GTG in Cape Town, has it ever been done?

I would fly down in a heartbeat based on curiousity but also to havea reason to surrend to Africa.
Regrettably my funds don't allow such jet setting

Generally speaking I think it's a great idea and opportuniy if down anyway to make it a GTG.

SV

Ahh! Funds! Always the same story, too many things to do and too little money.... Well spassvogel, at least your heart is in the right place

we will be in capetown from oct 15 to 19, 2009... we have run GTG's in boston and bangkok and participated in them in California, Hawaii, and had individual mini-gtg's with people in england, new york, bangkok, krabi thailand, dresden germany, boston and other places.....we will be going to the LA GTG next month and in april will have mini-gtg's in england, argentina and paraguay....they are so much fun....and you meet such nice people...

we would love to meet up with any of the africa folks...
i can be reached at: rhkonthailand@msn.com

bob and karen, age 65, boston, MA USA

Wow rhkkmk, you're real experts!!! We'll have to get you to show us GTG newbies how it's done

We've only done it twice, both times in London, but never managed to get more than a couple of people interested.

We did meet a fun lady for a pub walk along the Thames and we've kept in touch. She and a friend will be here in Cape Town in April and I was hoping we could drum up some interest for a CT GTG. There doesn't seem to be a lot of activity on the SA board these days.... I'll stay positive for now though

I'm going to put your email in my address book and maybe we can get something going when you're out here, but please feel free to mail me closer to the time if you feel like meeting up.

Mischka,

You can definitely count me in and if I am on tour I will bring my visitors at the time with me, that is if it is in order with them.

Anyway I gather we will be meeting up soon so we can talk about this in April.

Great idea overall.

Very proudly part of the wonderful nation of South Africa

Ah thanks Selwyn, glad to hear that you're game. It seems they have so much fun in other parts of the world so why not here too!! We'll definitely have to set a date for a GTG and post it here and hope that we get some takers, if not then we still have enough of us to make a party

I'm looking forward to meeting next month, just wish I was joining you on tour as it sounds so much fun.

We've had the most amazing Cape Town evening, down on the beach with a bottle of champagne, the setting sun and good friends, hope this amazing weather holds for our Hawaii friends.

Selwyn!! The GTG is with me and Mari!
Aw, Mischka, thanks for posting this! I keep forgetting. Looking forward to meeting the other Fodorites in Cape Town!

BTW, rhkkmk, are you coming to the annual Honolulu GTG in September?

last year at boston we had 36 people for our GTG...it was a blast...we hope for as many this october 10th....just before i come to SA

I'm in.

Kurt, I'm thrilled to hear that you're interested in a GTG, I'll post some dates and see if we can get some more interest.

I love your blog, very informative, great job! I had no idea that you were on Fodors when I was reading the blog.

Selwyn and Kurt do you have any ideas for a good place for a GTG.

rhkkmk, I sent you an email, sorry it took so long. Wow it would be great if we could get a crowd like that for a GTG in CT, but I think not But we live in hope

lets do this....in about august why don't you post something about it and lets see who will be there in october, or lets just us get together...with those that responded above...

I wish I could Mishka.
It sounds like a fantastic idea.
Having been born and raised in Kenya and having lived there until the age of 19 (now in Canada for the past 26 years), I am still an African at heart! The wildlife, the beaches, the people, the flora and fauna - whether in Eastern or Southern Africa, I yearn for it again, and know I'll be back soon. Our Kenyan home in the 60s was less than 15 minutes from Karen Blixen's, and my parents were aquaintances with the Adamsons, of the Born Free notoreiety; some of the Kenyatta children were in class with me, so all this gives me a definite sense of connection to the country.

I returned to Kenya in 1986 for a 5 week vacation following graduation, but have since sent dozens of Canadian friends there. I've been lucky to travel elsewhere in the world in the past years and hope to explore Finland, Latvia and Russia later this year, and Israel the next.

After that.... 2011 will very possibly feature a return Africa, this time with our very close Canadian friends whose kids will be of an age to travel with less assistance and more of a sense of appreciation of the special beauty that is Afica. Besides Kenya, we're hoping to head over for 7 days to SA as part of that trip. You may count on a GTG at that time for sure, even if it ends up being just us !

