Making Sense of Cape Town

It’s almost time! It’s really here. Friday is Kick Off date and the excitement is palpable all over Cape Town. Today we blew our vuvuzela’s and hooted in support of our National side- Bafana Bafana. Our cities and airports, our train stations and even our funicular at Cape Point have been upgraded as South Africa shows its readiness to host this incredible football tournament. What an amazing country we have and we are so thrilled to be hosting visitors from all over the planet! Wow! Our endeavour is to make every visit as easy as possible and a memorable experience that will be talked about for years to come in every corner of the globe.

Being proudly Capetonian, Cape Point Route thinks that Cape Town is a simple city to navigate and explore so it is sometimes with amazement that I hear visitors announce their confusion. So here is our attempt to demystify the city of Cape Town for our guests and make sense of the city so that it becomes a straight forward destination.

Think of Cape Town as an upside down triangle. At the top of the upside down triangle there is a flat mountain. (Capetonians call this Table Mountain for obvious reasons). At the base of the mountain is the city centre. The pointed bit at the bottom of the triangle is a steep cliff with jagged rocks – we call this Cape Point – because it is pointed and at the bottom of the Cape!
To the left of the triangle is ocean – the Atlantic Ocean and to the right is more ocean – False Bay. In the middle is a mountain range (called Table Mountain National Park). As you head eastwards (and just off the triangle) you will come across vast wine estates and this area is called the winelands – which are easily accessible from the top or the bottom of the triangle!

There is basically one road running down the left side and one road running down the right side. (When you get closer to the city centre you have a top road (M3), a middle road (M4 or Main Road) and a lower road (M5 – a highway).

That’s it in a nutshell – a mountain facing north with a city centre at its’ base; a jagged point at the bottom and ocean on either side! Not very complicated really!

Cape Town city centre is arguably the most well known hub with all the big city action – from restaurants to nightlife, from museums to the Cape Town stadium.

We think that the Cape Point Route (the pointy triangular bit) is the coolest. Down in the south we have baboons, we have seals on an island on the left and seals on an island to the right - and a few geat white sharks! We have penguins in the bottom right and in season we have whales all around the coast.

The Cape Point Route is diverse, bohemian, with vibrant energy, barefooted folk, big smiles and untapped energy. The towns on the Cape Point Route are seaside villages with a friendly welcome that lie between the mountain and the sea. We hope you will visit us and hang out with the real folk and not merely drive through on a speedy day tour from the city centre.

Hout Bay has a lively active harbour, gorgeous swimming beach, spectacular mountain peaks, a sociable village centre, loads of activities (World of Birds, Mariner’s Wharf, Boat trips, fishing, hiking, museums and art galleries, a Sunday craft market and Imizama Yethu township).

Chapman’s Peak Drive is a spectacular road that connects Hout Bay to Noordhoek.

Noordhoek is Cape Town’s rural treasure, famed for its long white sandy beach, vast wetlands and ancient mikwood forest. Noordhoek Farm Village is the heart and soul of Noordhoek and Cape Point Vineyards is the area’s wine estate and open for tastings and sales 7 days a week.
Kommetjie and Scarborough are renowned for their beaches, surfing and birdwatching. Kommetjie is distinguished by it’s lighthouse but look out for Imhoff Farm on the way – a historic Cape Dutch homestead with a multitude of activities. Nearby Masiphumelele and Ocean View are diverse communities that reflect Cape culture. In Scarborough it is worth stopping at Cape Farmhouse which doubles up as a live music venue.

Simon’s Town is South Africa’s third oldest town, where penguins and the Navy share sand and sea. Simon’s Town has history, museums, characters, colours, boats and beauty. Visit the penguin colony, stop at Mineral World and Scratch Patch, hang out at the Simon’s Town waterfront, visit Just Nuisance statue on Jubilee Square, take one of many boat trips or try sea kayaking!

