The Snoozing Traveller

Trail running series in Cape Town

2012-01-06T00:27:00.000-08:00

Cape Town boasts some incredible trail running routes for both the newbie and the seasoned runner. It's a way of discovering our mountains, meeting people and keeping fit.

This is just a quick post about a brilliant trail running series I've just discovered. I'm still a trail running novice but I'm not phased, I'll run with the big boys. See you on the track!

Here are the details from www.trailseries.co.za:

What: The first of 5 races in this popular short course trail running series. Run 4 of the 5 long/short courses to compete in the Championship/Challenge. Or, you can take part in just one or two!

Where: Silvermine Nature Reserve East

Distance: 12km LONG, 6.5km SHORT

Start time: 18h00 LONG, 18h15 SHORT

How much: Click here for costs

Route & Profile: Coming soon

Categories: Click here for the category breakdown

On the day entry: Unfortunately, no on-the-day entry will be allowed at this event

Prizes: Category, spot prizes and series cash

Medal: Series runners receive a medal (4 out of 5)

Directions to venue: Click here

To enter please contact:

tam@trailseries.co.za / 072 438 3242

>> Find out about how to train for your first trail run.

Rough riding raucous Renegade Bingo at Vaudeville

2011-12-12T00:50:00.000-08:00

Just heard that Vaudeville in Cape Town will be hosting a "Wild West" style bingo evening on 20 December 2011. Entrance costs R130 and there are only 350 tickets available. Promises to be a wild and whacky evening. The rockabilly, swamp punk blues band Them Tornadoes will be playing at 20:00 and there are some great prizes available for Bingo winners.
All you have to do is slap on a Wild West outfit, jump on your white horse and gallop on over to Vaudeville.

Rumour has it you might even be able to win a tin of Koo Baked Beans.

Gun slinging, rough and ready Bingo. Not for the weak.

Click here to book your tickets on the Renegade Bingo website.

Sardine Run hits the Cape Coast

2011-12-08T23:27:00.000-08:00

Shoals of sardines migrate to South Africa's Wild Coast every year in June/July. The migration typically begins in the cooler waters off of Africa and the shoals run north-east into the warmer Indian Ocean.

These glimmering shoals of delicate sardines attract a plethora of marine life such as apex predators, seals, gannets, birds and fish.

The Sardine Run is one of nature's greatest events and it draws in divers, photographers and documentry filmmakers from around the globe. This marine spectacle attracts not only the human element but also a wealth of marine activity. And if that's not enough, the Sardine Run happens to coincide with the migration of Humpback Whales, which move north past Port St Johns on their 8000 km journey from Antarctica to Mozambique for breeding purposes.

Once every 40 years (roughly) sardines get trapped in the current and land up on the shores along the coast of Cape Town. Over the past few weesk Capetonians have been lucky enough to witness part of the Sardine Run. There have been sardines swimming on the shores of Hout Bay, Noordhoek and other beaches around the peninsular. Seals, seagulls, ducks and other mammals are drawn to the baitballs which provide an easy feast; equivalent to, perhaps, a sort of Ocean take-out joint.

Despite having a tender head from the night before, I decided Sunday would be the ideal day to witness this event. I also figure it was one of those "once in a lifetime opportunities" and in 40 years time I'm not quite sure how my zimmerframe would handle beach sand. I grabbed my camera and headed for Hout Bay beach where sardines could be seen in their thousands. Scattered sardines lay among the debris littering the beach of Hout Bay and the shoreline glistened with shoals of sardines. Seals, seagulls and ducks all flocked the ocean like starving hyenas and snacked away to their hearts content.Quite amazing and I didn't even venture into the water.

The best place to view mother nature's miracle is down on Hout Bay beach - and it's still happening. I met a bunch of Fisherman who drove from Gansbaai to experience the easiest catch of a lifetime. Get involved while you still can!

For diving packages to the Wild Coast Sardine Run please contact Animal Ocean on 079 488 5053.

HRH Prince Charles in Cape Town 2011

2011-11-06T10:44:00.000-08:00

His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales landed in Cape Town earlier this week to address important environmental issues. He's here to stop people from throwing cigarette butts out their car windows.

Prince Charles was the keynote speaker at UCT on Saturday 5 November and spoke about the environmental issues leading up to the 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The lecture proved to be interesting and of paramount importance.

The lecture was by invitation only, but we managed to get Bron Parker from the Herschel Geography department to video part of Charlie boy's address. Helen Zille, MI5 and bodyguards were spotted in the lecture theatre as were many other interesting people. It was quite an honour to have Prince Charles talking at UCT.

The audio is not the best quality, but do give it a quick glossing over.

Luxury sunset boat cruises in Cape Town

2011-11-06T10:21:00.000-08:00

The Tigger 2 vessels. Image - http://www.tiggertoo.co.za/

Tigger 2 offers luxury sunset boat cruises for those who have an appreciation of style. The upmarket Tigger 2 vessel departs from the V&A Waterfront and gently swans its way around the spectacular Atlantic Seaboard, letting you absorb the serenity of Clifton and Camps Bay beaches.

The Tigger 2 vessel can be privately chartered and a variety of activities can be arranged for your enjoyment, such as clay pigeon shooting and golf! What makes Tigger 2 stand out is its reasonably affordable rates considering its rather sophisticated and elegant vessels. This ain't no pirate boat ! Luxury in this case, does not carry a price tag.

Tigger 2 is used by tour operators around South Africa and offers an efficient, reliable and first class service. I used to work for a golf tour operator and Tigger 2 was always our first choice for our five star clients. I highly recommend Tigger 2 charters for your luxury sunset boat cruises in Cape Town. Local celebs, team building events, private parties and romantic occassions can all be catered for at the drop of a hat ...or anchor. From just R200 per person, Tigger 2 vessels offer an affordable upmarket solution to cruising the Cape Peninsula!

Cruises all depart from the harbour at the VA Waterfront and wind their way around the Atlantic Seaboard's Clifton/Camps Bay region.

Tigger 2 also offers the following cruises:

Please contact them here:

Tel: +27 (0)21 418 0241
Cell: +27 (0)82 852 4383
email: tigger@netactive.co.za

La Capra trail run at Fairview - not just for goats

2011-11-05T10:38:00.000-07:00

Don't forget to sign-up for the La Capra Goat Run held at the Fairview Wine Estate in Paarl. If you're not one for sweating and spraining your ankles, then indulge in a bit of wine and cheese tasting on the day.

You can have wine for breakfast while the trail runners whine. This annual event brings together food, fitness and fun. You get a goodie bag if you enter the race; so it's well-worth the 15 km!

Details are below:

Distances: 15km; 8km; 5km vineyard walk

Start times: 7h30 (15km); 7h45 (8km); 8h00 (5km walk)

Entry fees: R120 (15km); R100 (8km): R100 (5km walk)

CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR SPOT

* Any additional funds will be donated to the Boland School for Autism in Paarl.

Hiker hounds explore the Krom River ( Kromrivier ) hike

2011-10-25T12:12:00.000-07:00

The Krom River hiking trail is a breathtaking trail that follows the course of the Bobbejaan's river through the Limietberg Nature Reserve. The lower reaches of the river are popular for fishing, but that's for another blog post. The complete trail should take close to 5 hours and is best described as an intermediate trail.