I am fortunate to count 3 Cape Town families as very good friends in our neighborhood here. The stories and laughs we've exchanged over bobote, boerwurst and ugali (just once in a while, mind you) heartwarmingly reinforce the similarities of our lives while in Africa, despite being in different corners of the continent all those years ago. The bright and beautiful photos they have of Cape Town are spectacular! The dead of our winter always seems a good time to view them. You are very fortunate to be living where you are.

Good luck with your GTG.

Keep the seats warm (and the drinks cold) for when we have ours.

Cheers,

Mathieu.

Hi Mathieu,

What a lovely post, thanks so much. I always find it so interesting to hear where people come from how their lives move in different directions. Out of Africa is one of my friends favourite movies and she'd have us watch it once a month if she could! haha!

Where in Canada do you live now? Brrr... a little more chilly than Kenya!!!

The closest I've come to visiting Kenya is a couple of stopovers at Nairobi airport, some more interesting than others. In 1984 I visited Israel and in those days SAA couldn't fly over Africa so I chose to go El Al. We landed at Nairobi in the middle of the night and wow, what an experience!!! As the plane landed and started to taxi towards the airport building it felt as if we were in the middle of a war zone. What seemed like a whole army appeared with rifles at the ready and proceeded to surround the plane. The whole time passengers were boarding, the army kept us surrounded for our own protection from terrorists. That must have been the most exciting landing I've had...not the most scary though!

Ugali, wow you still make that, yum! I actually like it but never make it, just brings back lots of childhood memories because we ate it a lot when we lived in Johannesburg. We call it stywe pap, and of course you can't have a braai without boerewors, and if we were still in JHB then I guess we would have pap with the wors. My mom used to make putu for breakfast too, lovely with milk and sugar... oh the memories.....

Isn't it amazing how we always hang on to our roots, no matter how far we venture or how long we have been away from our 'real home'. Please tell your Cape Town friends, Cape Town says hi

We will definitely keep the drinks on ice for that GTG..... hurry home..... Africa is calling....

Hi rhkkmk,

We will definitely GTG. I think you should sort out your dates and post a few possible days that you may be available, then we can see if there is any response. Looking forward to it

i think i sent you some dates but here they are again:

oct 16, 17 or 18

we just returned from the LA GTG and it was fabulous....

not sure if we will make it to HI for 2009???

Hi rhkkmk,

I'll diarize those dates and hope we can stir up a few others to join us

I'm going to pop over to the USA board in the hope that you or someone else has told all about the LA GTG.

Sorry for the long absence from this thread. Some suggestions for GTG locations (I'm sure Selwyn will have others):

- Oudekraal, a proper braai at the beach (located just below the Twelve Apostles Hotel)

- The Noon Gun Tea Room, Cape Malay restaurant (no alcohol)

- Kirstenbosch, either picnic in the gardens or in one of the restaurants

- Harbour House, Kalk Bay

Not sure what all the requirements might be for a GTG. Any of these places sound more or less appropriate/appealing?

Kurt, the braai sounds wonderful, the only problem is that Melissa and Mari's time is very short and they have to squeeze as much sightseeing into each day as they possibly can. I thought that an evening GTG would be best for the time constraint reason. Can we have an evening braai anywhere?

A sunset picnic at Kirstenbosch would be wonderful too. What time do they close? Too early I guess. Ah just had a look, 6pm.

If we do day time, how about a picnic at Groot Constatia? We have earmarked Sunday 19/4 for Groot Constantia, it's their last day in SA. I haven't been to GC for a year or two but I see there is a picnic option at Simon's Restaurant. I don't know anything about it but it sounds nice. Have you done a picnic? Of course the weather could be awful, but we'll stay positive! I think we'll have to have a venue where we can do a last bit of sampling of our yummy wines

http://www.grootconstantia.co.za/33/simon-s-restaurant-at-groot-constantia

Melissa and Mari what do you think? Picnic (if the weather's bad we would have to move indoors), dinner at a restaurant? Or?

Selwyn, ideas?

We only have the 17th, 18th and 19th available.

