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Selwyn, would you please comment on the relationship of a township tour such as your to a Soweto tour from Johannesburg?

LyndaS, I would love to know the name of the "fabulous" restaurant you referred to from you visit to Cape Point.

Selwyn - are you still around? You are brilliant in the answering questions department! My boyfriend and I are 99% sure we're going to Cape Town this fall and although we've done some research and gotten a bunch of questions answered already, we have tons more ;-)

Can anyone comment on the Kirstenbosch Gardens in mid June. Would it make the top 10 list?

Shari

It would and it would do so at any time of the year too. Fact is Cape Town enjoys a wet winter, so come june the gardens are a spectacle.
Dec/Jan are probably the gardens best months, not so much for the floral blooms, but partciularly for the activiity, evening orchestra and Sunday afternoon live music on the lawns.

Thanks Mkhonzo. I appreciate the insight.

Glad this thread was brought to life again.

How much time should you allow for a leisurely visit to Robben Island?

Tell me more about the cheetah outreach at Spiers.

Do you know anything about the baboon visit?

Thanks!

Hi Lynn,

I visited the Cheetah Outreach at Spier last Nov, while spending time in Stellenbosch. Wonderful and very educational experience.

http://www.cheetah.co.za/team.htm

I got to pet the baby cheetahs(8 of them) and also spend time with the mom who was in a separate area. The volunteers will take all the pictures you want of you and the cheetahs with YOUR camera. They will answer all your questions about cheetah conservation. It was one of the highlights on my trip. I don't remember exactly what I paid, it wasn't more than $100 but it was worth every penny. That was the first animal experience I had in Africa so I was thrilled to death.

You can also eat right there at Moyo
http://www.spier.co.za/moyo.asp

The grounds are lovely to walk around with a beautiful lake and grassy areas for picnics. There was a little market that we purchased bread, cheese etc and had a terrific afternoon.

You are planning your SA trip for 2007 right?

Lynn,

Another vote for the Cheetah outreach center at Spier. In 2003, i stayed longer with the Cheetah while my friends went to do the wine tasting at Spier.....i also got t-shirts for lots of people. All proceeds from the purchases going towards the program.

Hari

Selwyn Davidowitz is already booked for the time I'll be in Cape Town, so I'm looking at alternatives. Has anyone done any of the tours in Cape Town conducted by Andulela Experiences? They seem to have some interesting tours.

Shari

Shari,

My friends and i used Hylton Ross in 2003. They were fantastic and we had a guide called David Alt. Great guy!!!

Hari

Thanks Hari. That is actually the company that Selwyn recommended, so I'm happy to hear that you think they are good as well (I'll have to inquire about the guide). The reason that I'm curious about Andulela Experiences is that they have an evening "Jazz Tour" that sounds like fun.

Shari

Thanks for the Spiers info. I am looking at Cape Town for 2008, actually. Not enough time in 2007 because I want to spend more than a couple of days there.

I'd take time with the cheetah over wine tasting too!

It may not fall in the Mount Nelson or Spier class but I like to take the suburban train from Cape Town station to Simons Town station with beautiful views of the sea (at high tide the sea sometimes trips the electricity on the train), walk around Simons Town and eat at the Simons Town harbour. During the holiday period the train sometimes has a "restaurant" coach for breakfast.

Shari,

Talk to Hylton Ross...i'm sure they may be able to organize something to your requirements.

Lynn,

No worries....i'm sure you'll enjoy Cape town.

Hari

1. Take a trip on the open top bus
2. Walking township tour on the Blue route of the open top bus
3. Kirstenbosch gardens
4. Cape Point
5. Penguin Colony
6. Robben Island
7. Winelands Tour
8. Noon Gun Restaurant for home cooked Cape Malay food (this is not a take-aways)
9. District six museum
10. Khwattu khoi- san village up the west coast
11. Boesmanland Kombuisie at Club Mykonos up the west coast for a unique sea food lunch
12. Shark cage diving
13. Table Mountain
14. VISIT A CRECHE ON A TOWNSHIP TOUR
15. Atlas Trading for spices to try ay home. (SITUATED IN THE BO-KAAP)

AVOID:
1. PICNIC LUNCHES AT CAPE OF GOOD HOPE (there have been serious attacks from baboons and the rangers have advised against it)
2. Guides who claim not to take tips and commissions

Bo-kaap:
The colouring of the houses only reall started after 1994 and not 40 years ago as suggested. 40 years ago the area was under threat of being declared a white area etc. and many if the houses were in bad shape.
The area consists 90% of people from the Muslim faith but there are much larger muslim communities in areas outside the city such as Athlone, Rylands, Hanover Park etc.

Here is a small album of the Cheetah Outreach at Spier, Penguins at Boulder's Beach,
BoKaap/Cape Malay, Table Mountain. Click on the Nov 2005 album.
www.kodakgallery.com/carlasadventures

I found the birds of prey at Spier far more interesting than the cheetahs...

They're lovely photos Carla. I was only there 2 weeks ago and it's brought back some wonderful memories. What lens did you use to get yout close up of Camps Bay from Table Mountain?