Fish Hoek has a family friendly bay where early morning swimmers (all year round) greet traditional “trek” fisherman and water sport enthusiasts encounter Southern Right Whales. This is also the commercial hub of the Cape Point Route for shopping and banking and supplies. Stroll along Jager’s Walk, golf at Clovelly Country Club, go hiking up Elsies Peak or visit Peers Cave – an historic stone age cave site.

Kalk Bay is a fishing village where trendy diners mingle with bohemian artists. Hikers stroll down cobbled streets and surfers ride waves past great colonial mansions of “Millionaire’s Mile”. Hang out at Kalk Bay Harbour especially when the fishing boats come in with the catch of the day. Take the water taxi to Simon’s Town, shop, eat and browse. Catch some theatre or walk to St James beach – well known for it’s coloured bathing boxes and safe tidal pool.

Muizenberg is a hot spot of surf culture in the Cape and is also home to grand architecture, fascinating museums and an annual kite festival. Visit Dalebrook Marine Reserve for a rock pool safari, hike up the mountains to the Kalk Bay caves or simply use the Muizenberg – St James walkway for a stroll along the Ocean Front. Westlake Golf Course is a panoramic 18 hole course.

Cape Point Route offers a wide range of Accommodation, Activities,
Attractions, Restaurants, Venues, Shops, Tours and Packages on the
CAPE PENINSULA, CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

Hout Bay; Noordhoek; Kommetjie; Scarborough; Cape of Good Hope; Simon’s Town; Fish Hoek; Kalk Bay; St. James; Muizenberg

If you can't find what you are looking for then please complete our Personal Planner form and we will be happy to advise you!

Vuvuzela Moment - 9 June 2010 at 12 noon

VUVUZELA MOMENT
The moment has come for Mzantsi to stand up and create history
Lets go out there and do what Mzantsi does best... blow our Vuvuzelas.
"Vuvuzela moment" is an initiative which will bring Mzantsi to a standstill, make the world stand up and take notice of Mzansi's pride, its own heritage!!

On the 9th of June 2010 2 days before kick-off at exactly 12 o’clock, for 5 minutes, stop what you are doing, get your Vuvuzelas, and blow on it like never before. If you are in the car, hoot and let the sound be heard from Cape to Mpumalanga to KZN and from KZN to Limpopo!

Spreading the word, let's ensure that within the next week, all South Africans are ready to give the world a unique pre-world cup moment. This is it. Spread the word, get it around.

The Vuvuzela moment is here, let it be felt. This is our year to shine and shine we will.The next step is yours, and Cape Point Route is certainly looking forward to June 9, at 12h00 noon.

If you are not a fan of the Vuvuzela sound maybe you need a lesson and to know how easy it is to make it sound fabulous!What needs to change is not the vuvuzela but the player and this is exactly what the Rainbow Vuvuzela demonstrates so sweetly and simply.Check out the follow links and practice!

Official Sony 2010 World Cup Soccer Website Re: Rainbow Vuvuzela
The Rainbow vuvuzela ensemble comprising students from the Muizenberg High school and featured in this clip are now after only a few hours practice, producing sweet music, sounds, songs, rhythms and dances. Their first public performance was at the AfriOceans Warriors Conference in Cape Town on 6 May 2010. They will also be showcased on ARD German television, South Korean National television and featured in the popular SABC 2 Rainbow Rhythm series

You Tube: Rainbow Vuvuzela: a Timeous Discovery for the 2010 World Cup.
In this clip Dr Bruce Copley demonstrates the large variety of sweet sounds that can be produced with a conventional vuvuzela

You Tube: Learn to Play the Vuvuzela

Cape Point Route is joining the initiative and asking all South Africans to blow their vuvuzelas at 12 noon Wed 9th June in support of Bafana Bafana.

Dr Bruce Copley pioneer of corporate drumming in South Africa has made an exciting discovery that transforms the vuvuzela into a sweet sounding multi-noted musical instrument. This revolutionary discovery a world first, offers a simple, creative and effective solution to the controversial white noise produced by the vuvuzela. With a few simple techniques, a little practice and without instrument modification any Vuvuzela enthusiast can learn to play the RAINBOW VUVUZELA producing multiple trumpet notes, a delightful range of sweet sounding African Penny Whistle notes and tunes, use it as a megaphone to amplify singing and whistling sounds, create simple rhythms and riffs and even play conventional tunes such as our national anthem, amazing grace, sweet chariot, etc.

