Beach Huts for Hire

Muizenberg beach is confidently characterised for it’s long stretch of white sand, with 2 rows of colourful beach huts, which were traditionally used as bathing boxes in Muizenberg’s heyday at the beginning of last century.
Today Muizenberg is regaining it’s fame as a hot spot of surf culture and the seafront and beach is crowded with surfers with flowing sun kissed locks, carrying various length boards and battling to stand in the gentle waves. Others are mere observers, sitting at the restaurants and cafes calming sipping on steaming capuccino’s and pretending to read the morning paper.

Further round the corner, kitesurfers try their luck at that combination sport of surfing and flying a kite – the latest in balance skills. Younger children shriek as the fly down the giant waterslide at the supertube, and others still put their best foot forward as they attempt the championship trophy of their own tournament at the mini –golf putt-putt.

Yes Muizenberg is buzzing and the bathing huts have prime viewing of all the action and activity that happens on Muizenberg beach. But here is the Cape Point Route HOT TIP of the day – I bet you didn’t know you could hire one to use yourself? Daily, monthly and annual rentals are possible – and for a bargain at today’s places. A day rental is R43.10 and a monthly rental is R299.20. Contact Edwin Genade at the City of Cape Town : edwingenade@capetown.gov.za if you would like to apply for a bathing box of your own.

I’d like to quote an excerpt written by Despine King/Burton in the book “Muizenberg Remembered” by Barbara Titley (2008) about her time as a child on Muizenberg beach around 1915. “In those days the beach was a very splendid one, dazzling white and stretching for countless miles, and a gently sloping floor. At low tide one walked a considerable distance to meet the first small waves. Very small children were allowed to swim unchaperoned as it is absolutely safe. High tide provided more problems as the waves broke high up the beach at the foot of the bathing boxes. No beach that I have seen in Europe, in North or South America, was as beautiful and safe as Muizenberg was in those early days. There were two rows of bathing boxes well to the left of the pavilion. Ours was number 18, a double box in the front row. I think that we had it for the best part of twenty years. The pavilion was in constant use by all the people who did not hire bathing boxes. Beyond the pavilion, close to the rocks below the railway line, was an area reserved for the young bucks of the day and their current girlfriends. We used to stand in great awe of them as we watched them on what were then called Hawaiian surfboards. The young men were extremely adept on these. Behind the bathing boxes was a long white stretch of hot sand where we warmed up after swimming.”

For additional information on what to see and do in Muizenberg or on the Cape Point Route please call +27 21 7829356.

Thanks to Peter Haarhof from Cape Photogaphic Company for some of these Muizenberg pictures!

Cape Point Vineyards opens a tasting venue

Cape Point Route is very excited to announce some hot off the press news from our favourite Cape Point Route wine estate - you guessed it Cape Point Vineyards! A new tasting facility has opened to the public offering a first hand opportunity to see what Cape Point Vineyards is all about. The tasting room has been a long awaited and much anticipated event for us local fans and we have no doubt that our visitors will be just as thrilled.

As their ninth year in production comes to an end, Cape Point Vineyards are finally in a position to welcome you to their new home!Having attended a special tasting and viewing I can highly recommend making a detour if you are planning on traversing Chapman's Peak Drive or visiting the Noordhoek Valley!

Cape Point Vineyards opened the doors to their new tasting room at our Chapmans Peak Estate on the 1st of November 2009. According to Duncan the tasting venue provides tourists and local wine-lovers with the opportunity to taste Cape Point's wines in their unique surroundings.

"People want to see where the wine is made and where the grapes grow. Offering wine-tastings and opportunities to purchase wines a stone's throw from the vineyards themselves enables us for the first time to bring our customers into this special environment that is the very essence of what Cape Point Vineyards is about."

Cape Point vineyards is proud to add a wine-tasting venue to the array of attractions visitors can enjoy in this special part of the world, so the next time that you travel through the beautiful Cape Point Route do stop and visit them at the new tasting room whether it be for a taste of our award winning wines, a cheese platter or to purchase a picnic basket to enjoy in any one of the areas magnificent sundowner spots.

Opening times:

Mon to Fri: 09:00 - 17:00; Sat: 10:00 - 17:00; Sun: 10:00 - 16:00

The Cape Point Vineyards Tasting Venue is on Chapmans Peak Estate, Chapmans Peak Drive, Noordhoek - literally just before the booms to Chappies.