There are rock pools teeming with fish and your long awaited trail ends of on a high note with a spectacular waterfall that should be reserved for the far reaches of a tropical jungle somewhere.

Take food, suntan lotion, swimming gear, mask and snorkel.

The Kromrivier hike in Limietberg, near Dutoitskloof pass, is probably one of the best hiking trails in the Western Cape.

The Snoozing Traveller Hiker Hounds facts:

Grade: According to guide books its intermediate. You have to be fit, but not super fit. There are chains which mark the way to the top waterfall. You do have to clamber over a few boulders.
Scenery: Fynbos and dense vegetation.
Getting there: There is a parking lot just before the entrance to the Huguenot Tunnel. You need to go over the old Dutoitskloof Pass.
Need to do: Access to the trail is restricted to those in possession of a permit from Cape Nature.

Krom River (Kromrivier) Hiking Trail Video

The Big Walk in Cape Town: No mean feet

2011-10-22T08:46:00.000-07:00

Cape Town's Big Walk: Sunday, 13 November 2011

This is a charity sport event in Cape Town where all the proceeds go to Nazareth House, The Cancer Association of South Africa and the Steenberg Foundation. Sponsors of the event include Discovery, Cape Times, Department of cultural affairs and sport, Powerade and Coca-Cola.

Route:

Simon's Town to Cape Town - 80 km with optional short walks.
Click here to download the Big Walk route map

Register:

Selected Totalsports Stores -Western Cape based stores
Independent Newspapers (122 St. Georges Mall, Cape Town)
You need register online on the Big Walk website .

Entry Fee: Between R30 - R50.

If you feel the tiresome lyrics of the "These boots are made for walking" song resonates with you right now, it's probably because the annual Cape Times Cape Town Big Walk is on the horizon. This is a sign that you need to grab your Hi-Tecs, Salomons, or Tommy "tekkies" and start training for this popular annual event. If walking the full 80 km feels like an unattainable goal, then sign-up for one of the shorter routes such as the 25 km walk from Fish Hoek Beach to Rhodes High in Mowbray.

Are you interested in other major events in Cape Town? If so, then consider the below:

Donate to Cape Town Shark Spotters

2011-10-02T12:56:00.000-07:00

Cape Town's False Bay coastline sees an a steady increase in the population of Great Whites to the shores during the Cape Town Summer season (Oct - Apr). This is the time of year when these Apex predators take to the shores of the False Bay Coastline in search of food, which consists mainly of seals. The Summer season is also our peak tourist season which means visitors need to be extra vigilant when swimming at one of the False Bay beaches (Fish Hoek, Dangers, Kalk Bay, Muizenberg, Glencairn and even Noordhoek). Tourists in Cape Town seem to be blissfully unaware of our Shark warning systems (a siren goes off when a shark is spotted). If you hear the siren, get out the water.

To further educate our tourists and increase awareness, the Cape Town Shark Spotter program needs donations. With the sponsorship they do have, they're doing a sterling job protecting the beaches of False Bay. The Shark Spotter initiative has proven to be paramount to beachgoers' safety which means we need to sponsor this initiative even further.

The False Bay coastline is notorious for Great White Sharks, so our shark spotters patrol the beaches and watch for Shark activity from the mountain. They use a radio system to notify the spotters on the beach and a siren is sounded. When you hear the siren you need to get out of the water. A flag is raised. Do not get back into the water until you're given the go ahead.

Fish Hoek Beach in particular has a high activity of Sharks. The beach has a shelf, meaning it gets deep very quickly. Sharks can cruise the coastline fairly closely. I never feel 100 % safe at Fish Hoek. At Muizenberg the sharks tend to only really cruise the back line-up so it's generally a better option than Fish Hoek. Don't fear the water - just be aware.

Tips for avoiding "Bruce":

1. If you're surfing along the False Bay coastline - stay close to shore and to other people. Sharks tend to frequent the False Bay coastline as the water is warmer. The Atlantic Seaboard there are far fewer sightings and Great Whites are not know to frequent that area.

2. Look at the flag that is flying when you're on the beach. Each beach that has a flag also has a corresponding board detailing what eat flag means. Green is normally when it's the safest to swim and surf. It means the shark spotters can easily spot a shark as the visibility of the ocean is crystal clear. The black flag means you are taking more of a risk as the conditions are a bit rough and they may not be able to spot a shark.

3. Don't get in the water if you're menstruating or bleeding. Try not to pee in the water either.

Below is our current flag system:

Click here to find out more information about Great White Sharks and Eco-Tourism
To donate to the Shark Spotters of Cape Town click here

Just remember, you enter the sea at your own risk. This is their domain and you're in their home. Be vigilant , respectful and adhere to shark warning systems in place. If you see a shark, don't stop and say Haai, just get out the water.

Woodstock: Unrefined.Untamed. Unbelievable

2011-10-02T07:33:00.000-07:00

Woodstock is an up-and-coming suburb in Cape Town, that is peppered with art galleries, a resilient culture and a colourful local flavour. However, a few years ago this was not the case. Years back when you bandered about the word "Woodstock" within Cape Town circles, most would would respond with descriptive words like "Gangsterland, poor and dodgy". It became quite dilapidated and ignored, but this set the scene for a freedom of expression from artists and so a strong street culture began to emerge.

The Old Biscuit Mill art and food market emerged and slowly there's been an urban revamp of a suburb that's real. athere are still parts of it that are in dire need of attention but, quite frankly, I don't want Woodstock to sell it's soul to commercialism.

The once gritty Woodstock now possesses a certain charm. It's an old suburb merged with modern bohemian ideas. Woodstock is "downtown". It's rough around the edges. It's the nice looking biker boy in the bar. It's underground and it's pretty damn cool.

Woodstock has an interesting history and has quite a strong Portuguese community. Film studios, advertising agencies and artists are slowly infiltrating the area because of it's offbeat bohemian style. So it's a great mix of true Cape ancestry injected with a bit of modernism.

There are now trendy restaurants, markets, a luxury hotel, thrift shops, junk shops and art galleries lining the streets of Woodstock. It's an incredibly arty area with many traditional buildings, interesting architecture and captivating grafitti. Woodstock is located on the periphery on the Cape Town CBD. There are still parts of the suburb that are unsavoury but it's worth exploring the area. And i wouldn't recommend walking around alone at night. Woodstock isn't there yet. However, I reckon now is the time to invest in property in Woodstock.

Awesome things to do in Woodstock, Cape Town:

Eat at The Kitchen for lunch. They make health sandwiches and the shelves are filled with chaotic crockery.
Visit the Goodman Gallery and The Lovell Gallery for artistic inspiration.
Go to the most popular Neighbour Goods market in Cape Town at The old Biscuit Mill. A place to celebrity spot.
Have drinks at Jamaica me crazy. A quirky little Jamaican bar.

On the 24th September, on Heritage Day, I took part in a photographic competition called "One Day in Woodstock". A competition sponsored by the Lovell Gallery in Woodstock. The idea was to capture Woodstock, its people and architecture. I stumbled across a haven of interesting things to photograph. Most of the pictures from that day can be found on the Flickr channel, The Snoozing Traveller Lens.