Neil van Schalkwyk the father of the vuvuzela he introduced to South Africa in 1998 has this to say about the Rainbow Vuvuzela…

"You have done fantastic work developing the Rainbow Vuvuzela and have come up with a solution to create sweet music with it....traditional football supporters have only known one way of blowing the vuvuzela......we look forward to working with you in taking the vuvuzela to a new level through the beautiful music it will now create....considering the potential impact your revolutionary method will have, I see the rest of the world embracing our culture for years to come “

A QUESTION YOU MAY HAVE CONSIDERED : WHY WOULD SOCCER FANS WANT TO PLAY THE VUVUZELA DIFFERENTLY ?

Virtually all soccer fans are under the mistaken impression that they can only produce a single, loud note on their vuvuzela’s with the only variables being volume and rhythm. This is akin to a driver who uses only the first gear of his car because he does not know others are available. A growing number of players including Neil van Schalkwyk the father of the vuvuzela, share our view that the vuvuzela is only being played as a single note instrument because fans do not know what is possible with some simple techniques and a little practice. It is our contention that with few exceptions, human beings will always prefer to produce or listen to melodious music rather than to only play or listen to white noise. We are confident that when the millions of vuvuzela fans in South Africa and abroad become aware of the sweet sounds, riffs and music possible with the vuvuzela, many of them will take up the challenge and begin this much needed musical transformation. Unfortunately the Rainbow vuvuzela discovery was only made very recently so it is unlikely to feature prominently in our stadiums during the world cup. It will however be showcased at many soccer fan clubs during the world cup and in this way be introduced to the masses.


Cape Point Route offers a wide range of Accommodation, Activities,
Attractions, Restaurants, Venues, Shops, Tours and Packages on the
CAPE PENINSULA, CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

:: Hout Bay :: Noordhoek :: Kommetjie :: Scarborough :: Cape of Good Hope ::
:: Simon’s Town :: Fish Hoek :: Kalk Bay :: St. James :: Muizenberg ::

If you can't find what you are looking for then please complete our Personal Planner form and we will be happy to advise you!

Thank you to Cape Town Tourism for their team Cape Town Vuvuzela Photos! Check out their 2010 mini website for more information and useful tips.

World Cup Activities on the Cape Point Route

Football is the talk of the town and the Cape Point Route is no exception. Here are some of the World Cup activations that are happening in and on the Cape Point Route so if you are not near Cape Town Stadium, do not despair! The Cape Point Route has got the World Cup covered and we will be having a football festival!

1. Monkey Valley Resort:
Party time at MV – beautiful log thatched Treetops hall overlooking the sea is the main focus of all the action. Log fires, big screens and live music along with wine tastings of all their featured wine estates.

Saturdays: early afternoon braais
Sundays: huge traditional breakfast and special Sunday lunches – including at least ONE roast dish and a South African hot pudding. Live music every Sunday afternoon until sun sets.

Wine Weekends: Last weekend of the month – June 25th
Gourmet dinner on Friday night, on Saturday go from cottage to cottage and taste different estate wines without leaving the resort.
Saturday – big party with wines from each estate
Sunday – champagne breakfast and live music afternoons with a LE VIN, LE PAIN ET LE FROMMAGE presentation i.e 6 wines, bread and cheese – open to the public.

Accommodation specials: full board options - R800 per person sharing including 3 meals a day. Children under 12: from R170 – R525. Self-catering options are also available!

Brave Green Kids: use the holiday to learn how you and the family can help save the planet. What different foods do in your body; how to build a shelter, find food, water, handle emergencies and even kids birthday parties. Classes and activities and a range of age appropriate movies

2. Rioja: in Kommetjie
Rioja is turning their 'other side' (Barocca and the function room) into a soccer village. Big screens etc and after the matches there will be dancing with their resident DJ. They will most definitley be flying all flags high!!!

