The holiday to Cape Town was the best trip I did as a Sighted Guide. We went in February 2010, summertime in the southern hemisphere. 2010 was also the year the FIFA World Cup took place in South Africa. Although it would be later in the year we were aware of all the preparations for it.

The group met at Heathrow Airport and the guides were introduced to their impaired companions. I was introduced to a husband and wife, who both had sight loss. I was also introduced to Steve, another guide, I couldn’t look after both of them. As the husband and wife were sharing a room, Steve and I had to share a room as well. We guided them through the Booking Hall and Security, and onto one of the bars in the Departure Area. It soon became obvious that these two enjoyed a drink, and the holiday would be a lot of fun.

It was an overnight flight and the Flight Crew spoiled all the group, particularly with the drinks and other treats made available. We landed in Cape Town in glorious sunshine and were taken for breakfast. Then on to the Hotel to get checked in. Steve and I had the room next door to the married couple, in case they needed us through the night. We showed them round the room, pointing out the wardrobe, chest of drawers, chairs, and then how everything worked in the bathroom. When they were happy, we left them to it. It was our job to see them to their room each night and then take them to breakfast the next day. After breakfast, guides were given a different person to guide each day. Everybody got to know everyone else, but if you didn’t get on with somebody, you knew you would get somebody different the next day. If it was impossible to work together a change would be made immediately. Likewise you could ask for a particular guide if you had common interests or got on particularly well.

On one excursion we went to a butterfly farm. Inside an enclosure hundreds of butterflies were flying freely and would land on you quite randomly. There were also beautiful colourful birds flying around singing loudly. Lisa, the young lady I was guiding, told the staff she loved all animals. The staff then asked if she would like to meet some of the various lizards that were running around. We sat down on a bench and a selection of creatures were brought for her to hold and the staff told us all about them. Lisa was in her element, handling and stroking all these creatures. Then we got the chance to feed the Marmoset Monkeys. Once they realised they were going to be fed they came and sat on the bench with us. We were given a box of live crickets, a real treat for marmosets. I just sat and watched as Lisa put her hand into the box, brought out a live cricket, and fed it to the marmosets. It was a strange sight. Later, we visited the Snakes and Lisa was quite happy as the staff hung snakes round her neck and arms. We received all this special treatment to give Lisa a better experience. Later that day we moved on to a Cheetah Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre. The highlight of the visit was when, under strict supervision, we were allowed to meet and stroke one of the Cheetahs. To my surprise they purred just like a domestic cat.

A cable car ride up Table Mountain is a must when you are there. The weather has to be good for the cable car to be open. The day we got up there was my 63rd birthday. What a place for a birthday. The ride up is spectacular. The view from the top is amazing. It is difficult to understand what visually impaired take from this trip as the main reason for going is the views. Of course they enjoy the cable car, and the breeze in your face at the top. The rest is up to the guide to describe the surrounding mountains, the view of Robben Island in the bay, and the waterfront. There is a scale model of Table Mountain and its surrounds by the visitor centre, and there’s the song of the birds.

Later in the week we visited Robben Island. Our guides were men who had been prisoners on the island and could give a first hand account of life there. We were able to go into Nelson Mandella’s cell, sit on his bed, touch and feel everything. Everybody was deeply moved by the stories of life on the island for the prisoners. Robben Island had originally been a Leper Colony, and the Church and the Graveyard are still there.

There was also a special trip to the Townships and a school which had connections with this holiday company. The children put on a concert for us, and we took simple gifts of pens and notebooks and other stationery items. We saw new homes of brick and slate being built to replace the corrugated iron shacks, though the people said they preferred their old homes. We saw drumming and music workshops for young people. There were initiatives for people to start their own businesses, some making tourist souvenirs to sell instead of cheap imports from China. It was all a very positive experience

We had a visit down to the Cape of Good Hope, where we had our photograph taken behind the banner whilst the waves crashed behind us. We were amused by the Baboons sunbathing on the top of the visitors' cars. On the way to the Cape we visited Boulder Beach famous for its Penguin colonies and the birds walking out of the sea, right up the beach till you could almost touch them.

Another popular day trip was to the winelands where we visited three wineries, where experts showed off their wines and how to taste them. We sat in the shade and enjoyed a wonderful picnic lunch at one of them. Gardens are always popular, so a trip to the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, was another wonderful trip

There were free days for exploring the city, going around the local markets, and for the thrill seekers, a trip around the bay in a high powered jet boat.

In the evenings you could just stay in the hotel, or go down to the waterfront, with its many bars and live music.

It was a wonderful holiday, which everyone enjoyed. I like to think that I did a little bit to help those who could not see for themselves, see this wonderful country through my eyes.