GPS: 34° 5.697'S, 18° 22.288'E.

In other exciting news - Cape Point Vineyards reaped more awards in 2009.
Platter's once again awarded 3 of their wines with five stars!
2009 Cape Point Vineyards Isliedh (for the 4th consecutive year!)
Woolworths Limited Release Sauvignon Blanc
Cape Point Vineyards CWG Auction Reserve Barrel Fermented Sauvignon Blanc.

The 2008 Cape Point vineyards Sauvignon Blanc adn the 2007 Cape Point Vineyards Semillon were awarded DOUBLE GOLD at the Veritas Awards!

And finally more good news. Cape Point Vineyards has launched a new wine: a fantastic and unashamedly cloaked, vibrant and fruit forward Splattered Toad Sauvignon Blanc 2009.
The Splattered Toad is dedicated to their loveable neighbour, the Western Leopard Toad. Ever dodging traffic in nightly pursuit of refreshment, this rather large (up to 140mm) and beautiful amphibian remains endangered. To help protect it Cape Point Vineyards is donating R1 for every bottle sold to the CPV Sustainability Fund.

Retailing at approximately R38 per bottle, the Splattered Toad Sauvignon Blanc is available from their tasting room and from selected Cape Town retailers and restaurants. For more information please visit www.splatteredtoad.com

Jager's Walk in Fish Hoek is open!

One of the Cape Point Route's most loved amenities - Jager's Walk in Fish Hoek has reopened to the public after being closed for 15 months. Jager's Walk was closed after heavy storm damage in August 2008 for safety reasons.

Jager's Walk has been reconstructed & repaired and is once again filled with walkers, joggers and anglers. People of all ages can be seend along this gentle undulating path which takes you along the rocky coastline from Fish Hoek to Sunny Cove.

Informative sign boards explain the life history of the dolphins that play in these waters throughout the year and of the Southern Right and Humpback Whales that come during late winter and early spring to calve.

Access to Jager's Walk is via Fish Hoek Beach - a glorious kid friendly, white sandy beach with colourful Victorian bathing boxes that add a festive flavour. The beach is popular with wind surfers, lifesavers, paddlers and hobie cat sailors.

Look out for the trek fishermen who can often be seen pulling their haul onto Fish Hoek beach. Trek is the Dutch word for pull and refers to the pulling in of the fishing nets. Harders and yellowtail are the fish most frequently caught. In the early days of European settlement, fish were plentiful in False Bay and fishing was one of the major activities along with open boat whaling which took place until 1868. Fortunately the whales avoided extinction and are now one of the main attractions on the Cape Point Route between May and November. They are often seen from Jager's Walk.

After your walk, stop in at Fish Hoek Galley - a local and international favourite as one of the only restaurants quite literally on the beach. They have a huge range of cuisine - from sardines on toast to full seafood platters. Indulge under the umbrellas or in the big sunny open room. Drifters take way sells pizza, pasta, salads, burgers or ICE CREAMS to go! It's a great spot for parents who can enjoy a meal whilst the kids play on the beach or in the playground in full view of the parents who can then relax and enjoy a quiet meal.

For more information on Fish Hoek or the Cape Point Route please contact +27 (0)21 782 9356 or visit www.capepointroute.co.za

Emzantsi Carnival - Sat 5th Dec 09

The 2009 eMzantsi Carnival will take place on Saturday 5th December, and as it is the fifth time the annual event has been staged, it seems appropriate to make the theme "The Big 5". But the indigenous animals we aim to celebrate are not lions, giraffes or elephants but our local wildlife: the penguin, the whale, the baboon, the shark - and the leopard toad!

We will also take the opportunity to highlight the contributions 5 local celebrities have made to our cultural heritage. Nominations from the communities of the south peninsula will be welcomed in a competition later in the year.

Most excitingly, this year will see the return of the eMzantsi schools programme, with 10 lucky local schools being offered free workshops in carnival percussion skills, recycled costume making, interactive drama and diversity awareness in 5 'twinned' intercultural groups.

Spectators are advised to park at the Sun Valley Mall and walk down Ou Kaapse Weg to the fourway junction to watch the parade approach from each side of the Kommetjie Road from 10am. The free stageshow, compered by comedian Mark Sampson, runs from 12pm on the Sun Valley green opposite Pick'n'Pay, featuring a wonderful array of local bands, singers and dancers. Toilets and security are provided.

