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Student Photo Gallery: South Africa

While docked in Cape Town, voyagers branched out across South Africa to explore not only the Mother City, rich in history and beauty, but also to far-flung game reserves and the lush winelands. The Spring 2014 Voyage came back with fond memories of this port and many images which only hint at the wonders of this country.

This picture of Table Mountain was taken by College of Charleston student Jessica Mercier while on a visit to Robben Island, the place where South Africa’s former president Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years. “It was a very moving experience, and as my friends and I stood on the shore of the island we could only imagine how it must have felt to be captive there for as long as Mandela was.”
During a field lab to visit the first mosque in Cape Town for the Religions and Conflict class, York County CMTY College student Jake Molloy took this picture while passing through the street of the Bo-Kaap neighborhood. “I’d never seen such a colorful street,” Jake said. “It was so unique and vibrant.”
During an afternoon safari on the Aquila Private Game Reserve, Erika Hume, an English student from St. Mary’s College in Maryland, visited the rehabilitation grounds for abused or injured animals; this lion being one among them. “There was nothing between us but an electric fence, and I was only a few feet away from one of the most beautiful creatures I’ve ever had the good luck to see.”
As the sun rose upon the Sabi Sabi Game Reserve, the early morning safari-goers spotted a pack of female lions taking shade under a bush in the distance. Part of the SAS parent trip, University of California-Los Angeles student Catherine Bronzo was not only able to capture this moment on camera but share the experience alongside her mom, dad, and older brother. “The glowing beauty was absolutely breathtaking and this photo represents moments my family will cherish forever.”
While on a day safari at the Kruger game reserve, Julienne Nanay from Loyola University in Chicago captured this image of a massive African elephant meandering down the gravel road towards the group’s 4×4 Land Rover. When the tour guide asked Julienne if she was afraid, she replied that she was not. However, he continued to inch the truck back. “In what I thought was a tranquil moment, the guide admitted afterwards that he was afraid that the elephant was going to charge us at any moment!”
Lifelong Learner Susan Massey snapped this photo of plump grapes (left) hanging from the ripened vines that covered the rolling hillsides of the Anura Vineyards in Stellenbosch, South Africa. In addition to enjoying the local wines and cheeses created on-site, Susan was able to learn about the labor that goes into the harvesting and production of such products. Patrick Fennel, a biology student from San Diego State University, spent his first day in South Africa traveling with friends to Boulders Beach in order to see the African penguins (right) that inhabited the area. “It was an incredible experience to witness penguins swimming alongside us and standing on the same beach as all the people. I gained more respect for these majestic animals by encountering them in their natural environment.”
Traveling independently one early morning in Cape Town, Kierra Huettl, a global studies student from California State University-Channel Islands, watched the sky lighten over the city. “After a long hike in the dark, getting to enjoy breakfast with this view from on top of Table Mountain made the journey worth it.”
British Columbia Institute of Technology student Jay Jarosz spent a night of his South Africa trip on a SAS Homestay in the village of Manenberg. Invited to tag along on his host mother’s preschool shuttle service, Jay captured this photo of the children on their way to school. “At one point during the ride, one of the kids was making clicking noises. After I started to imitate him, it set of a chain reaction and in no time, the whole van was clicking.”
While touring Khayelitsha, Cape Town’s largest township, Boise State student Hailey Franklin found herself surrounded by the vibrant colors of hand painted walls and home-made crafts that lined the streets. After visiting local businesses that made jewelry and flowers from recycled trash as means to support their families, the group visited an educational outreach program called the Amy Beihl Foundation that incorporated sports and music into schools so that the future generations would grow up with the language of “art” rather than “violence” that often resulted from the recently ended apartheid. “Visiting Khayelitsha was the highlight of my trip, and in this township I saw the history and hope of South Africa.”
Josiah Savig, a sociology student from Colorado State University, took this photo of a teenage girl he befriended while playing soccer during an SAS township homestay. “While these houses look only partially complete, the township itself was in far better condition than most of the others I’d seen. Many of the “houses” in the other townships were made of metal sheets and wooden boards, with only a few feet separating one from another.”
This picture was taken by SUNY College-New Paltz student Rachel Marra as she stood at the top of Table Mountain looking over Cape Town’s city and coast line below with a distant view of Robben Island across the bay. “I felt like I was on top of the world.” Fun Fact: Table Mountain and Robben Island are the only two Unesco World Heritage Sites where you can be in one and see the other!
Zhao Quingruo, an accounting student at Shanghai Finance University, took this picture from a cab as her and her friends headed back to Cape Town after spending the day at Cape Point. “Because the national park closes at the same time with sunset, we could only enjoy the view of sunset on our way out!”
Written by: Administrator
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