Cape Town South Africa

I know, completely off topic here but here goes anyway. The Lion Sands Game Reserve situated in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve adjoining the famous Kruger National Park has recently released it newest lodge (the first two being Lion Sands Ivory Lodge and Lion Sands River Lodge), a book the whole lodge or you cannot stay there lodge (I fear my English is getting worse). Yes this lodge is expensive but when you look at it from a traveling with the whole family or groups of friends point of view and you fill up all the beds, the cost per person is actually quite reasonable.

“You have to know your roots in order to find your wings!” This is exactly how Guy Aubrey Chalkley felt when he first discovered the raw beauty and ancient spirit of the Kingstown Game Reserve, near the Kruger National Park, back in 1933. Not even he could have realised, on that warm November morning, the legacy he was creating. A legacy that has survived through four generations, the unpredictable nature of the Sabie River and the great responsibilities of protecting and ensuring the Kingstown Game Reserves ecological environment.

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As a tribute to their predecessor’s pioneering spirit, Nick and Robert More, the great grandsons of Guy Chalkley and present-day owners of Lion Sands Private Game Reserve, have built their own private family camp. This, after the original family camp was washed away in the floods of 2000. Aptly named 1933 at Lion Sands, this exclusive sole use lodge welcomed their first guests on 24th October 2007. Since 1933 at Lion Sands has been designed by the family, for the family, it encapsulates both the warm, personal ambience associated with a family owned lodge and a world class luxury safari experience.

Nestling on the banks of the Sabie River, 1933 at Lion Sands represents a secluded environment where comfort and relaxation are the order of the day. There are four spacious suites, each with their own private view of the Sabie River. The bathrooms are just as inviting, courtesy of their double vanity units, elegant bath and outdoor showers. There is also a childrens dormitory, able to sleep up to 8 children, with his and hers bathroom and an interleading bedroom for the au-pair.

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The lodge’s large windows, sliding doors and muted colours mirror the surrounding landscape and create a seamless, indoor-outdoor flow. Timber, thatch and screed flooring add earthy charm to the interior, where the decor is classic-contemporary. Take the lounge, for instance, with its natural fibres, oversized chairs and open fireplace that together create a haven for relaxation. The kitchen is ideal as it opens onto a dining area that’s equally suited to informal family meals or a banquet affair. All of these public areas open onto a large, wraparound wooden deck and lap-size swimming pool.

If this sounds like your dream home, that’s exactly what 1933 at Lion Sands strives to be: a gracious home away from home – with a few added luxuries, including your own private chef and ranger, with the exclusive use of a 4×4 Landrover for safari game drives.

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A communal, self-contained space with a smart-casual vibe, where absolute privacy is assured – that’s 1933 at Lion Sands. However you choose to spend your leisure time here, the lodge is certain to leave you refreshed and re-acquainted with yourself, with the other members of your group and with the breathtaking, natural escarpment that’s unique to Africa. Listen closely to the Sabie River meandering past your suite, and you may just hear the soft, satisfied sighs of Guy Chalkley…

What to do, what to do in the small Karoo!? or more correctly, the Klein Karoo.

Quite alot actually. With my wife and 3 young children we travelled to Oudtshoorn on the N2 motorway from Cape Town to Mossel Bay and then up the Robinson Pass to Oudtshoorn, ostrich capital of the world. You can see immediately that it is a prosperous place, with farmers flush with cash from the biggest ostrich boom ever since the end of the nineteenth century. The town is a quiet, provincial place as you would assume. It is adorned however, with gracious Victorian architecture which has been given a new lease of life with fashionable boutiques, restaurants and coffee shops.

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From the centre of Oudtshoorn, there is a road which takes you to the Cango Caves (www.cangocaves.co.za), a large underground grotto constructed by nature in the limestone of which you can explore 1.3km of the total 5kms.

The more adventurous and fit can squeeze around the underground caverns crawling through spaces, some of which are not much bigger than a letter box. My children declined this adventure, pity, but next time we will certainly do it.