The Kommetjie Road will be partially closed between Masiphumelele and the fourway junction from 9.45am, and traffic delayed along Ou Kaapse Weg until 11.30am. Drivers wishing to get to and from Ocean View and Kommetjie are advised to go earlier or via Red Hill. If you want to go to the Longbeach Mall from Fish Hoek, please use Corsair Road.

For more information, email info@emzantsi.org.za or call 021 785 1515.

Cape Point Route 5th Birthday Party & Brochure Launch!

Destination marketing organization for the South Peninsula, Cape Point Route launched their 2010 guide to the Cape Point Route at a function held at Café Roux at Noordhoek Farm Village on 18 November.
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The evening was combined with the company’s 5th birthday celebrations and was attended by over 100 members of the tourism industry, who all came dressed in orange to support Cape Point Route.

Barbara Elshove-Schmidt, founding member of Cape Point Route commented, “it is so wonderful to see a room full of orange. The Cape Point Route is nothing without our relationships and without the wonderful tourism offerings in the South Peninsula”.

Guests were greeted with wine from local estate, Cape Point Vineyards (who have recently launched a tasting room at the bottom of Chapman’s Peak Drive) and were amongst the first people to taste the new cultivar of Pinot Grigio from Two Oceans Wines.

During the speeches, Cape Point Route reflected on the past 5 years of this successful shared marketing program for the South Peninsula. They acknowledged the global recession and the challenges that faced the tourism industry resulting in cut backs in marketing budgets. With this in mind, Cape Point Route is particularly proud to launch the 5th guide which has remained fully comprehensive to provide information for visitors to the south.

The highlight of the evening was typical 5 year old party games including Pin the Penguin, Sack Race, Treasure Hunt, Donut eating competition and of course Twister. Exited guests rushed to find their team members to participate in the games, which were run by Enchanted Parties, in hope of winning grand prizes valued at over R60,000!

The next Cape Point Route shared marketing project is the Indaba Travel Show taking place 8 – 11 May 2010 in Durban. Tourism businesses from the south are invited to attend the Indaba introduction meeting taking place at 10h00 on Wed 25 November at Calders Hotel in Fish Hoek. If you wish to attend this meeting, please contact Cape Point Route on Tel 021 782 9356 or email info@capepointroute.co.za

Shipwrecks & Lighthouses on the Cape Point Route!

With the wilder winter weather we thought it would be interesting to tap into the darker side of the Cape Point Route which consists of 2 coastlines wrapped around a national park and runs from Hout Bay down the Atlantic coast to Cape Point and up the False Bay coastline to Muizenberg. The ancient seafarers called this region by another name - the “Cape of Storms”.

Since the first ships called in Table Bay more than 500 years ago, more than 450 known ships have been lost to the treacherous coastline of the Cape Peninsula. It is no wonder that the Cape Point Route now boasts 4 lighthouses – 2 of which are accessible to visitors and the other 2 provide great photo opportunities.

Slangkoppunt lighthouse in Kommetjie is the tallest cast iron lighthouse in South Africa and became operational in 1919, although it was commissioned in 1906 to safeguard against shipwrecks. For a mere R15 you can walk up the lighthouse, complete with prisms and lots of stairs and from the top are the most astounding views (weather dependent of course) and some excellent seabird viewing. The coastline around the lighthouse has many reefs and headlands that stretch far out to sea, hence the vast number of ships that have come to grief here. The most famous shipwrecks are the Kakapo in1900 which now lies on Long Beach and is accessible via a long and wild walk along the beach; the SS Clan Munro that was wrecked a little to the north of the lighthouse in1905 and the SS Maori that was shipwrecked in 1909 and can be visited by boat from Hout Bay.

At Cape Point Nature Reserve there are 2 lighthouses – the original one built in 1860 and one of the most famous and most photographed lighthouses in South Africa due to its easy access by the funicular or the walkways at Cape Point. It now functions as a lookout point as it stands at the highest peak. The old lighthouse was often obscured by fog and mist so a new lighthouse was commissioned after the Portuguese luxury liner the Lusitania ran aground on Bellows rock in 1911. Despite some phenomenal building challenges at the lower site, it was first lit in 1919 and today it is the most powerful lighthouse in South Africa. The new lighthouse can’t be seen from the viewpoint due to the shape of the promontory but there is a dramatic and seldom used walking trail to view the lighthouse.