3. Empire Café in Muizenberg

R49 World Cup specials:
a. Cheesebuger and Beer (juice/filter coffee/glass o wine)
b. Sticky pork ribs and Chips with a beer

Open 7 days a week for breakfast and lunch; Mon – Sat 7am – 4pm.
Breakfast and lunch venue with a surfing and beach life link!
Art works for sale

4. Drumbeat Charters in Hout Bay

Standard cruise to Duiker Seal Island – commentary in 25 languages! 35 minutes for just R60! Fo the World Cup they are adding their extra hour long cruise at 12h00 or 13h30 which travels further along the Karbonkelberg Range to Maori Bay to view the Shipwreck of the BOSS 400 which ran aground in 1994 in one the Cape’s winter storms. At the time the ship was one of the Strongest Crane Barges in the World.

5. Southern Right Hotel in Glencairn

Rene is a Swiss Tourist who is staying at the Southern Right Hotel and has been to every world cup since he left kindergarten. He says world cup is not about the “folk” and not about the potential money to be made from Visitors! That’s why he is staying at Southern Right – to experience local South Africans! The Southern Right has been in football mode for a while with all 32 flags flying proudly every day. During the tournament they are offering...
•Their famous food special for R 29.00 - Roast or Seafood Curry and dessert
•Weekly International and local cuisine specials
•A flag recognition competition - Customers will get a card with five World Cup countries flags. If they correctly name the countries they go into a weekly draw for a spot prize and also into the final draw to win a VIP package on the day of the final which includes - one nights accommodation for two at the Southern Right Hotel, VIP seating for themselves and five friends for the final including snacks and their very own waiter plus gift bags
•Their tented Courtyard will be showing World cup soccer live 24/7 on three 50 inch plasma screens.
•In the Courtyard there will also be various pub specials, face painting, live music, fish braais and food specials.

6. Zizamele Ceramics in Kommetjie

Zizamele is about art making a difference and transformation in action. South Africa has no shortage of talented individuals but the challenge lies in finding ways to use the raw skills to create a sustainable better life. zizamele has a range of World Cup soccer products like Bafana Bafana bowls which are Bambanani Bowls featuring 2 – 6 players. They have Soccer candlesticks and soccer inspired heros.

Toni and the team are fabulous – corner of Chasmay and Kommetjie road (near Rioja) – look out for their signs on the Kommetjie road!

7. Cafe Pescados in Simon's Town

Cafe Pescado, situated in the centre of Simon's Town opposite Jubilee Square is going festive through out the World Cup. All matches will be shown on big screen and on Television in both sections of the restaurant.

•Special Kids Competitions and raffles
•Best dressed supporter gets prize on match days
•Our own Match for Match special Menu including the Bafana Bafunna Pizza
•Voucher Draws- All Bills every day go into a draw and three bills per match will receive a 50% replacement voucher valid over the World Cup period until 31st July 2010. If you are in the restaurant and your bill is drawn you will receive a 100% replacement voucher (terms and conditions applicable)
•Spot prizes and specials on for every match
•Live Music every Tuesday and Saturday after soccer matches where applicable

We will also be hosting the 196th anniversary dinner of the Anglican Church on the 25th June. (Cafe Pescado is situated on the site of the 1st Anglican Church in South Africa)

8. Noordhoek Farm Village in Noordhoek
Football fever is alive and well with flags flying from the shops and the restaurants, the bandstand is decorated, memorabilia is for sale and the staff proudly wear their Football shirts. They are even having a staff competition to see who is Noordhoek Farm Village's greatest fan and one staff member will be going to see Netherlands versus Cameroon on the 24 June 2010!

Foodbarn – 3 course Winter Bistro Meal – R205 with free bottle of AA Badenhorst Family Wines for every table of four throughout the World Cup. Franck will be doing specials meals related to countries that are playing in Cape Town and will continue the cooking demonstrations Tuesday and Thursday lunch and Weds evening. Free with your meal.

KIDS:
Daily kids CRAFT workshop programme 10 – 12 except Weds – 2 – 4pm. Price R85 – R100!

