Cape Town Car Hire

Top Shark diving spots in South Africa:

2008-07-30T13:57:00.001+02:00

Immortalized by films like Jaws and stories that have been told around the fire at night, Sharks are feared by many and yet very few of the species are known to actually attack humans and on the rare occasion that they do it is mostly always a case of mistaken identity or territoriality. In the past very little was known about these amazing species hence their terrifying legends but as more research is done into the different species and their habits an understanding is being developed that is debunking all those amazing out there legends. The majority species that can be found in and around South Africa are the Great White, Whale Shark, Hammerhead, Bull Shark and Tiger Shark.
The Great White Shark:

The one and only shark that was the main character of the jaws films. This interesting shark is a larger member of the Lamniformes whose characteristics include 2 dorsal fins, and anal fin, five gill slits, eyes without nictitating membranes and a mouth extending behind the eyes. Its scientific name is Carcharodon Carcharias which comes from the Greek words Karcharos, meaning sharp or jagged, and odous, meaning tooth. The shark can grow to the size of 20-21 feet but usually you will find sharks that are 15-18 feet long. Its favorite food are pinnipeds (such as seals and sea lions) but they are also known to eat fish, porpoises, dolphins, whale carcasses and some times sea turtles, penguins, sea otters and other shark and have also known to be cannibalistic.

Whale Shark
Belonging to the Rhincodon genus and the Rhincodontidae family, the whale shark is considered to be the largest fish in the world, hence the name. It is a slow filter feeding shark that is harmless and can even be playful with divers, except when divers are accidentally struck by the fins or tail. It prefers to inhabit tropical and warm temperate waters and feeds on Phytoplankton, macro-algae, plankton, krill and small nektonic (animals which are able to swim on their own against currents in fresh and salty water) life forms such as squid and vertebrates. The females are ovoviviparous (gestation occurs in the uterus after birth from an egg) giving birth to live young which can be between 40 and 60cms long. They generally reach sexual maturity at 30 and can live well over 100years. Considered to be a deity in Vietnamese religion, calling the animal Ca Ong which literally translates into “sir fish.”

Hammerhead shark:

(Images found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hammerhead_shark)
Belonging to the genus Sphyrna which comes from the Greek term meaning Hammer and the family Sphyrnidae, there are 9 subspecies:
Scalloped Hammerhead

Hammerheads are found in warmer water along coastlines and continental shelves. They are ferocious predators which eat, fish, rays, cephalopods and crustaceans. The hammerhead is unusual from other sharks in the fact that it has internal fertilization and gestation, lasting 10-12months similar to mammals; they give birth to live young and range in size from 0.9-6m.
Bullshark
(Image found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bull_shark)
The Bullshark is also known as the Bull whaler, Zambezi Shark or Nicaragua shark. It is well known for its unpredictable and often aggressive behavior and it is by scientists that as they prefer to dwell in shallow waters and as they also tolerate fresh water, often found 1000 miles upriver, that they are possibly the biggest threat to humans out of all the sharks. Its name derives from its stocky shape, broad flat snout and aggressive unpredictable behavior. Commonly found in coastal areas of warm oceans, in river, lakes and some times in deeper streams. They can grow to between 2m and 4m long and the females are usually larger than the males.

Tigershark
(Image found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_shark)
This shark is known to be the 2nd largest predatory shark in the world and grows to an average size of 3.25m to 4.25m; there have been cases though of species that were caught that turned out to be larger than 6.5m. Enjoys tropical to subtropical waters but can also be found in temperate waters and can be mainly found around the tropical islands in the Pacific Ocean. Its name derives from the dark stripes running down its body and these tend to fade as it grows older. Its usual diet consists of fish, seals, birds, smaller sharks, squid and turtles although tires, license plates, suits of armor and other man made objects have been found in its digestive tract giving it the name “the waste basket of the sea.” It usually gives birth to live young with litters of between 10 and 80 sharks. It is considered, along with bullsharks and great white sharks, to be the most dangerous shark to man due to its unusual feeding habits.

The best diving spots in South Africa are Aliwal shoal, considered to be among the top 10 diving spots in the world and situated in Kwazulu natal, Gansbaai (Dyer Island) in Western Cape, Mosselbaai in Western Cape, Protea banks in Kwazulu Natal, and Sodwana Bay in Kwazulu Natal. Here you can experience both shark cage diving and free diving for those braver souls although it is always at your own risk. There are many tour operators that organize diving with sharks so just contact the nearest info centre for the most reliable.

Top 10 tourist attractions in South Africa

2008-07-22T07:57:00.002+02:00

As I’ve shown many a time in these blogs South Africa is definitely and unequivocally one of the best tourist destinations in the world and owing to the strength of the local currency in accordance to the dollar it is also a very affordable holiday destination for overseas visitors. Like any country though there are some popular places that tourists cannot get enough of and they just keep coming back for more. The 10 most popular tourist hot spots in South Africa are the Kruger National park, Table Mountain, the Garden Route, Robben Island, V&A Waterfront, the beautiful beaches, Sun City resort, Cultural Villages, The cradle of Human kind and Soweto.

The Kruger National Park
The size of the Kruger National Park stands close to 2 Million Hectares and it is roughly the size of Germany. Through its years of dedication to Nature conservation it has become the leader in advanced environmental management techniques and policies. It has a vast amount of fauna and animal life and the list of species to date stands at 336 tree species, 49 fish species, 34 Amphibian species, 114 Reptile species, 507 Bird species and 147 Mammal species. With such a variety and diversity in natural attributes you cannot help feel like you’ve walked into paradise. Most people usually go in for trying to spot the bigger animals the park has to offer and totally miss the smaller, often more fascinating species, so word of advice find out more about the types of tree and animal species that the park has to offer from your ranger while out on those drives or walks. The more you know about the surroundings the more magical the park will become. You can also discover more about the cultures that have dwelled in the park through its history by the Rock Painting they left behind and the Archeological sites that are being worked on in the park. The Kruger conservation is as passionate about preserving its history as it is about preserving its natural life.

Table Mountain
Spanning about 1086m above sea level, Table Mountain is a wonderful unique area with Cape Town surrounding its base. Many activities can be enjoyed on Table Mountain and it makes a wonderful hiking area. Popular routes up the mountain are Platteklip Gorge, the Back Table route, nursery ravine, The Bridle path and Skeleton Gorge. The mountain can be accessed from Constantia neck, Cecilia forest, Kirstenbosch, Newlands forest and Rhodes memorial. The cave systems of Table Mountain are very unusual as they consist mainly of Sandstone where as most Cave systems in the world consist of limestone. The biggest of these are the Wynberg cave system located on the Back Table.

Garden Route
Stretching from Heidelberg to the Tsitsikama forest and storms river, it is considered to be the most beautiful route in South Africa with popular visitors spots, Tsitsikama forest, Cango Caves, The Bloukraans bridge which is incidentally where the highest bungee jump in the world is, Knysna and much, much more. Entertainment can be found everywhere along the route with such diversity that it’s too numerous to mention. Depending on how fast you travel the average rout will take you around a week to complete so plan it carefully around your time frame.

Robben Island
Literally translated from Dutch as Seal Island, not to be confused with the actual seal island off of False Bay and lies 7-11kms of the coast of Cape Town. It has an incredible history dating back to the Stone Age. People inhabited Robben island during the Stone Age when it wasn‘t an island. It used to be a flat topped hill within walking distance from where Cape Town now lies and became an Island after the flooding of parts of the world due to the melting ice of the Ice Age. From the 17th century it has mainly housed prisoners and between 1836 and 1931 it was home to a leper colony. After the 2nd world war it became a prison and in 1959 a maximum security prison was built here. From 1961 to 1991 it housed more than 3000 political prisoners. The Island is Arid and a pipeline for fresh water was laid in 1965 stretching from Cape Town. Before that in the early 20th century, bore holes were sunk but these were soon taken over by sea water. It has a national park and today you can still see the antelope and other wildlife introduced to the island by the warden of the island in 1960. Robin Island is today a national heritage site and can be accessed by Ferry via the V&A Waterfront.

