World renown, Cape Point Vineyards, have opened a new picnic venue. Set among the vines and overlooking Noordhoek Valley and the beach.
Visitors will now not only be able to enjoy their fine wines - eleven 5 Star ratings from Platter’s Wine Guide over the past 6 years - but also soak up the sun and enjoy some of the finest views on the Peninsula. 
Set at the side of the Vineyard’s dam, in the midst of vines and fynbos, where it is set against a backdrop of the magnificent Noordhoek amphitheatre and provides a breath taking view of the prestigious Noordhoek beach, Cape Point Vineyards’ new picnic site cannot help but to encourage one to linger… 
Cape Point Vineyards Noordhoek Estate is open for picnics Daily between 12:00 and 15:00; and Sundowner tastings are served between 17:00 and 20:00. 

"Enjoyed a wonderful afternoon in the most exquisite venue. The picnic was the best we have ever had – far better than “a well known Stellenbosch” venue! The contents of the basket were well thought out, the presentation fantastic and the food excellent, (particularly the Bobotie Wraps), which were amazing. The wine, as expected was perfect, the service and friendliness of the staff rates 10/10. Great to see that there are vegetarian options available. We would highly recommend this place. Looking forward to the “Sundowner” option, which we will be trying shortly. Well done! " -    Gill & Eric Sydenham 

Picnics:
Adult Picnic: R265.00 per couple
Picnics are available daily from 12:00 - 15:00: - Bookings are essential and advisable 24 hours in advance! 

• 1X Large Bobotie Wrap
  
• 1X Cheese Board: a trio of cheeses, crackers, chili jam and butter
• 2X Mini Mielie loaves
• 2X Salad Skewers
• 1X Assorted cured meat pack
• Assorted fresh bread
• 1X Hummus pot
• 1X Capponata Pot
• 2X Koeksisters 

Kiddies Picnic: R50.00 each

• Freshly made Sandwich
• Fresh fruit
• 1X packet of chips
• 1X Juice box
• 1X Smarties Box

 Sundowners:
Available daily from 17:00 - 20:00 Bookings are essential. 

CHEESE PLATTER
A selection of six local, hand-crafted cheeses, served with olives, preserve, seasonal fruit with bread and crackers. A generous serving for two. - R 150.00    

CHEESE & MEAT PLATTER
A selection of six local, hand-crafted cheeses, sliced salami, prosciutto and coppa. Served with olives, preserve, fresh, seasonal fruit with extra bread and crackers. A generous serving for two. - R 185.00  

EXTRA PLATTE
An extra portion of bread and crackers served with salted butter for your platters. - R20.00    

Wine is also available for purchase by the carafe or bottle.

Today the Queen Mary 2 docked in Cape Town harbor. It is a magnificent passenger liner. 2000 visitors will enjoy the sights and sounds of Cape Town for the next 3 days. Her last port of call was Walvis Bay in Namibia and from Cape Town will head to Durban and Mauritius. 

The following passage is quoted from Wikipedia

' RMS Queen Mary 2 is a transatlantic ocean liner . She was the first major ocean liner built since Queen Elizabeth 2 in 1969, the vessel she succeeded as flagship of the Cunard Line . The ship was named Queen Mary 2 by Queen Elizabeth II in 2004 after the first RMS Queen Mary , completed in 1936. Queen Mary was in turn named after Mary of Teck , consort of King George V . With the retirement of Queen Elizabeth 2 from active duty in 2008, Queen Mary 2 is currently the only transatlantic ocean liner in operation as a liner (in scheduled service between Southampton and New York ), although the ship is often used for cruising, including an annual world cruise.[ 6 ]

At the time of her construction in 2003 by Chantiers de l'Atlantique , Queen Mary 2 was the longest, widest and tallest passenger ship ever built, and with her 151,400  gross register tons (GRT) , was also the largest. She no longer holds this distinction after the construction of Royal Caribbean International 's 154,407  GT Freedom of the Seas in April 2006, which was in turn superseded by the same company's 225,282  GT Allure of the Seas in December 2008 and 225,282  GT Oasis of the Seas in October 2009. However, Queen Mary 2 remains the largest ocean liner (as opposed to cruise ship ) ever built.

Queen Mary 2 was intended primarily to cross the Atlantic Ocean, and was therefore designed differently from many other passenger ships. The ship's final cost was approximately $300,000 US per berth, nearly double that of many contemporary cruise ships. This was due to the size of the ship and her unique design, which reduced the economies of scale achieved with other Carnival ships. Costs were also increased by the high quality of materials and the fact that, having been designed as an ocean liner, she required 40% more steel than a standard cruise ship.[ 7 ] She has a maximum speed of just over 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) and a cruising speed of 26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph), much faster than contemporary cruise ships , such as Oasis of the Seas , which has a top speed of 22.6 knots (41.9 km/h; 26.0 mph). Instead of the diesel-electric configuration found on many ships, Queen Mary 2 uses a CODLAG configuration ( Combined diesel-electric and gas ) in order to achieve her maximum speed. This uses additional gas turbines to augment the power given by the diesel generators on board, and allow the ship to reach a higher maximum speed.

Queen Mary 2 's facilities include fifteen restaurants and bars, five swimming pools, a casino, a ballroom, a theatre, and the first planetarium at sea. There are also kennels on board, as well as a nursery. Queen Mary 2 is one of the few ships afloat today to have remnants of a class system on board, most prominently seen in her dining options. As of 1 December 2011 Queen Mary 2 , and the other ships of the Cunard fleet, had changed their registry to Hamilton, Bermuda in order to host weddings on board thus ending 127 years of Cunard British registry.[ 8 ] .' 