Here are a few of my pics of Woodstock, Cape Town's unrefined, untamed yet unbelievable suburb.

Woodstock, Cape Town. Untamed. Unrefined. Unbelievable.

Pick up a honey blonde at the Tokai market

2011-10-02T01:40:00.000-07:00

The Tokai Earth Fair Food Market is located adjacent to Builder's Warehouse in Tokai - what a sexy sounding location! It's a fantastic local place to hang out if you're doing time in the Southern Suburbs. Open on Wednesday evenings and Saturday day, it pulls in quite a heady mix of skaters, surfers and a folly of young families. Expect a suburban, unpretentious crowd with intermittent bouts of town folk. Food wise you'll discover organic produce for the health conscious types, an array of tapas style food for the semi-health conscious and an inviting bar for the unconstitutionally unhealthy.

Wednesday evenings at the Market prove to be quite vibey, with a dense crowd adorning the bar. Just opposite the Tokai market is the indoor skating ramp inside Sport Unlimited which is open on Wednesday nights - possibly why the bar area of the market is quite busy.

Saturday's at the Tokai Organic Market pull in a more family-orientated crowd, but you won't lower the tone if you have a beer for breakfast, everyone there is pretty chilled. There is a certain magnetism about the bar. With its strategic location next to the entrance, it makes it difficult to resist their flowing pints of locally brewed Birkenhead beer. For the non-drinkers there is an Origin coffee stand and a fresh zingy style juice bar next the real bar.

The Tokai Market can get packed to the rafters, so arrive early. If you're more of an observer that likes to hang at the bar, then grab a space at one of the wine barrels. If you're wanting a more comfortable seat then head to the white-washed wooden tables in the centre or find a spot on a hay bale. The tables area alive with dribbles of fresh food so give your spot a quick wipe. If you bring the brats with simply stick them in the play-pen in the corner. Don't forget to take them home.

Things to try:

The fudge stand: Creamy fudge in an assortment of flavours - Cappucino, mint, strawberry and eat-too-much-and-your-hips-will-get-fat.

The pancake guy: Try the Nutella pancake or even the chicken Korma. You have to be in the mood for idle chit-chat. Pancake guy likes a conversation.

The guy with the big sausage: Chorizo, hot Mexican, pork with thyme this guy sells the best sausages in town.

Don't forget to pick up a pint of the Birkenhead honey blonde beer. She's awaiting your presence. Don't be afraid to ask for head...on your beer.

Opening times:

Open every Saturday
9.00 am – 2.00 pm
Open every Wednesday
3.00 pm – 8.00 pm
Website: http://www.earthfairmarket.co.za/gallery/tokai/

Map:

View Larger Map

Cape Town's festive Gun Run

2011-09-18T12:17:00.000-07:00

The Gun Run is one of Cape Town's more festive half marathons and boasts a fairly flat run ideal for first time half marathon runners. The route is coastal and runners are treated to the breathtaking sights of Clifton, Sea Point, Mouille Point and the VA Waterfront.

For the lazier runner, like myself, there is the 10 km and 5 km option which weaves its way through the areas of Sea Point, Mouille Point and the Waterfront. I've heard from experienced runners that the Gun Run pulls in quite a crowd and it's worth entering just to absorb the vibe. See you on the road...or in the gutter.

Date: 9 October 2011
Closing date for entries: 23 September
Enter here: www.thegunrun.co.za

* Image taken from the Gun Run website

Heritage day aka braai day

2011-09-11T12:24:00.000-07:00

Lekker braai Boerie roll

Ah South Africa. Land of the many public holidays. On September 24th we rejoice with yet another holiday - Heritage Day. The idea of heritage day is to celebrate our cultural heritage and the diversity of our beliefs. Heritage day is now fondly known as "Braai day". The idea is to celebrate with the wonderful people that make up the rainbow nation by having a braai.

Grab a few friends, get biltong, buy some boerewors, put on "Die Heuwals fantastis" braai song and crack open a castle. Do it the South African way.

On that note, here's the Braai Day anthem and a parody of Rebecca Black's "Friday". Enjoy.

Madagascar dhow adventure - 8 days from R9 615

2011-09-11T11:25:00.000-07:00

Tonga sao! That's how you say "Welcome" in Malagasy. Malagasy is the local dialect of one of Africa's most spectacular tropical islands, Madagascar. The island is the ideal destination for sun-worshippers and watersport enthusiasts. The warm, crystal clear azure oceans of Madagascar teeming with colourful fish and bottlenose dolphins beckon to be explored. Madagascar - she awaits your presence.

Malgasians navigated the oceans for years on their hand-carved wooden fishing boats called dhows and to this day, it's still their preferred mode of transport. Madagascar Island Safaris believes that the pristine islands of Madagascar should be explored the way the locals itended it to be - via a dhow. Ross Murray, owner of Madagascar Island Safaris, together with his business partner Mohammed (based in Madagascar) have built a dhow using traditional methods and added a few essentials like an engine, toilet and galley. This is the dhow they use for their Madagascar dhow adventures. Ross uses his own beach camps on the island which have basic facilities and even mosquito nets. The adventure safaris to Madagascar are all owner run and managed. There's no middleman with Ross's tours!

Clambering aboard a dhow is a far more adventurous way of absorbing the Malagasian way of life than staying at a five star resort, where local customs are often dismissed in favour of a more westernized, luxurious lifestyle. Sailing on a dhow certainly affords more opportunity to navigate unchartered waters and explore outer lying islands off the tourist route. Just you, Flipper the dolphin and Nemo playing endlessly in tranquil tropical waters!

So, what can you expect from a dhow safari? Expect days spent sailing from island to island with overnight stays in rustic tented beach camps (with mosquito nets). You never have to worry about food because Ross ensures that all hungry tummies are fed. When you're not lazing around in a hammock on a palm-fringed beach you can grab a kayak, go snorkelling or play some beach football. A Madagascar adventure dhow safari is fun. And if you don't trust my opinion, then read what South Africa's leading travel magazine, Getaway has to say about Madagascar Island Safaris.

A rough itinerary of your 8 day dhow safari to Madagascar:

Cost: From R9 615 (flights from JHB are included, taxes exlcuded)
Food and transfers are included.

• The trip takes 8 to 10 people per trip.
• When you arrive in Nosy Be you will be met at the airport and taken you to your hotel for the night (included in the trip cost).
• The following morning you set sail on the dhow, Salama Djema or Salama Tsara, for the following 6 nights of island hopping and sleeping on the island.

• Night 1: Nosy Be Hotel
• Night 2 & 3: Russian Bay (Bungalows)
• Night 4: Mahalinia (Bungalows)
• Nights 5, 6 & 7: Lokobie (Permanent tented camp)

This trip gives you plenty of time for snorkelling, fishing, seeing lemurs, visiting local markets and relaxing. There is not too much dhow time and almost all of your island activities can be fitted into a week long holiday.

This is YOUR opportunity to break away from the city life and indulge in a momentary holiday that nurtures your soul. Madagascar Island Safaris offers the dhow adventure of a lifetime and can tailor-make their trips to suit any group. From keen kayakers to avid snorkellers and families, Madagascar Island Safaris is adaptable and flexible to their clients' needs.

Island holidays should be about getting back to basics. Leave the city behind and soak up the true spirit of paradise. What are you waiting for? Get on board and enjoy your 8 day dhow adventure!