V&A Waterfront
Historically this busy harbour was constructed by Prince Alfred in 1860, he was the 2nd son of Queen Elizabeth and named the 1st basin after himself and the 2nd basin after his mother, hence the name. It is now undergoing a massive restoration known as the Victoria and Alfred development project and the entire restoration costs exceeds an amount of 8 Billion Rand. The most fascinating thing about the V&A is that it is a busy commercial harbour set in the centre of a massive entertainment area which incorporates, pubs, restaurants, Specialty Shops, Craft Markets, Theatres, museums, movies, hotels, luxury apartments and the two oceans aquarium and it is the most visited tourist destination in South Africa.

Coastal Beaches
South Africa has 2 coastlines, the Atlantic to the west and the Indian to the East. The best swimming beaches are situated along the Indian Ocean Coastline as it is a warm current making the waters very pleasant to swim in. The Atlantic side has some wonderful beaches that are very popular but have very cold water due to the cold Benguela current come up from the Arctic Ocean. Favorite beaches are Margate (Indian Ocean), Clifton (Atlantic), Camps Bay (Atlantic), Warner Beach (Indian), Amanzimtoti (Indian), Banana beach (Indian) and Big Bay (Atlantic).

Sun City Resort
An amazing holiday resort that offers everything the imagination can think about. It has 4 hotels, Palace of the lost city, Cascades, Sun City Hotel and the Cabanas.
The Palace of the lost city is a fairy style palatial hotel featuring opulent luxury, beautiful mosaics and frescoes, hand painted ceilings and every amenity to make you feel like royalty. The prices per night range from between R4655-00 to R46700-00 but look out for specials.
The Cascades hotel is the grand old lady of Sun City Resort and is named after the tumbling waters flowing through the lush tropical forest in which it’s set. Prices here range from between R2790-00 to R16900-00 per night.
The Sun City hotel was the 1st of the 4 hotels at the resort and has a 24hr room service. Prices range from R2375-00 to R8700-00 per night.
Cabanas is wonderful for families, having areas that look after and entertain the kids, which leave the parent’s time to enjoy some of the other entertainments at the resort. It is also a fantastic place for the entire family to enjoy time together. Prices range from R2045-00 to R2520-00 per night.
Activities that can be enjoyed at Sun City resort are numerous but here are a few that I enjoyed, Elephant back riding, Quad biking, Archery, Clay pigeon shooting, balloon safaris, the Pilanesberg national (for wild game viewing), 2 world class golf courses, The crocodile park, Valley of the waves with the lazy river and the exhilarating 17m high water slide (where your boxers become g-strings, Water sports (on Sun City lake), a Sauna and the pool bars. There is also more adult style entertainments like the jungle casino with the ever popular dream machine making people millionaires, cabaret shows and live entertainment.

Cultural villages
Cultural villages is a new initiative that has come around due to the growing demand from foreign visitors to learn more about the different cultures in South Africa. Here the traditional lifestyles of the people are in an environment that encourages the visitor to be apart of the proceedings. You will be able to witness traditional dancing and rituals, see the type of lifestyles traditionally led by these people and bear witness to their belief systems. Some of the villages are mentioned here but there are many more dotted around the country. Basotho Cultural villages show huts from the 16th century to present day and you can see people in traditional roles accurately depicting accurately depicting the lifestyle and architecture of South Sotho. Kosi Bay in Northern Kwazulu Natal is a community owned tourism camp that has been established on the shores of Lake Bangazi. Here visitors can experience first hand the lifestyle of the indigenous people.
Further south from Kosi Bay is the 4 star luxury hotel Zululand which has a perfectly constructed Zulu Kraal dating back to the time of Shaka Zulu. There are 40 huts which make up this fascinating village. Bothshabelo historical village shows the life and culture of the colorful Ndebele people. Lying 12kms west of Middelburg it was set up by the Middelburg Town Council as a Typical Ndebele Village. Another Ndebele village just out of Cullinan near Bronkhorstspruit provides demonstrations of traditional art works, including bead work, weaving and the famous hut painting.
Groot Marico in the North West Province is a place where you can witness the lifestyles of the Voortrekkers. It was one of the 1st places settled by the Voortrekkers in Transvaal and a mampoer (a potent liquor made from fruit) tour, and a cultural tour to old farmhouses (where bread is till baked in an outside oven) are a must. In the farm house tour you would be able to try other cultural cuisine, such as Melk tert (milk tart) and gemmer bier (ginger beer).

The Cradle of Human Kind
A cave system covering 47000 hectares of mostly private owned land, it comprises a strip of a dozen dolomite limestone caves containing the fossilized remains of ancient forms of animals, plants and most importantly Hominids. Hominids are your early ancestors and are reported to have split from the African Ape around 5-6 million years ago. To date 850 hominid fossils have been discovered in this system and it cements the belief that all human species originally came from Africa.

Soweto
A mix of black cultures, with a history that was central to the uprising and a people that are a special mix of sophisticated and street wise, it’s not hard to see why Soweto has become such a popular tourist destination. Once a home to Nelson Mandela and other famous political leaders, it was started as a black settlement in 1904 for workers looking for jobs on the mines. The name changed to South Western Townships and then to Soweto which is the Acronym of the original name. It is considered to be the most populace black residential area in the Country with a population of just over 2 million. It is now the site of a major development and renewal project running into the billions with shopping centers, hotels, museums, parks and many other fascinating things been developed. Housing which had no structure in the past is being redone and new residential areas are being developed to accommodate the ever increasing population. The guest houses in the different rural areas are always friendly and welcoming and although not luxurious will definitely leave you with a sense of well being and a better understanding of this amazing community.

Cape Town, under cover

2008-07-09T20:05:00.001+02:00

Cape Town in winter can be a very wet place, a lot of the outdoor activities tend to take a back seat when the rains hit and people often don’t what to do with themselves when the grey clouds gather and the soft rain falls. Cape town can be as an exciting place indoors as outdoors with many good an fun activities and for those who like a bit of spice then there are also many under the cover activities in Cape Town.

For those animal lovers who need to be indoors for a bit.

Places like the Two Oceans Aquarium at the V&A waterfront, with over 3000 animal species type is the perfect place to visit. Here you can see certain sea bird species, water mammals, many different fish types, a Kelp forest and much, much more. For more information contact the aquarium at +27 (0) 21 418 3823.

There is also the spectacular Butterfly World near Paarl is another land of wonder. It is an enclosed garden wonder world that is abound with beautiful flying color. It also features a restaurant where you can obtain refreshment and you can stay as long as you like learning about the different species and how to distinguish them. For more information contact +27 (0) 21 875 5628.

For the Kids

Do you enjoy playing the casino and worry about the kids, Grand West has a fantastic kid’s area that is called magic village. Here you will find a shooting gallery, go carting, racing, rocking boats, and video arcades. For more information contact +27 (0) 21 534 0244.

The icy temperatures call for some warming activities like ice skating. Grand west has an Olympic sized ice rink and just outside a small ice rink for the younger children. Put those blades on and go and enjoy. Contact +27 (0) 21 535 2260 for times and prices.

For the older kids or adults who are still kids at heart then go and try the Kenilworth Kart racing track in Kenilworth behind Access Park. For times and prices contact +27 (0) 21 682 2670/ 6174.

Want to do a bit of shopping and get the younger ones out of your hair for a bit then go to Jimmy’s jungle in the Tygervalley Shopping centre, Claremont or Summerset West. Which caters for children between 6 and 9, for more information contact the head office at +27 (0) 21 556 5034.

Worried that your kids don’t get the exercise that they need and don’t get out of the house much then go to SSISA Kids Club, it has specific programs that are designed with kids in mind and take place 4 days a week. For more information contact +27 (0) 21 659 5600.

For a bit of fun with those kids parties or outings why not go and try Laser Quest which is a harmless action packed shooting area Laser game. Situated in Claremont, for more information contact +27 (0) 21 683 7296.

For family outings

Enjoy your golf, then go and try out the spectacular indoor put put course at the V&A waterfront. Very economical and challenging, contact +27 (0) 21 419 9429 for more information.

Want to learn more about South Africa’s precious and semi precious stones the come and visit the scratch patch and have a go at starting your collection. Situated in Simons town and the V&A Waterfront, for more information contact +27 (0) 21 786 2020 for Simons Town and +27 (0) 21 419 9429 for the V&A Waterfront.

