western cape

Energy in Abundance – exploring the “Big Five” of the Western Cape

28 February, 2013 by Wotz Leave a Comment

Lead running guide and founder of Energy in Abundance, Nicola Lockhart, can be described as energetic, sociable and knowledgeable. She has competed internationally for South Africa in Triathlons and Duathlon disciplines and has taken part in many local races including the Two Oceans Ultra Marathon 56km, Comrades Marathon 89km and the Puffer 88km Trail Run. Nicola has combined her dreams and adorations by creating custom designed, guided runs for visitors or locals wanting to explore a different tour of the Western Cape. These are five individual runs exploring the “Big Five” within the beautiful Fynbos biome. With the reality in mind that even though the Kruger National Park is synonymous with the acclaimed Big Five, it is a

Tagged With: Big Five Running Tour, Buffalo, Cape Town fitness tours, Cape Winelands, Elephant, Energy in Abundance, fitness, Fynbos, kirstenbosch, Leopard, Lion, Marathon, Nicola Lockhart, rhino, running, Running Guide, Table Mountain Trail, Tour, western cape

Accommodation

Delicious in Franschhoek

1 February, 2013 by wotzupcapetown 1 Comment

The Delicious Hotel, in Franschhoek, which opened its doors on 1st December 2011, is set to change the face of South African hospitality. Conceptualised and designed by the all-woman team behind the world-renowned Le Quartier Français, Delicious unpacks the traditional hotel offering, giving the guest everything they need without the additional wallet-lightening add-ons. Although Delicious is new on the block, Elle UK has already voted Delicious one of their five hottest new hotels in the world for 2012, alongside a luxury fashion hotel in London, a French designer hotel in Marrakech and exciting new hotels in New Orleans and Bangkok. There are three delightfully-named room categories – The Itsy Bitsy, The Teeny Weeny and

Tagged With: accommodation in franschhoek, delicious, Hotel, specials, western cape

Sport

bridge Cape Pioneer Trek

7 June, 2012 by Wotz Leave a Comment

bridge a market leader in the financial services industry has confirmed their 5 year involvement as the title sponsor for the highly anticipated mountain bike race, The bridge Cape Pioneer Trek. The bridge Cape Pioneer Trek is a seven day mountain bike stage race traversing 2 mountain ranges, crossing the arid semi-desert Karoo and flowing through the coastal forests of the garden route coast starting on 14th of October till the 20th. The race is limited to 250 Teams of 2 riders, avoid disappointment book your seats and experience the ultimate in cycling - register here now. One of the main focuses of the bridge Cape Pioneer Trek is the positive impact the race has on socio-economic empowerment. The race allows major community

Tagged With: bridge, Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek, bridge financial services, Cape Pioneer Trek, June-2012, klein karoo, Mountain Biking, western cape

Charity

CHRISTMAS CHARITY MARKET

13 December, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Constantia Village Courtyard, in the true spirit of Christmas, has invited 6 widely diverse and extremely deserving charities to participate in a festive Christmas Charity Market on the Square on Saturday 17th December from 9 am to 2 pm. The public is urged to come and support these worthy organizations. There will be a range of Christmas cards, inexpensive gifts, good quality second hand books, yummy cupcakes and fun stocking fillers for sale. And there will be delicious food to try and buy, and a live jazz band to enjoy while you sit and sip a cappuccino under the bedouin tent on the Square. The Carthorse Protection Association which makes such a huge difference to the hard lives of the

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Night Life

Tuesdays are Trouble

27 July, 2010 by HallieHaller Leave a Comment

Tuesdays are trouble in Cape Town, and here's why... A pre-emptive intervention approach to mid-week stress is on the Mothercity's Tuesday To-Do List. Forget weekends in the culture of the Cape - Tuesdays are a full force party day. For those keen to kick it up to some commercial radio hits with students, lumo-lovers and bachelorette partiers, "Summer of 69" style, the Claremont strip is watering hole of choice. Claremont favourites include Springboks, Tiger Tiger and Tin Roof. Tiger Tuesday’s promise free drinks ‘til ten and top of the chart tracks to get you swaying. The plush interiors of this well-designed club allow ample bar space and a sunken, dense dance-floor. Be sure to arrive collared, smart-shoed and on