  

One doesn't always associate Cape Town with wildlife. Most commonly when nature is discussed, flowers get the nod long before fauna. Looking around Cape Town and surrounds I am often astounded by the diversity of wildlife we actually possess. 

July to November sees the largest of the mammals coming to visit. Southern Right Whales visit to give birth and mate as well as clean off a layer of skin on the rocks before making the long swim back to the feeding grounds in the Southern Oceans. Sightings of these magnificent mammals occur from Namibia to Durban with Hermanus being given the title of 'best land based Whale Watching' in the world. 

Only living in the Southern Hemisphere are Penguins. The variety near Cape Town is 'African Penguins' otherwise known as Jackass Penguins due to the donkey noise the male produces. Colonies around Cape Town include Boulders Beach and Stony Point at Betty's Bay. 

Cape Fur Seals are common in the cold waters of the Benguela Current. These animals can grow in excess of 300kg. Named after the fine fur found on their bodies. They feed on the schools of pilchards that abound in the nutrient rich waters of the Southern Atlantic. A popular trip is done at Hout Bay Harbour and lasts about 45 minutes. 

Where there are seals there are sharks. Big ones, Great White Sharks. Some have been measured at over 6m in length and 2000kg. Now a protected species, people have swapped rods and reels for going in cages with cameras. Shark Cage Diving has become a popular activity. Gans Bay and Seal Island in False Bay are well known spots.

Two more baboons have been euthanased. Jimmy is a baboon from the Smitswinkel Bay Troop and another from the Constantiaberg area.
Both were given a lethal injection.
Check out IOL News for the full story

 

There is a great spot to go. Up in the Garden Route in the Tsitsikamma Region is the Tsitsikamma National Park. This park offers a visitor wonderful nature walks in the surrounding coastal forests, swimming and snorkeling. The Campsite also is the start of the famous Otter Trail, a five day hiking trail that ends further down the Garden Route at Natures Valley.

The park offers camping facilities and a range of wooden chalets to suit various size groups. There is a shop and restaurant at the campsite.

Nearby is the Storms River Village where you can do Black-water Tubing, tractor Riders into the forest and very popular Canopy Tours. Also nearby, is the highest Bungy jump in the world, 216m, situated at the Bloukrans River Bridge.

The place is operated by the National Parks Board and is full value for money.

If you are able to, my recommendation is to go out of school holidays.

This is the beginning of the walk down Platteklip Gorge. That's Cape Town Downtown below. it should take you about 2 hours to walk down and this is the most popular route.
Please wear comfortable shoes and take water with you.
Let someone know what you are going to do and take a cell phone with you.
It is a great way to go up and down Table Mountain

Cape Town - Officials on Friday announced that Fred the baboon was euthanized. Fred had become one of the most famous baboons along the scenic Cape point Route and was often to be found in the Smitswinkel Bay area.

Fred had gained notoriety as a gang leader of the local troop and had developed the knack of opening car doors while lesser baboons tried to find more manual means of entering.

Officials said that Fred's behavior had become increasingly more aggressive in recent times and he had been responsible for the injuries to at least three people in 2010

There are more than 300 baboons roaming around the Cape Peninsula, most to be found in the Southern part and within the Table Mountain National Park.

On most days visitors are likely to see family groups along the roadside on the popular scenic route to the Cape of Good Hope.

Baboons are a protected species under South African law. Their aggressive pursuits of food increases as they are exposed to human food.

Cape Town's baboon management group said he was euthanized Friday because he was becoming increasingly aggressive.

"Unfortunately, this baboon's demise can be contributed mainly to the continuous misguided efforts by humans to befriend and feed baboons," the group's statement said. "Because people want to love, laugh at and be entertained by baboons, they start a cycle of events that can lead to tragedy, as in the case of this baboon."

People caught feeding baboons are liable for a fine of 1500 rand

Fred R.I.P

For the past number of years a small but vibrant safari industry has grown up near Cape Town.
Three Game Reserves in particular have been making their mark in this market - Aquila Private Game Reserve, Inverdoorn and Fairy Glen have been offering day safaris to visitors to Cape Town a glimpse of the African Big 5 for some years now.
The Safari market has been dominated by the northern parks (Kruger etc) for many years now and in recent years we have seen the growth of the Eastern Cape Safari Reserves surrounding the Addo Elephant Park
Make no mistake these Reserves deserve all the accolades the have gathered over the years. The local Safari Reserves have found a niche here in the Cape Town area servicing those visitors who may not have the time or desire to travel on safari, but wish to experience a day seeing the wild of Africa.
On this site we use Aquila Private Game Reserve as host for our Cape Town Day Safari the itinerary can be found here

First the good news is that there has been some good rains in the Garden Route area in recent times. This has eased the drought somewhat.
The Garden Route had been experiencing one of the worst dry spells in history with severe pressure been placed on existing water resources.
The new desalination plant at Mossel Bay will come onto line by the end of March 2011 to alleviate some of this demand.
The plant at capacity will produce 15 megalitres per day (15000000l per day)
and cost R210 million Rand to erect

Finally it is here. The Western Cape Government has gazetted a new law which makes it illegal to feed baboons anywhere on the Cape Peninsula, in private areas or public areas.
The old law only prohibited feeding baboons on the side of the road.
This is a great law as we often witness people feeding these animals as we drive to the Cape Of Good Hope.
Baboons are wild animals they can be very aggressive, especially when trapped in an in-closed area. When we feed them they begin to associate humans and food. At a time they will become aggressive toward humans to get this food. Nature conservation officials will them have to put down the offending baboon.
What seemed to be harmless fun in the beginning leads to the early death of the baboon.
Cape Nature’s Fanie Bekker said,"The new legislation has now identified the shortcomings and... from now on anybody feeding any baboon anywhere will be liable to be prosecuted and charged."
Let's hope this can be enforced