Enjoy your star Gazing then come and visit the planetariums in Cape Town and surrounds for a very peaceful, relaxing and awe inspiring time. There are 2 worth mentioning, the SAAO in Observatory, contact +27 (0) 21 447 0025 and Iziko planetarium at the top of the Cape Town gardens, contact +27 (0) 21 481 3900.

Ten Pin Bowling is a game traditionally going as far back as the early Egyptians and has spread very fast around the world. A good action packed and challenging game for the whole family. There is one in the Tygervalley shopping complex +27 (0) 21 914 8217, N1 city +27 (0) 21 595 2100, Claremont +27 (0) 21 671 1893, and in Somerset West +27 (0) 21 850 0254.

For the young individuals and older Jollers, Cape Town is alive with vibrancy and has entertainments that would keep you partying late into the early hrs of the morning. Try Long Street for a good pub and club crawl or visit Stellenbosch (a university town) for an incredible party.

Cape Town sights and sounds

2008-06-27T15:41:00.001+02:00

Voted among the top 10 cities in the world to visit, Cape Town is a definite must see. Being the only city of it’s kind to have a solitary mountain rising from it’s centre, Cape Town has a history of natural beauty, cultural clash and peace, turmoil and rest, incredible night life, and relaxed day time frolics.
For ease of direction and to give you a focal point to start on, the Cape has been divided into 4, Central Cape, Cape Town North, Cape Town South, and Cape Town East.

Central Cape:
This area is situated at the foot of the table mountain and includes the CBD, the city beaches along the Atlantic seaboard. The sights and places to visit in the Cape Central area are Museum Mile, The company gardens, Green Market Square, St Georges mall, the Bo Kaap, V&A Waterfront and much more.
If it’s the surf that you’re after then here are the beach side suburbs of Central Cape, Bakoven, Bantry Bay, Camps Bay, Clifton, Fresnaye, Green Point, Mouille Point, Sea Point, Three Anchor Bay, Llandudno and Hout Bay. Full of culture and history Cape central is the hub of culture and life in the cape and there isn’t time to be bored with the things you can see and do.

Cape Town North
The Area found between the Blouberg coastline and Tygerberg hills and incorporates Milnerton, Sunset Beach, Bloubergstrand, Table View, Atlantis, Melkbosstrand, Durbanville, Century City, Pinelands, Goodwood, Parow, Bellville and Langa.
The area’s attractions are the Durbanville wine route which is synonymous with its fantastic crisp Sauvignon Blanc.
You have numerous shopping complexes where you can find anything from African curious to Wellness clinics.
The area boasts a Sun international casino, Grand west, for entertainment which ranges from gambling to opera with all the drama that goes with it, the area also offers bars, restaurants, clubs, and various other entertainments for a special holiday.

Cape Town South
A beautiful area which boasts 2 coastlines and a mountain, an area full of wonder and housing most of the main attractions that Cape Town is famous for. Here you have Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, The Table Mountain national park, Cape point (reputed to be the Southern most point of Africa), Boulders beach which is home to the famous Jackass (African) penguin and where you will see whale sightings from between May and September.
You have numerous wine routes with the Constantia wine route boasting the oldest wine estate in South Africa called Groot Constantia. You also have numerous shopping experiences to visit including Cavendish Square and some wonderful arts a curious shops set all along the way.
It is home to two of the most popular sorting stadiums in South Africa, namely the Newlands cricket grounds and the Newlands rugby Stadium. It is also home to the University of Cape Town where academia excels.
The suburbs of the area are Mowbray, Rondebosch, Newlands, Claremont, Kenilworth, Landsdowne, Wynberg, Constantia and Tokai. Seaside villages of Muizenberg, Zeekoeivlei, St James, Kalk Bay, Clovelly, Fish Hoek, Simon's Town, Scarbourough, Kommetjie and Noordhoek. As well as the infamous Cape flats suburbs of Athlone, Grassy Park, Gugulethu and Mitchell's Plain.

Cape Town East
Here you will a feast of scenery with beautiful coastlines, inebriating vineyards, and rugged enchantment. Come and drive along Clarence Drive which is widely regarded as one of the top 10 most scenic drives in the world. It also has the Hottentot Holland Mountain Range and the Helderberg Mountain Range to boast its magnificence and to show that it is a place where nature lovers can come and play to there hearts content with open areas, hiking, fishing, Surfing, and many other good open air activities.
What is traveling without your own vehicle, come and rent a car in cape town from us at www.wisewheels.co.za and get the best deals on offer.

For more tourist information go to www.tourismcapetown.co.za

The wilder side of Cape Town

2008-06-24T16:08:00.002+02:00

Cape Town the mother city, land of peace harmony and loads of fun but what few people realize is that Cape Town and the Western Cape Province have quite a few strategically placed reserves where you can discover all types of wondrous fauna, animal life and exquisite beauty. Things such as Poisonous snakes and the none lethal variety, different types of antelope, reptiles and bird life are abound in these reserves where the delicate eco balance is harmoniously at work to balance out life in these secluded areas.
This article is a list of the different reserves and the type of animal and plant life available within. I will also try to supply a link to each reserve where-ever one is available.

The Table mountain National park, is a beautiful reserve set almost entirely in the greater Cape Town Metropolitan area, incidentally it is the only reserve in the world of its type that has such a richness of beauty and biodiversity. Here you can find the world renowned fynbos, Jackass penguins and breathtaking whale sittings and breaching. If you are lucky then you will also spot some of the smaller antelope, reptile and bird species that inhabit the area. For information of this go to

The west coast national park is famous for its spectacular scenery and incredible variety of seabirds. Situated just inland from the secluded harbor of Saldanah the park boast the azure waters of Langebaan lagoon as its focal point. Species to look out for are the Cape Gannet, Jackass (African) penguin, Flamingo’s, Waders, and Black Harrier. Go to http://www.sanparks.org/parks/west_coast/ for more information.

The Cederberg wilderness area is named after the rare Clanwilliam Cedar tree and encompasses 71000 Ha or mountainous terrain. Fynbos is the main type of fauna to be found here with a diverse amount of animal species such as Baboons, dassies, grey rhebok, klipspringers, duiker and grysbok which are common. You also may be lucky enough to find porcupine, honey badger, Cape clawless otter and aardvark but these are rare and not easily spotted. The main predator in the reserve is the leopard but you can also find the African wild cat, lynx, bat-eared fox, aardwolf and Cape fox wondering around. For more information go to http://www.capenature.org.za/reserves.htm?reserve=Cederberg+Wilderness+Area

Groot Winterhoek Wilderness area covers about 30608 ha and has many endangered fauna and animal species within its borders. The main vegetation type is fynbos and the reserve has the threatened Sorocephalus scabridus, a member of the protea family, growing at Kliphuisvlakte. A variety of animals abide here including the more commonly seen Klipspringers, grey rhebok and grysbok and the lesser seen Leopard, Caracal, wild cat, mongoose, genet. There are 100 different types of bird species including Cape rockjumper and numerous raptors like black eagle, goshawk and jackal buzzard. For any needs go to http://www.capenature.org.za/reserves.htm?reserve=Groot+Winterhoek+Wilderness+Area&PHPSESSID=c614b909887ae2843b70d24e67809a9c#reserve_tabs

Anysberg Nature Reserve occurs within the Cape Fold Mountains and comprises an area of 62500 ha. The terrain runs from gentle plains to rugged mountain scenery, it has a variety of plant life from succulents to proteas and some amazing animal life such as steenbok, duiker, gemsbok, red hartebeest, Leopard, black-backed jackal and caracal. The Reptile species include tortoise, boomslang, Cape cobra and puff adder. To find out more go to http://www.capenature.org.za/reserves.htm?reserve=Anysberg+Nature+Reserve#reserve_tabs

Hottentot Holland nature reserve is a 42000 ha nature reserve set in the Hottentots Holland mountain range. The reserve is there to protect the indigenous mountain fynbos and a few animals such as Grey Rhebok, klipspringer, common duiker, grysbok and Leopard can be found there. Go to http://www.capenature.org.za/reserves.htm?reserve=Hottentots+Holland+Nature+Reserve#reserve_tabs to find out more about this rugged reserve.