Hi Mischka,

Well, wonders will never cease, it appears !
I was having dinner with my niece and her husband yesterday when they mentioned that he had been selected to represent Canada at a Global conference in SA later this year. He will be heading to Durban in August, and as a result, my niece and their 5 yo son plan to join him for a 2 week vacation in the rest of SA following the conference. They asked me if I’d be interested in joining them (!) and also mentioned that my sister and brother-in-law were also considering the trip. We’re all avid and experienced travellers and cannot believe this sudden opportunity ! Not that we’d need much of a reason to return to our beloved Africa, but this was so unexpected. That GTG we spoke of earlier suddenly seems nearer than I first thought !

Of course it’s still early days and there’s lots to consider (planning, budgeting, etc.), especially in regards to our other travel plans for the year that we’d already set out minds on (Russia and Scandinavia, for example), - but I just thought I’d mention this turn of events ! Don’t even know what or where we’d go, see or do, but I’ll keep you all in the loop as things unfold.
And for sure, if it doesn’t work out this year, it will in 2011.

Kurt : Been reading your blog and related links and have enjoyed many of your articles. Your work sounds pretty interesting. Members of our family (such as the BIL above) and friends were heavily involved with the tourist industry while we lived in Kenya and many living there still are. Some are involved with projects similar in nature to the stuff you do and it wouldn’t surprise me if we knew common people or parties.

Wow Mathiew that's wonderful, hope everything works out for all of you. Please do keep us up to date.

take a look at the aisa board for my report on the GTG...it sort of became the official GTG thread...

the main thing about GTG's is to have a place where you can talk easily---little back ground noise....we prefer places where you can move around if there are 15-30 people because if you are at a table you can only talk easily to the people to the left and right and across from you....

Hi rhkkmk,

Sorry for the long absence from this thread. I did take a quick look at the asia board, not sure if I found the right thread but I did read about some plans for a very fun GTG. Your GTG ideas are very sensible and if we ever manage to get a decent sized GTG planned we will definitely keep those ideas in mind. I will mail you personally soon.

Kurt,

The same apologies go to you. I am very sorry that we didn't get that GTG organised. I am about to send you a personal (belated) mail too. I do hope that we will meet up with you when rhkkmk is here in CT.

looking forward to it

Hi-Don't laugh but I am planning a trip to SA October 2012.(2010 we are going to Egypt) Have to plan these big trips everyother year. Hi Bob-i was onthe Thailand site a few years ago and got lots of helpfulinfo for our 2007 trip to Thailand & Bali. Will pop infromtime to time-love to meet up with felow fodorites-the most helpful group in the world. We are just vacationing in Mexico this year-Chris

Not laughing, planning ahead is good

We had a wonderful Fodorite GTG in Cape Town back in 2004. I had already arranged a trip for my husband and I and a day to spend with Selwyn. Another poster, who I'd already met in London on other GTGs, booked a trip with coinciding dates and then finally, another poster, who we'd not yet met, realised her family trip dates also coincided. So we had a wonderful full day GTG with Selwyn and the 8 of us visitors!

Happy memories!

hope we can put something together for mid-october, '09

Kavey that sounds like a great way to do a GTG.

How about we ask Selwyn to take us for a winelands tour, now that would be fun

What about Cape Malay cooking classes and a feast @ Noon Gun?

all great ideas

Mischka,

I would be very happy to have all join me in a GTG on day wher we do a Winelands tour + a Kayamandi township visit. The journey will be free of charge to all however I unfortunately can only take 8 people with me as that is as much as vehicle can carry. If we are more than 9, hey I want to go too , we can hire a larger vehicle but then the costs of this vehicle will have to be shared by all participants. Probably about R200/head depending on how many are travelling. Maybe we can even drop something in my journey and include Kurts Cape Malay cooking class. I think this would be a brilliant way to start the day. In a nutshell anything is possible.

Just let me know when this has to happen and I will set all up to make the day a very memorable one for all. RHKKMK rest assured there will be lots of time to share stories with all on board.

Yeah Cape Town.

Very proudly part of the wonderful nation of South Africa

that sounds fantastic to us....count the two of us in if it co-incides with our availability in october...

btw our days are the 16-18 oct.

I would love to be there, but our 5th visit in 3 years isn't until next February.

Hey, I'll just have to console myself with the pictures of the new house Mrs Mac and myself bought in Hout Bay a few months ago...



Have a great time !

Selwyn thanks so much, that is a very generous offer and we will definitely take you up on it. I am very willing to pay my way.

