Category: Travel News

The Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts are the perfect opportunity to savour the Cape sunsets during summer.  The Summer Sunset Concerts are held in the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, and offer you a breath-taking infusion of music and natural beauty in which to sit back and relax.

Held on Sundays, between  17h30 and 18h30, from 22 November 2009 to 4 April 2010, the Summer Sunset Concerts cater for all music tastes – from jazz, folk, rock and classical.

This season’s line up includes:

• Johnny Clegg – 22 November 2009
• Jesse Clegg – 06 December 2009
• Jonny Cooper Orchestra – 13 December 2009
• Ashtray Electric and Pretty Blue Guns – 27 December 2009
• A Fist Full of Diamonds with Josie Fields, Farryl Purkiss & Dan Patlansky – 03 January 2010
• Freshlyground – 10 January 2010
• Zebra & Giraffe -  17 January 2010
• Fokofpolisiekar – 24 January 2010
• aKING – 7 February 2010
• Just Jinjer – 21 February 2010
• Prime Circle – 28 February 2010
• Goldfish – 7 March 2010
• The Dirty Skirts – 14 March 2010
• The Cape Philharmonic Orchestra – 21 March 2010
• Watershed – 28 March 2010

Bring your friends and family and slip blissfully into another week listening to music on the Kirstenbosch lawns with a bottle of Cape wine and a delicious picnic. The concerts are always popular, so it’s sensible to get there early and pick your best spot!

Book here for the Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts:  http://www.tunegum.com/Events

Contact the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens for more information on 021 799 8783 / 799 8620 / 799 8773, book tickets by calling 021 799 8782 / 799 8602 or visit: http://www.sanbi.org/frames/kirstfram.htm

Category: Travel News

Cape Town, a sprawling metropolis full of life, with a laidback heart, offers you a culinary extravaganza - a true smorgasbord of choice in food, wine, vibe and location awaits you. Cape Town restaurants have put together a number of Winter Specials, geared towards warming you up whilst you explore the gorgeous city.

Situated on the corner of Long and Church Streets, Addis in Cape provides you with an inviting ambience and a unique dining experience right in the heart of the city. Genuine Ethiopian furnishings and a flamboyant flair for service sets Addis in Cape apart from other restaurants. Addis in Cape is running a Winter Special, every Saturday, were you can get a whole 50% discount off your meals or a set menu for just R140. Visit their website on www.addisincape.co.za for more information.

The trendy and ultra-chic Gallery Café, situated on the mezzanine level of the Urban Chic Hotel, on the corner of Long and Pepper Streets, comes complete with a classy, passionate culinary approach. The Gallery Café’s lunch specials make sharing a breeze - 2 Chic Beef Burgers or 2 Chic “n Vegal Forno plus two glasses of House Wine for just R100! Take a peek of the rest of what the Gallery Café has to offer on www.urbanchic.co.za.

Doppio Zero, in Mandela Rhodes Place, on the corner of Church Street and St George’s Mall offers more than just an Italian dining experience. The restaurant’s extensive and flexible Mediterranean menu is limitless and inexpensive. The restaurant also easily transforms from a daytime café to a fine dining evening venue. Doppio Zero’s current special caters for the pizza and pasta lover within all of us. On purchasing any large pizza or pasta, you will receive a free glass of Porcupine Ridge Sauvignon Blanch or Boland Merlot. Visit their website on www.doppio.co.za for more.

Five Flies, found in Rembrandt House on Keerom Street, is a sassy upmarket dining venue. It is comprised of an 80-seater restaurant, together with exclusive private dining rooms, a bar opening out onto an enclosed courtyard which serves light lunches, and a sophisticated cigar lounge. Five Flies’ Winter Specials mean that on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, you can choose any Two Course Menu and get a free glass of wine, for just R125. For more on Five Flies, visit their website on www.fiveflies.co.za

Sinn’s Restaurant, in Wembley Square, takes the elegance of fine dining and makes it more approachable by offering affordable delights in a modern yet comfortable environment encapsulated in the ambience of an upmarket inner city hot spot.  Sinn’s caters for all mealtimes and the cocktail lounge offers tapas style snacks and a wide range of classic cocktails and boutique style wines. Sinn’s Restaurant has given in to popular demand and is serving its most popular specials again. For just R99, you can enjoy two courses (a starter and main, or main and dessert) specially created by world renowned and award winning Chef Proprietor, Thomas Sinn. The three-course gourmet menu costs just R125 and both specials are paired with a glass of Bellingham wine. To find out more, visit www.sinns.co.za

Gold Restaurant found in the Gold of Africa Museum on Strand Street, prides itself on serving Opulent African Cuisine. Welcoming local and international guests every day for lunch and a full African food journey through Southern and Central Africa for dinner, Gold Restaurant also throws in a dose of Cape Malay cuisine. The Winter Specials at Gold Restaurant mean that, for a rate of R180 per person, you will get a Set Menu, interactive drumming and live entertainment. Visit www.goldrestaurant.co.za for more information.

