It’s fair to say we don’t get the same numer of music and shows as our fellow citizens in the northern latitudes. It makes sense that the cost of hauling equipment to the southern tip of Africa for one, maybe two, shows just doesn’t make it viable. What lures many an artist to our part of the world is a visit to Cape Town, a chance to meet Nelson Mandela and a safari experience. My other half used to ferry celebrities on a private ferry to Robben Island and has a story or three.
A few weeks ago Green Point stadium aka Cape Town stadium hosted the U2 360 concert. A crowd of around 75 000 revellers rocked to old and new numbers. It was a brilliant show but the supporting bands were so so. If you are in Cape Town and want to see what shows or events will be happening try these links – Computicket or maybe the Cape Town magazine. Two more useful sites are Uncover the Cape and SA Venues.
Goldfish concert at Kirstenbosch botanical gardens
Another favorite music venue are the local botanical gardens in the major cities in South Africa. These concerts usually feature local artists but Bryan Adams and a few others have done shows there. It’s an earlier show and a lot more family oriented.
You bring a blanket, your own booze and a picnic basket. Kids play in amongst the plants and older folk relax on the grass. Beats the drink and food queues at most mega stadiums. That said, I was impressed with Green Point stadium. No loo queues and a vegetarian pita for me.
I am also pleased to say that Kirstenbosch have a strict no smoking policy. Read more here – Kirstenbosch summer concerts.
U2 photo courtesy Ragnhilde Reid
Go to – My Holidays and Trips – at the top of this page to read about other places we have visited. Or just click on – this link.
You need maps to get about. And if you can find them free on-line, well all the better. This post has a few of the best maps I could find.
Google maps is a no brainer. They probably have the best on-line maps. Find local maps here – Google Maps. For another place to plot your route you can look at this site – Street maps. Cape Town Travel also have great maps for you. Click on this link – map city centre. You could let someone else do all the planning for your road trip. Road travel do it all for you.
Three not to be missed driving routes in the Western Cape are: – The Cederberg Spine (Cederberg), The Garden Route (Garden Route) and Route 62 (Route 62.)
Just a few rules of the road. We drive on the left hand side of the road. Do not park on a red line or a yellow line. You could find your car has been removed. Do not park on the pavement. You might think that you are keeping the roads clear but pavements are for pedestrians. Although local traffic officers aren’t always vigilant about this law, every now and again they go mad and dispense tickets. Don’t park facing oncoming traffic. Although legal in many countries, it is illegal in South Africa.
Lastly, don’t leave valuables in the car or leave anything visible to passersby. Your old jersey on the car seat might be just what a homeless person needs. For more useful tips visit the Cape Town City Council web page here – Useful tips. Another site with lots of money saving and travel and safety tips for South Africa is here – travel and safety tips in South Africa
In the photos are whales frolicking in the bay. Whales come to give birth to their calves here in winter and the shoulder months. The bay becomes full of whales and baby whales. There are also seals, dolphins, penguins, sharks and plenty bird life. A boat trip around the bay is the perfect way to see our beautiful coastline, the mountains from afar and local marine life. The waterfront has a good selection of boat trips or you can head out to Simonstown or Gordon’s Bay to find a boat excursion. Visit the Dyer Island Conservation Trust for what work they do with sea creatures and their tours – Dyer Island Conservation Trust. They also have a great photo gallery.
Whale tails
On the subject of drinking tap water. Tap water in Cape Town is safe to drink. Read here for the SA Tourism report Blue Drop report on tap water in South Africa. Since we run a guest house we are always amazed at how many people insist on drinking bottled water and how much they throw away untouched or barely consumed.
Refilling a spent water bottle a few times helps to reduce garbage. Tap water is often purer than bottled water, since bottled water is frequently found to have contaminates. We use water filters on our taps and allow the water to stand in a glass jug so the chlorine can evaporate. Personally I think that is the best water.