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Out of Town

Roadtrip Essentials

15 July, 2010 by HallieHaller Leave a Comment

This week I packed up the unreliable little (sh)Citi Golf I refer to as "The Chad", and headed on out into the great unknown with My Old Man. Doing our own great trek, we dominated bustling metropolises the likes of Colesberg, Laingsburg and Bethlehem - and I only mention these because, relative to the other little dorpies we dashed through, this lot are fast-paced urbanisation. In the face of frequent 20 minute "stop-before-passing" roadworks, however, and throat-croaking attempts at "She'll be coming round the mountain" (which starts to mock, when the trip begins to seem interminable) I realized the necessity of... A ROADTRIP SURVIVAL KIT. So for those heading on out, Indiana-Jones

Tagged With: b and b, b&b, bed and breakfast, Bethlehem, Cape Town, Cape Town Guest House, Clicks, Colesburg, de waterkant, dewaterkant, Guest House Cape Town, guesthouse, Laingsburg, raodtrip, road trip, SOUTH AFRICA, western cape

Festivals

Bastille 10.0

11 July, 2010 by HallieHaller Leave a Comment

Franschhoek is a bit of an "all or nothing" little town, and those of you who follow the blog will know my opinion of this French corner of the Cape - this slice of heaven town has a crème de la crème reputation for fine wine, dine... and apparently, swingers (an interesting little fact I picked up at last year's Bastille bash). Celebrating French Huguenot heritage with admirable abandon this 17th - 18th of July, every shop front and five year-old painted face screams the red, blue and white colour scheme. Being a valley of award-winning restaurants, Bastille day boasts first and foremost the marquee - housing the aromas and jollity of lavish cuisines and cellar-sellers. In

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Festivals

The Stellenbosch Slow Food Fair

30 June, 2010 by HallieHaller 1 Comment

The city is frantic. Even the traffic is flying flagged allegiances. And although The World Cup hype is deliciously palpable, sometimes we need to step out of the red-robot-green-robot regiment that's currently on show and remember the slow, sultry offerings that lie outside of our mini metropolis. Take some time to slow down. This weekend the Stellenbosch Slow Food Fair exhibits South Africa's eclectic food culture. Over forty food stands will feature Indian, German, British, European and Chinese cuisines in a heated marquee - what better resistance to Winter than warm bellies inside and out. For hot Gossip Girl XOXO - type convo and a good dose of estrogen in the air (which has been admittedly

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Music

Fatboy Slim in Cape Town

17 June, 2010 by HallieHaller 2 Comments

"Push the Tempo! Push the Tempo! Push the Tempo..." The master of mix and remix has hit the Western Cape walkways, and the 2010 Cool Britannia concert series brings him to the CTICC stage this Friday 18th June. The official disc jockey for Englad, and the man that brough wonderworks the likes of The Rockafeller Skank, Right Here, Right Now, Praise You and Ya Mamma, Fatboy Slim! With tomorrow's matches lined up: Slovenia vs USA England vs Algeria Germany vs Serbia The Fatboy Slim-ness will wing wicked after the England/Algeria game. As the headline act he's accompanied by SA's own Dino Moran (a favourite of our favourite Frenchman, DJ Rene, I may add) and NickE Louder. Tickets

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About Cape Town

Fan Parks and Fan Fare

11 June, 2010 by HallieHaller 1 Comment

Day two of the incessant vuvuzelas ringing in the air and it still gets me all tingly:) For those of you without tickets as we spin into the 2010 Soccer World Cup, cruise into (although it's more liikely a bob and weave procedure) Cape Town's fan fare! Fan parks are found at: Bellville Velodrome, Phillipi Stadium and Athlone Stadium, while the four smaller, community viewing sites are at Atlantis, Khayelitsha, Nomzamo and Maynardville. For the festivities of the fan mile and the near-stadium electricity, hit Cape Town's official Fifa fan park - Grand Parade. At a capacity of 25, 000, Grand Parade is going to be bursting with "Ayoooooobaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" every match day from 11h00

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