As you see rhkkmk's dates are 16-18 oct. I would prefer 17 or 18 because that's weekend and Alastair would definely be able to join us then, but if it has to be fri 16th that's fine and I'm sure he'll do his best to get away from the office.

So YES PLEASE just tell us a day and we'll all mark it in our diaries.

MacSporran, 5th visit in 3 years, WOW! You must really like it here, then to buy a house too!! Welcome, hope you enjoy your new house. Are you planning to move out here sometime in the future? Where do you call home?

I am sorry you can't join us but there is always a next time

its getting exciting..

let me know on rhkonthailand@msn.com of any plans

i don't look here that often

Yes sounds very exciting and I will be sure to let you know if Selwyn confirms a date. I too don't check into fodors very often anymore, but will be sure to keep an eye on this thread.

Mischka and other particpants to the gtg.

Having a gtg by going to Kayamandi on a Saturday or Sunday is not a good idea for various reasons. Thus if we are in a position that it has to be either 16,17 or 18 October then we will have to settle on the 16th. What I am worrying about is that the journey would be a full day so if Alastair needs to take off work it could mean doing so for the full day. It is reasonably important to be with the tour from the start as one event leads into the other as we progress through the day. I dont see any other way out unfortunately.


Here is the proposed plan for the day and my thoughts as to what goes into the day:

______________

This day will become a very important day with regard to understanding the history, cultures and the people of South Africa as well as coming to grips with the true realities of township life in my country:

In terms of visiting a township I choose to visit the township of Kayamandi as I have a very special relationship with many of my friends who stay in this place of stay near to the town of Stellenbosch. Please note that Kayamandi is close to the town of Stellenbosch which is 55 Km away from Cape Town and is in the heart of the winelands. I have to mention that most tour operators tour townships at 10h00 in the morning as it suits the their own convenience to do so as per their tour day. When they arrive in townships they take their visitors to set events that have been pre-planned and are very touristy. The most important part of the township is then overlooked as far as I am concerned. I am saying this because I am talking about meeting the people of the township who at 10h00 are either all at work or in school. It is for this reason that I do the exact opposite and generally only start my visits to Kayamandi at 15h00. Please note I visit townships where we meet the people while others tour townships. There is a subtle difference between a visit and a tour in this regard. Furthermore visiting a township is not an isolated event. It is my opinion that one needs to have a good understanding and grounding as to why townships exist relative to the history of the country as well as the peoples in history who are the cause as to why we have these places of living for about two thirds of our South African population. I feel that is rather insulting to visit a foreign group of people in their place of stay and not even have an inkling of any knowledge as to what has brought them to this type of living standard. With that said I certainly would not allow this to happen to some of my closest friends in the process. It is for this reason that I start the day taking my visitors through the history of SA and why we have townships today before we even arrive in Kayamandi.

Our plan for the day would be as follows:

Leave Cape Town at 09h00.

Travel via Northern Suburbs of Cape Town; Stop in Bellville and Durbanville area so as to see how the Afrikaans community lives.

We will travel to the top of Paarl Rock to see stunning overhead view of the Paarl Valley. We will also spend time at the very unique Afrikaans language monument. This monument amongst others represents a very important part of South African history and will act as a great catalyst for me to take all on the gtg through the real history of our country

Move on towards the town of Stellenbosch.

On arrival in the area you can join me in a visit (not a tour) to Kayamandi. This will turn out to be a real township visit and not a commercial type tour. Our first stop will be to go and meet Lily Ngwexana at her home. Lily is an amazing leader in the township of Kayamandi. She is a phenomenal cook as well as hostess. Beside all of this she is a bundle of energy and a character second to none. Lilly recently appeared on the "1000 places to see before you die" programnme as on of the expereinces to go through in world travel. On arrival at Lily's home she will greet us in her own cultural manner and thereafter we will sit down and enjoy a REAL Xhosa traditional lunch which she will have cooked for us. In the process of eating her delicious food she will take us through the culture of food making in the black community as well as tell us her own personal history. This is an experience that all my visitors come from raving like crazy saying that it is a life changing event. After lunch we will travel through the township of Kayamandi. We will experience township life exactly as it is and NOT in a touristy manner. Nothing is scheduled in a touristy way. The experience just happens unannounced. One sees the real toiwnship. We will meet some of the wonderful people of Kayamandi and will be welcomed into their homes and places of work. In essence we will experience the spirit of Kayamandi. I cannot tell you how long the journey will take as it can be anything from 2 hour to 4 hours depending on how we blend in with the people of Kayamandi. Note I say "we" blending in as the blending from the people of Kayamandi's side is concerned is automatic in that they are such warm loving friendly people. I cannot describe this whole experience to you other than by telling you that without fail every visitor that I have taken to Kayamandi in the past has come out raving saying that it was by very far the best part of their whole vacation in SA.