Contact: Madagascar Island Safaris
Tel: 0027 (0) 21 783 3536
Email Ross Murray: ross@madagascarislandsafaris.co.za

Vote for Table Mountain

2011-09-04T13:22:00.000-07:00

Vote for Table Mountain to become one of the New7Wonders of nature! This incredible landmark is falling behind in terms of voting, which means we urgently need YOUR VOTE to get back in the running. The New7Wonders will be announced on 11 November and it's crucial we make it into the history books!

Vote for Table Mountain online ,via MXit or via SMS as often as possible.
SMS “Table” to 34874. Each SMS costs R2.
Click here to vote.

We need your signature to help stop rhino poaching

2011-09-04T13:03:00.000-07:00

The Wilderness Foundation aims to bring attention to the escalating Rhino poaching problems to international governments. The idea is to gather as many signatures as possible from around the world; and it takes two seconds of your time to give your name. It's better than doing nothing, even if we're not aware of what sort of impact it will have.

Did you know that if Rhino poaching continues to escalate at its current rate Rhinos could become extinct in less than a decade? Click here to sign now!

Black Spring: Rhino poaching awareness month

2011-09-04T12:48:00.000-07:00

01 September at 08:00 - 30 September 2011 is Black Spring day, an initiative designed to increase awareness about the rapidly depleting Rhino population in South Africa. The idea is to tie a black ribbon to the right hand mirror of your car and leave it there for the month of September.Technically, you were meant to have done this on 01 September but now is still a good time. Read more about the save the rhino initiative here.

Carla the prawn star

2011-09-04T12:38:00.000-07:00

There's a dimly-lit cantina style restaurant located down a dodgy side street in Muizenberg called Carla's; rumoured to serve the best Mozambiquan prawns this side of the mountain. I can categorically confirm that the rumour is indeed, true.

Carla's is pretty bland during the day but, like a firefly, it glows and buzzes at night. Chintzy tube lights, red check tablecloths, dim lights and sangria painted walls gives the area a colourful and glowing edge.

Carla's restaurant epitomizes the "local is lekker" flavour and most of her customers have heard about her place via word of mouth. Her authentic, premium seafood food speaks for itself which is why she's always full. There's a homely buzz to Carla's, a bit like that bar in the sitcom "Cheers" where pretty much everyone is welcome. I felt quite at home klapping a cheap bottle of wine while Carla took my order and chatted about Mozambique.

Carla told us to order the coriander, garlic and chilli mussels for starters. They were mouth-wateringly delicious and the chilli was mild. I loved that we were served standard issue government bread with the mussels, and garden variety Tastic rice with the prawns, which we had as our main course. Carla's seafood is bursting with flavour and smacks of the sea - fresh, simple and balanced.

The only plastic Carla accepts is on the tablecloths. Bring cash, your own wine, a great vibe and chat to Carla about Mozambique. Oh, and for God's sake, order the prawns!

Wedged between the Empire Cafe and Muizenberg Corner surf shop,Carla's is pretty easy to find and certainly tops my list of "local is lekker" jaunts in Cape Town!

York Street, Muizenberg
Parking available in the station car park

021-788-6860

Open Monday - Saturday, from 4pm onwards
Only a handful of tables so book in advance.

12 prawns - R108

Get unhinged at Franschhoek's Uncorked wine festival

2011-08-12T13:43:00.000-07:00

You've got two options. You can either go to the Uncorked wine festival or not go. The former is, of course, the most sensible option. Celebrate the arrival of Spring at the Uncorked festival held annually in the Wineland's gourmet capital, Franschhoek, and indulge your palette with a sensation of fruity, wooded and spicy wines. This year the Uncorked event will take place on 3 & 4 September. If you don't go, you'll end up whining about it.

Franschhoek is home to a plethora of fine dining restaurants, food markets and art galleries encompassed by breathtakingly surreal landscapes. Franschhoek has a French heritage which is evident in the architecture of many of the buildings in the town centre. Franschhoek certainly boasts an element of finesse and certainly has that "je ne sais quoi" that makes it a desirable destination fit for an erudite.

Sweeping mountain vistas, clusters of vineyards, delicate rows of lavender fields and gently flowing rivers are great ingredients for an idyllic weekend away. Throw in a vibey wine festival, and you're pretty much set for a heavenly break. It's hard not to absorb the flavour of Franschhoek.

So, what's on the plate for the Uncorked festival? Simple. The idea is to swan from farm to farm, sample the latest barrel and heighten your senses with new vintages. This festival has covered all the bases, including a transport option. A pre-booked shuttle service offering transport between wine farms is available to the public. I suggest purchasing an access card which gets you a wine glass and free wine tasting at selected farms. You can either purchase your access card from Webtickets or directly from one of the farms.

The Uncorked festival has numerous other events thrown into the mix, not just wine tasting. You can expect cellar tours, food and wine pairings, art exhibitions, gourmet food markets and even a rare exhibition of luxury cars!

But what is wine without entertainment? Your eardrums will be kept busy with a wide range of eclectic sounds from local jazz/blues bands to the odd out of tune song sung by your frazzled wino friends. Just smile, hum and go with the flow.

Go to the Uncorked festival. Attendance is mandatory. Getting unhinged is optional.

For more information, please consult the official tourism site for the Franschhoek Winelands.
To book your access card prior to your arrival at Uncorked, please book through Webtickets.

Top 10 child friendly restaurants in Cape Town

2011-08-09T07:08:00.000-07:00

Little Stream in Constantia

So, you've packed the Pajero, strapped the kids in, grabbed the worn-out harnesses and you're all set to enjoy a meal at a family orientated restaurant. The trouble is, you don't quite know where to go.

The Spur is overdone, Macdonalds is rubbish and you're at your wits end. YOU probably should of thought of where to go before you threw the monsters into the car.

I'm not here to judge. I'm here to guide you. I expect you want to maintain some form of sanity while dining with the bratpack (not the Hollywood variety) and try something new that will excite the entire family. I've stumbled upon a comprehensive and informative article that lists the top 10 child friendly restaurants in Cape Town. The article is written by a mother, for mothers. It's well-researched and this mommy has dined with her bratpack at each and every spot.

* The article was discovered on the Becoming You blog.

World skateboarding championship in Kimberley

2011-08-09T06:01:00.000-07:00

Big things are happening in the Northern Cape! Kimberley will be hosting the international Maloof Money Cup (MMC), which is the biggest skateboarding championship in the world.

Adrenalin junkies from around the world are expected to descend upon the small town of Kimberley for 3 days from Sep 30th - Oct 2nd 2011. This event will be broadcast internationally and is comprised of five different skateboarding events.

The Maloof Money Cup originated in Orange County in Los Angeles 2008. The topography and the extreme conditions of the Northern Cape make it an ideal destination for extreme sporting activities. This is huge for the Northern Cape and the event will hopefully encourage youths to start skateboarding.

If you'd like to read more about the Maloof Money Cup, it's history please visit the official Northern Cape Tourism website here: http://www.northerncape.org.za/maloof/ .

Weather and climate in Cape Town

2011-07-19T12:04:00.000-07:00

Cape Town has a mild Mediterranean climate which makes it an ideal year-round destination. Sizzling hot Summers and wet, rainy Winters can be expected.

