudtshoorn en almal rus lekker na ‘n lang dag op die pad. Dag twee en reg vir hulle eerste besoekpunt, die Cango Grotte. Afrika se grootste vertoongrotte en een van die Sewe Wonders van Suid-Afrika. Wat ‘n belewenis. Daarna besoek hulle die Cango Volstruisplaas en leer meer oor volstruise en kry die geleentheid om hulle te voer. Hulle volgende bestemming was die Krokodilplaas, waar die graad 7’s ‘n groot verskeidenheid dierspesies kon sien, onder andere leeus, ‘n luiperd, ‘n wit tier, miniatuur seekoeie, vrugtevlermuise en nog vele meer.

On day three they hit the road again to spend the night in Still Bay. On their way there, they visited the Redberry Farm to pick some strawberries and do the Hedge Maze. On their arrival in Still Bay the NSRI came to talk to them about water safety. It was a cold day but that didn’t stop the grades 7’s from swimming in the ocean. After a good night’s rest everyone was excited to drive to Cape Town.  World of birds was their first stop in Cape Town. On day five they went on a tour through the Castle of good Hope. A quick stop on signal hill for lunch and to enjoy the view. Table Mountain was their next destination. What an amazing experience to visit one of the Seven Wonders of the World that is in our country. Going on the cable car was a lot of fun. The cable car was completed in 1929 and the cableway was opened on 4 October 1929. The cableway has been upgraded three times since then.

Dag ses begin hulle hullle dag met ‘n bootrit en sien hoe die robbe in die see baljaar. Daarna besoek hulle die Two Oceans Akwarium en kry geleentheid om meer oor die oseaan te leer en die seelewe van naby te waardeer. Om so naby aan ‘n haai te wees was ongelooflik en sekere dele voel dit of mens onder deur die see loop. Die dag is afgesluit deur die V & A Waterfront te besoek. Vir die graad 7’s was dit lekker om deur al die verskillende winkels te loop en bietjie te “shop”. Dag sewe was verseker ‘n hoogtepunt by Cool Runnings. Dit was vet-pret en die onderwysers het net so lekker soos die kinders by daai bult afgekom.

Walking shoes on to start day eight by visiting Cape Point, the south western tip of Africa. It was a tough climb, but was worth it in the end. The view was breath taking. Day nine and their last day in Cape Town they visited the Cape Town Science Centre. It was a day filled with experiments and science games. Later that day the grade 7’s went to visit the Heart of Cape Town Museum at Groote Schuur Hospital. They got to see where the very first successful human heart transplant, led by Christiaan Neethling Barnard, happened on the 3^rd of December 1967. It was one of the greatest moments in medical history.

Dag tien en tyd om weer in die pad te val halfpad huis toe. Die graad 7’s kon lekker afkoel in die swembad by hulle blyplek in Oudtshoorn. Hulle het die aand ‘n lekker kompitisie gehad. Elke bus se leerders moes ‘n dans opvoer en die juffrouens het ook gewys dat hulle weet hoe om te dans. Na ‘n wonderlike tien dae is dit tyd om huistoe te gaan. Almal was baie opgewonde om hulle geliefdes te sien en in hulle eie bed te slaap.

What a privilege to go on such an amazing tour. Thank you to all the teachers, parents and sponsors that made this opportunity possible for each learner. It’s definitely a tour they would always remember and cherish. To 2024’s grade 7 class, a round of applause to you, all the tour guides at each site that you visited complimented you on your good manners and good behaviour.  To our Heavenly Father, we thank you for keeping each and every learner and teacher safe during the Cape Tour.