De Hoop nature reserve forms as a part of one of the worlds most threatened plant kingdoms. The cape floral kingdom has fynbos as its main vegetation group and is largely confined to nutrient poor soils in the winter rainfall areas of the Western Cape. It is the largest reserve for this type of fauna having approximately 1500 of the 9000 species in the kingdom. For more information go to http://www.capenature.org.za/reserves.htm?reserve=De+Hoop+Nature+Reserve#reserve_tabs

Bontebok national park is an amazing park all round. Named after the Bontebok that inhabits it, the species were on a brink of extension numbering only 17 and have been bought back to life, so to say, numbering 3000 today. Bontebok isn’t all you can find in the park though it is home to over 200 bird species, has Renoster veld (grows in nutrient rich soil types) and fynbos (grows in nutrient poor soil types) within its kingdom and a wide variety of animal species. The 5 major sites to see are Bontebok, Cape Mountain Zebra, Stanley’s Bustard Breede River, and Lang Elsie’s Kraal. For more information go to http://www.sanparks.org/parks/bontebok/

Sanbona wildlife reserve is a wild game reserve in the heart of the Little Karoo. It is a 54000 ha reserve with rock art and big cats, it is incidentally the first private reserve in the Western Cape to have free roaming big cats roaming around its interior. It has a good variety of big game and is also home to the rare ravine rabbit. To find out more about specials and visiting the spectacular reserve then go to http://www.sanbona.com/properties/?MicroSiteID=3

Swartberg nature reserve can be found in the Oudtshoorn district and is bordered by the Gamkapoort nature reserve to the north and the Towerkop nature reserve to the south; these two reserves are incidentally not open to the public but run in conjunction with Swartberg nature reserve. The entire conservation area together is a staggering 180000ha large and is critical to the management of mountain catchments and water yields in the area. The area has an amazing diversity of plant life and some of the classifications are featuring Renosterveld, mountain fynbos, Karoo-veld, spekboom veld, and numerous geophyte species. It is also home to many animal species including klipspringer, grey Rhebok, kudu, baboon, dassies, springbok, Leopard and caracal. For more info go to http://www.capenature.org.za/reserves.htm?reserve=Swartberg+Nature+Reserve#reserve_tabs

Karoo national Park is a harsh environment where many species have adapted to living in the harshest of areas. Many species of animal to be found in the park have always been naturally found there but a few species have been reintroduced into the eco system such as black rhino and buffalo, and Cape mountain zebra. There are also over 20 breeding pairs of black eagle who have found sanctuary within the park. For more information go to http://www.sanparks.org/parks/karoo/

These diverse areas in the Western Cape show the amazing beauty that this area does have to offer. So next time you come to the Cape don’t only think sun sea sand and fun since there is so much more to do. Plan your trip carefully and if you want to get around come and hire a car from us at www.wisewheels.co.za

Jaccuzi anyone?

2008-06-06T10:44:00.003+02:00

JACUZZI TIME! Everybody loves them – its just the amount that you are willing to pay. Here are some spas, guest houses and hotels with jacuzzi's around the Western Cape.

Get to any of these great places with one of our great cars from Wise Wheels Car Rental.

Luxury accommodation

Cape Grace at the V&A Waterfront
5 star luxury hotel with spa set on the top floor where it has panoramic views of Table Mountain, the Waterfront and Cape Town. Pricey, but really amazing.

The cheapest room you will find is around R4500.00 per night, and if you want to splurge - you can hire a penthouse suite for R12,000.00 + per night

Further out, is another luxury guest house, Rea Lou in Franschhoek - some of the rooms have a Jacuzzi on suite. Prices are:

Harley Room R700.00 per night
Cape Dutch Room R900.00 per night
Spa Bath Room R1,000.00 per night
Honeymoon Room R1,100.00 per night
Family Room R1,200.00 per night
Ursula Family Room R1,200.00 per night

Middle of the range

Mountview Spa and Guest Lodge has 4 star accommodations with reasonable pricing

Out of season, you are looking at between R450.00 - R750.00 per night, and out of season it will set you back R550.00 - R795.00 per night

Sacred Mountain Guest Lodge has luxury and elegance with a 4 star rating:

From R395 sharing for all cottages and suites. Ask about pricing for the children!
Luxury Self catering cottage or suite from R585 p/unit p/n. Breakfast may be taken at an additional cost of R75pp.

More Affordable Accommodation

SaltyCrax Backpackers is ideal for water sports enthusiasts with its own heated Jacuzzi.
Prices are as follows:
Double En-suite: R300 p/n
Private Doubles/Triples and Family Rooms: 1 person R200, 2ppl R250, 3ppl R360, 4ppl R420

Book Fair in Cape Town

2007-05-25T06:39:00.000+02:00

THE Cape Town Book Fair will take place in the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 16 to 19 June.

Over 200 published South African authors will be at the Fair signing copies of their books and discussing their work.

The human rights activist and man who defended Mandela where he was imprisoned for 27 years at the Rivonia treason trial, advocate George Bizos, will be discussing his much anticipated autobiography.

The Fair will host exhibitions by publishers from Africa, Europe, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. More than 300 events including readings, book launches, panel discussions and seminars will take place.

The Cape Town Book Fair is a joint venture between the Publisher’s Association of South Africa (PASA) and the Frankfort Book Fair.Tickets are on sale at computicket.com.
Article from http://www.paarlpost.com/
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Cape offers good hope for developers

2007-05-17T06:42:00.000+02:00

South Africa in general and Cape Town in particular are offering new investment opportunities, according to International Property Solutions, which gives an upbeat assessment of the prospects for those looking to invest in property in the country.

Heath Adamson, sales and marketing director for the company, said that more and more investors were looking at property in South Africa, particularly in the Cape area.

He said: "There has been a take-up in South Africa. The majority of buyers are looking to the Cape; in the Western Cape and Cape Town specifically. We have seen an upturn in the last two to three months in that region."

There are many reasons for this, he states. Firstly, the growth rate in the property market is high, promising good returns for investors: "Last year we saw very, very steep growth figures. It has slowed slightly this year but we're still looking between about 15 to 18 per cent, I'd say, in certain regions in Cape Town…We're still seeing very strong growth figures in South Africa's prices."

Nor is this likely to slow down, he believes. For one thing, there is the forthcoming 2010 World Cup, which will partly be staged the redeveloped Green Point Stadium near the city centre. This will attract visitors as fans pour in from overseas and the city becomes the focus of world attention. Mr Adamson states: "I don't think we're going to see any slow down up to, and probably for, a couple of years after that [the World Cup]."

He insists that the bad reputation the country has for crime has not, it appears, put investors off. While this is a problem, the areas where the money and investment are tend to be much better protected by private security than poor areas. Moreover, the situation in Cape Town is much better than in Johannesburg, the country's largest city and the place with the worst reputation in this respect.

Where Cape Town also scores is in its myriad attractions, which create a potential market both for people wanting to live or holiday there. The city and the Western Cape region enjoy a mild Mediterranean climate, numerous vineyards, the spectacular scenery of Table Mountain, renowned beaches, excellent restaurants, and a wide range of flora and fauna, from the unique blooms of the Cape floral kingdom to the Boulders Bay penguin colony.

Nor is the appeal just aesthetic. Cape Town City Council has set itself the aim of compiling an integrated development plan, exploiting the economic opportunities the 2010 World Cup presents and declaring economic growth and job creation to be a priority. Such declarations have hardly been unusual since 1994, but the arrival of one of the World's biggest sporting events provides the country with potential catalyst for development, in much the same way that Olympic cities such as London are using a major sporting event to try to regenerate down-at-heel areas.

Other developments have been announced by the city as well. The central railway station is to be revamped. Proposals have been published for new public sporting facilities around the Green Point Stadium, while the authority proudly boasts that it has been recognised both as the cleanest city in the country and the one with some of the best drinking water in the world. While 2010 is three years away, the plan to make Cape Town a boom town, one in which property investors may find good returns, has already kicked off in earnest.
Article from http://news.assetz.co.uk/
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Bookworms awake for the Cape Town book fair

2007-05-09T09:37:00.000+02:00

Event: Cape Town book fair
Date: June 16th - 19th 2007

Bookworms across the globe are stirring in the earth with the onset of summer and the prospect of a visit to the Cape Town book fair.

The book fair, now in its second year, brings together a concentrated hub of readers and thinkers in the heart of one of South Africa's most vibrant cities.

Visitors can alternate between sitting back to hear authors read from their works and actively taking part in lively seminar discussions on issues of common concern.