Savoy Cabbage Restaurant and Champagne Bar, found in Hout Street, uses the freshest local produce to create a menu that changes daily. Gracious and elegant dining can be found at the Savoy Cabbage, without the stuffiness and putrid music. Instead, you can watch the open plan kitchen create your meal and enjoy the hum of good conversation. During August, patrons can from a set three course menu for just R195, from Mondays to Thursdays. As the menu is finalized and created each day, you can ask to have the menu emailed to you on the day, and of course, the normal daily menu is always available. For more on this quaint and quirky restaurant, visit www.savoycabbage.co.za

Balducci’s situated at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, is the place to see and be seen. Balducci’s started life as a classy coffee bar nine years ago, but has successfully transformed itself into one of the mother city’s top fine dining haunts. Until the end of October, Balducci’s is offering its customers flame grilled burgers, accompanied by thick cut fries, relish, pickles and coleslaw for just R55. Click on www.balduccis.co.za to find out more.

Paulaner Bräuhaus & Restaurant, also located at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, is a relaxed and family friendly brewery and restaurant, complete with traditional brass brewing kettles to create a rustic German experience for patrons. During Winter, Paulaner Bräuhaus offers its customers a free beer when ordering the meal of the day. Mondays means it’s Crispy Pork Knuckle night, for just R75 and on Wednesdays, you can treat yourself to either a Pork (R79) or Chicken (R69) Schnitzel, served with a side salad and chips or sautéed potatoes. Read more about the Paulaner Bräuhaus on www.paulaner.co.za

Go ahead and book your table at any of these establishments and begin a true gastronomic adventure!

Category: Travel News

From May through November, whales make their homes around the shallow coastal waters of Southern Africa, South America and Australia.

Whale watching is a well-known tourist attraction in the Western Cape, South Africa. Every year, these gentle giants make the coastal bays their home, to mate, calve and cavort.

Frolicking in the warmer waters around the Overberg and False Bay regions of the Western Cape, the whales are attracted to the sandy-bottomed and sheltered bays, and nurture their young in nutrient-rich waters.

The main types of whales that visit our shores are the Southern Right Whale Dolphin, Humpback Whales, Bryde’s Whales and Orcas, whilst many more varieties of whale are commonly seen at play in our bays.

They honour this great playground and are more than happy to put on a show for the streams of visitors to the Western Cape. Whale-watching has become a major tourist attraction for many coastal towns.

With that in mind, most resorts, establishments and whale-watching tour guides keep to very strict and ecologically friendly regulations. Areas designated for boat-based whale watching are carefully selected so as to not interfere with land-based whale watchers and, of course, the whales themselves.

The Cape Overberg region forms part of the famed Whale Route. Hermanus, situated about an hour and a half away from the metropolis of Cape Town, is hailed as offering the best land-based whale watching in the world.

Fish Hoek is one of the few villages in Cape Town that is little affected by the push for development that has altered most of the Cape’s coastline. Nestled in False Bay, its calm waters make it a popular spot for whales and their offspring to play in the waters.

The Cape Stay Accommodation Guide lists over a hundred luxurious and comfortable establishments for you to call home during your whale watching adventure, and more than fifty of those are located in the ever popular fishing town of Hermanus which offers brilliant viewpoints from where you can watch the whales play in the bay.

Go ahead, begin your whale watching adventure today!

Category: De Waterkant, Travel News

Reviewed: May 2009

If you want a place to relax in luxury and style, then Soho on Strand is the place to visit! Situated in De Waterkant, on the edge of the Mother City, away from the city’s hustle and bustle, Soho on Strand is just minutes away from the Waterfront and provides its guests with easy access to Table Mountain, glorious beaches and highway systems. This stunning accommodation is just 5 blocks walking distance from the World Cup Stadium!

Upon arriving at the Soho, you are met by the Property’s representative, who will show you around the apartment. He is a charming young man and is very well connected in Cape Town - Chatting to him will provide you with the ability to have VIP access to a number of clubs in the city as well as special treatment at some of the top restaurants.

The apartment is ultra-modern, with all the appliances one could possibly need. There are three bedrooms, the main bedroom being en-suite. The apartment is open-plan, which lends itself to an open, yet surprisingly comfortable and, not to forget, stylish feel.

The view and atmosphere from the balcony, complimented with a glass of the delicious house red that the Property’s representative leaves for all guests - usually a 2002 - 2004 blend - made us feel as if we were in the heart of a buzzing, world-class metropolitan.

