Cape Town - Table Mountain

Table Mountain - our pride and joy!

Table Mountain from Blouberg Cape Town

Table Mountain from Blouberg

Table Mountain - from the V&A Waterfront

Eating an ice-cream on top of Table Mountain Cape Town

Cable Car - Table Mountain Cape Town South Africa

Table Mountain Named Africa’s Top Tourist Attraction

View of Camps Bay from Table Mountain

Flora on Table Mountain

The Cableway has been named Africa's Leading Attraction.

Flying the flag 1 082m high for South Africa, Table Mountain  was named Africa's Leading Tourist Attraction at the Africa & Indian Ocean World Travel Awards in Mauritius on Saturday 1 June 2019.
Voted by travel and tourism professionals and consumers worldwide, the World Travel Awards recognises excellence in customer service and experience across the travel, tourism and hospitality industries.

Coming out tops against Mount Kilimanjaro and the Ngorogoro Crater in Tanzania and the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, as well as South Africa’s own Robben Island and V&A Waterfront, Table Mountain’s victory is no small feat.
Thrilled to accept the award was the Table Mountain Cableway’s Managing Director Wahida Parker, who said it was an honour to receive such a prestigious accolade.

“As custodians of South Africa’s only New 7 Wonder of Nature and a globally recognised attraction, our responsibility is to provide a world-class bucket-list experience to local and international visitors. With over 1 million visitors a year complacency is not an option, and we constantly seek to improve our offering while remaining mindful of visitor’s variable needs. It is because of our staff’s commitment to providing exceptional customer service that we have secured this honour. I would like to thank the travel and tourism professionals as well as visitors who cast their vote in our favour.”

The World Travel Awards Africa & Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony is the first of four regional gala ceremonies that World Travel Awards hosts annually as part of its Grand Tour. With the Europe, Latin America and Asia & Oceania ceremonies next, the tour culminates in a Grand Final in November.
Having won Africa's Leading Tourist Attraction 2019 and competing against the three regional winners, Table Mountain is now eligible to win the World’s Leading Tourist Attraction 2019 title.
“We are excited to represent our country and the beautiful Table Mountain, and we are confident that ours is the world’s winning visitor experience formula,” concludes Parker.

Walking on Table Mountain Cape Town

Views from Table Mountain Cape Town

THE TABLE MOUNTAIN AERIAL CABLEWAY: THEN AND NOW

Table Mountain Aerial Cableway turns 90 this October. A lot has changed since that first trip up the mountain on 4 October 1929. Read on to find out the major changes that have laid the way for the Cableway as it is today.

BEFORE THE CABLEWAY

Before 1929, the only way up was to hike: a feat not undertaken by too many. By the 1870s, plans were put forward to build a rack railway to the top, but the First Anglo-Boer War halted work on that. Another mock-charge came in 1912, when an engineer had been commissioned to build a funicular up the mountain. This plan was again thwarted by the outbreak of war: this time, World War 1.

Finally, in 1926, a cableway was suggested by a Nortwegian engineer, Trygve Stromsoe, and work began that same year.

THE FIRST CABLE CAR

After two years of tireless and often dangerous work, the Cableway was opened to the public on 4 October 1929 and has a proud history of being totally accident-free since then. Watch this incredible footage of the first model of the car heading up the mountain:

THE CABLEWAY TODAY

The Cableway has been upgraded three times – in 1958, 1974 and, more recently, in 1997, when the cars with revolving floors, called Rotairs, were introduced. The Cableway has transported over 28 million people to the summit of Table Mountain. It takes for to five minutes to reach the top, and when you arrive, you’ll be met with not only the spectacular views, but a WiFi lounge, restaurant, curio shop and wheelchair friendly walkways. There are free guided tours, self-guided audio tours, and all the amenities you need to enjoy this magical experience.

Content Courtesy of www.tablemountain.net

Table Mountain from V and A Waterfront

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Cape Town - Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens 

Cape Town, South Africa

Whilst the gardens are beautiful all year round, springtime is an absolute delight as the gardens are just ablaze with spring flowers .

The burst of colours is so splendid that one's eyes are not sure where to focus next! 

"Regarded as one of the great botanic gardens of the world, Kirstenbosch—or rather, the land on which it sits—was bequeathed to the government by Cecil John Rhodes. At the time, it was nothing more than ramshackle farmland overrun with pigs. In 1913 a botanist called Harold Pearson set about transforming the land into a botanic garden devoted to the country’s indigenous flora. It now contains over 7000 species of plants from southern Africa. The 528-hectare Kirstenbosch Estate (which includes the Garden) falls under the Cape Floristic Region, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site"

"Situated on the slopes of Table Mountain, just 13km from the city centre, Kirstenbosch includes a fragrance garden, a medicinal garden, 2,500 species of plants found on the Cape Peninsula, a Protea garden (best seen in spring!), a braille trail, and a cycad amphitheatre. There is also the Botanical Society Conservatory, which houses plants from the continent’s more arid regions"

Shady paths give one shelter during our hot summer days

Benches are dotted all over the gardens.

Kirstenbosch is an absolute "must visit" for any visitors to Cape Town, no matter what the season.