Noordhoek Farm Village has free kids activities every Saturday and these will continue throughout the World Cup but with a soccer flavour
Sat 5 June 2010: Puppets play soccer
Sat 12 June 2010: Flag Craft Day
Sat 19 June 2010: Mini soccer tournament
Sat 26 June 2010: Hot chocolate and cookies
Sat 2 July 2010: Activity Tables
Sat 9 July 2010: Soccer finale
With the 2010 World cup soccer drawing to a close, we invite the kids to show us how much they have learnt about the game of soccer. We have a “know your game” and “pick the lucky ball and win” competition at Noordhoek Farm Village. Meet at the enclosed Bandstand for the soccer finale at Noordhoek Farm Village! Let’s support the soccer.

9. Toad in the Village
Th Toad is having a “World cup Festival” with a commentary and football and music mix! Dan and Tony of "Me and Mr Brown" fame are making The Toad their home for the entire month of the World Cup - which is awesome. They will be rocking the days away EVERYDAY, so if you ever wondered what a month long music and soccer fest would be like now is your time to find out!
Dan will also be doing a "soccer chat studio" where he will be sharing his thoughts with all and sundry on what is happening and when the time is right he will jump into song making sure the theme is continuous FUN at The Toad!
So if you are looking for some entertainment and a venue to watch all the soccer action then look no further and come down and enjoy the fun at a place where it is all about "where people want to be".

Cape Point Route wishes everyone an enjoyable World Cup and encourages every one to show their spirit, wave the South African flag as proud hosts and Bafana Bafana Supporters. If you have some time off look at some of the day package options that Cape Point Route has on offer!

Cape Point Route accessibility during the World Cup

It is less than a week to go until kick-off and the atmosphere and excitement is building at a rapid rate! Flags are flying from buildings and from cars. Football Friday shirts are being worn on days other than Fridays! Memorabilia is sold at every traffic light, the news reports are about arriving teams, final selection squads and at every dinner table World Cup seems to get a mention in some form or another.

Cape Point Route is no exception to the fever and the frenzy and if this exquisite weather is anything to go by – the World Cup is going to be a cracker! Fingers crossed for the weather to continue in a glorious state throughout the tournament. With a 26°C sunshiny day with no wind, who would have thought it is winter in Cape Town! (Cape Point Route has mentioned that May and June are a secret season more than once, but we don’t like to be smug or say “I told you so”).

But I get distracted – today we are talking about getting around and of course access to the Cape Point Route during the tournament and particularly access on match days!

Getting to the Cape Point Route on arrival at the airport:

1. Hire a car and drive yourself around the city
2. Book an airport transfer to your accommodation (From R350 per person from the airport to the Cape Point Route)
3. Hop in a metered taxi (About R10 per kilometer. Airport to Simon’s Town is 42 km – so you looking at a minimum of R420) http://www.capepointroute.co.za/map.php
4. Take the Airport – City Shuttle Bus. This operates daily and takes people to the main Civic Centre transport hub on Hertzog Boulevard for R50 one way. The Shuttle is integrated with flight schedules and will run every 6 – 30 minutes. From the transport hub you can link up with other shuttles or transport options.

Getting around Cape Town and to the Cape Point Route:

1. Hire a car and drive yourself
2. Take a metered taxi (great for short journeys but can add up in price if you are going further afield)
3. Guided tours – these could be scheduled trips or with a private guide – the latter gives you more flexibility
4. Train – Metrorail offers a Southern Line Tourism route from Cape Town to Simon’s Town. A one day hop-on hop-off ticket is R30 and a two day hop-on hop-off ticket is R50. The line has a dedicated coach with guides on the train. On a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday you can do a one day trip on the Southern Line with a transfer to Cape Point and Boulders Penguin colony with the Green Cab for R600.

Getting to Cape Town Stadium from the Cape Point Route on MATCH DAYS:

NO private vehicles are permitted anywhere near the stadium on match days so don’t even think about it! Some private tour operators have registered but varying restrictions apply so check with your tour operator directly!