After our visit to Kayamandi we will return to Cape Town where I will take you all back to your individual places of stay.

Cost for the day will be R125 for lunch with Lily + R15 entrance fee to the Afrikaans Language monument = R140

Will all particpants please confirm that the 16th is ok for them for this full day gtg.

Very proudly part of the wonderful nation of South Africa

Dear Mishka, Selwyn and others,

Oh my goodness ! How I wish - WISH - I could be there to experience the day that you Selwyn are proposing ! It sounds absolutely wonderful and you are so kind and very thoughtful to suggest such a personal and genuinely cultural experience.
As you may have read from my earlier posting above, I was born and lived in Kenya for 19 years, and now in Canada for the past 25 and while its true that you can take the man out of Africa, you cannot take Africa out of the man and I do miss it.
We were very closely involved with the local communities in Kenya and arranged many similar excursions with visitors and guests off the tourist track, for spontaneous encounters with the real people of the country, experiencing life for a few hours as they do every day, such as you are proposing. I know that I for one would totally appreciate the day with you all if I could be there. How lucky for those who will be joining you ! Even though I have SA on my trip planner for 2011, it almost makes me want to fly down in October after reading your itinerary.

To top it all, 7 members of my family here will likely be vacationing in your beautiful country at the end of July and early August. I was supposed to join them but their original plans to be ther in mid August were changed and now my work commitments sadly will not permit it at that time of year. They are all Kenyan born and raised, love Africa, the people, the geography, the wildlife, etc. and can't wait to return to the continent - their first in over 15 years. I'm saddened and envious !

We're supposed to be heading to Northern Europe in October, but now with the prospect of being regaled with their adventures and your tempting guiding offer, who knows...

I was with Kavey & Pete & Selwyn on that 2004 GTG - probably one of the best times I've ever spent on any vacation. It truly is the most personal way to experience the places and people of "the Cape." Steve and I will be ALMOST be with you as we'll be on safari in Botswana and Zimbabwe at that time! I am disappointed that we weren't able to extend our trip to include a return visit to Capetown at the end, but I expect we will be back again.

Best of luck with your October 16 GTG!

Diane & Steve

we are in, its on our calendar now....thanks in advance for putting this together....we can't wait...

bob and karen kimball (rhkkmk)

Hi All
I have just followed this thread through and as someone who has lived in Cape Town for 22 years and contributed to Fodors on many forums over the years, i am impressed and would certainly support Selwyns idea.

Depending on numbers involved, and here Selwyn you could perhaps contact me on maeriloc@webmail.co.za you could end the day at our place in Fresnaye. We could have drinks in the garden - you can all bring a bottle of wine - but again it depends on how many you are.
As Selwyn will know, the weather in Cape Town in October can be unpredictable though usually pleasant, the one downside is that is the main month of our howling South Easter wind. Fresnaye is sheltered and does not get the South Easter at all - Camps Bay being one of the worst areas for the wind.

Anyway, give it some thought and Selwyn perhaps you cn contact me

all the best
Maeri
Capetownfolk

I'm in!

Kurt

We're in.

Oh and Capetownfolk thanks so much for that offer, it sounds like a wonderful idea to me. I hope everyone will agree to your idea because it would be a lovely way to end the day.

i agree and hope we can visit the capetownfolks as i have long corresponded with her, especially about asian travel..

i had dinner tonight with two fodorites and they will be in capetown the week before me and they are so sad to miss this fantastic chance for a mini-GTG....a unique one at that...

