Privilege of living in Cape Town

Craig Louw, one of our clients renting a 'cheapie' reminded me again of the privilege of living in Cape Town. Craig, a South African has been living abroad in Australia for a number of years and has come back for a holiday. He just 'raved' about the mountain, the beaches and the general vibe.

Recently I read that Cape Town has achieved international recognition as a superior, value-for-money destination offering top-notch accommodation and restaurant options, superb beaches, scenery that is world class and all types of adventure for the brave. Be it Great White shark cage diving in False Bay or rock climbing up Table Mountain or sampling an African cuisine of 'pap and wors' deep in Guguletu to the unmistakable sound of township jazz, Cape Town has it all.

You do not need a holiday, you need Cape Town.

I recently took Lorna, my wife, to the Tudor Hotel for a late celebration of our wedding anniversary. What we discovered was the absolute buzz of Long Street. So many interesting shops, so many friendly international visitors from all over the world. We browsed through Green Market Square, looking for bargains. Then we sampled some of the restaurant food.......mmmmmmm - Tapas Fork. It is a discreet little place on Long Street offering really good food. We had a soup with such rich flavour my mouth waters as I type, followed by a 'little of everything' platter dish. A real experience I can recommend. Very tasty.

Long Street never sleeps and is full of adventure for those willing to explore.

Back to Cape Town the Mother City, if you are visiting for the first time I suggest you start at Table Mountain. After you have taken the cable car to the top of the mountain, head down to the water front for a cold beer as you wait for the ferry to take you to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 of his 27 years of incarceration. The prison cells, the working quarries and buildings have all been preserved. Fascinating to get a glimpse of South Africa's history and how Mandela and his friends kept their hope alive in their struggle for freedom against apartheid. Worth the effort.

The blue flag beaches of Cape Town are a must. Camps Bay, Clifton and Llandudno are superb. If you prefer warmer waters then Muizenberg with her gentle swell lines and long wide beaches will sooth your soul. Perfect to just hang and suntan or try surfing. There are surfboards for hire at the Muizenberg surf Shop. Titch, a great guy, has been running the shop for years and really offers a good service. You could pick up a board and wetsuit for about 15 Euros and get stoked as you surf the tip of Africa. However, keep your eye on the shark flags. Sometimes Cedric the local Great White is doing his daily patrol. Seriously, there is the occasional shark, but with the fulltime shark 'spotters' employed by the local government, it is pretty safe out there. Just watch the flag!

Once you had your surf, how about a tour of the Winelands. This is the area around Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. Actually, anything between Durbanville Hills and Ceres could be considered the Winelands. Now I could give you a list of the 'top five' places to go. I have found the more popular wine farms are too commercialized. The best way to discover the wine routes of the fairer Cape is just to get in your car, preferably a 'cheapie', and drive. Get on the N1 and look for the R310 or R45, from there, let your curiosity lead you. You will discover little farms that are not advertised in Cape Town Tourism, but offer great wine with unforgettable warm South African hospitality and obviously food. Go for walks through the vineyards, ask the local farm workers questions, enjoy the many streams and natural forests that so characterize the area. If you want to really dine, then Franschhoek is the 'creme de la creme' of all restaurant towns, boasting the finest of culinary experience in all of the Western Cape. I suggest you start at Reuben's, a local South African restaurant with a real love for food and people.

I have run out of time,

Later, and enjoy your stay with us.

Grant Baker
Rentacheapie car hire