Back along that road from Cango which is entitled the golden mile by the property agents, we overnighted at the delightful Berluda guest house (www.berluda.co.za), run by a lovely Afrikaans lady (in a very Afrikaans valley), Marietje. The charming farmhouse cottage rooms were complimented by some great home cooking (many varieties of ostrich cuts to choose from) and for the first time in my life I ate an ostrich egg. Well not quite a whole egg as that is the equivalent of 24 hens eggs, but some egg nevertheless. It was lighter in taste than a normal egg and if it was sold commercially, I dare say I would buy it regularly to share with a dozen friends or so. Unfortunately, I don’t think ostrich eggs will be appearing at your nearest Pick’n Pay or Tesco soon as the world wide shortage of ostrich meat means that nearly every egg is being fertilised and sold at market.

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To work off the enormous amount of food, we got a lift back to the Cango caves and bicycled the whole valley stopping at the Buffelsdrift Game Reserve ( www.buffelsdrift.com) along the way. A new reserve, various farming family combined their 3600 ha 4 years ago. So game is still a bit skittish and has yet to settle down. However, its a great place for sundowners, overlooking a lake watching hippos. What was truly outstanding was their elephant orphan programme. Not quite rehabilitation into the wild as human contact has spoiled them, but the rearing of elephant calves. The pleasure of my children feeding fruit and vegetables to these delicate 2600kg jumbos was a joy to behold. As was watching them kick footballs around and play with the children with their extremely sensitive trunks. An experience not to be missed.

For the next three nights, we stayed at the Le Petit Karoo Ranch(www.lepetitkaroo.za.net) run by the Franco Swiss couple Pascal and Florence Chanel (for more Karoo accommodation click here). This establishment brings fresh vigour to the phrases looow key and laaaid back. Situated at the top of a track, you reach a corral surrounded by built in tents with their own outdoor bathrooms, all overlooking sublime views of the Swartberg mountain range and the Oudsthoorn valley. This is a place to chill. Full stop. The children run free and you just hang out. With trails for hiking, mountain biking and riding on the solid and trustworthy Boerpad ponies, you are back to nature. Combined with Pascal’s excellent French cooking and hospitality, this is a destination to head for. Not luxury but natural, a perfect antidote for city folk.

From Le Petit Karoo you can access easily all other activities in the valley. The highlight of the trip for my eldest daughter Olivia was riding quad bikes through Karoo bush up to the Rust en Vrede Waterfall area in the Swatberg mountains. This was capably organised by Mike at Swartberg adventures (www.swartbergadventures.co.za) who also organises caving expeditions, abseiling, hiking and other outdoor pursuits in the beautiful national park area.

Being in an ostrich valley, you can drop in at many farms to watch the birds as well as ride them, if you’r light enough. Highgate and Safari are the traditional big farms dating from the ostrich feather boom.

If you thought it was all ostrich’s and nothing else, there is a good little vineyard called Kango (www.kangowines.com) . I recommend their Sauvignon Blanc and at R28 a bottle, the quality is outstanding having won the Swiss Airlines category prize.

We returned home on the R62, altogether a much more scenic and interesting drive, and despite being stuck behind a farmer taking ostrich chicks to market, we arrived in Cape town quicker than on the N2.

Nicolas Edwards

Have not posted in a while, sorry. Big changes are happening soon to WildCapeTown.com - basically it will no longer be a blog but a accommodation, tours and safari website with travel specials.

For those interested in Cape Town travel specials - please see blow for links;

• Cape Grace Hotel - Family time
• Cape Grace Hotel - Romance
• Cape Grace Hotel - Wellness

For more safari specials in Africa - please click.

Well, well, well it has been a while. I have to be honest - I have been busy updating quite a few of my other domains. but again it is no excuse - lol.

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Anyways, last week we went up to Paternoster only +- 2 hours drive from Cape Town South Africa (well with a few pit stops along the way, a 3 year old was also in the car). The drive up there and back again is not that spectacular but a pretty drive all the same, always something to look at.

Once we arrived, “wow this is stunning” is what we all said. Paternoster almost resembles a greek village in the only sense is that all the house are white in colour. Crystal clear waters of the very very cold Atlantic Ocean surround the town on almost three sides, with stunning granite bolders sticking out of the ocean (see pics).

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We could only find 2 places where one could sit down and get something to eat, hence my conclusion that this is mainly a self catering destination (yes I am a genius). Oh and lets bnot forget that there is only 2 shops as well, so do all your shopping well before you get here.

Other than that the place is stunning in every aspect and well worth the visit - long beaches, fresh seafood on your door step and that clear country air does wonders to strip away all the stress layers that one carries around.

