Boost tourism in the South Peninsula

Check out the article in the People's Post (False Bay edition) on 06 April 2010. Corporate sponsorship packages with value added benefits are available from Cape Point Route. Businesses and corporates are welcome to contact Barbara or Sally on info@capepointroute.co.za for more details on corporate sponsorship packages to help promote and market the south peninsula.

Sowing the Seeds Music Festival Cape Farmhouse

The Cape Farmhouse on the Cape Point Route is playing host to Sowing the Seeds Music Festival this weekend - Saturday 10th April 2010. The Cape Farmhouse Restaurant is a family-run concern near Scarborough, on route to the Cape Point Nature reserve.

Situated in a sheltered valley and surrounded by old oak trees, Cape Farmhouse offers the unique opportunity for guests to sit under the oaks with the squirrels while enjoying a tasty farm-style meal from our a la carte menu. The 250-year-old farmhouse offers relaxing al fresco dining - or if the weather is unpleasant, indoors in the historic old farm building. On Saturday afternoons they feature outdoor concerts of South African musicians in their FARMHOUSE ROCKS. The Cape Farmhouse is one of Cape Town’s most enjoyed music venues adding personality to any music event with a craft market and art gallery on site as well as food and cash bar.

Sowing the Seeds is an exciting teaser event to give you a taste of what to look forward to at Rocking the Daisies 2010, which will be held on Cloof Wine Estate from 8 – 10 October.

EVENT: Sowing the Seeds
MUSIC: Dirty Skirts, 7th Son, The Little Kings, Circuswing and Funafuji
DATE: Saturday 10 April 8, 2010
TIME: 12 noon – 19h00
TICKETS: R90 pre sales; R100 at the door. (Children under 12 – Free)
BRING: Blankets to sit on
PLEASE DON’T BRING: Illegal substances, alcohol, firearms, weapons, glass, glass bottles, litter, pets.

DIRECTIONS: The Cape Farmhouse is 3km from Scarborough at the bottom of Red Hill – Junction M66 and M65. Click on the Google Earth link for more details.

If you are heading down to the area why not explore Scarborough and do consider staying the night in Scarborough (or nearby Kommetjie) at one of the fine accommodation establishments if you are coming from slightly further afield.
Contact Cape Point Route if you need assistance with accommodation or things to do in and around Scarborough.

Don’t be Fooled – Whale Tales in Glencairn

PICTURES:
1. A real whale tail in False Bay (Photo: Dave Hurwitz)
2. Whale Tail Buoy in Glencairn
3. Another view of the whale tail buoy in Glencairn

It may not be April Fool’s Day but many a resident and visitor to Glencairn has been hooked into what could have been a perfect joke for 1 April 2010. A whale tail has been erected in the bay at Glencairn. Cape Point Route has been hugely entertained over the past few days as cars, buses, walkers and runners in the south peninsula have stopped near Glencairn Beach to gaze at the tail of a whale lobtailing in Glen Bay.

(Lobtailing is the act of a whale lifting its flukes out of the water and then bringing them down onto the surface of the water hard and fast in order to make a loud slap. Large whales tend to lobtail by positioning themselves vertically downwards into the water and then slapping the surface by bending the tail stock).

Whales can be seen in our local waters from as early as May but the peak period is around September and October, hence the surprise to see a whale tail bobbing in the bay in April! What could and has been quite easily mistaken for a real whale is actually a fibreglass whale tail which is meant to guide sailors and yachtsmen during regattas. The tail is in fact a buoy that is used as a race marker during regattas hosted by the False Bay Yacht Club in Simon’s Town. The whale tail buoy is the brainchild of Southern Right Hotel, who sponsored the buoy.

Operational manager at Southern Right Hotel and Boulders Beach Lodge Janine Genade says, “You will always be able to see a whale from the deck of the Southern Right Hotel”. The Whale Tail Buoy was crafted onto a buoy and has been permanently moored, 200 metres from Glencairn beach. Janine Genade said that the Southern Right Hotel prides itself on being involved with unique community projects like this and that is exciting to put a landmark in the ocean. The False Bay Yacht Club manager said that the location of the whale tail buoy will improve the racing courses and add a new dimension to yacht racing.

Whales can also be seen in season on a whale watching boat trip but there are some great marine adventures and boat trips to be had all year round.