Your best bet is to get to the main transport hub at the Civic Centre:
1. Free stadium shuttle bus for all ticket holders from the transport hub to the stadium where there are 2 loading points. Shuttles will run from 4 hours before the match to 4 hours after the match.
2. Fan Walkway: this 2.2km walk is a pedestrian zone which starts in Adderley Street near Cape Town Station and ends at the stadium precinct. This vehicle free zone is recommended to avoid traffic congestion and should be a fun and festive way to reach the stadium. The path is well lit and should take approximately 30 minutes to walk the distance!

Park ‘n ride Options:

1. TRAIN: If you are staying on the Cape Point Route we recommend parking at the beach at Fish Hoek Station where there is a dedicated park ‘n ride set up. Train tickets are free for ticket holders on match days only! The trains will be running extended services until approximately 02h00 – yup that’s 2 o’clock in the morning!

2. BUS: three park and ride venues have been set up to serve areas with limited rail access. Of particular interest to residents and visitors on the Cape Point Route are:

2a) UCT Upper Campus in Rondebosch – free bus shuttle to the main transport hub for ticket holders.
2b) Kronendal Primary School in Hout Bay – This is a pay as you go service based on the distance travelled and is operating on the Atlantic Seaboard Bus Service which operates from Hout Bay to Granger Bay. Good news for those travelling from Hout Bay as you won’t need to go to the main transport hub at the Civic Centre!

Other notes on Getting Around:
Inner City Shuttle: These operate on 4 circular routes around the inner city. The cost of this shuttle is R8 per trip or based on distance travelled. There are several shuttle pick-up points on the circular route so that visitors can get around the city. These route maps will be available on the Cape Town City website under 2010/ Getting around.
These routes include:
• Civic Centre to Waterfront and Sea Point* along the Atlantic seaboard to Queens beach - cost based on distance travelled;
• Inner City Bowl area* - cost R8 per trip and scheduled every 10- 30 mins;
• UCT to the Civic centre (on match dates only) - Cost free of charge with match ticket;
• Atlantic seaboard service (on match dates only): Houtbay to Granger bay. This is a pay as you go service based on the distance travelled.

*On non-match days and after the World Cup, the Inner City Shuttles will continue to operate as a Hop-On Hop-Off system to get around our beautiful city.

TO SUMMARISE:

This is going to be a spectacular event, with fanfare and exciting events, people, characters and no doubt vuvuzelas! Enjoy the ride, enjoy the journey but be prepared. Take refreshments with you, wear comfortable shoes for walking or waiting, have a jacket with you and don’t forget your flags and your spirit!

Cape Point Route recommends finding accommodation on the Cape Point Route to suit your needs - either close to the train station for match day access or to ask us for assistance if you want to be out of the main buzz and arrange a transfer to one of the transport hubs on a match day, leaving you free to enjoy the rest of your holiday in a quieter zone, close to amenities and the city should you desire.

Watch this space for news and happenings on the Cape Point Route with details of where to watch games and who is doing what and where and when!

Green Rail and Ride!

IMAGES:
1. the Southern Line (Cape Point Route)
2. Riding the Southern Line (Photo: Jacques Marais)
3. Muizenberg Beach Huts as seen from the train (Photo: Peter haarhof)
4. The Brass Bell on Kalk Bay Station (Photo: Jacques Marais)
5. Noordhoek Farm Village - hosts of the launch (Photo: Jacques Marais)

Yesterday (27 May 2010), I had the priviledge to join a bunch of cool people in the Cape Town tourism industry for an "educational" with the Southern Line Tourism Route who teamed up with the Green Cabs to launch the Green Rail and Ride.

The word "educational" didn't have a particularly fun ring about it but the day certainly was a good outing. We met at Cape Town Station for registration and a much needed cup of coffee, and a welcoming breakfast pack provided by the Protea Hotel in Sea Point. Actually registration was more a meet and greet as familiar faces were grinning at each other and unfamiliar ones were being introduced.

