My Cape Town

I drive like I ski.  That is, not very well.  I like to think of it merely as lack of practice and thereby neatly sidestep the issue of ability, but now a full 12 years after obtaining my driver’s licence (at the third attempt) I actually own a car. Not only that, but I am living in a city where public transport is minimal and as a result I find myself driving at least a little bit almost every day.  Much to my surprise I am enjoying being a part of the Capetonians’ cheerfully haphazard driving jamboree.  Pushing the envelope on my own abilities, not only do I find that I can quite comfortably accelerate to a speed that requires fourth gear within minutes of being on the freeway but also my grip on the steering wheel is so much more relaxed that I regain full feeling in my hands within a few seconds of stepping out of the car.  I still tense when going round bends at speed – as with skiing, something deep within me is drawn by the call of the off-piste – and my parking is far from parallel, but over all I am definitely improving.  So it was unfortunate when I discovered a whole new distraction recently. 

As I was driving back home from a jaunt around the botanical gardens at Kirstenbosch recently I remembered a promise I’d made to Neill, my dear despairing and annoyingly-good-at-driving husband, to check my rear view mirror more frequently.  Throwing a token glance upwards I found myself transfixed, momentarily, by the sheer beauty of the scene behind me, cut, framed and bordered so precisely by the black plastic.  Now I no longer marvel at the extraordinary head-bobbing, wheel-weaving antics of Cape Town’s drivers but wonder that the road system works at all.  Of course it is spring at the moment and everything is lush and luxuriant and blossoming and verdant but to be in a car on a city road and yet have views of such staggering grandeur leap out at you just when you are making a mental note to add hoover bags to your shopping list simply isn’t safe.  The Cape Town Traffic Department should put out signs: ‘Warning – Views. Approach with Caution.’  But it’s not just the views - the harbour, the sunsets, the city bowl, the ocean, not to mention the mountain and its surreal effect on clouds – these are all breathtakingly impressive, but it’s the detail that clinches it, the flora and fauna that add depth and reality to the whole scene.  Here in the city it is quite normal to see wildebeest and klipspringer grazing on the slopes of the mountain, while at the sides of the road arum lilies bob gently and strelitzia stand rigid, screaming in orange.  Banks of agapanthus blooms line even the freeways and the upper slopes of the city are brimming over with myriads of blue and white heads bursting up through the foliage like startled Muppets.  And now the jacaranda trees are in bloom and drifts of purple-blue blossom waft down each street….

Lucky then that the roads in Cape Town are so good.  If they were ski slopes, they would all be broad, beautiful green runs, perfect for beginners like me. But seeing is believing. Head over to Cape Town and we can go for a drive… if you dare.

Daisy

For all Cape Town transport options, check out our website on http://www.capeconcierge.co.za/.

Fly in an ex-military jet fighter plane

Surely this has to be the most exhilarating experience to be had with zero training.  OK, so that’s not entirely accurate – you do have to be shown how to use the ejector seat – but that’s part of the thrill, isn’t it?   Apart from that, it’s as simple as climbing into a flight suit, strapping on a helmet, doing a couple of checks and making sure you have a clean pair of  trousers for afterwards.

Three different jets are available and each is flown to its strengths so depending on your budget and taste you can choose from the following:

Hawker Hunter
The particular strength of the Hunter is manoeuvrability, and this experience is all about aerobatics. Loops, rolls, barrel rolls, inverted flight and vertical manoeuvres to name but a few, after this any roller-coaster ride will just seem a bit dull.

BAe Buccaneer
Designed as a low-level strike craft, this option involves skimming through the Cape Swartberg Mountains at very high speed and very low altitude – basically re-enacting the set piece of any film involving knuckle-whitening aircraft stunts. Feel the force, Luke.

English Electric Lightning
The crème-de-la-crème experience, the Lightning was built as a fast interceptor/fighter, capable of supersonic speeds and rapid climb rates.  This is a chance to push it to its limits. After take-off it climbs almost vertically, more like a rocket than a jet, achieving 50000 feet in just one minute. From this altitude, almost twice the height of Everest, the sky above (what’s left of it) is almost jet-black and the curvature of the earth is visible below.

For rates and more information contact me at daisy@capeconcierge.co.za

Cape Town - Favourite Foreign City

The news that Cape Town has been voted Favourite Foreign City by Telegraph readers will be no surprise to anyone who has had the good fortune to fly south to the very tip of Africa.  The chance to sip chilled Cape wines, dine on Diamond Coast oysters and walk on the dazzling white sands of Camps Bay has been one of the highlights of international travel since Nelson Mandela came to power a decade ago.