This apartment truly makes you feel as if you could be living the life of a star; gallivanting around and experiencing the best that Cape Town has to offer, or simply staying at home, in star-quality luxury, which includes a swimming pool and communal barbeque-area.

If you are looking to experience the vibe that Cape Town is famous for and at the same time doing it in style, then this is definitely the place to stay.

For more information, rates and enquiries, please visit  http://www.capestay.co.za/capetownluxury

Category: Marina da Gama, Travel News

Reviewed: March 2009
The Admiralty B and B offers you Individual Excellence.

Admiralty Bed and Breakfast is located on Cannon Island in Marina Da Gama and overlooks the tranquil waters of the Zandvlei estuary, just minutes from the fabulous bathing beaches of the False Bay coastline.

This fabulous home with superb architecture, is designed around a centre courtyard with stunning pool and enclosed by glass sliding doors. The house seems to go on forever and is decorated with the highest levels of care and love.

Each of the five, individually styled, rooms are equipped with their own en-suite bathroom and balcony or terrace.

For those wanting to experience the water first hand there is a row boat that can be taken out onto the vlei. Pack a bottle of wine and glasses and go for row at sunset!

Our hosts Mary and Russell were wonderful and made us feel right at home straight away - offering us a cold beer on arrival and a quick dip in the pool to cool off. They made sure we had everything we needed for our Saturday night picnic on our own little terrace overlooking the beautiful vlei. Ducks and the two very friendly wire-haired resident terriers kept us company under the stars.

Even though we had to leave ridiculously early to catch the Cape Argus cycle race, Mary and Russell had a breakfast spread fit for a king and queen rustled up and ready by 5AM!

The Admiralty B and B offers comfort, luxury and tranquility, all in one neat home-grown package.

For more information, rates and enquiries, please visit www.capestay.co.za/admiraltybnb

Category: Big Bay, Travel News

Reviewed: February 2009
Elizabeth’s Guest House gave us an experience that was thoroughly enjoyed and will be remembered for some time to come.

On arrival we were greeted by our hostess, Elizabeth, and we instantly felt welcome as she embraced us in her warm and friendly manner. We were shown to our room, which was prepared with care and an eye for detail. We immediately felt relaxed and at home.

The beautiful surroundings and endless vista from the garden towards Melkbos, with birds chirping in the underbrush and, the sound of waves gently breaking onto the beach, create gently music that soothes the soul….sheer bliss!

As dinner time approached, the wonderful smell of home cooking filled the air and lured us to the dinner table, where Elizabeth treated us to one of her delicious meals - homemade curry, rice and salad, followed by a sumptuous dessert.

We relaxed after our wonderful dinner on the patio, as the sunset gently rolled up the light of the day and the sun set in a beautiful array of colours, which brought on the most wonderful feeling of contentment.

Elizabeth is a wonderful hostess and a great conversationalist - her company was thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated.

Elizabeth’s Guest House is well worth a visit to experience the delicious meals, the extremely comfortable accommodation and, most of all, to enjoy the peace and relaxation that it has to offer.

The house cat is called Zooty, she was wild when she arrived at the guesthouse and Elizabeth adopted her.

For more information, rates and enquiries, please visit www.capestay.co.za/elizabethsguesthouse

Category: Hout Bay West, Travel News

Reviewed: March 2009

A dream was realised when Angelique and Kenneth Mangel left Europe behind and opened Chapman’s Peak Bed & Breakfast and Self Catering in December 2007.

The warmest of welcomes was received from this open and friendly couple who own and run this exquisite home away from home with such passion and dedication and this paved the way for a most enjoyable experience.

The air conditioned units, each with its own private Jacuzzi and private entrance, are beautifully furnished and equipped to the highest standard with painstaking attention to detail to ensure the well being and comfort of their guests.

The little guests have also been thoughtfully catered for. A playground with jungle gym as well as a lego filled playroom has been erected in the immaculately maintained garden for them to play to their hearts content!

An abundant and delicious Continental breakfast (our choice) with percolated Dutch coffee was served under the lapa next to the sparking clean swimming pool at the prearranged time and what it a treat it was!

Angelique and Kenneth have created an absolute gem in the heart of Hout Bay, they’ve stamped it with their own special brand of hospitality and service and this establishment more than deserves its accreditations.

For more information, rates and enquiries, please visit www.capestay.co.za/chapmanspeak

Category: Simon's Town, Travel News

Reviewed: March 2009

The Winston is an impressive 4-star Bed and Breakfast about 5 minutes outside of the centre of Simon’s Town, and only a stone’s throw away from the stunning
Boulder’s Beach.

We were warmly greeted by the owner Mike upon arrival, who showed us to our room “The Whale Suite”, and quickly got us settled. The large room, complete with king-sized bed and amazingly comfortable couch, has a white-washed nautical Cape Cod theme, which fits in perfectly with the feel of the area.