Some of the famous shipwrecks are the Lusitania itself, Le Napolean which ran aground in 1805 and is one of the only pirate ships to be shipwrecked on the South African coast and the Thomas T Tucker which was a military ship that hit Albatross Rock in 1942 and parts of which can be seen on the beach at Olifantsbos. In Smitswinkel Bay alone there are 5 shipwrecks that now make up an artificial reef and have attracted so much marine life that it has become one of the most popular winter dive sites.

The final lighthouse is Roman Rock in Simon’s Town, which like the other 2 operational lighthouses also has a claim to fame in South African lighthouse lore, being the only one to be built on a rock. It is also the 3rd oldest lighthouse in South Africa being built in 1861 as a beacon to guide naval ships into Simon’s Town harbour. Incidentally Simon’s Town was established as the winter anchorage site for the Dutch East India Company as it was the best place to be in the Cape in winter – a great tip if you are looking for a winter destination!

Needless to say we usually prefer the term “Tavern of the Seas” to Cape of Storms as that implies a warm pub with a convivial atmosphere – and conveniently there are plenty of excellent taverns to warm up and refresh after a lighthouse or shipwreck extravaganza. It is easy to drive along the stunning coastline of the Cape Point Route via a network of excellent roads to visit these shipwreck and lighthouse sites. It’s a wonderful way to spend a couple of days and there is a huge variety of accommodation, refreshment and activity options.

Contact Cape Point Route for more information on how to enjoy the Cape of Storms this winter. 021 782 9356 or visit www.capepointroute.co.za

The longest night on the Cape Point Route.

The winter solstice on Thursday 21 June 2009 is the longest night of the year. Although South Africa has no official rituals or festivals to celebrate mid Winter, the longest night is still valued for emotional comfort. There is the knowledge that spring is on the way and seeking out places with light, fires, music, singing, dancing and feasting is high on the recommended list to stave off the winter blues and rekindle human spirit. Here’s our take on lighting your fire this weekend of long nights and short days.

In Muizenberg, Fogey’s Restaurant has live music on a Friday and Saturday night which is worth it just for the beat, but they have Sunday jazz over lunch as well. Not bad to keep you warm day or night.

Kalk Bay is high on the list of a Capetonian choice of evening out. New kids on the block are Winesense with a fabulous offering of wine tasting, where you stay master of your selections, rate them and sample quantity and quality as you choose. Some great tapas dishes enhance the wine tasting experience.

Fish Hoek Galley is a regular favourite being right on the beach. A good doze of fresh sea breeze is an excellent aide for a seafood extravaganza, but they do offer everything from captain’s breakfast to decadent meat dishes for the carnivore crowd. It’s a winner for any meal, 7 days a week.

In Simon’s Town, Pescados on the main street is keeping the prawns rockin’ and rollin’ with all you can eat specials on a Tuesday night complete with local Cape Point Route favourite musicians Dave Gomersal and Gordon Mackay alternating the Tuesday night sessions. Saturday nights are host to Shand who has one of those soothing voices that makes any meal slide down.

On the Atlantic side of the Cape Point Route one of our current favourites is the Cape Farmhouse in Scarborough. They have massive breakfasts and regular Saturday music sessions which take place indoors or out, irrespective of the weather. The Lone Sharks are a collaboration of Cape Town musicians and will be playing on Sat afternoon the 30th June so plan ahead and schedule an afternoon at Farmhouse Rocks – a family friendly affair.

Noordhoek Farm village is a must for winter warmers. There are three fabulous restaurants, shops, wine boutique, art galleries – you name it, you are sorted. Atmospheric by day or night, you can’t go wrong here for a winter tune-up.

The Red Herring in Noordhoek is a “far south” institution in its own right, with big screen sport, happy hours, live music and a convivial atmosphere, but a new secret is the restaurant Thoryfynns at Monkey Valley Resort almost across the road. Set in the milkwood forest this is a treat of a venue and open to the public.

Hout Bay itself has 2 great options at either end of the beach. Chapman’s Peak hotel has some of the best calamari in town and Mariners Wharf at the opposite end has a take out section as well as the Wharfside Grill. We recommend booking a dining cabin themed to famous ships for a treat. Whilst there check out the Fish market and wine shop as well as the antique store.

So when the nights are long and the days are short, it is an easy choice to head to the Cape Point Route for entertainment, fine food, warm fires, good views and excellent company. For any queries on where to go and what to do contact the Cape Point Route for suggestions. www.capepointroute.co.za Tel: 021 782 9356.