Today, the appeal of South Africa's "Mother City" has gone far beyond the lure of a new holiday hotspot.  Demand for flights is so high that British Airways recently increased its capacity to Cape Town by 27,000 seats. These have already been largely filled, while anyone looking for a bed this Christmas would do well to start knocking on stable doors (or contacting me – Daisy).

So what's the fuss? If you're plotting an escape from wintry Britain, the first attraction is that there's no jet lag.  Your body clock will be disrupted no more by a trip to Cape Town than by one to Rome.  Even after an overnight flight of almost 12 hours, travellers arrive feeling in far better shape than on similar journeys east or west.

Cape Town is one of the few destinations where the trend for long-haul short breaks actually makes sense, and it helps no end that the city is such an invigorating place to arrive in.  The Antarctic-chilled seas may feel rather bracing, but the Mediterranean-style climate can be most agreeable. Think blue skies, bright sunshine, brilliant beaches, beautiful people - and Table Mountain.  In most hotels around the world you pay an arm and a leg for a sea view, but here everyone wants to look inland. There's something about pulling back the curtains to see Old Flat-Top and his quiff of white cloud.  An ingeniously rotating cable car takes visitors to the summit in just four-and-a-half-minutes. From here, the tremendous views explain why Cape Town still feels more like a town than a city: this is a small gathering of neighbourhoods caught between haughty green peaks and an inky blue Atlantic.

The best way to appreciate its setting is on a sightseeing trip by helicopter, which - like so many things here - is extraordinary value. The rand may not be as accommodating as it once was, but the day-to-day costs of a holiday in South Africa are still astonishingly good.  A 20-minute chopper ride from the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront starts at £45 (compared with £65 for a 10-minute flip over New York).  Fluttering over the fabulous holiday homes of Clifton, the sea-thrashed cliffs of Chapman's Peak and the vast stretch of sand at Noordhoek, it's easy to imagine the delight the first European settlers must have felt when they set eyes on a land with so much beauty and potential.

Three hundred and fifty years have passed since the Dutch turned up clutching ground plans for curvaceously gabled houses, yet the hillsides of the Western Cape are still blazing with brightly coloured spring flowers, while the surf-ringed bays echo to the thump of southern right whales.  History may have taken a few wrong turnings in between, but the past is now an integral part of Cape Town's magnetism.  All over this cosmopolitan city, from the designer villas to the gay-friendly b&bs, in the raucous sports bars and township shebeens, the same question is being phrased by lips of all colours: whither the Rainbow Nation?

Instantly lovable, liberal and outward-looking, South Africa's most welcoming city is offering one answer. Successful tourism doesn't only boost economies, it builds pride, too - and this is what gives Cape Town its unique energy and appeal.  For the first time in its history, this really is the Cape of Good Hope.

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	Special Discount on Military Jet Flights –  get 10% off a flight when booked through us, or have the experience of a lifetime twice and get 15% off.  Go on, make an enquiry. You know you want to. See our Featured Activity page on http://www.capeconcierge.co.za/
What happens if I pull thi...?

Yay! Christmas in Cape Town!

Upcoming Events

Josh Groban, REM and Johnny Clegg in concert...South Africa v. England cricket...arts, surfing and jazz festivals...sailing, paragliding, running, cycling...music, comedy, theatre, opera...parades, carnivals and more...

KIRSTENBOSCH SUMMER SUNSET CONCERTS
Every Sunday 28 November to 3 April 2005
A chance to drink wine and picnic in one of the most spectacular concert venues in South Africa, the stage framed by the backdrop of Table Mountain.

JOSH GROBAN LIVE AT KIRSTENBOSCH
3 & 4 December
The pop/classical singer/songwriter, best known for his appearance in Ally McBeal, performs live in the magnificent setting of Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.  

YSTERPLAAT OPEN DAY AND AIR SHOW
3 - 5 December
This air show regularly attract thousands of enthusiastic visitors and is fast becoming one of Cape Town's show case events.

ALL-AFRICA OPEN PARAGLIDING CHAMPIONSHIPS
5 December
A rare opportunity for members of the public to see serious paraglider pilots competing at one of the world’s best venues.

SPIER SUMMER ARTS FESTIVAL
10 December – 2 April 2005
The annual summer program at Spier Wine Estate celebrates a proudly African line-up, presenting a diverse variety of performances including music, theatre, film, comedy and the famous sunset Christmas carols.