• The Garden is open every day from 08h00 to 19h00 during summer (Sep-Mar), 08h00 to 18h00 during winter (Apr-Aug).
• The Conservatory is open every day from 09h00 to 17h00.

"Van Riebeeck's hedge was planted in 1660 to protect cattle of the Cape colonists".
Take a walk and see if you can spot this ancient hedge!

Baby Egyptian Geese

"On Sundays during the summer months from December to March, musical sunset concerts are held on the lawns at Kirstenbosch. Craft markets are also held at the Stone Cottages (opposite Kirstenbosch) on the last Sunday of every month (except June, July and August)"

Arum Lily Kirstenbosch

In one section of the garden, there are numerous statues/art forms - do take a wander to find these.

For the hungry, there are restaurants in the Gardens - one near the top entrance and one further down. Open for breakfast, lunch and afternoon teas.

Moyo Kirstenbosch Gardens

There is often an Art Exhibition in the hall - free entry and incredible art works.

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens Cape Town

"A highlight for visitors to Kirstenbosch in Cape Town is a steel and wood canopy stands in amongst the trees of Kirstenbosch. Erected to celebrate Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden's centenary the 'boomslang', as it has become known, rises from the ground at a gentle incline to carry visitors out above the trees to views over the eastern slopes of Table Mountain across the Cape Flats to the Hottentots Holland Mountains in the distance.

Though shorter than originally intended, the canopy's 130 metres length encompasses a carefully planned route through the arboretum, taking the slope, existing pathways, mature trees and their longevity into account.

Despite the almost 20 tons of steel, 5.36 km of steel rod, 12 columns and 23 sections of walkway that went into making the canopy, people still manage to miss it, so well is it disguised.

There are over 400 trees in and around the walkway, in line with the intent to bring those on the boomslang as close as possible to as many different trees and plants as possible. Around you are Cape saffrons, hard pears, white stinkwoods and a grove of tall forest myrtle quince. The forest below and around the walkway is young for a forest at twenty-five years of age.

The walkway has a fair amount of give that can feel particularly daunting if you are not used to it, but this is all part of its design and nothing to worry about. From underneath its snake-like design is even more clear, the curved railings acting like the ribcage of a snake, the pipe that runs along its length its spine. Even the diamond-shaped steel mesh suggests a snake's skin".

The Boomslang from below

  
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South Africa - Bokkom Laan, Veldrif, West Coast

Bokkom Laan, Veldrif, South Africa

"Bokkom Laan (Lane) is the home of a small bokkom industry in Velddrif. Bokkoms are Mullet that are salted, then strung into bunches and hung up to dry, almost like a fish biltong. They are unique to this part of the West Coast and every visitor to this area should try them before leaving. But it is not all just Bokkoms that you will find in Bokkom Laan, there is also Marina Clunies Art Studio, Ek en Djy Visserye and a restaurant in Bokkom Laan. There are a number of these little buildings which have been declared as national monuments.
Marina Clunie paints exceptional paintings, mostly from what she observes from her studio in Bokkom Laan. Her paintings include water, boats and landscapes, but in all of these her desire is not to capture the beauty of the scene, but rather the mood of the scene creating a certain atmosphere.
Ek en Djy Visserye can be found next to Marina Clunies Art Studio. The owner tries to stock his little shop with anything from West Coast souvenirs to antiques, home made jam, roll mops, mussels, fresh fish, etc.
A little further down the road you will find Die Vishuis, a small converted fish house, where the owner turns out great food with the most magnificent setting in her West Coast themed restaurant on the banks of the Berg River. 

 Bokkom Laan is truly a taste of tradition, flavour and history and a stop not to be missed". 

Bokkom Laan Veldrif West Coast South Africa

Bokkom Laan Veldrif South Africa

Bokkom Laan Veldrif

These geese rule this road - the roads they make as you approach is enough to awake any slumbering local or fisherman! 

Flamingoes Veldrif West Coast South Africa

Flamingoes and their offspring were very much in evidence feeding here. 

So interesting to watch their feet kick back the soil to release whatever nourishment they are feeding on. 

Paddler Veldrif

Boating or paddling on the Berg River is an ideal way to watch the bird life in this area. 

Flamingo Veldrif West Coast South Africa

Bird Watchers Heaven Veldrif South Africa

Velfdrif West Coast South Africa

Photography by Bradclin

Judelle Drake

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South Africa - Paternoster, West Coast

Paternoster, West Coast, South Africa

Paternoster is one of the oldest fishing villages along the West Coast of South Africa

Paternoster West Coast South Africa

It's a place where one can buy fish straight off the tiny boats that ply their trade in these cold waters.

If you ask nicely, you may even get them filleted!

Crayfish is also sold here - just make sure these are not under-sized.

Paternoster West Coast South Africa

Paternoster West Coast South Africa

Paternoster West Coast South Africa

This village is all about relaxation, good food, long walks on the magnificent beach, interesting craft and art galleries and a photographers delight. With many options for accommodation, it's a great week-end getaway!

Paternoster West Coast South Africa

Paternoster West Coast South Africa

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