Fun things to do in Province of the Western Cape

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We were treated to a night out at Moyo at Spier. This is a great night out. African style dancing and singing entertains you throughout the night on stage and at your tables.

The central marquee includes a range of traditional food from the Western Cape. The food was excellent quality here and nobody will go home hungry as it is an all you can eat buffet.

Now I really really enjoyed this night out, it was great fun. Some people may find it too touristy I know and the Spier complex has some tourist trap reviews on VT. I can only tell you that I was taken by my S African hosts who absolutely love the night out here and make a pilgrimage two or three times a year and I wish I was with them more often

This is amazing, between June and November see whales along the South African coast.follow aroute and see them along the coast.... From Hermanus, Sand dunes at De Hoop Nature reserve, Witsand, Stilbaai, Jongensfontein,Mossel Bay!!! and when you visit these small towns make sure to eat at the small restaurant on Witsand Beach , they make wonderful seafood and food and wine at good price, and in Stilbaai taste EISBEIN at FYNBOS restaurant...also makes very good seafood.

Visit the beautiful botanical garden of Kirstenbosch, walk in the gardens or in the greenhouse and look at the beautiful plants and trees.

You can wonder for hours through these beautiful surroundings, we enjoyed our time here very much. For some more info, please have a look at their official webpage.

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The following text is borrowed from their official webpage.

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden is world-renowned for the beauty and diversity of the Cape flora it displays and for the magnificence of its setting against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain.

Kirstenbosch grows only indigenous South African plants. The estate covers 528 hectares and supports a diverse fynbos flora and natural forest. The cultivated garden (36 hectares) displays collections of South African plants, particularly those from the winter rainfall region of the country.

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For more information and photos see my travelogue: A daytrip in the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve
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The language monument reminds the people to the official status of the African language. This monument exist out of grained granite that is made into concrete.

The small columns remind that the Dutch, English and several African languages are the source for the African language.

Try shouting in the biggest horn to hear your voice carried out over the area.

For more information and photos see my page: Paarl

You can find much more explanation about the symbolism and the idea behind this design on their website. (This is an extract from that side)

A COLONNADE of three elements to the left or west of the approach symbolizes the languages and cultures of the enlightened West. These structures, closely juxtaposed, begin at a height and diminish in size and then descend in a curve to ascend again into the main upward sweep.

A PODIUM with three semi spheres to the right, or to the eastern side of the approach, represents magical Africa with its indigenous languages and cultures, and develops into a lesser curve which joins the main upward movement.

The confluence of these two curves forms a bridge which is the base of the main hyperbola. This, rising up into space, signifies the coming into being and the development of Afrikaans.

A language and culture neither western nor African, but Malayan, is represented by a low wall in the middle third of the main steps to add to the general scale.

Together with the main column, placed in the same life-giving pool with bubbling fountain, rises a structure symbolising our Republic: free, yet encompassed by and open to Africa; free in form and reminiscent of the west, whose cultures helped to establish it. It symbolizes two languages and two mutual enriching cultures, yet one nation, facing the future with courage and resolution, deeply conscious of the presence of an Omniscient Being, guiding us to our destiny in the turmoil of our time.

Pieter-Dirk Uys was born in Cape Town in 1945, then he he launched his one-man total onslaught in 1981 , on Separate Development a.k.a. APARTHEID and its promotors.

with a Jewish Berlin-born mother and an Afrikaner Calvinist father and so belongs to both chosen (white) people. It is reputed that he is related to a 17th century black Cape courtesan, thus making him a true local native!

also Email: evita@iafrica.com

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Cape Point driving from Cape Town and back up again:

Chapmans's Peak Drive - (toll R28) with some of the most spectacular ocean views in the Cape there are loads of places to stop for photos along the drive. At the end of CPD if you want to stop for coffee, we went to the The Red Herring Trading Yard which had some great shops :-) Down the Atlantic Coast of the Peninsula past Scarborough you will be driving along the boundary of the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. We saw a troop of baboons crossing the road here. :-) Just before you enter the Park you come to the Cape Ostrich Farm. Apparently you can buy bags of food which they will take from your hand and buy lots of Ostrich products here, from painted and carved eggs, to feather dusters and lots of (expensive) ostrich leather goods. We did not bother to go in so I can't tell you about there.

Just after the ostrich farm is a roadside area where there a lot of informal stalls selling all the standard African souvenirs. This is actually one of the cheapest places to buy in Cape Town, cheaper than similar places in the city. As there are quiet a few different stalls walk up and down first and see what they all have to offer (a lot is similar) and then bargain one trader against the other. Be good natured and friendly, and you will get a good price! - We got some nice things here!

Into the Park you will need to pay the Park entrance fee. Then drive slowly down to Cape Point. This gets quite busy especially at weekends. You can walk up to the lighthouse (now disused) at the top. A fairly stiff 10 minute walk, or you can take the funicular railway. Walking gives you better views all the way up. Head back along the road but soon turn left where it is signposted to Cape of Good Hope. This is separate from Cape Point and is actually the southern most tip of the Peninsula. It can get very windy here so hold on to your Hat!

Alternatively you can walk here from Cape Point - about an hour to an hour and a half return. You now head back towards the Park entrance but there are side roads where you can divert to the coast on either side.

After exiting the park you head up the False Bay coast (spectacular cliffs here) and eventually reach Boulders Beach (where the penguins are). For the nearest car park to the penguins ignore the first marked turning with the sunshade sign. This takes you to the swimming beach. You can walk from here along a wooden walkway but it is a bit further than taking the second turning (with the penguin picture on). Park walk along a residential road and enter the reserve via the pay station. (we went to Betty's Bay instead which was brilliant!)

Simon's Town has lots to see. It is the third oldest town in South Africa and ishome to the SA Navy. Lots of old shops and the SA Naval Museum and Simons Town Museum. You can also visit one of the oldest Mosques in the Cape.

A few km further outside Simons Town is The Black Marlin a fantastic fish resturant, I would advise booking a sea terrace table in advance (+27 (21) 786 1621) as they were really busy when we were there.

Through Fish Hoek and one to Kalk Bay. From here the best is now to retrace to the traffic lights coming into Kalk Bay and then turn right up Boyes Drive - a high level road with good views over False Bay. This takes you above Muizenberg then down to the M4 Main Road. Shortly follow the signs to the M3 motorway which is the quickest route to take you back to the city.

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On the N2 Albertinia is about half way from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth, Its a lovely small town to stop, It has a lovely picnic area and places to eat as well as local foods that you can buy at times.
there are also some shops to buy gifts and a deli to buy local produce.