A visit to the South African Navy Festival

My family and I spent our time at the Navy Base today in Simon's Town, which is located about 30km south of Cape Town, South Africa. It was amazing to can view the SA Navy vessels ranging from the smallest boat known as the Lima boat, to the second largest ships, the Valour Class Corvettes. Unfortunately their largest ship, the SAS DRAKENSBERG, did not be participate at this year's Navy Festival. During the event she was escorting their first Type 209 submarine.

To my disappointment I did not see any submarine. And that's what I wanted to aboard on and to be submerged into the depth of the sea.

Yes, we saw many navy sailors in their all-white uniforms. When we arrived they had just finished marching on the Entry Parade.

As we approached the Navy Base, we saw families from many places around Cape Town rushing towards the main entrance. One thing I like about Cape Town is that it is a family oriented city. People here have good family values. Most of them take vacation leave during School holidays in order to take they children around the beatiful Western Cape province. If it's not nature and hiking and camping, they usually go out to see the special events such as this one.

From the distance we saw the huge military ships with many people on board. My son and his friend Axel Boltney could not wait to get to the Navy Base...




We aboard an "Environmental Protection" vessel (ship), the Sarah Baartman, that is used by DEAT (the National Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism), the Marine and Coastal Management branch. We took a photo (above) inside the DEAT's Sarah Baartman, which is also displayed on the poster. They use the vessel when doing their research and also during monitoring, control and surveillance of human activities in the South African seas. South Africa is collaborating with other nations to patrol our waters to enforce environmental laws and policies that poachers and illegal fishers don't respect.

a military helicopter landed on the ship...


I (holding my son, Buhle) was the captain for the moment...

...and my wife as the Madam Captain

More pics...


another navy ship, the Valour Class Corvettes


Gun runs and dog shows were demonstrated during the day. My wife took a picture after one gun run was done from one of the navy ships...

My wife and kids on the lower deck