Themed collections will make guests instant experts in a series of specialisms, including wine, appropriately enough, given the Western Cape's position as one of the world's top wine producing regions.

Meanwhile, young readers are catered for with a children's zone and a comics section.

Cape Town is a fascinating first pit stop in sub-Saharan Africa where the Indian and Atlantic oceans converge and Table Mountain's constant presence in the near distance gives a tantalizing glimpse of the majestic scenery beyond.

As the gateway to safari tours and the exploration of wine country, it is a buzzing, bustling city.

But when all that activity becomes overwhelming, a book fair is the perfect place to settle and browse in peace.
Article from http://www.redcarnationhotels.com/
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1time Enables Online Check-ins

2007-04-21T11:09:00.000+02:00

Tourism to the Western Cape, especially Cape Town, is increasing, and most tourists to South Africa regard the city and the Garden Route as great places to visit.

Also, more foreign than local tourists come here during winter, according to findings in Cape Town Routes Unlimited's (CTRU) first tourism barometer, which was released on Thursday to tourism and hospitality leaders.

The barometer, to be published quarterly, will provide the industry with trends and information to improve planning and marketing strategies.

The latest barometer is based on information that has been collected since the beginning of last year at various tourist centres and venues such as the Airports Company of South Africa, the Waterfront, Table Mountain National Park and the National Ports Authority.

"It has been a huge task, not just in terms of collecting raw data and then collating it, but analysing and presenting it in a way that is meaningful and useful. The information it provides should help make the tourism industry more efficient and profitable," said CTRU acting chief executive Calvin Gilfellan.

He said Cape Town's world ranking as a global congress venue had also jumped from 47th to 29th, while Durban and Pretoria were ranked 168th and 209th respectively.

The barometer contains information about the number of visitors, where they are from, how much they spend and how long they stayed.

It also showed:

# Most visitors (50.6 percent) heard about Cape Town from friends or relatives, followed by the media (20 percent), Internet (18.4 percent) and brochures (7.6 percent).

# Some 16 913 visitors arrived by passenger liners - most of them (23 percent) from the UK followed by Germany (13 percent).

# About 28 percent of visitors inquired about the whole province, and said they intended visiting the Garden Route (19 percent), West Coast (17 percent) and Cape Winelands (14 percent).

# Most foreigners travelled in groups of two, about a third travelled alone, while domestic tourists travelled in groups of three to six. About 43 percent of all visitors returned to the Western Cape; some more than 10 times.

# On average, a tourist spends R2 422 on shopping, R1 640 on leisure and R1 777 on food.
Article from http://www.iol.co.za/
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10 Things Travelers Need When Visiting Cape Town

2007-04-17T07:08:00.000+02:00

Cape Town is a beautiful city with rich cultural events and the top 5 attractions in all of South Africa. When you visit Cape Town, South Africa, you will need to make sure you are prepared, so your trip will be more enjoyable. The more preparation you do before you leave, the less you have to worry about once you get there. Then you will be free to relax and enjoy your visit.

1. Sun Protection
The sun in South Africa can be harsh, so you’ll need to wear sun protective lotion, as well as protective clothing like hats or visors to keep the sun out of your eyes and face.

2. Copies of Passport and Travel Documents
You always want to make sure you have more than one copy of your passport and travel documents in case you are to lose them or have them stolen. These are the only means by which you can return to your country, so protect them well.

3. Proper Clothing
Light cotton clothing is advised in the summer. The evenings get cooler so pack warmer clothing as well. Dress is typically casual in Cape Town even for evenings at the theater or restaurants.

4. Good Accommodations
My favorite place to stay in Cape Town South Africa is the Commodore Hotel. This is a 5-star hotel on the waterfront near the center of Cape Town. While, the room rate is a bit pricey, a hot breakfast buffet and world class service certainly makes up for it.

5. Money for Tipping
South African currency is called the Rand (R). The Rand is split into 100 cents, similar to the US Dollar and cents. You will need to carry money with you to tip people for service such as wait staff, taxi drivers, hotel staff, etc. 10% is a fair tip in Cape Town.

6. Safety Precautions
Never walk unpopulated streets of South Africa alone. Do not wear excessive jewelry or watches and keep the amount of cash you carry to a minimum. The Police emergency number is 10111.

7. Immunizations
While there are no international immunizations needed to enter South Africa, you should be aware that Malaria is a risk throughout the year. So protect yourself from diseases as you feel necessary. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

8. Local Driving Rules
In Cape Town everyone drives on the left side of the road. Many of the National roadways have tolls so always bring money with you if you are planning on traveling by car. Seat belts are required and if you have a young child with you, you should reserve a car set in advance.

9. Local Prices
You should have some understanding of the local prices, so you don’t get surprised or taken advantage of while on holiday in Cape Town. The average McDonalds meal is R23.00, bottled water is R5.00, a ticket to the movies is R30.00 and dinner out is about R100.00 each person.

10. Travel Insurance
Medical services are available at private hospitals and doctors in private practice. You should have some form of travel insurance that covers medical expenses. Again, it’s better to be safe than sorry in case something does happen during the trip away.

By: E Cho -Article from http://www.articledashboard.com
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Meeting held to outline city's 2010 World Cup transport requirements

2007-04-13T06:31:00.000+02:00

12-04-2007

The city's transport requirements for the 2010 FIFA World Cup will be outlined to Helderberg-based members of Cape Town Tourism at a meeting in Strand on April 25.

Cape Town International Airport GM George Uriesi will provide an update on the changes being implemented at the airport while City of Cape Town executive director for Transport and Roads Eddie Chinnappen will talk about the City's transport plans and status.

Cape Town Tourism announced earlier this month the launch of its preparation and information sessions relating to the 2010 FIFA World Cup. A number of membership networking events have been planned.

Official launch

The official launch of the Cape Town Tourism industry preparation for the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup takes place on April 12 in Cape Town. Other sessions will take place at Kommetjie and at Canal Walk Shopping Centre.

The Strand presentation, for Cape Town Tourism members only, takes place at the Villa the President guesthouse, 9 De Jongh Street, Strand, from 13:00 to 15:00.

To book, phone Inge before noon on Monday, April 16 on (021) 840-1400 or e-mail her at inge@tourismcapetown.co.za.

Article from http://www.news24.com/
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Cape Town to fight bid to stop stadium

2007-04-05T06:37:00.000+02:00

THE city of Cape Town says it will fight a bid to block the proposed Green Point stadium and is going ahead with construction.

The city’s 2010 spokesperson Pieter Cronje confirmed yesterday afternoon that it had been served with papers by a civic group seeking to halt the R2,9 billion project.

“Our legal team is busy going through them: It’s two lever-arch files full of documents,” he said.

“Our position is that we will defend it (the application) and work on site is continuing according to the programme.”

He said the city believed the statutory processes it had followed in approving the stadium were correct.

“The development is not ad hoc, but in tune with developments in the Waterfront, Somerset Hospital and the surrounding central business district,” he said.

Asked about the effect of any delay in construction, he said time had always been tight, and the project was chasing an October 2009 deadline for handover to Fifa.

“We can’t afford any undue delays,” he said.

Earlier yesterday, the Cape Town Environmental Protection Association said its lawyers had filed an urgent application for an interdict in the Cape High Court.

Association spokesperson Kendal Jarvis said the application included a 150-page founding affidavit.

He did not know when the matter would be heard.

The association is asking the court to set aside decisions by city and provincial authorities, claiming they “rode roughshod” over the principles of public participation in order to satisfy an arbitrary Fifa deadline.

Other respondents include Fifa, its Local Organising Committee (LOC) and Western Cape Environment MEC Tasneem Essop.

LOC chief executive Danny Jordan said the LOC received an e-mail on the matter just before 1pm.

“As of yet, the papers have not been lodged but we understand that they are being drafted. We will only be able to respond after the papers have been served.”

Construction of the stadium was earlier opposed by the Green Point Common Association, but it eventually reached a compromise agreement with the city. — Sapa

Article from http://www.dispatch.co.za/
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Cape Town to host Bollywood film festival

2007-03-31T07:04:00.000+02:00

Mumbai, March 30: In a bid to promote Bollywood films, Cape Town will host the Bollywood Film Festival from May 25 to 27. The Cinemax chain of theatres will be the venue partner.

Eminent personalities from the Indian film fraternity will attend the festival.