Cape Town Station was also a great surprise! The construction is not quite complete but shiny floors, open glass doors and efficient staff, information office, security and information boards made it a very pleasant, welcoming and safe meeting point. We were escorted to Platform 1 for the business express - which was a very fancy train - for the journey to Fish Hoek station. A speedy journey with no stops meant that we didn't get enough time to "ooh and aah" out the window once we hit Muizenberg and the False Bay coastline... but we did have a return journey to look forward to!

We transferred onto buses bound for Noordhoek Farm Village where the launch of the Green Rail and Ride took place - held in the warm and welcoming environment of the Toad in the Village. The speeches and presentations were prepared as everyone warmed up on tea and coffee. We were introduced to a fantastic product by the partners in this project of going green to get to the point - City of Cape Town, Metrorail; Tourism Enterprise Programme and the Green Cabs.

Cape Town is one of very few cities in the world that can boast being able to offer tourists an option where they can travel by rail along a spectacular coastline. As a City committed to improving it's eco-credentials this iniative allows a low-carbon option of travelling by train and with Green Cabs to access Cape Point. Green Cabs goes the extra mile to educe its carbon footprint by converting the petrol component of its fleet of vehicles to run duel-fuel on petrol and LPG and the diesel component on BioDiesel (2nd generation Cooking Oil!) - thus achieving a saving in CO 2 emissions of between 15 - 20%! Woo Hoo!

So what is the initiative:
Tourists travel in a designated Southern Line Tourism Route Carriage and are accompanied by informed ambassador guides and dedicated security guards. Guides accompany travellers for the entire day.

the fare of R600 per person includes all these services as well as:
a return train ticket
return transfer and entry fees to the African Penguin Colony at Boulders Beach in Simon's Town as well as Cape Point Nature Reserve.

Launching to the public on the 1st June, the service will be available mid-week i.e. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Trains depart from Cape Town Station at 09h32 in the morning from Platform 5 and return from Simon's Town Station at 15h18 in the afternoon to arrive back in the city by 16h26!

No more guilt trips! This is a scenic, cost effective, low carbon option to visit the Cape Point Route!

Metrorail Southern Line Tourism Route also offers a hop-on hop-off ticket to Obsevatory, Newlands, Muizenberg, Kalk Bay and Fish Hoek Stations for just R30 per one day ticket OR R50 for a 2-day ticket. Cape Point Route suggests taking the 2 day ticket and staying overnight in Muizenberg, Kalk Bay, Fish Hoek or Simon's Town.

Thanks to all the partners for a great day and we look forward to massive use of this great programme!

Indaba 2010 - Pictures from Cape Point Route

Images from Indaba 2010 - Cape Point Route

1. Lucky Prize draw at the Cape Point Route wine function where we gave away R55 000 worth of prizes to stay on the Cape Point Route
2. Dumi - GM of Monkey Valley Resort in Noordhoek having a meeting on the Cape Point Route stand
3. Candice from Shaya Moyo Day Spa at Whale View Manor in Simon's Town - cheering enthusiastically for one of the lucky draw winners at the Cape Point Route wine function!
4. Cape Point Vineyards "Splattered Toad" wines were a hit at the Cape Point Route wine function. Thanks to Cape Point Vineyards in Noordhoek for sponsoring all the wine! We highly recommend stopping at their new tasting room on the southern slopes of Chapman's Peak Drive.
5. Early morning shot of the Cape Point Route stand in the DEC hall - moments before everyone arrived for the day's meetings.
6. Cape Point Route stand during the day - a full, busy, vibrant buzz of meetings, energy and passion for the south peninsula - selling peninsula day tours with a difference and 3 day, 2 night packages in the area.
7. Cape Point Route group photo with Alderman Felicity Purchase. From Left to Right: Dumisani Sukuinje (Monkey Valley Resort in Noordhoek); Debbie Smuts (Grosvenor Guest House in Simon's Town); Grete Hollenbach (Southern Right Hotel in Glencairn); Barbara Elshove-Schmidt (Cape Point Route); Milton Musanhi (Monkey Valley Resort in Noordhoek); Alderman Felicity Purchase (Fish Hoek - Ward 69); Bev Stacey (Boulders Beach Lodge in Simon's Town); Sally Grierson (Cape Point Route)
8. Barbara and Sally from Cape Point Route (in orange) with head of Cape Town Routes Unlimited Calvyn Gilfellan and David Fransden also from CTRU.