Winter normally kicks in at the beginning of May and ends roughly August time.

Summer hits in full force during November and ends in March. Visitors tend to flock to Cape Town during December; which a great time of year but the only drawback is the strong South-Easterly wind which tends to make its unwelcome appearance during December.

For me, the ideal months in Cape Town are February and March. By then the South-Easter dies down and the average temperature is about 28 degrees celsius. Many tourists actually find this time of year too hot, which is why I suppose visitors flock to our shores in December/January time. Autumn and Spring offer a varying mix of rain and sunshine, and offer a great mild climate for those who aren't used to the more sweltering months of February/March.

Winter...brr

Average minimum of 7.0 °C (45 °F) and maximum of 17.5 °C (63 °F)

Winter in this city can be strange. Today it's 28 degree's celsius, the sun is shining and I'm wearing a t-shirt (quite a funky one). Yet a week ago there were thunderstorms, lightening and it was pretty gloomy. The temperature drops to about 16 degrees during Winter but crisp, clear and sunny days can be expected.

It's not uncommon to have a pattern where it rains for 4 days, produces clear skies for 3 days, is extremely hot for one day and then another 4 days of cold, wet weather.

Winter does have its perks. There are the most spectacular sunsets and great diving and surfing conditions can be found along the coast. Surfing in Cape Town in Winter is better than it is in Summer. Winter is great for those who enjoy clear skies, cool nights and don't mind occasional rainy days. Our Winter is very similar to a British Summer!

It's advisable to bring a rain jacket, beach wear and warm clothes if you arrive in Cape Town during Winter. During an icy spell the mountain peaks inland might even be covered in snow.

Another bonus about a Cape Town Winter? We host a variety of wine tasting festivals and vineyard events!

Summer...aah

Average maximum 26.5 °C (80 °F)

Summer in Cape Town is uplifting! The city is on a permanent holiday vibe and high. Especially come December time. During the Summer visitors can expect tranquil, sweltering hot days. Remember, January and February can get very hot.

If you're not used to the sun and can't handle the heat then November and December are probably ideal for you.

December is jam packed with visitors so be prepared for crowds. Get to the beach early and make reservations at restaurants.

Summer brings about great beach festivals, boat trips, sunset cruises and ideal swimming weather.

Enjoy the weather in Cape Town. We do!

Climate websites...great for geeks!

Here are a few reliable South African weather websites and apps.

http://www.weathersa.co.za/web/
http://www.windguru.com
http://www.accuweather.com

Show Mandela you care

2011-07-17T12:57:00.000-07:00

On Monday July 18th (his birthday) is Mandela day. A man with such poise, grace and love. A man to be revered and honoured. On July 18th, all Mandela wants us to do is donate 67 minutes of our time to a worthy cause. Madiba, as he is affectionately known, spent 67 years of his life fighting for our nation. Let's give the father of South Africa what he wants.

"Take Action; Inspire Change; Make Every Day a Mandela Day.”

Here are 5 ideas to toy with if you're stuck.

1. Donate toiletries, old computer equipment to homes such as to Marsh Memorial in Rondebosch.
2. Walk dogs from DAWG or the SPCA.
3. Start donating to Doctor's without Borders.
4. Clean up litter in your local area. Alternatively, head to the beach and remove the rubbish that litters our shores.
5. Do a collection of old clothes from your colleagues and donate them.

What are waiting for? Get cracking!

Interview with a twenty-something Capetonian

2011-07-17T12:28:00.000-07:00

I've decided to conduct a series of interviews with locals to see how they live it up in Cape Town. Alison Higgins is a twenty-something go getter who works in the tourism industry. She's travelled extensively, enjoys fine food, the outdoors (not too much exercise though!) and is super ambitious. She's sassy, classy, glam and stylish. Alison has many friends and loves the vibe of living in Cape Town!

It's Summer in the "Mother City" and it's the end of the long week at work. Sum up your ideal weekend!

After work on a Friday I would go for a drink in the centre of Cape Town somewhere. Preferably the Cape Quarter which is just off Somerset Road, Greenpoint. It's so chilled there. Or even a cocktail on the Sea Point promenade somewhere. I quite like Faces pool deck and restaurant at the Peninsula hotel. Saturday would involve going to the beach with friends (Llandudno or Clifton), relaxing at a swimming pool and maybe indulge in a crayfish braai accompanied with a few Savannah ciders.

I love doing something sporty on a Sunday morning. I love hiking, so there for me there is nothing better than slogging up Lions Head and heading to Arnolds for a R22 early bird breakfast.

Name a Cape Town restaurant that serves good food for next to nothing

I have two in mind. The Enigma Bombay-on-beach in Muizenberg. It looks awful, but it has really cheap and good curry. It is really worth going and having a meal there. Then I really enjoy the sushi special they have at Beluga in Greenpoint.

What's your idea of a good night out?

Well. I love being around my friends, so a good night out would also depend on my mood and what they want to do. I love having a great meal with friends at a funky, bustling restaurant like Bombay Bicycle Club , which is located at the top of Kloof street in Cape Town's CBD.

And then after dinner, head to a club like Knoxville or Decodance. It's also quite nice to watch the sunset from the Faces restaurant and cocktail bar at the Peninsula hotel in Sea Point. It's great for relaxing, as it's open air and overlooks the Atlantic Ocean. Nice for a quiet Summer's evening.

List 2 things you think tourists should not miss when on holiday in Cape Town.

Tourists tend to stick to the Atlantic Seaboard area; which is incredible but they really are missing something if they don't go off the beaten track. To me this means exploring the arty seaside town of Kalk Bay, the surfing area and long stretch of beach in Kommetjie and of course Noordhoek Beach (popular for horse riding). It's also nice to do something authentically Capetonian, like watching the Summer concerts in Kirstenbosch Gardens on Sunday evenings.

What is your favourite beach in Cape Town?

Llandudno is the most aesthetically pleasing and has a host of memories for me. Then again, I also love Fishhoek beach because it's an awesome family beach and nice for swimming.

Where do you go to "escape the Cape" for a weekend?

The Gansbaai area because there is so much to do and I spent a lot of time there when I was younger. You can go shark cage diving, hiking, visit De Kelders cave and so much more. I love that area because it hasn't quite sold it's soul to tourism just yet !

Any tips for visitors to Cape Town?

Do your research before you come - there is so much to do here! Don't wonder around the VA Waterfront for 3 days in a row - there is SO muchmore to do. You need to plan to fit in all in, public transport is not always realiable. So, plan your journeys wisely. Speak to locals and hire a car.

What do you consider to be local customs that are intrinsic to your Capetonian lifestyle?

Tipping at restarants, giving leftovers to the homeless. Personally, I'm always over tipping - waitresses don't earn a basic salary in this country. Us Capetonians live a barefoot easy come easy go lifestyle. You get used to everyone being late for appointments etc - it's the Capetonian way! 7 is 7ish ! Put in a little effort with locals, they can be cliquey but once you make the move you'll be rewarded with friendliness.

Languid Sunday's at Muizenberg's Knead bakery

2011-07-17T11:37:00.000-07:00

Sunday morning's are always a little tricky. You're often overcome with a profound sense of laziness or feel guilt- stricken that you're not out conquering some random outdoor pursuit of epic proportions. We've all been there.