Congratulations to the Southern Right Hotel for their innovative marker off the beach in Glencairn – hope the rest of you aren’t fooled! Please let us know if you do see a real whale and book your trip to visit the Cape Point Route in Whale Season (August - November)

New Accommodation Establishments listed on Cape Point Route Website

Pictures:
1. The Mountain House, Clovelly
2. Kalk Bay Quays, Kalk Bay
3. Hout Bay View, Hout Bay
4. Mantis House, Noordhoek
5. The Boat House, Simon's Town

Cape Point Route is pleased to welcome some new accommodation establishments on our website. Cape Point Route runs from Hout Bay on the Atlantic seaboard down to Cape Point and up the False Bay coastline to Muizenberg. The accommodation on the Cape Point Route is diverse and the variety means there is something to suit most tastes - be it hotel accommodation, bed and breakfast accommodation, self- catering accommodation or guesthouse accommodation. The choice ranges from 5 star luxury accommodation to secluded self catering cottages. Some accommodation establishments are right in the middle of the coastal villages and some are tucked away on the mountainside with spectacular views of sea, sand and mountains. If you can't find what you are looking for then contact Cape Point Route and allow us to advise you on your accommodation choices that will suit your individual needs.

There are some fantastic accommodation establishments on the Cape Point Route and we are delighted to have some new accommodation spots to recommend.

In Simon's Town, the Boat House is a 4 star tranquil guesthouse set in the beautiful Red Hill mountains. The Boat House has 3 individually furnished suites - the Lower Deck which is a 2 bedroom apartment (Queen and double bunk); the Upper deck which has a large room with twin beds and the Cabin with is also one room with kitchenette. One of the delightful features is the solar heated indoor swimming pool!

Mantis House in Noordhoek has 2 double size apartments set in a private, semi-rural Noordhoek estate. With views, private verandahs, barbeque facilities and a swimming pool, this is a delightful getaway and very reasonably priced!

Hout Bay View is unsurprisingly situated in Hout Bay with 8 bedrooms and close to all the action in Hout Bay. This Bed and Breakfast establishment also has a heated pool and a jacuzzi to complement the additional facilities and views! Got to love it.

Kalk Bay Quays is in the charming fishing village of Kalk Bay. It's a 2 bedroomed self catering establishment with a cosy fieplace and has access to a gym, pool and spa as well as being close to the Kalk Bay action!

Clovelly borders on Fish Hoek and the Mountain House is a contempory styled self -catering house in this quaint suburb close to the Clovelly Golf Course. 2 bedrooms, a zen like space and state of the art appliances and facilities. Yet another magical spot on the Cape Point Route!

Check out these and more accommodation options on the Cape Point Route if you are looking for your next getaway, close to Cape Town.

Cape Point Route welcomes Two Oceans Marathon Runners

The Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon has earned a reputation as the world’s most beautiful marathon. The first race was held in 1970 and saw 26 runners line up to face the unknown challenge. Since then, the race has become a national institution and a firm favourite with local, upcountry, and international athletes. Participants can choose from various distances – the scenic 56km ultra marathon or popular 21km half marathon and the 5km or 2.5km fun runs. The event attracts close to 26 000 participants across all the distances and provides them with a mixture of breathtaking scenery, a gruelling test of fitness for both the elite and recreational runner, and an unrivalled race organisation and atmosphere.

Participants consistently vote it as one of the best in South Africa and it continues to attract strong fields and an increasing number of international entrants. The event has become synonymous with the Easter Weekend in Cape Town, with the pre-race activities at the expo, family day, and fun runs on Easter Friday. En-route entertainment on the race day provides fun, excitement, and a unique experience to runners, family, friends, and spectators alike.

The Two Oceans Ultra Marathon route, follows a large piece of the Cape Point Route, coming into Muizenberg the runners follow the False Bay Coastline, through the towns of St James, Kalk Bay and Clovelly. At Fish Hoek they bear off on the Kommetjie Road towards Noordhoek, where the runners wind their way past Noordhoek Farm Village and up over Chapman's Peak Drive to Hout Bay and the final slog to UCT over Constantia Nek.

Spectators are encouraged to support the athletes but please bear in mind some of the road closures that will be in existance. The majority of the roads on the Cape Point Route will be opened up by 10h30am. Click here for Road closures.

Cape Point Route wishes all runners an excellent race and hope you enjoy pounding the pavements as you follow the Cape Point Route. It's no wonder the race has been called the World's Most Beautiful Marathon.. .it's in the World's Most Beautiful Place (but then we are a little biased!). We invite you all to come back and play after the run with your families and supporters. If you have any queries about the area please do not hesitate to contact us.

Flip your switch - Cape Point Route supports Earth Hour

Earth Hour is a WWF sustainability initiative that challenges individuals, businesses, schools, universities, towns and cities to join millions of people across the world in forming part of a global action against Climate Change. By getting involved in Earth Hour 2010, you are pledging to switch off your lights for 1 hour at 8:30pm on 27 March, to show our governments and world leaders that we are serious about tackling Climate Change.