Cape Point Route does it for the South at Indaba 2010

Article in the People's Post - Tuesday 19 May 2010

The Tourism Trade Show, Indaba 2010, held in Durban, has been and gone in a mad tourism flurry of visual displays, stand set ups, meetings, talking, activity, noise, vuvuzelzas, networking, selling and fun – which is exactly what Cape Point Route went to Indaba to achieve.

The organizers said that 13 856 people has passed through the exhibition turnstiles at 14h30 on May 10th, with a full day and a bit left of the show, so there is a good chance that Indaba 2010 attendance figures would top those of 2009.

Indaba 2010 celebrated the World Cup (as it should) with lots of footballs, vuvuzelas, makarapas and diski dances, but Indaba 2010 played an important role in destination promotion for 2011 and 2012 – just the thing that is required to build a strong tourism economy. Cape Point Route worked strongly on this aspect of promotion with packages set up to teach Tour Operators how to package the area as a minimum 3 day destination and not a peninsula day trip. “Getting the Tour operators to relearn their classic trips and take on alternatives is a long process,” says Barbara Elshove-Schmidt of Cape Point Route. “This is not a shift that happens overnight. The impact of highlighting the south peninsula in a bold effective collective is working though, with international visitors returning to the Cape Point Route stand for more information”

“Getting your message across quickly is imperative,” says Sally Grierson of Cape Point Route, “that is why the visual display is so essential. We are so grateful to Mr Eichel from Fish Hoek Galley who sponsored a plasma screen for the show. The images from the area go such a long way to make the impression required in a short space of time”

Other activations are networking events. Exhibitors compete for the attention of the tour operators and industry personnel, by hosting functions. Cape Point Route hosts a wine evening every year and Indaba 2010 was no exception. Attended by about 350 people, the Cape Point Route event was a massive success. One of the drawcards was the quality of the wine, which was sponsored entirely by Cape Point Vineyards. Snacks and platters were sponsored by Pick ‘n Pay and almost R60,000 worth of prizes were given away in various weekend packages in the area. These prizes become educationals as the tour operator experiences the area personally to sell the region to his/her clients. Gavin from Cape Xtreme says, “The Cape Point Route function is THE network function to attend - it’s the busiest, most vibey function with superb prizes and you get to meet great contacts.”

“Working as a collective, Cape Point Route has made a name for themselves,” says Steve Thomas from Daytrippers. “The orange t-shirts, flashdrives, vibrant stand, their boundless energy and the product knowledge of all the participants who attend Indaba with Cape Point Route has made the destination stand out in a crowd of incredible tourism destinations in South Africa”

Barbara adds, “I am so proud of the Cape Point Route group – working as a team for the region is critical and every participant was out there showcasing this beautiful destination in which we live and work and most importantly turning those contacts into business”. Grete Hollenbach from Southern Right Hotel confirms this, “I have already made a post-Indaba booking for later this year, which is a direct return on investment”. Bev Stacey of Boulders Beach Lodge, attending her first Indaba says, “It was phenomenal for me. I strongly believe that if you are in tourism and you do not attend, you are loosing out big time.” Dumisani Sakuinje of Monkey Valley Resort, commented “Going to Indaba with Cape Point Route made it so easy. I definitely managed to get meetings with people who might not have spoken to me because of my orange Cape Point Route t-shirt!”

Sally concludes, “As a group we offer good value packages with a difference. The south peninsula is a collective of like-minded businesses which operate ethically and professionally. The face of Cape Point Route extends to the people who work with us and these principles have been the recipe of our success. Whilst marketing methods might change, the essence of good marketing in tourism is about nurturing relationships, honesty, integrity, consistency and transparency and of course meeting expectations of the clients by under promising and over delivering.”