The Cape Town Bollywood Film Festival seeks to promote Bollywood cinema to a South African audience with an aim to promote and expose developed products in the film and television industry to the international arena.

The CTBFF also aims to provide development and training support to individuals with little or no knowledge or experience of the industry.

The festival will provide a platform for established and upcoming film professionals alike.

CPTBFF aims to launch and premiere films at an international level on an ongoing basis, the release adds.

"We believe that Indian cinema has great potential in, and relevance for the international market which triggered the concept for the festival," Avalon group of cinemas' managing director, A. B. Moosa, said.
Article from http://www.saharasamay.com/
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Top bodyboarding contenders flock to Cape Town

2007-03-18T09:48:00.000+02:00

This year's Sport Unlimited Cape Classic bodyboarding contest has one of the highest prize purses in many years, with cash and product prizes valued at over R100 000. The country's top bodyboarding professionals will be flocking down to the Cape to try and claim their share of the huge prize purse.

The event, which takes place at Glen Beach in Camps Bay kicks off on Saturday, 17 March and concludes on Sunday, 18 March. The finals of each division will be held on the final day of the event.

Divions cater for boys, girls (U/16), juniors (U/18), pro men, women, men, masters and drop knee.

Last year's winner and South Africa's top ranked bodyboarder Wesley Fischer (CKZN) will be returning from Hawaii along with Mark Watts (CKZN) to enter the competition and they will no doubt be the hot favourites tipped to win. Current SA Champion Alistair Taylor (CKZN) will be looking to keep up his winning streak at an early stage of the year.

In the drop knee division current SA Champion Derek Footit (SKZN) will be going for gold after a convincing and spectacular win at the SA Championships last year.

In the junior division, local boy Jared Houston (WP) will be fighting to gain an early lead over rival Micheal Ostler (WP). These two are always showing off for the crowds by trying to out do the other. This results in a great show for the spectators on the beach.

In the masters division a pioneer of the sport and current SA Masters Champion, Mike van Huysteen(CKZN), will be looking to keep his title after winning in this division at last years event. Mike will also be showing his years of experience against the best in the country by entering the pro men's division.

The Sport Unlimited Cape Classic is hosted by the Western Province Bodyboarding Association and is co-sponsored by Sport Unlimited, Reef South Africa, Science Bodyboards, Spur and Debis Fleet Management.
Article from www.news24.co.za
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Cape Town 'learns to rock'

2007-03-09T08:27:00.000+02:00

THE Kfm 94.5 Night of the Superstars on Friday, 9 March will see Westlife, Michael Bolton and Jascha Richter of Michael Learns to Rock appearing live at the River Club in Observatory.

People's Post had the opportunity to chat with singer and songwriter Jascha Richter from his hotel room in Johannesburg.

Jascha's musical career began in high school in Denmark in 1987 when he and some friends formed a band, mostly playing small gigs in cafes.

Jascha, who had for some time been experimenting with songwriting, introduced some of his original songs to the rest of the members and it was at that point that they decided to create a more serious band. Michael Learns to Rock was the result.

Since their official debut in 1991 the members of Michael Learns to Rock have achieved global record sales of more than nine million units. The band is one of the biggest international successes ever to come out of Denmark. Now Jascha is embarking on his first solo tour to promote his debut album Where I belong.

"After working for so many years in a democratic forum," says Jascha, "I decided that it was time to work on my own and work on some of the songs I have been toying with for a while now.

"Working on my own has in some ways been easier. It is a lot more flexible and really it has been my dream for some time now."

Although this is his first solo tour, this trip is Jascha's second visit to South African shores and it seems he is happy to be back.

"I am very excited about touring South Africa again," says Jascha.

"I toured here previously with Michael Learns to Rock in the '90s and we had tremendous success. I think we sold over half a million records and our concerts were completely sold out."

Jascha's solo work, while new and fresh, still has a familiar feel that MLTR fans will recognise. His first two singles, "My Saviour" and "Without Your Love" have been well received by international audiences and reached gold status in South Africa.

"I am eager to see how South African audiences respond to my new songs on this tour. I hope you all enjoy it," he says.

People's Post put together some fast facts about Jascha to get to know a little about the man behind the music:

. He has a fascination with science and says that if he wasn't a singer he would have become a physicist;
. His favourite band is Abba but he has also recently become a big fan of Coldplay;
. His favourite food is beef with pepper sauce, mashed potatoes and Greek salad;
. His favourite movie is Le Grand Bleu (The Big Blue), starring Jean Reno and Rosanna Arquette;
. He doesn't have a hero or influence, and says he has always had to look out for himself; and
. The only thing he says he would change about his life so far is that he wouldn't spend as much money and would rather save more.

Don't miss the opportunity to see Jascha Richter live at the River Club, Observatory on Friday, 9 March. Gates open at 17:00 and the show starts at 19:00. Tickets cost R180 (general admission) or R320 (Golden Circle) and are available exclusively from www.ticketconnection.co.za, at selected Mr Price stores or from www.kfm.co.za.

Article from http://www.news24.com/

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Cape Town youth festival kicks off

2007-03-06T07:45:00.000+02:00

The Cape Town youth festival, that kicked off today at the Iziko South African Museum Ampitheatre saw young people across the Western Cape enjoy, and perform in, dance and song activities.

Executive director of the Iziko SA Museum Patricia Davidson congratulated another successful programme. "I would like to see more people become attracted to museums", says Davidson.
Guest who included MEC for education in the Western Cape Cameron Dugmore, had a chance to listen to the beautiful voices of Simon Estes and the Mannenberg Steel Band, as well as an anti-drugs presentation of the Betel School in Delft.

Shortly after the keynote address, Dugmore joined in the upbeat dance and song of the Simon Estes School.

“All of us has a responsibility not only the youth, we must help grow art and culture as time goes on,” says Dugmore.

He then appealed to the youth to be more involved in music, life arts and arts and culture, in order to develop the economy and everyone else.

After the launch a mixture of hip-hop and kwaito performers entertained children from various schools.

Chief executive of the festival Yusuf Ganief says the youth festival’s common vision is to promote arts to youth instead of gangsterism, which is a major challenge the youth in the country is faced with today.

The festival, which started today, will take place at the museum until Friday, 9 March 2007.

Article from http://www.bushradionews.com
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Cape Town to Knysna - Cycling

2007-03-06T07:37:00.000+02:00

Come and join Cycle Lab on a cyclist’s fun ride and warm up from Tuesday 3rd July to Saturday 7th July 2007 before the Pick’n Pay Weekend Argus Rotary Knysna Cycle Tour. On this tour you will see South Africa's famed Garden Route - discover charming villages, explore the beautiful “Garden of Eden,” Immerse yourself in the luxurious lap of Mother Nature. Prepare for an explosion of the senses as you migrate from Spectacle to the Spectacular!

This tour caters for all strengths, so you needn’t be an elite rider to come and join this amazing but challenging experience. Daily distances vary from 100km the first day to 193km on the last day, so we suggest not gunning it from the start. If you are taking a bit of a strain you can always pop your bike on to one of our back up vehicles and take a cruise for the rest of the way.

As this tour has become an annual event on many cyclists’ calendars, please email Nouchy or phone on 021 7001060 to confirm your participation and a booking form will be sent to you. Please note a non refundable deposit of R 1750.00 is required to secure your booking.

Tour Details:

Stage 1 – Tuesday (03/07/07) ~ Gordon’s bay to Caledon 100kmStage 2 – Wednesday (04/07/07) ~ Caledon to Swellendam 140kmStage 3 – Thursday (05/07/07) ~ Swellendam to Calitzdorp 155kmStage 4 – Friday (06/07/07) ~ Calitzdorp to Wilderness 193kmStage 5 – Saturday (07/07/07) ~ Wilderness to Knysna 50kmStage 6 – Sunday (08/07/07) ~ Pick’n Pay Knysna Cycle Tour. This cycling event is optional and not an official stage of our Tour!

Please Click here for the full itinerary as well as HERE for a detailed booking form with the pricing. Should you wish to secure your booking (limited numbers), please complete the form and send it together with a deposit proof of payment via email or by fax.

Tour includes:

# 4 nights bed & breakfast accommodation (sharing). Please note the accommodation in Knysna is excluded.# Breakfast, light lunches, snacks and diners.# Bike trailer.# Ride Leader.# Limited cycling supplements.# Back up vehicles and drivers as well as the transport between Wilderness and Knysna (if needed).