When these floundering moments hit I tend to head towards Knead on Muizenberg Beach. Eating at Knead always makes me feel like I've done more than just pig out on tasty morsels. Eating there makes me feel less lazy than normal. Perhaps it's because I soak up the energy of the surfers. Who knows.

Knead is ideally located on the shores of the once-seedy-but-now-cool Muizenberg Beach, the amateur surfer's beach of choice in Cape Town. Knead is really popular on weekends so you'll need to get there early - at about 9:30. Any later and it'll be jam-packed with screaming kids and other humans you don't fancy being around at breakfast. When Knead does become packed to the rafters, you could always utilize their take-away bakery section and snack away on the beach.

Knead makes an excellent mocha and the all day breakfast pizza is worth a try (think it's about R58). They also offer light lunches, a traditional South African "bunny chow" and the standard breakfasts such as croissants, fry ups and muesli options. On the whole, the food is good. Simple, holistic and fresh home grown chow.

Since Knead opened its doors, the beachfront area of Muizenberg seems to have cleaned up quite nicely. There seems to be an influx of folk from more affluent coastal suburbs arriving on the shores in droves. Actually, I should say "arriving on the shores in Pajero's and Porsche's". It's great to see Muizenberg beachfront becoming a hotspot!

To the rear of Knead restaurant is the Roxy surf school which sells a plethora of surfing gear and offers surfing lessons for novices. This tends to attract a great set of both tourists and locals. You're bound to meet some interesting people at Knead.

Knead is chilled, laid back and VERY Capetonian. It is what it is.See you there!

Snorkel with seals & dolphins in Cape Town

2011-05-20T08:36:00.000-07:00

I'm quite passionate about my snorkelling adventures, although my expeditions seem to be dwindling slightly. When I do take a break from being a very important person, I enjoy nothing better than organising a seal and dolphin snorkelling trip through the marine adventure company, Animal Ocean.

The owner, Steve Benjamin, doesn't just run Animal Ocean for the purpose of making bread-and-milk money but does it because of his unwaivering passion for marine life in general. That's why I love Animal Ocean. Steve's also always there to help some flailing predator that's washed up onto the beach back into the ocean.

Animal Ocean ensures you have fun exploring the underwater world of the Cape Coast, but there's no shortage of educational lectures while on board Steve's boat. There are quite a variety of dive trips to choose from, which include anything from snorkelling with seals (we swam with dolphins and sunfish when we did this dive tour), scuba diving with cow sharks, underwater photography trips, pelagic bird watching and big wave surfing at Dungeons.

The dive trip we went on with Animal Ocean ended up being on of those "dream come true" moments. Why? Because we swam with dolphins. Dolphins seem to always feature in "dream come true" moments ever since that old school movie Flipper came out on circuit. Snorkelling with dolphins was a surreal, awe-inspiring experience.

How the Cape Town snorkel trip began...

We kitted up and departed from Hout Bay harbour on an 8m semi-rigid rubber duck and headed out to Duiker island. After hurling our cumbersome wetsuit clad bodies into the water, we enjoyed a great snorkel with the seals of Duiker Island. After clambering back on board Steve navigated the way towards the old wreck at Sandy Bay and kept us entertained with a few stories of shipwrecks in Cape Town. We were lucky enough to climb aboard the Sandy Bay shipwreck and spent a bit of time exploring the corroded iron-ore colour deck.

After exploring the shipwreck, we headed towards Llandudno where we dropped anchor. A pod of dusky dolphins made a guest appearance and decide they wanted to play. Witnesses would have noticed a mass exodus from the boat into the water. I've never jumped into the ocean so quickly - well, once maybe when I saw that R100 note floating about. I had 5 dolphins circling me and was overcome with an urge to attempt dolphin-style communication. I was amazed and enthralled - this was one of the most mind-blowing, defining moments of my life.

Who is Steve Benjamin from Animal Ocean?

Steve is a Marine scientist, a qualified scuba diver, freediver, and general underwater fanatic. He was featured on Carte Blanche, is affiliated with Hanli Prinsloo (well known champion freediver) and is well respected within the Cape Town and KZN diving community.

I've known big wave surfers to use Steve, surf photographers, famous underwater photographer's and even the film industry. Steve also conducts educational talks at schools and his trips are great for team building! Sold? I certainly am !

Here are a few of his current dive and snorkel trips in Cape Town:

Cowshark SCUBA dive - R500 p/p
Cape Fur Seal snorkel with equipment - R350 p/p
Spearfishing offshore - R1500 p/p
Big wave viewing (half day) - R200 p/p

The CBD's French Toast - a must for tapas

2011-05-04T10:46:00.000-07:00

I've not yet had the pleasure of dining at the French Toast & Wine restaurant, but I've decided to give the place a bit of exposure based on the feedback I've been getting from my peers. I can lay claim to the fact that I've driven past it, which counts for something. The French Toast specializes in tapas and wine. I've heard it's chic and sophisticated; but exudes a certain warmth.

And, make no mistake this place is rumoured to have great food. Word on the street is that there is a fireplace which makes it an ideal location for the frosty Winter months.

I've struggled to find tapas restaurants in Cape Town, so I'm glad this one has made an appearance. It's located at the top end of Bree street and is easy to find. Next time I think I'll double park and elbow my way towards a table.

Website: http://www.frenchtoastwine.com/wines/
Where: 199 Bree Street. Cape Town
Opening times: 12 noon till late.
Phone number: 021 422 4084

Couch potatoes love the Elephant's Eye hike

2011-05-01T10:32:00.000-07:00

Elephant's Eye hike is a great amateur hike for lazy couch potatoes. For seasoned hikers it's more of a walk, for the potatoes it's a good starting point. The hike is roughly an hour up (I've taken into account the various food and water breaks) and is relatively flat. The only uphill bit is the last stretch, but it's hardly anything to moan about. In essence, give yourself 2 hours maximum for the hike, and another hour for swimming in the Silvermine Dam.

Picnic, tan, swim and float at Silvermine Dam

The panoramic vistas from elephants eye are breathtaking; and it's an incredible feeling sitting inside the open cave looking out over the Mother City. Here's an interesting fact - the shape of the mountain is said to resemble an elephant. The recessed cave like area in the mountain has fondly became known as the "Elephant's Eye".

Getting to the starting point of the hike is easy. It's located up the Ou Kaapseweg road on a turn off to the right coming from Cape Town. Silvermine is part of the Cape National Parks board, so it will cost you R20 to get through the gate. Dogs are welcome. Doesn't mention any other animals, so I'd leave your pony and monitor lizard at home. Simply follow the road to the car park until you can go no further. Park your Jaguar or Chevvy Spark and once you've locked the doors, follow the clearly marked footpath.

View from inside the Elephant's Eye cave

I've done this walk (I'm no couch potato!) quite a few times and it's still one of the top walk/hikes to do in Cape Town. I think what makes it that much more pleasant is the pristine, crystal clear Silvermine Dam at the start of the path, which is a fantastic ending point to a hike. It's ideal for swimming, splashing around and cooling off before the trek home. As a matter of fact, many couch potatoes skip the hike all together and simply tan on the banks of the Silvermine Dam, armed with their beers and various blow up pool devices.