Last year, approximately 3 million South Africans participated in Earth Hour. The official press statement released by Eskom revealed that, from an environmental angle, a staggering 400 tons of carbon dioxide, 224 tons of coal and 576 kilolitres of water was saved due to a staggering 400MW of electricity culmitively conserved during Earth Hour. In laymans terms, this translates into 6,7 million 60W bulbs being switched off.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu has again been deemed South African patron of Earth Hour, and other celebrities who share his passion for this vital initiative and who have pledged to get involved include The Parlotones, Deon Meyer, Charlene Truter, Dave Pepler, Hannes Van Wyk, Jo-Ann Strauss, Marc Lottering, Ryk Neethling, Derek Van Dam, Francios Groepe, The Moroka Swallows and The Stormers.

Earth Hour 2010 aims to recruit as many people as possible to stand together and convince world leaders to deliver a fair, effective and binding climate deal this December at the UN Climate Summit in Mexico. Visit www.wwf.org.za now to join the Earth Hour initiative, pledge to reduce your carbon footprint and become part of the global movement towards a happier, healthier planet.

SA comedian and 2010 Earth Hour Ambassador Marc Lottering says it best: "There is nothing funny about Climate Change. It will ultimately affect us all in a bad way if we don?t consciously act. This year, South Africans will once again have the opportunity to join the rest of the world in doing something positive: So turn your lights off on Saturday, 27 March at 8h30pm for 1 hour. If you want to turn me on, turn your lights off."

All it takes is a flip of a switch.
Click here to act now.

Cape Point Route challenges all accommodation establishments in the Sout Peninsula to switch off your lights for Earth Hour 2010.

Cape Point Route challenges all restaurants in the South Peninsula to switch off their lights during Earth Hour 2010 - after all we love candlelit dinners.

Noordhoek Beach Horse Riding on TV Tonight

Noordhoek Beach Horse Riding will be featured on Top Billing this evening (Thursday 25 March 2010). Show starts at 19:30 on SABC3.

If you have ever dreamt of riding a horse along a pristine white beach, with tranquil blue waters and the footprints in the sand belonging to your horse, then there is an easy solution to make your aspirations come true. One of the most popular activities on the Cape Point Route is horse riding on Noordhoek Beach. Arguably one of the best beach horse rides on the planet – a 2 hour sojourn along the wide white swathe of Kommetjie and Noordhoek beach is easily accessible for complete novices or accomplished riders.

There are 3 commercial horse-riding establishments in the area and it is advisable to book a minimum of 24 hours in advance. Cape Point Route will happily assist with your reservations.
Sleepy Hollow Horse-riding is located in Noordhoek and they offer 3 beach trail rides per day- at 09:00; 13:00 and 16:30. Times vary according to season so best to check with us in advance. The trail is limited to 6 people with an experienced trail guide. Bring long pants or jeans, closed shoes and don’t forget the sunscreen!

On arrival you will be kitted out with a compulsory helmet and introduced to your trusty stead, chosen for your level of experience. The horses at Sleepy Hollow are fit, friendly and obviously lovingly cared for. The guides are very professional and as safety is a priority, the ride begins with a brief riding orientation as the stirrups are adjusted.

The journey starts with a gentle stroll through the leafy residential lanes of Noordhoek, before turning down towards the beach. Arriving on the beach is a jaw-dropping experience- the contrast of white sand, blue water and open space quite literally takes your breath away. The rhythmic motion of the horse and the gentle lapping sound of the waves, is instant therapy to unwind from the hassles of everyday life. A unique feature of this ride is going past the wreck of the Kakapo – a ship that was stranded on the beach in 1900.

On the sandy stretch of coastline the horses are allowed to trot into the open expanse of kilometers of beach. The scene is framed by the distinctive Sentinel guarding Hout Bay and the dramatic cliffs of Chapman’s Peak Drive. The thrill of cantering along a beach so soft and white it’s like snow, with the wind in your hair is unsurpassed. To top it all off there is an incredible array of indigenous bird life including black oystercatchers who scurry along the beach with their bright red beaks. If you are lucky you could catch a glimpse of the Verreaux Eagles that live in the area.

This glorious ride along Noordhoek beach in a nautralist’s paradise is a fabulous way to hit the beach! Make sure you watch Top Billing this evening to see footage of the activity and the beautiful scenes of Noordhoek. To book a horse ride on Noordhoek Beach please call 021 782 9356 or click here to book.