| Many children the world over are read fairy tales | | | | walls of rock. Though sounding scary, this story |
| and fantasy stories as they clamber into bed at | | | | about a maiden who was captured and chased by |
| night. We can all remember the fables of ogres, | | | | a group of cannibals did have a happy ending |
| witches, dwarves and beasts that left us both | | | | fortunately, as the young girl was rescued from |
| enraptured and intrigued, and also too scared to | | | | her spot high up a tree by her brother. However, |
| turn the light off. Each country has its own set of | | | | if you're visiting Cape Town today, whilst you are |
| fairy tales which have been passed down the | | | | unlikely to stumble across any man-eaters on |
| generations, and Cape Town is no exception to | | | | your travels, you will be able to visit the areas |
| this rule. So, though you might not be read a | | | | where the characters from the story lived. |
| bedtime story whilst you're in South Africa, how | | | | Walking the pathways on and around Table |
| can you still enjoy the fairytale and fantasy? | | | | Mountain you will pass many boulders, large rock |
| Overlanding on an Ostrich | | | | faces and other formations which might well have |
| Many of Cape Town's inhabitants will be familiar | | | | been the hiding places of cannibals in years gone |
| with the story of 'the Daughter of the Ostrich | | | | by. |
| Egg.' This native fable tells the tale of a young | | | | Snakes and Dragons |
| man, Ohale, who found an ostrich egg and took it | | | | There are seldom fairy tales that do not include |
| home to eat when the wind changed. However, | | | | snakes and dragons, and those originating from |
| from the egg stepped a beautiful young woman, | | | | Cape Town are no exception. The tale of 'the |
| who not only promised to marry Ohale but to | | | | snake with five heads' tells of the varying |
| turn him into a great chief who would rule over a | | | | fortunes of two sisters, the first of which was |
| tribe of warriors, on the simple condition that he | | | | complacent and idle, the second willing and kind. |
| never referred to her as the 'daughter of the | | | | The first sister went off to marry a chief from a |
| ostrich egg.' For many months Ohale lived in | | | | town far away, but found him to be a |
| splendour and comfort as the ruler of his tribe, his | | | | five-headed snake. Dissatisfied by her baking skills, |
| rags turned to furs and his hut turned into a royal | | | | the chief killed her and sought a new wife. The |
| dwelling, until one day too much to drink caused | | | | second sister heard of this and travelled to take |
| him to quarrel with his wife. In the course of the | | | | up the position. When the chief tasted her cakes, |
| quarrel, he broke his promise, and the next | | | | made with caring and generous hands, he turned |
| morning he awoke to find himself sleeping under | | | | from a five-headed monster into a young human |
| rags in his old hut, his tribe disappeared. Whilst you | | | | chief, a curse having been lifted. Though it may |
| may not come across Ohale during your time in | | | | be wise to steer clear of snakes during your time |
| South Africa, you can still enjoy the idea of the | | | | in Cape Town, dragons are a completely different |
| ostrich egg. In Oudtshoorn, not too far from Cape | | | | matter. Dragon boating is an energetic and popular |
| Town, you will not only find the opportunity to | | | | sport in South Africa, and from the Victoria and |
| sample the delights of ostrich meats and eggs in | | | | Albert Waterfront you can watch the training |
| the restaurant, but you can also have a go at | | | | sessions. If you're lucky, you might even time |
| riding an ostrich. If you should really take to it | | | | your visit with a regatta, and experience dragon |
| there's even an ostrich derby, though this will | | | | boating at its finest. |
| really mean putting your money where your | | | | So, if you enjoy fairytales and fantasy, brush up |
| mouth is. | | | | on your South African tales before you head to |
| Between Rocks and Hard Places | | | | Cape Town, and you may be able to incorporate |
| 'The Kingdom Above Earth' is a fairy tale about | | | | them into your trip. |
| cannibals living up in the mountains behind great | | | | |