Tour Price: R 3 500.00 per person on a sharing basis and R 750.00 single supplement per person.

Please be aware that there is limited space for this tour, therefore do not wait to the last minute and miss the opportunity of a life time. Contact us NOW!

I remain at your entire disposal should you require further information

Nouchy Bergonzoli
Email Nouchy

Article from http://www.supercycling.co.za/
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A Strategic Economic Analysis of the Cape Town and Western Cape Film Industry

2007-03-04T07:48:00.000+02:00

This research is a base line study for the financial year July 2005 to June 2006. It is not a time series study but rather puts in place mechanisms where more rigorous measurements can be made and the performance of the industry can be assessed in the future.

Download the full report at 'Policy & Incentives'.

Many areas were identified where rigorous analysis was not possible or where detailed measurement could not be made. However, a rigorous baseline of information and analysis has been set in place which provides a solid platform for future monitoring and strategic and enterprise development. This is the first time that this type of research has been undertaken in the film industry in South Africa and is based on a thorough analysis of data and informed assumptions. Where assumptions had to be made this was done in a conservative manner so as to limit potential overestimations.

The starting point of the research was to determine the overall size of the industry. This proved to be a very challenging exercise for a number of reasons. There is no industry census; it is a very disparate industry in which people move in and out as opportunities arise; because of this many of the work opportunities are seasonal in nature. Many avenues were explored in trying to measure the size of the industry, of which the permit offices and crewing agents proved the most productive. It is thought that in the last financial year in the region of 30 long form, 600 commercials and 2,100 stills productions were made in the Province.

Total industry turnover was estimated by establishing the average cost of each of the different types of production. For long form this was done by interviewing the main production companies. The Commercial Producers Association (CPA) and the South African Association of Stills Producers (SAASP) made available the average cost of commercials and stills productions respectively.

The total turnover of the Western Cape film industry is estimated at R2.65bn for the 2005/6 financial year of which about 77 percent (R2.03bn) occurred in Cape Town. Long form, with a turnover of R1.12bn, was the largest part of the industry. This is followed by commercials at R0.87bn and stills at an estimated R0.66bn. Inside of long form, feature films added R934.3m and made-for-TV productions R181.3m. Service commercials are the most numerous and are the largest part of the commercials industry, followed by local commercials and then international commercials. Service commercials had a total turnover of R631.8m, compared to the R162.5m for local commercials and the R77.9m for international commercials.

One of the key thrusts of the study was to identify the cost components of the industry and to use these to establish a value chain analysis. The objective is to provide strategic direction to the industry for the purpose of growing local and international competitiveness. It was found that production costs make up 73.5% of all costs for the entire industry. This is followed by ‘other’ (22.2%) (this includes insurance, contingencies, profit, office overheads, etc), post production (2.7%) and pre production (1.6%).

In long form the five largest cost components make up 70% of overall spending. These are crew remuneration (25.6%), travel & living expenses (19.8%), camera hire (10.9%), set lighting (7.2%) and vehicle hire (6.9%).For commercials the five largest cost components contribute 74.7% of total spending. These are crew remuneration (26.9%), equipment hire (17.8%), art department expenses (13.3%), locations (8.9%) and talent fees (7.7%).

In the stills sub-sector the five largest cost components contribute 78% of total spending. These are talent remuneration (20.7%) general expenses (production costs – 17.7%), travel & living expenses (16.0%), crew remuneration (13.6%) and camera hire (9.6%).

Analysis was done on the potential change in industry costs for a depreciation in the Rand and an increase in wages. It was found that a 10% depreciation in the Rand could reduce costs by 8.02% in long form, 8.15% for commercials and 8.06% for stills. Similarly a 10% increase in wages would result in cost increases of between 3.9% and 4.5% for the different sectors.

Finally, the macroeconomic contribution of the industry was estimated. While there are a number of different types of macroeconomic effects, the two most important are contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) and the creation of jobs. The importance of job creation is clear. Increases in GDP are synonymous with increases in peoples’ economic standards of living. Increased GDP – i.e. increased production – is experienced in the form of more jobs, higher wages, more opportunities and reduced economic hardship. It is clearly an important measure.

It is estimated that the Western Cape film industry contributed R3.5bn to South African GDP in the 2006 financial year. Of the R3.5bn contribution to SA GDP, long form contributed R1.49bn, commercials R1.16bn and stills R0.9bn. At the same time the film industry contributed R936m to the Western Cape Gross Geographic Product (GGP), of which R684m is contributed to the Cape Town GGP. The estimate of the contribution to the Western Cape GGP and Cape Town GGP are minimum estimates. The direct spend would have occurred in the city and province and many of the linkage effects, which the input output tables assume occur nationally, would in fact have taken place in the city and province. Hence the contribution to city and provincial GGP will be higher.

It is estimated that the film industry created 6,058 full year job equivalents in the Western Cape; while a further minimum 2,501 indirect jobs were also created in the province as a result of the multiplier effect. Of the 6,058 direct jobs, 1,841 were in long form, 2,459 from commercials and 1,758 in stills. It is estimated that about 4,638 (77%) of these direct jobs are in Cape Town. Total jobs are the sum of the direct and indirect jobs. It is estimated that in total 8,559 full year job equivalents were sustained throughout the province of which a minimum 6,552 are in Cape Town.

A number of recommendations are made to help improve the accuracy of future studies. These relate primarily to the permit offices, private location companies, crewing agents and protocol around the primary data collection process amongst the various associations.
Article from http://www.filmmaker.co.za/
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We love... Cape Town

2007-03-03T03:59:00.000+02:00

Rin Simpson, Western Mail

For anyone who thinks Africa is all about mud huts, lions and endless miles of desert, Cape Town must come as something of a surprise.

The thriving, modern city is packed with designer boutiques and bustling craft markets, upmarket clubs and top-class restaurants, not to mention one of the most successful business districts in the whole of the continent.

Yet its natural beauty is second to none, situated as it is on the coast with miles of sandy white beaches and world-renowned mountain ranges, surrounded by the South African veldt.

It is tourist heaven, a place where you can do as much or as little as you like, where you'd be hard-pressed to see everything on offer even if you moved there permanently.

If you've only got a couple of weeks, there are some 'must-see' destinations. Table Mountain makes a great half-day trip and gives you the opportunity for a bird's-eye view of the city, as well as trying out the incredible revolving cable car.
Article from http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/
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Fab food and fashion at Cape Town Festival

2007-03-03T03:55:00.000+02:00

By Yazeed Kamaldien

A host of South African stories will be screened at the Cape Town International Short Film Festival next week as part of the packed programme of the annual Cape Town Festival (CTF) launching this weekend.

The film festival, which runs at the V&A Waterfront Amphitheatre on March 5 to 12 from 8pm-10pm, is one of numerous free public events during the CTF which ends on March 29. The eighth CTF kicks off tomorrow with a street festival happening in the central city as well as in Bo-Kaap from 12pm until 3am.

Activities include an art route along galleries that will be open all night, outdoor art installations, food sculptures, night wrestling, ice sculpting and fashion parades. You've got to believe it…

The CTF's performance art schedule will include theatre and dance productions at all major theatres, including Artscape in town, the Baxter in Rondebosch and Athlone's Joseph Stone Auditorium. A full programme is available via http://www.capetownfestival.co.za/ or a hardcopy can be picked up at various coffee shops or the like around the city. Or perhaps try any tourism office.

Visual arts exhibitions go down at St Georges's Cathedral in the city from March 6 to 24 as well as at the Rust & Vrede Gallery in Durbanville from March 14 to 24. The city show includes Ronald Harrison's much-talked about Black Christ and the suburban setting features "artistic interpretations of FEST by 16 Western Cape artists including Beezy Bailey and Alchemy. No entry fee required.

The arts workshops will also have a life skills element. A Human Rights Day concert will also take place at the Company's Gardens on March 21.

Closer to the end of the festival hip-hop fans can gather at UCT's Sports Complex Hall 1 (on March 24) for a skills display by world breakdancing champ Hong 10 of Korea as well as other competing breakdancers. A graffiti competition takes place on March 25 at the Grassy Park Library.