So, couch potato or eager beaver, haul ass and get yourself up that mountain!

Cape Argus Cycle Tour 2011

2011-03-13T01:42:00.000-08:00

Well done to all the riders who finished the Argus. For those of you still riding the Argus Cycle Tour, keep cycling - you CAN do it! Here's a video snippet of the atmosphere surrounding the Argus.For the record, that's not me shouting in the background...

Road trippin in Joburg with Roxette cassettes

2011-03-08T03:48:00.000-08:00

Contrary to popular belief, Joburg is actually a worthwhile destination for a road trip; you can easily combine the best of both city and safari in a short space of time. The Pilansberg National Park is a mere 2 hours drive from the bright city slicker lights of Joburg's hub, Sandton. The proximity of the bushveld to the city makes a city safari break quite an attainable goal for even just a weekend in Joburg. Your recipe for road tripping success will need to have the following secret ingredients.

A car: if you can't organise one, hire a car from Europcar.
Friends: A road trip is not complete without them.Call rent-a-friend if you have none.
Roxette casettes: Nothing like cruising along with your friends to the melodic sounds of "Join the Joyride".

So, with that being said, here is a rough 4 day itinerary for your trip to Joburg. I've attempted to be as detailed and funny as humanly possible.

The road trip announcement: This is the hardest part of your trip. You will be announcing to your friends that you are going to Johannesburg on holiday. Your naysayer friends will scream "why do you wanna to go Joburg for a holiday?". When confronted with this attitude, just scream back in all your glory and say "Halt nayaysers - Joburg makes for an interesting and lively city break!". Be sure to back up your vehement statement with photographs and lively road trip stories upon your return.

What to pack: If you're going in Summer pack costumes and Summer gear - it gets muggy. Johannesburg is a Summer rainfall region so be sure to pack a rain jacket. Thunderstorms are quite common. Take money, the Joburg types are social, gregarious creatures who don't sit still. This means you face a culture of eating out, pubbing, clubbing, cocktails and late nights.

The practical things: Hire a car. This is so you can drive from Sandton to the North West Province at your leisure. Book your car hire through Europcar.

To organize beforehand: Book your flights via local carrier Kalula. I managed to book a return air ticket for a mere R700! Try book and early morning flight there and evening flight back so that you can maximise your time in Joburg.

Book accommodation in Sandton for the first and third night, book your second night at Pilansberg game reserve. You can book all of your Pilansberg and Sandton accommodation via Snoozing Travellers where you can book and pay online.

Once your accommodation has been booked, sort out and book your car hire through Europcar. If you're not picking your car up from a depot close to Sandton station (you'll be taking the Gautrain from the airport to Sandton) then ensure your accommodation provider has a transfer service to take you to your hotel. It might be an idea to check if Eurpocar is able to deliver the vehicle to your Sandton accommodation.

Lastly, and most importantly, pack your Roxette cassettes (or cd's, Ipod etc)! There's nothing better than cheesy melodic tunes of a Marie and Per duet.

Day 1:

Fly to Joburg. The flight to OR Tambo airport is roughly 3 hours from Cape Town.

Once you've landed, navigate your way to where the Gautrain departs from and book a train ticket to Sandton. I think the ticket is about R120. The Gautrain is similar to the Eurostar - slick, fast and reliable. Hardly reflective of the stock standard South African train!

The Gautrain which goes from OR Tambo airport to Sandton

Once you arrive at the Sandton Station, either make your way via transfer to your desired accommodation, or head to the nearest Europcar depot to pick up your hired car.

Now that your car hire in Joburg and your accommodation is sorted, start thinking about what you want to do for the rest of the day. I recommend a trip to the Apartheid Musuem, which is about a 20 minute drive outside of Sandton. It's a brutal eye opener depicting life during Apartheid.

Once done with your cultural excursion, head to Sandton City for a shopping extravaganza; don't forget to strike a few poses with the disproportionate statue of Nelson Mandela located on the Nelson Mandela Square.

You can also engage in a bit of frivolous fun and shop till you drop in the Sandton Mall. After an exhausting afternoon of shopping, head for a cocktail at the Sandbar in the Sandton Towers, and finish off the evening at the Butcher's Grill on the square for a superb meal and wine pairing.

If you're not up to spending the evening on Nelson Mandela Square you can always embrace the dazzling Palazzo Montecasino and catch the latest theatrical performance.

To top the evening off, depending on how youthful you're feeling, you could always do what the "Jaahburgers" do and go clubbing.

Day 2:

Today's the day you'll need to get up early and mission through to the North West Province; with the end destination being Sun City & the Pilansberg National Park.

The drive from Sandton to Sun City takes roughly 2 hours of solid driving; but you'll need to account for the many stops and sightseeing activities en route. The roundabout route to Sun City is the most scenic, as it detours past Hartbeespoort Dam.

You'll be travelling along the endless R512 road which is flanked by pockets of unchartered bushveld; with the occassional trout fishing lodge sporadically appearing out of nowhere. On the horizon lies the majestic Magaliesberg Mountain range, which is another area that is great for exploring (on your next trip to Joburg!).

I've made a list of possible detours and stops en route that are of interest.

1) Lesedi Cultural village. This is the first stop you'll encounter. It's a village created to depict traditional Africa. Discover the mystical cultures and traditions of the people of Africa, which are steeped in tribal folklore and ancestral traditions.

2) Maropeng: Maropeng is otherwise known as the Cradle of Humankind. The area is a heritage site where early human remains were found. Discover fossils, explore the Sterkfontein Caves and learn how humankind was born. The entry fee is R150. Oh, and there's even an underground boat ride.

Underground boat ride at Maropeng

3) Hartbeespoortdam dam. Surrounded by the Magaliesberg mountain range, this dam looks more like an inland sea than a dam. Enjoy waterfalls, sunset boat cruises, paragliding, hang-gliding and hot air ballooning.

View of Hartbeespoortdam from the bridge

4) The Elephant Sanctuary: A safe haven for African elephants that educates and allows for guest interaction.

5) African curios: There seem to be an abundance of African curio shops en route to Sun City & Pilansberg. If wooden animals are your thing then you're in luck.

Interested buyer or poser?

6) Pecanwood Golf Estate : As the name suggests, this is a place for golfing safaris. It also boasts the only Jack Nicklaus `signature` golf course in Africa.

7) Carnivore restaurant: Africa's greatest and strangest eating experience! Situated on the grounds of the Misty Hills Hotel.

8) Lion Park : Discover rare white lions and other animals.The Lion Park is not a game reserve or a zoo, but a park where the animals roam freely.

Map of the route

View Larger Map

Arrive at Pilansberg to catch the evening sunset, you might be lucky and arrive in time for a game drive. I'm afraid there'll be no Roxette tunes blaring out from your safari vehicle as you traverse the Bushveld of the North West province! I hear you sigh with bitter disappointment.

Stay overnight in your Pilansberg accommodation.

Day 3:

Put your alarm clock on and head out on a morning game drive. I'm talking 5:00 here - it's the best time to spot the Big 5. The evening game drives are also a must - be sure not miss the opportunity to spot wildlife at dusk.