After we unpacked, Mike showed us around and made us feel welcome. He even recommended a restaurant for us to go to that evening, and made the booking for us.

Hugging the rocky coastline, The Winston offers amazing panoramic sea views. Stepping out of our suite and onto the outdoor patio, I was bowled over with just how expansive the mass of ocean felt. For me, the outdoor area was one of the highlights: an awesome wooden deck with lounge chairs, swimming pool and braai area.

This is the perfect peaceful environment to settle in with a good book while listening to the soothing sounds of the ocean. Or as I did a little later, explore the tranquil surroundings by taking a very short walk down to the coastline. Scrambling along the rocky shore, I managed to take some photos of the beautiful natural setting.

And for star-gazers, Simon’s Town is an amazing place. After making our way back to the Winston after dining out, we were in awe of how beautifully the night sky lit up with hundreds of stars from the patio outside our room.

In the morning, I woke up to the sounds of the ocean, which is always a delight for me. Making our way upstairs to the breakfast area, we were treated to an absolutely delicious full English breakfast (and great coffee!)

En route home, we had to stop at the world famous Boulder’s Beach. A protected penguin sanctuary that delighted us with close up encounters with these amazing and adorable animals. Not only does Boulder’s Beach offer you the chance to see hundreds of penguins, but it is also one of the most picturesque and sheltered swimming beaches in the Cape. The opportunity to relax at a breathtakingly beautiful beach, while swimming with the penguins is an amazing combination, and one that shouldn’t be missed.

Our weekend getaway at the Winston was a lovely experience, littered with many highlights, and leaving us feeling relaxed and privileged to experience the beauty and character that this area of the Cape has to offer.

For more information, rates and enquiries, please visit www.capestay.co.za/thewinston

Category: Travel News

Reviewed: March 2009

Nestled at the foot of the Table Mountain Reserve on the East Coast of the Cape Peninsula, and within walking distance of beautiful Noordhoek beach, lies the enchanting Sacred Mountain Lodge.

We were welcomed at the door by the establishment’s friendly manager, Alex, who showed us to our luxurious room, Clydesdale, and then went on to give us an all-round tour of the lodge.

Owners, Jason; his lovely wife, Samantha and beautiful children are always a whisper away, ready to assist in anything they can.

Sacred Mountain Lodge is a true “home away from home” and we immediately felt comfortable and relaxed. A delicious bottle of wine and bowl of fresh fruit were waiting for us in our room. The rooms are very spacious and have been well-furnished, with extreme care and attention to detail!

The lush green garden and turquoise swimming pool created a tranquil setting, perfect for relaxing with a good book. As the sun set, rays of light shone through the tall trees and created a surreal setting. As we enjoyed a glass of wine at the fireplace, we were told the interesting story behind the discovery of the name, Sacred Mountain, which was taken from a book called ‘Table Mountain to Cape Point’ by Carrie Hampton.

After a good braai (BBQ), we enjoyed some private time in the Jacuzzi spa, surrounded by hundreds of candles and soft gentle music. The Jacuzzi’s easily-controlled bubbles gave us an invigorating massage-like experience.

Upon arriving back at our Lodge after the relaxing Jacuzzi experience, we were surprised and delighted to find little chocolates on our pillows - yet more evidence of Sacred Lodge’s attention
to detail.

Breakfast, served with great care, allows guests to have anything from fresh fruit, to yoghurt, to a full english breakfast - which can be enjoyed in bed, in the garden or overlooking the pool.

Jason, Samantha and Alex have created a truly amazing escape from the world - one which I hope to be able to visit again!

For more information, rates and enquiries, please visit www.capestay.co.za/sacredmountain

Category: Travel News

Reviewed: April 2009

Campsbayglen was a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of every day life. Just a short drive away from Cape Town central, we were lucky enough to be able to enjoy the finer side of life in rustic yet elegant setting.

Surrounded by a nature reserve, Campsbayglen is the perfect place for a relaxing getaway! It felt as if we were in our very own isolated paradise with a view of nature from every angle.

This beautiful house is full of character and has been split into 3 levels, a separate studio on each level, each with quaint yet comfortable rooms. The studios are fully equipped with everything you need for a self catering holiday.

We spent a relaxed afternoon by the pool, accompanied by the soothing sounds of the natural river and waterfalls running through the garden while watching the guinea fowl that flock to the side of the mountain.

For those who like to read, grab a book and lounge on one on of the numerous hammocks either by the sparkling pool or on your own private deck.

As an additional treat, there is a bath on the deck of studio A, where I treated myself to a candle lit bubble bath and watched an incredible sunset over the sea while sipping a glass of wine.

We left our studio feeling relaxed and completely spoilt. For nature lovers Campsbayglen is a must.

For more information, rates and enquiries, please visit Campsbayglen