If the stress of diarising all these events take its toll, it's best to catch a breather and a healthy dose of laughter at the Jou Ma se Comedy festival. It runs at the V&A Waterfront's Manenberg Jazz café from March 13 to 24 and features a strong cast of local comedians. (Tel. 021-421-5639 for more info.)

But if you'd rather relax with poets and musicians, then get down to the Distrix Café in the former District Six area in the city every Friday and Saturday night from next weekend onward. The Local Goes Vocal component of the CTF promises spoken word, slam poetry and live music. (Tel. 072-117-6221 for more info.)

Needless to say, this is one massive explosion of arts, culture and entertainment right here in the Mother City. And it's not like it hasn't been a busy year already - and it's been only two months - with free film festivals (Canadian and Iranian), a photographic festival as well as the launch of the Goemarati music
Article from http://www.tonight.co.za/
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Cape Town launches energy efficiency plan

2007-03-02T06:43:00.000+02:00

With the risk of blackouts a reality for the next five years, Cape Town organisations have joined forces to launch a major new energy efficiency plan which will cut electricity consumption, reduce carbon emissions and save money.

Called the CBD Energy Efficiency Initiative, it will be run by the Cape Town Partnership and the Sustainability Institute, and dovetails with the City of Cape Town's energy and climate change strategy.

Cape Town Mayor Helen Zille, who hosted the event, said at the launch on Wednesday that South African cities consumed large amounts of energy compared to their economic output. Commerce and industry used 45 percent of national power supply.

"We have all felt the effects of the recent blackouts. We have all played our part in reducing our consumption to pull through the shortages last winter. But it has become clear that long-term solutions are required if we want to continue to grow and use energy without suffering the consequences of lack of supply," Zille said.

The last spate of blackouts was because Eskom was unable to meet the growing demand for electricity. Eskom planned to spend R97-billion on building more power stations, but these would not be ready until after 2010.

Zille said although South Africa, as a developing country, was not required to cut carbon emissions under the Kyoto Protocol, this might well change after 2012 because of the constant growth in the country's carbon footprint.

"Acting now will enable businesses to prepare themselves for such an outcome. The City of Cape Town is here to forge a partnership with businesses and industries for greater energy efficiency," Zille said.

Peter Willis, Southern African director of the University of Cambridge Programme for Industry, said the days of cheap, abundant energy were over.

"We grew up in an era when Eskom's lights never failed and oil was abundant, so we all became comfortable. The United Kingdom and much of Europe is seriously switched on to the urgency around climate change. It has not hit here yet. When it does, it will come with more constraints around burning fossil fuels. The unsuccessful businesses will be those who continued to operate out of the old paradigm.

"Businesses need to get smart and reduce their energy consumption now, which will also reduce their bills," Willis said.

Andrew Boraine, head of the Cape Town Partnership, said the country-wide blackouts had made his organisation focus attention on energy efficiency.
"The aim is to help businesses with energy efficiency. Anyone who's interested, we welcome them on board," Boraine said.

This included doing an energy audit on buildings, paying for the audit, sub-contracting to energy supply companies to install energy-efficient equipment and to offer advice. They would also liaise with Eskom, the Central Energy Fund, the provincial government and the city council.

Denis van Es of UCT's energy research centre ran an energy audit on Volkswagen South Africa, which had an energy bill of R40-million a year.

"We identified measures to save R6,5-million for an investment of R5-million. This represents a saving of 16 percent of the total energy
Article from http://www.iol.co.za/
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Cape Town stadium budget on ice

2007-02-28T06:40:00.000+02:00

Cape Town mayor Helen Zille has put her approval of the 2010 stadium budget on hold, following an unexpected hike in cost.

A special council meeting scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, which was to have given the green light for a R2,68-billion budget, was called off at the last minute, and postponed to Friday.

Instead, city officials were hastily trying to arrange meetings with the national Treasury to discuss ways of meeting what Zille said was a R180-million shortfall, and to renew pressure for a Treasury guarantee on any cost escalation.

On Wednesday, the city council's member for finance, Ian Nielson, was expected to meet Deputy Finance Minister Jabu Moleketi in Cape Town in a bid to resolve the matter.

The city had been hoping to formally award the stadium tender on Wednesday to the Murray and Roberts/WBHO consortium.

Zille told a media briefing that if the city did not get the assurances it was looking for in the next two days, "then we've got a serious problem".

She said the council could have approved the amount on Tuesday, and only then looked at creative ways of funding it.

"But that's too much risk," she said.

"I cannot put the city at that level of risk, especially in a context where all other spheres of government are saying 'that's as much as we're putting in, full stop ...'

"We've got to make absolutely sure that people understand that there is a ceiling to the amount of money that this city can put in without seriously compromising our service delivery mandate."

The city had already allocated R400-million to the project, plus a R100-million contingency fund.

It managed earlier this month, in discussions with the consortium, to dramatically reduce the cost of the 68 000 seater stadium from the original R3,7-billion, partly by structural changes. These included making the stadium smaller by about 4m on the radius and 2m lower.

Nielson said on Tuesday that in those discussions, many of the savings were based on estimates.

The professional team had then revised its calculations and shown their was an overrun of R180-million, he said.

One solution would be a change in the way the Treasury paid the city the R1,93-billion it has earmarked for the project, so that instead of the current three-months-in-advance agreement, the city was paid "a big chunk" it could bank and earn interest on.

Earlier it was reported that the national government had committed R1,93-billion to the project, the provincial government R112-million and the city R400-million -- an amount Zille says ratepayers would not be asked to top up. - Sapa

Article from http://www.mg.co.za/
It will be nice to get all the issues out the way and start building. Take a break, hire a car from www.southafrica-carhire.com and come back rested

Snap Guide: Cape Town

2007-02-27T08:20:00.000+02:00

Visit Budget Travel Online at http://www.budgettravelonline.com/

Cape Town has a warm climate, gorgeous untouched beaches, and steep hills that overlook a busy bay and streets lined with Victoriana. The dazzling city is made even more dramatic with the massive flat-topped Table Mountain as a backdrop. It's the most European of African cities, although over the course of its troubled history, the Old World blended first with indigenous Khoisan and imported Malay slaves, then more recently Xhosa (pronounced ko-za) culture. It's crammed with sites of great historic and moral importance. And, as if that isn't enough, its fruitful vineyards have inspired a fledgling culinary revolution. Re-energized since democracy came to South Africa in 1994, and soaking in its newfound status as a favorite tourist destination, Cape Town is riding high.

Interesting links:
Cape Town Tourism
ACSA - South Africa Airports
Cape Town Webcam
South Africa National Parks
Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town
Winelands information
Cycle Tour information
Two Oceans Marathon Information
Mother City Queer Project (MCQ)
Cape Town Car Hire

Events at the Cape Town Convention Center Feb 07

2007-02-23T06:22:00.000+02:00

Name: The 9th International Design Indaba Conference
Start Date: 22 February 2006
End Date: 24 February 2006

Details:

The Design Indaba gathers the world's brightest talents across the creative industries. The event has become a broad church for graphic design, advertising, film, music, fashion design, jewellery design, industrial design, product design, architecture, craft, visual art, new media, publishing, radio, television and the performing arts. During the three-day conference, delegates enjoy the opportunity of networking with international speakers who represent the best in the industry, interacting with fellow delegates, indulging in a complete sensory overload and most importantly, being inspired.
Register online from 01 November 2005 on www.designindaba.com
Contact: Michelle Liao (general enquiry) or Zahira Asmal (media)
Tel: 021 418 6666
Email: michelle@interactive.africa.com
Website: http://www.designindaba.com

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Name: Comite Maritime International Cape Town 2006 Colloquium
Start Date: 12 February 2006
End Date: 15 February 2006

>>>

Contact: Keith Burton
Tel: 021 683 2934
Email: keith@africanagenda.co.za

>>>

Name: Professional Beauty 2006
Start Date: 12 February 2006
End Date: 13 February 2006

>>>

Contact: Natasha Reddy
Tel: 011 884 4776
Email: natasha@professional-beauty.co.za
Website: http://www.professional-beauty.co.za

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Name: Investing in Africa Mining / Indaba
Start Date: 07 February 2006
End Date: 09 February 2006

>>>

Contact: Sandy Lawrence
Tel: 091 305 669 1963
Email: sandylawrence@iiconf.com
Website: http://www.irmedia.com