Mail sent to Maeri
------------------

Hello Maeri,

Good to meet you considering we probably stay 400 yards from one another as I stay in Ostende flats on the Sea Point beachfront. Opposite St.Mary's Church or else just past the Pavilion when travelling in the direction of Camps Bay. About 4 km from where Robert and Karen will be staying when they are in Cape Town. (La Splendida)

Great idea about the get together ending at your home but you have to realise that this will probably be at about 20h30 as I dont see us leaving Kayamandi (Stellenbosch) before 19h30. If you could send me your telephone number I could tell you more. Maybe a breakfast startup could be a better idea with all chipping in for breakfast or else something else could be arranged such as we might all go somewhere for dinner and you might want to join us. Of course if you wanted to you could also join us on the tour as we are 6 people at this stage, that is if Alastair makes it (Mischka's husband) (Rob and Karen, Mischka and Alastair; Kurt & myself. If we go over the 8 person mark, which I hope we do, we can do this by hiring a larger vehicle for the day however the costs will then increase by about R300 per person as we wont be using my vehicle.

Please send me your contact numbers where we can discuss this further. I am on tour till Monday morning so I will only be able to contact you from them onwards.

I look look forward to our making contact soon.

Selwyn Davidowitz

Oh, that sounds wonderful!! Can I come back to Cape Town? As it turns out, my birthday is in October.

Absolutely!

Is there anybody else who will be joining us on this GTG?

Very proudly part of the wonderful nation of South Africa

still looking forward to it....it should be a unique GTG that is for sure

I wish wish wish I could come!
You will be in great hands with Selwyn and the day will stay in your memories for many years to come.
It's for good reason that many of us nominated Selwyn for Wanderlust's guide of the year competition in which he did so well!

Are there any other Fodorites in Cape Town on the day who want to join us on the GTG? We still have at least 2 places free.

Very proudly part of the wonderful nation of South Africa

time is getting closer and the tension grows....its going to be a fantastic day!!!

Selwyn, I would love to join if you still have a space.

I am local, but this would still be a huge treat for me!

You can can contact me on ibeere(@)bigfoot(.)com

(Excuse the bracket heiroglyphics, I'm just trying to keep my address safe from spambot harvests...!)

Hi ctlocal,

Nice to meet another local. Looking forward to meeting up at the GTG

we'll fill that van yet....

OK CT Local your'e on the van.

So now its:

Mischka (Carol) and Alastair
Bob and Karen
Kurt
CT local
and myself

We still have place for 1. Maeri???

Very proudly part of the wonderful nation of South Africa

now we have to pray for a decent day...

Praying!

did we find an 8th person yet??

No 8th person yet

Very proudly part of the wonderful nation of South Africa

need to bring this back to the top to find that 8th person, otherwise i will have to use two seats...

selwyn is really offering a unique fodors opportunity..

and that 8th person is???

If it were a month later, I would come all the way from Seattle. But my son is getting married in Maui (Hawaii) on Oct 19, so I can't make this one.

I sincerely hope that this will be an annual event. That way I and other Fodorites can plan ahead and make our fall plans around it. How about it, Selwyn? Can you plan another GTG for next fall now?

Getting ready for the Pacific Northwest GTG in Vancouver BC (Canada) at LyndaS and Jim's place this weekend.

Will anyone be in Cape Town between Sept. 25 to 30?

greetings from tallinn estonia.... here i ait in a fantastic town and all i can think of is a day with selwyn... its right around the corner

If this were happening in December I'd be there in a heartbeat!! Anyone going to be in Capetown the first three weeks of December?!

its only about a month away...yea

and the 8th person is?????

Our GTG in Cape Town is on Friday (16th) and we still have place for two people if anybody wants to join us.

If so please email me on sd@ILoveCapeTown.com SOONEST so that I can make arrangements with you.

Presently we have 5 people on board so 2 more Fodorites will help us make this into a wonderful day.

Selwyn Davidowitz
Very proudly part of the wonderful nation of South Africa

we ended up with only 4 of us, but it was a great day. Selwyn really pulled out all the stops for us!!

for a more detailed report look at my trip report

Selwyn is a wonderful friend and I'm so glad you all had a good time! Our Africa plans have been indefinately postponed, but we'll be back someday.

To all Fodorites following our Cape Town gtg.

Please visit

http://www.ilovecapetown.com/tours/Fodorsgtg/Fodorsgtg.htm

where you can see what we did at the Cape Town gtg in picture and narrative format.

Enjoy.

Very proudly part of the wonderful nation of South Africa