My Cape Town

Home sweet home for a week or two?

Many of you have mentioned that you have had children recently, or are expecting a child (or grandchild!) in the near future.  Therefore I expect you’ll all be needing a holiday …and guess what?  Cape Town is just the place.  In fact I’ve been inundated with requests recently for holiday villas for large family groups heading this way between December and February.  Some of the best villas are booked years in advance, but I have managed to find a few corkers that are still available.  They are disappearing rapidly though, so I’d recommend getting in touch as soon as possible if you have any thoughts of heading this way to escape the gloom of the winter months back home. 

Villas are without doubt the favourite option for those with children as it gives them (and perhaps you, too?) so much more freedom to run around screaming in whatever extraordinary outfit they’ve grown attached to.  There are, of course, guesthouses and hotels that will happily accommodate children, but I urge you never to feel that you will have to work harder if you take the self-catering option.  Never underestimate the legions of maids, cooks, drivers and nannies in South Africa who, for an extremely reasonable cost,  would love to help you - miracle of miracles – to actually have a holiday.   I’ve even found a fabulous nanny/ au pair/ babysitter service that supplies a selection of CVs beforehand so you can choose exactly who you like.  The women involved have all been thoroughly screened, have a minimum three years experience and have their own cars so they can take your children out for trips leaving you to lie by the pool or have a massage or go wine tasting or fly a helicopter or abseil down a mountain…..just like you used to do in the old days. 

On the assumption that frazzled parents might want to keep the lug out of luggage,  I’ve also accumulated an assortment of accessories from baby gates through to puzzles and books and I am happy to source anything else that may be of use.

As far as flights go, British Airways appears to have the best reputation amongst those who often travel with children, and it certainly has the most comprehensive information on its website though you still have to dig quite deep to find it.  Basically most airlines offer a 90% discount for children under the age of 2, and a 33% discount for those between 2 and 12.  Most offer some sort of cot or infant seat for small babies, but they vary in their age/weight restrictions.  In all cases cots must be booked beforehand and this can only be done through a local sales office for the appropriate airline.

Line 'em up and bring 'em over

Once here you’ll find that Cape Town is an incredibly child-friendly city, not only in the attitude of the Capetonians but in the myriad of things here that children find fascinating, from the penguins in Simon’s Town and the seals in the harbours through to the streams in Kirstenbosch, the fish at the Aquarium and huge piles of semi-precious stones at the Scratch Patch.  Children can ride ponies and camels, they can learn to play golf or tennis or even to surf, they can taste chocolate or pick cherries or ride a tractor out into the bush to go and look for buffalo. Even the poshest restaurants will welcome them, or you can take a picnic out to a wine estate and sit under the trees while the children run around and explore.

And yes, I will be putting all this to the test myself in the near future.  Neill and I are due to join the joyful ranks of parents at the beginning of December.  Another drink, anyone?

Investing in Western Cape Property

I know that a good few of you have been eyeing up the South African property market and its investment potential.  We of course are ideally place to do a little investigation on your behalf, so here's a small teaser...

A recent report that South African property in achieving a 35% increase in value outperformed 23 countries in the 12 months to November last year has led to potential buyers asking if this sort of growth is likely to be sustainable.

"The short answer is, no," said Mike Greeff, chief executive of the Greeff Properties. "But you can still bank on sustained price increases for the foreseeable future, as long as interest rates remain low," he said.

"The market is now driven by an emerging black elite and is being further boosted by the current economic and political confidence."

ResearchWorldwide.com reported that in achieving a 35.1% increase in value the local property sector had outperformed countries across the globe.

In the prime areas in which Greeff operate (Constantia and Bishopscourt) their figures this year show that although sales numbers have dropped by 26%, sale prices are still 18% up on those a year ago.

On average he predicts that upper bracket homes in Bishopscourt and Upper Constantia will still grow in value by 14% this year.

"The biggest price increases and the fastest sales will be in the R800 000 to R1.5 million bracket," said Greeff.

"What we have to make clients understand is that although the price rises are now not as spectacular as they were, there are still few better investments than Cape property."

SPECIAL OFFER - Revive Body and Soul on a Wine Farm

Franschhoek – literally ‘French corner’ – is one of the most picturesque towns in the Western Cape and is at its most arrestingly beautiful in the autumn.  At this time of year the vineyards in this small valley offer vistas of gold and red stretching up into the nooks and crannies of the surrounding mountains.  Not only is Franschhoek the wine and food capital of the Cape, but there is also the chance to dabble in a little fly-fishing, walking, horse or bike riding, golf and shopping.

Peace and tranquillity on Dewdale Farm

La Couronne has perhaps the best views of all from its perch on the mountainside overlooking the valley.  Renowned particularly for its world-class restaurant (voted as one of the world’s top 50 most exciting dining venues by Condé Nast), this small luxury hotel not only has a spa, a gym, a sauna and a cigar bar but has recently added the wine estate of Mont Rochelle to its list of attractions.  Children are welcome.