Table Mountain is one of those aspects of Cape Town that one cannot help but notice. Here are some pictures of the Great Table mountain.

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Rising + 1000m above sea level, Table Mountain offers the best views of Cape Town (all the way through to Paarl Rock some 55km’s away) by far. Getting to the top can be achieved in one of two ways i.e. the easy way or the hard way.

The easy way, cable car - park, stand in queue, get on board, admire view, arrive at top (process reversed when going down), but there is a cost +- R130.00 per adult return, is the cost worth it - OH YEAH.

The hard way, hike - Start at the cable way and a few hours later you get to the top and either turn around and hike back down or catch the cable car @ R65.00 per adult one way. Is is worth it, OH YEAH, but you must be fit (ish). There is another hike which I have done and that is from Kirstenbosch gardens up skeleton gorge and over the back of table mountain, this walk is longer but also worth the effort (skeleton gorge half killed me - lol).

One thing that is very much in your face when hiking is that you forget that you are in the heart of South Africa’s second largest city Cape Town!

Should you be looking for accommodation with Table mountain as your back drop, then have a look at these establishments;

Cape Town City accommodation
Cape Town Day Tours

Cheers for now.

On Thursday night Verity and I went for a few drinks at the opening (short of) of the Icon Hotel in the CBD of Cape Town.

Will give a more detailed description of the hotel a bit later - when we view the establishment in more detail.

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One aspect of this hotel is that it offers good architectural photography opportunities - well I think so anyway.

Anyways have to go, safari holidays are awaiting.

This is one scenic scenic drive, in my opinion better than Chapmans Peak Drive in Hout Bay.

Faure Marine Drive starts in Gordons Bay (the other side of False Bay from Cape Town) and travels though Betty’s Bay and Kleinmond, ending near the Arabella Western Cape (20 minutes from Hermanus).

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The road is in very good condition with loads of parking spots on the side to stop and take pictures or just enjoy the scenery. Kogelbaai (5 minutes from from Gordons Bay) offers a stunning beach and seemingly excellent surfing (see pics) and is sadly not visited by many tourists.

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We traveled this road on the way to and from Hermanus on our weekend away at Mosaic Farm, I cannot describe just how beautiful this road and area actually is - you will have to travel it yourself.

There are picnic facilities so take along the blanket and picnic bag, full of Cape wine and cheese enjoy the sun at the beach or a sunset from the mountain pass - either way you will not be disappointed.

For more information;
Cape Overberg Map
Cape Overberg Accommodation
Cape Overberg Travel

Cheers and more soon;

James

Yip, Time to get away again, I am tired of sitting in front of this computer.

Anyways Verity and I went off to the Overberg/ Hermanus area for the weekend, to a establishment called Mosaic Farm, well it is a little more than just a establishment. Based on 933 hectares and 4km of lagoon frontage, of space for you to explore - this is one of those places where one can relax completely.

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Mosaic Farm is more of an African safari getaway than what one would normally find within the Western Cape, although the only mammal highlight was a caracal and a few mice (lol), one must remember that this is NOT a wildlife game reserve but more of a flora and birding destination (the birding here is awesome, let me tell you something - wow). Should you be interested in Wildlife look at Kruger Park lodges and Eastern Cape accommodation (with the Eastern Cape being Malaria free).

More on Mosaic Farm, we stayed Lagoon lodge, close to the lagoons edges with stunning views of the mountains, wetlands and lagoon. The beds (four posted) where very very comfortable with a mosquito net, yip a tad romantic. The food (dinner and Breakfast) was stunning - certainly no complaints or moans here. The bar is good, wine in ample supply (as is the beer).

As a destination I highly recommend Mosaic Farm, it is far enough away (+- 15km or 20 minutes drive) from the crowds of Hermanus for a really relaxing time, but close enough to see the whales, have lunch and not to be bothered by the short drive back - in a few words “they have the perfect formula”.

I will have photo’s up in the next week - promise.

Cheers

James

Whether it is its magnificent natural beauty, its rich cultural heritage or its world-renowned wines, the Cape Winelands and Breede River Region is synonymous with all the best that the Cape has to offer. An area of magnificent views, panoramic landscapes and towering cliffs, crystal-clear streams, an abundance of trees and indigenous flora.

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A area of Cape Town not to miss!!!

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