Once you had your fair share of wildlife, do something completely different and head out to the Valley of Waves. The Valley of Waves is water park with adrenalin inducing water slides, a wave pool and a cocktail bar. If you want to throw your money away try your hand at gambling at the extravagant sun City. Don't forget to go and check out the Palace of the Lost City, quite a masterpiece in terms of architecture and design.

The Palace of the Lost City

Valley of the Waves, Sun City

Day 4:

This is your final day in Joburg and the perfect opportunity to catch up on all the sightseeing tours you've neglected. If you can, try and squeeze in a tour of Soweto, discover the history of gold at Gold Reef City or simply spend some quality time enjoying your accommodation.

If you're a foreigner holidaying in Cape Town taking a break to Joburg will add a bit of spice to your South Africa vacation. If you're a South African - give Joburg a chance, it's a great destination that offers an abundance of activities bound to impress even the most exhausting naysayer. Enjoy Joburg and it's surrounds, and in the words of Roxette - Listen to your heart.

* Disclaimer: I'm not responsible for the accuracy of pricing and directions on the particular blog post due to the fact that my memory fails me at the most inopportune of times.

Chilled out Snorkelling in Simonstown

2011-02-04T02:30:00.000-08:00

Snorkelling at Windmill Beach and beyond... in Greater Cape Town

We've stumbled across a fantastic website that provides virtual 360 scenic tours of the Cape! We've embedded one of their virtual tours as an example. This is actually the Snoozing team's favourite snorkelling spot in Cape Town.
Windmill Beach is located right next to Boulders Beach and is great for family style snorkelling. If you drive further along there are even more hidden snorkel spots which include A-frame and even Millers Point where you can see "cow sharks".

To get to Windmill Beach drive through Simonstown, take the left to Boulders Beach and just before you hit the big parking lot take a right and drive to the end of the Cul-de-sac. Park there and enter the beach through a little wooden gate.

It's one of my favourite beaches. Sheltered, warm, safe and an array of sea life !!

On(c)e & Only Hotel, Cape Town

2011-01-20T12:00:00.001-08:00

Located in the heart of Cape Town's VA Waterfront, the One and Only hotel is the latest addition to Sol Kerzner's elite portfolio of resort style hotels. And it most certainly is the epitome of glamour and style - without the air of pretentiousness. The hotel atmosphere is a heady mix of Hollywood glitz coupled with an elite resort atmosphere. In essence, a fine combination of humble Africa partnered with first world Capetonian city living.

If you have the funds, the One and Only is well worth a stay (you're looking at roughly R5100 for a standard room per night). I was fortunate enough to wrangle a complementary stay for one night. For the occasion, I donned my ( fake) Gucci handbag, brushed my hair and put on my Guess jeans to emanate the look of a high profile guest.

I was actually pleasantly surprised at how relaxed and welcoming the One and Only hotel was - my faux name brand outfit could have easily been traded for my trustworthy boardshorts. A big thumbs up to the One an Only for making their guests feel comfortable. Nothing better than being welcomed with warm smiles that I consider to be synonymous with South African culture to create that sense of belonging.

Gold dangly tubes above cocktail bar

The design of the hotel is such that it blends in with Table mountain, creating a picture perfect backdrop, ideal for an oil painting. The great architecture is not to be outdone by the interior decor of the One and Only; which in itself is a delight to behold.

Upon arrival you'll notice the open plan bar area enclosed by large windows letting in a generous amount of light. This creates a light and breezy atmosphere, great for relaxing and absorbing the magnificent views. There is a moat surrounding an island oasis connected to the main hotel via a wooden bridge walkway. The island is where the poolside restaurant, rim flow swimming pool, the spa treatment rooms and the exclusive island suites are located. The calming effect of the water contributes to the overall serenity of the One and Only and gives it that relaxed luxury resort feel.One thing is for certain, the One and Only hotel has mastered the art of space.

The decor of the cocktail bar area and lounge has a dazzling casino opulance about it; probably down to the gold dangly tubes suspended from the ceiling. They're meant to be in the shape of Africa, but I think you need to have more than one chocolate Pinotage cocktail to see that shape. Either way, it adds a touch of sparkle and glamour to the bar area.

Located on the right of the cocktail bar is the ever fabulous Japanese restaurant, Nobu. Designed with minimalism in mind, this restaurant is one of the top sushi jaunts in town. There are worse places to be seen! The restaurant boasts exceptional reviews and of course, world class sushi. If you're not staying at the One and Only, then I recommend you have a sunset cocktail and stylish evening of sushi at Nobu! I've yet to dine there. I'm waiting for my engraved invitation from the One and Only hotel.

The moat and view of the Island suites & spa area

Moving up from the ground floor you'll discover 6 levels of rooms. Take the lift. Walking the stairs to the 6th floor is not ideal, not even if you've been watching Jane Fonda aerobics re-runs would render you fit enough to conquer "said" stairs.

I stayed in one of the entry level rooms - room 417. The panoramic views from the balcony were mind blowing and breathtaking. The last time I felt this close to Table Mountain, I was inside a cable car. I felt I could literally touch the top of the mountain with the stem of my wine glass! Decor was an infusion of reds, burnt oranges and oddly enough, a few cheap looking African artworks. The architecture of room 417 definitely had a slight 70's feel with a strong emphasis on geometric lines.

Strong geometric lines with 70's style

The balcony of room 417 overlooks the swimming pool, moat, island suites and spa area. I never got the chance to stay in the island suites, but I'm hoping I'll be offered a comp stay for the islands suites. A girl can dream, can't she? I guess they stood out because of their island location and the fact that they're very modern and contemporary with that "far from the maddening crowd" essence about the rooms.

In terms of facilities, the hotel is well equipped with almost every amenity one can think of; and there seem to be a jam packed itinerary of poolside parties and functions during the Summer months.

While we're on the subject of facilities, there is one area that needs to be mentioned. And that is the spa treatment area. I've never been so overwhelmed with such sense of peace and bliss ! One of my favourite places for spa treatments in Cape Town, is the Twelve Apostles hotel - until I met the One and Only's spa treatment area. Now I'm torn betwixt these two spa marvels. Go and check it out for yourself!

The scenery, the crisp air and the entire One and Only experience made me feel all tingly inside, just like the batch of Mexican amphetamines I illegally smuggled across the border last year. Well worth a stay - if you're not in debt.

HOWEVER, despite being blanketed by opulant luxuries and humbled by the magnificent views, I decided there were still a few things that needed improving, let's touch on these (admittadly these may have been teething problems that may well be resolved to date):

1. There were 2 people staying my room, yet the turn down comprised only one set of slippers and chocolates.

2. The rates are pretty high, which led me to thinking that a nice little welcome basket (or anything) would have put a smile on my face. Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge in the Kruger Park supplied beautiful welcome packs.

3. There's something special about those kind of finishing touches. The glass sink in room 417 is placed too close to the spout of the tap. Water went everywhere and onto the wall plugs. Maintenance needs to fix this. In terms of bathroom amenities there could have been more.

4. A huge, beautiful bath but no bath salts or bubble bath?

5. The wine on top of the bar fridge is not complementary, although it was located adjacent the the complementary items. And the very sweet guy showing us the room told us it was "on the house". Apart from those minor details, I was suitably impressed with everything else. The One and Only hotel often has accommodation specials and other exciting events.