South Africa is a water scarce country. We do have water restrictions every now and again. People from water rich countries probably don’t know what it’s like not to be able to water a garden or wash a car. Don’t try it, if we are having restrictions, you may get a fine.
Photographs Katja Vinding Petersen
South Africa has a couple of budget internal airlines you may not have heard of before. They have some really good specials so before you rush to use SAA or BA to get about South Africa, you should have a look at these local airlines.
First place to look for bargain flights is Mango.
The next airline we look to for specials is 1time Airline.
And the other handy and well priced local airline is Kulula.
I forget which one of them, but one of these budget airlines has a habit of making funny announcements. If you are the sort who has heard them a million times and ignore them, you may miss some unique safety announcements.
Of course you forgo your usual complementary airline meal and drink but I prefer to have something at the airport before the flight. They do sell basic food and snacks on the flight. Here are some hopefully helpful tips for long haul travelers. I am vegetarian and always book a special meal. I get my meal way before everyone else. The only thing I always do is confirm my meal when I book on-line. When I am seated on the plane I check again that my meal has been ordered. The special meal shows up with the other details on your print-out which you can show the flight attendant of there is any confusion. The reason I make extra sure they know I am expecting a vegetarian meal? Once I was told I hadn’t booked it when I knew I had and was left to go hungry. And that’s not all, someone who did not book a veg meal asked for one and when they got to me – my veg meal was gone!!!
Another I hope useful tip, is that I check in on-line as the bookings open 24 hours before. Some airlines charge to let you book earlier. Some let you choose your seat when you buy your ticket. But for most you can only check in 24 hours before. I bag myself a seat near the front so I get served and get off before the rest of the folk on the plane. And I prefer an aisle seat so I can move about without disrupting people. The best seats are those near the emergency exits. There you have extra leg room but you gotta be fast for them.
Bon voyage!
Go to – My Holidays and Trips – at the top of this page to read about other places we have visited. Or just click on – this link.
Our mountains are home to the famous, or sometimes infamous, Cape Baboon. His proper name is Chacma Baboon. They are less prevalent in the city centre but if you head out toward Cape Point, you should see them sitting on the sides of the roads or on rocks.
They hang out in troops and the cutest little babies hang onto their mother’s tummies. They look harmless and sweet. And visitors frequently get out their cars to take photos or worse, get up close and personal with these apes.
Human fascination with these creatures is actually harming them and their numbers are being carefully monitored. By giving food to baboons, people have taught them to become too lazy to scavenge for their own food. If they see food in a car, they will attempt to take it.
Warning sign
Residents on the south peninsula have big problems with these creatures. They come into their homes and steal food. They turn over garbage bins and they get highly aggressive. They bite!
A drive around the peninsula is a lovely day out but do exercise caution with these animals. Observe them from the safety of a car. They are not cute pets. Don’t try and touch them.
Go to – My Holidays and Trips – at the top of this page to read about other places we have visited. Or just click on – this link.
A nice day trip out without having to hire a car is the trip to Blouberg. There is a dedicated cycle lane and all you need is a bicycle.
Cape Town Cycle Hire will deliver a bike to your front door. It’s a lovely ride out. The sea is on your left and you pass Milnerton Lagoon, Sunset beach and Blouberg beach.
Flamingo Vlei is on your right, which is a wetland area full of bird life. On Sundays you can pop into the car boot market in Milnerton or have lunch at one of the cafes next to the lighthouse at Milnerton Beach.
Blouberg Beach is a mecca for sea sport lovers. Kite surfing, windsurfing, stand up paddle surfing, regular surfing, if you can think of it, they are doing it. Maybe book a lesson before you head out? Use the words – Kite Surfing School – to find local teachers and equipment.
If you are after a bit more action, then keep the bike a day longer and do a spot of mountain biking. Downhill Adventures will show you the ropes.
And for those who prefer a more sedentary approach to sight seeing, don’t forget the My CiTi bus heads out to Blouberg. You can get on an off as you wish.