Just down the road is Dewdale Farm which has a series of quiet dams stocked with brown, golden and rainbow trout.  With excellent rods and tuition available, the relaxed staff will even leave out a rod or two should you wish to start casting flies as soon as the sun creeps up over the mountains. 

Cape Concierge is offering subscribers a 4 night stay at La Couronne in a superior room with spectacular views of the valley.  The package includes
· Two Theravine treatments per person in the hotel’s spa
· Two three-course dinners
· A wine-tasting at Mont Rochelle followed by an al fresco lunch
· A full English breakfast daily
· Two mornings fly-fishing on the Dewdale dams - tuition (if needed) and rod hire included.

Total cost per person R3999 (based on two people sharing).  At today’s exchange rate that’s about £330.   Offer valid until 30th September 2005, subject to availability.  This offer can be combined with any other offer (see previous newsletters ) or with a stay in Cape Town or a safari.

Read more about La Couronne at www.lacouronnehotel.co.za.

Flight News

I find it extraordinarily satisfying that British Airways have recently improved their website, at last making it possible to see how prices vary on consecutive days of travel.  Once you have typed in your destination and preferred date of travel, it gives you a chart with your selected date plus a week either side, with each day clearly stating the rate for that particular leg of the journey on that day.  For skinflints like me this saves hours of raking through the various options, ever on the search for VFM (value for money).  For anyone thinking of booking now for the peak season, if you can be flexible with your dates you could save yourselves thousands of rands – all the more to spend when you get here!

For instance, if you wanted to travel to Cape Town for Christmas, and put in 18th December as a possible departure date, you would get a page looking something like this:

Upcoming Events

RED BULL BWA (BIG WAVE AFRICA) 2005
22 May - 12 June
A 20 day surfing spectacle, when renowned international and local big wave surfers converge on Hout Bay to ride waves in excess of 15' (5 metres).

GARDEN ROUTE GOURMET FESTIVAL
16 - 18 June
Good food & wine on the Garden Route.

CROSS KAROO EXTREME TRIATHLON CHALLENGE
16 June – 16 July
Run 88kms from Durban to Pietermaritzburg, Mountain Bike 2200 kms to Paarl, and Canoe 208 kms along the Berg River to Velddrif on the Atlantic Coast. Yikes.

TULBAGH CELEBRATES CHRISTMAS IN WINTER
25 - 26 June
Christmas lights, Christmas Dinners, wine tasting, gluwein, beer gardens, sport bars, art & crafts exhibitions, stalls…

1st NATIONAL FESTIVAL OF GOLF
11 - 17 July
An exceptional opportunity for golf enthusiasts from around the country – and the world – to play the game on some of South Africa’s finest golf courses.  On offer will be coaching, competitions and an exhibition village, as well as entertainments and a gala dinner.

BERG RIVER CANOE MARATHON
12 - 16 July
202 kilometres over 4 days  - South Africa’s longest and toughest canoe race, from the Paarl winelands to the Velddrif Coast: an area rich in history and scenic beauty.
 
CHICAGO - The Musical
19 July - 11 September
It’s RAZZLE DAZZLE time! The recipient of Tony, Oliver, Grammy and Oscar Awards, CHICAGO- the Musical is finally coming to South Africa. 

POSTBERG RESERVE OPENS FOR FLOWER GAZING
1 August 2005 – 30 September
An hour’s drive from Cape Town along the West Coast lies a floral paradise. This spectacular display of nature in the 30 000 hectares of the West Coast National Park is only open for August and September.

TRI NATIONS RUGBY (SOUTH AFRICA V NEW ZEALAND)
6 August
The Springboks take on the All Blacks in this classic clash at Newlands.
 
CAPE TOWN FASHION WEEK 2005
10 - 13 August
Fifty top designers from South Africa and the rest of the continent showcase their top work in this glamorous and glitzy high profile fashion event in the International Convention Centre.

CLANWILLIAM WILDFLOWER SHOW
25 - 31 August
The Clanwilliam district boasts a large variety of wildflowers due to the tremendous differences in the topography (Cederberg Karoo, Sandveld and wetlands). Each year about 350 flower species from 32 families are exhibited at the show.

DARLING WILDFLOWER SHOW
6 - 18 September
The Darling Wildflower Society has held a show virtually every year since its inception in 1917.

STELLENBOSCH FESTIVAL
23 September - 1 October
The old university town of Stellenbosch comes alive with festivities as it incorporates three large festivals - Music and Art, Simon van der Stel and Food and Wine - into one big community festival.
 
HERMANUS WHALE FESTIVAL
24 September - 2 October
an entertainment-packed festival in the town with the best land-based whale watching in the world.

SAA CAPE TOWN FLOWER SHOW
6 - 9 October
Africa's first truly international flower show - a chance to sample the breadth of the African floricultural industry in world-class facilities.