This blog is actually supposed to be all about – what to do, where to stay, best places to eat – relating specifically to Cape Town. I’ve gone a bit off course with my 10 part feature of my round trip of 4 southern African countries. Am only halfway with that.
I also spent a few days in Johannesburg and I thought, just for another slight diversion, I would talk about the new Gautrain. Since it’s the perfect way to get from the airport to most hotels.
The Gautrain is designed to be a rapid overground and underground transport system linking key areas of Johannesburg. It is still under construction, however the Sandton – airport route is now open.
I hopped on the Gautrain to test drive it. And I have to say I was impressed. It is fast, it is also clean and certainly on the day I travelled, well run.
Prices are in line with what you would expect to pay in any major city for an airport shuttle service. Not exactly a bargain but considering the distance to the airport not outrageous.
They have a website with their ticketing and timetable information. Have a look here if you want more information – Gautrain.
Rhodesfield Station
There was a plethora of security guards and very official smart looking people falling over themselves to make sure you got it right. From the automated ticket purchase to sitting on the right coach.
And now back to Cape Town for a bit. Don’t forget the new My Citi shuttle bus from Cape Town Airport. That has also been under construction but the airport and now recently the Table View and city loop are all running. The My Citi bus is dirt cheap and I only use it now for the airport. Visit this website for more – MyCiti bus services.
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.
I am leaving in a day for a camping trip into Southern Africa. It’s going to be three weeks of dirt roads and dust. Sleeping in tents and getting up close and personal with nature. My usual weekly posts on what’s going on in Cape Town will take a short holiday. I don’t expect much communication in the bush and am disinclined to want to subject my precious laptop to the current crisis floods in Northern Namibia, endless bumpy roads and piles of fine dust.
When I get back I will share what our neighbouring countries look like in a few posts. Sixteen of us, in a big overland truck, will be going up the west coast of South Africa into Namibia. When I say big truck, I probably should say seriously big truck. The vehicle is 4.1m high, 2,5 m wide and 9,5m long. It is carrying our food, tents, cooking utensils and us.
The tour includes the Fish River Canyon and Ai Ais hot springs, then it heads up and toward the coast where we stay in Swakopmund. From there we go further north to the Caprivi strip and into the Ethosha and Okavango swamp area. Then we head across to Botswana and Chobe Game Reserve. We finally end up in Zimbabwe and Victoria Falls. It’s a long journey.
I will also be spending a few days in the city of gold aka Johannesburg aka Gauteng, also known as Egoli. How does one city get to have so many names? Hopefully, I will get to ride the new Gautrain. I’m told it makes the London underground or the Paris metro look old and ugly. Have to see for myself.
Watch this space!
Just discovered that the study of lighthouses is known as pharology. Who knew? And who knew Princess Anne is an amateur pharolgist? So there you go.
Cape Town is home to a good few working lighthouses. Our lighthouses are not silent as they are in many parts of the world. Each lighthouse has a unique signal and light character that distinguishes them from other lighthouses. When it gets damp foggy the sound of Mouille Point lighthouse permeates the atmosphere as she calls out to the ships.
The first ever lighthouse in Cape Town was lit on the night of 12th April 1824. It had two lanterns that burned using sperm oil. It is no longer working but can be seen at the Waterclub, which is also where the maritime college is. It’s short walk from the Waterfront.
If you happen to be there, you could take in a silver service meal at the hotel school. For bargain prices you can be waited on by the hospitality students. I highly recommend the food and service.
If you are taking a tour or drive in Cape Town then look out for our lighthouses. They can be found in Green Point, Robben Island, Milnerton, Simons Town, Cape Point, Kommetjie and Hout Bay. Further afield there are lighthouses at Cape Agulhas, Gansbaai, Kleinmond, Paternoster and Mossel Bay. Click here for a full list of lighthouses – lighthouses of South Africa
You can take a tour of the lighthouses and some even have holiday cottages where you can stay. For more on Mouille Point lighthouse click here lighthouse and shipwrecks and here Mouille Point lighthouse.
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.
The really handy thing about living in Cape Town is that I get to read local news and experience new venues and events. Often first hand. It makes for easy access to news and ideas for blog posts. But every now and again I come across something on the net or elsewhere that inspires me. Something a bit different.
Today’s post is frankly useless information. But interesting never the less. The following bigger, better or mosts are found only in South Africa: –
Largest land mammal – elephant
Smallest mammal – least dwarf shrew
Tallest – giraffe
Biggest bird – ostrich
Fastest mammal – cheetah
Largest reptile – leather back turtle
Largest fish – white shark
For more useless information on South Africa and to hear the actual sounds of the bush at night, the cry of a fish eagle or a lion roar follow this link ZAR. You can also listen to local music and hear a few words in Zulu or Afrikaans. For more local trivia visit this post – slang and diski dancing or this one – funny place names.
And a final piece of trivia is that Cape Town celebrates her birthday on 2nd April. She will be 359 years old and if you’re in Cape Town, head to the castle for her birthday party.
Photo courtesy Ed Scott
I went walkabout in the recently opened biodiversity park in Green Point last week. The intention was to create a calming, cool, green place for people in the middle of the city. They got it right.
I must admit I could have done without the helicopter from 07.00 the morning on a local public holiday filming Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds over and over and over and over again. They had to come really low to film so you can imagine just how noisy it was. Why do these guys need to film one scene trillions of times? But OK they’ve gone now.
The park is 12.5 hectares in size and has walkways, a cycle lane around the perimeter, seating and ponds. There are boards with information on indigenous plants, medicinal plants, edible plants and biodiversity.
They have cute little hand crafted beaded creatures and animal silhouettes from old rusted metal.
The park is a work in progress. An educational centre to train people in the practice of diversity is on the cards. It is irrigated using spring water from the Oranjezicht spring which is channeled into a canal and then re-used.
Don’t forget that in close proximity to the park are the Metropolitan Golf course, Mouille Point Lighthouse, the beach, a couple of museums including the medical and navy museum. And of course the V and A Waterfront. On the other side of the park is trendy Green Point. The main road which runs next to the park has cafes, restaurants and bars galore. It’s a nice walking day trip.
Photo courtesy of Gillian Ress
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.