THE GREAT MOSCOW CIRCUS
10 - 19 December 
Rivalled only by the Cirque du Soleil, this circus is regarded as Russia's most famous calling card.

WAVESCAPES SURF FILM FESTIVAL
10 - 18 December
South Africa’s first surf film festival will celebrate 'Surf-Afrikan' beach culture with outdoor showings near the beach in Camps Bay on a giant inflatable screen.

SIMONSBERG FINE WINE & FOOD FAIR
11 - 12 December
Celebrating its 4th year of success, the Simonsberg Fine Wine & Food Fair will present a December holiday weekend of gastronomic and vinous feasting.

TABLE BAY INTERNATIONAL SAILING WEEK
12 - 18 December  
The premier sailing regatta in Cape Town attracts entries from home and abroad - great sailing, great partying. 

BURGER / SANLAM CYCLE TOUR
12 December
One of the top cycling events in the Western Cape, with options of 118km, 72km or 28km routes allowing the whole family to participate.

MOTHER CITY QUEER PROJECT
18 December
The biggest annual costume party in the world - more than 50 djs on 10 dance floors over 24 hours - this event is immensely popular with both gay and straight punters vying to outdo one another with outlandish get-ups. 

VODACOM CLIFTON BEACH CHALLENGE
19 December
Clifton’s trendy 4th Beach plays host once more to this challenge featuring exciting strength, speed and fitness contests between celebrity Springbok rugby stars and the Clifton Beach lifesavers.

JOHNNY CLEGG LIVE
22 December
One of South Africa's most beloved musicians and entertainers, Johnny Clegg returns to Cape Town after his year of touring Europe, America and Australia. Known locally as 'the White Zulu', Johnny and his music have become symbols of South Africa's proud heritage.

NEW YEAR'S EVE CONCERT AT KIRSTENBOSCH
31 December
'Under the Stars' with the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra and 5000 picnickers. 

NEW YEAR'S EVE BASH AT THE WATERFRONT
31 December
Great music by top local performers and loads of other surprises make this the hottest party in town.

KAAPSE KLOPSE (CAPE MINSTRELS CARNIVAL)
2 January 2005
A colourful parade through the streets of the city to welcome in the New Year.

THIRD TEST: SOUTH AFRICA v ENGLAND
2 - 6 January 2005
South Africa take on England at Newlands in Cape Town in the third Test of a five-match series.

CAPE TOWN CARNIVAL
3 - 4 January 2005
Cape Town’s biggest and most raucous carnival sees the city celebrating the advent of the New Year with numerous festivals, competitions and extravagant parades.

SHAKESPEARE AT MAYNARDVILLE OPEN-AIR THEATRE
January and February 2005
An annual event, inspired by the productions in London's Regent Park. On warm summer evenings many theatre-goers begin the evening by picnicking in the park before the show begins.

CAPE TO RIO RACE
Starting 11 January 2005
One of the biggest events of the international sailing calendar, the record for this 3,600 mile crossing stands at 12½ days.

CAPE FEST WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL
9 - 13 January 2005
A five-day musical celebration featuring 36 top South African and international bands performing at the beautiful Mnandi Beach Resort, where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet and Table Mountain provides a dramatic backdrop.

J&B MET
29 January 2005
The Western Cape’s premier horse race.

ONE DAY INTERNATIONAL: SOUTH AFRICA v ENGLAND
6 February 2005
South Africa take on England in this One-Day International at Newlands in Cape Town, the fourth of a seven-match series.

AQUA OPERA
10 February 2005
This annual floating opera spectacle features the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, a massed choir and some of Cape Town’s hottest vocal talent and rising opera stars.

CAPE TOWN PRIDE
18 - 27 February 2005
Nelson Mandela’s new constitution, when he swept away Apartheid and ushered in South African democracy in 1994, included the all important "freedom of sexual orientation" clause.  This 10 day celebration is considered Africa’s Mardi Gras.

NEDERBURG WINE AUCTION - TASTINGS
28 February 2005
A chance for the public to taste the wines on auction in April.

REM IN CONCERT
3 March 2005
The launch of the South African leg of the supergroup’s World Tour to promote their new album ’Around the Sun’.

CAPE TOWN FESTIVAL
6 - 25 March 2005
Featuring the best in original South African and international music, performance, public art, comedy, spoken word and visual arts, this festival provides a rich slice of culture for all generations to enjoy.

CAPE ARGUS PICK ’N’ PAY CYCLE TOUR
14 March 2005
The biggest timed cycle tour in the world. The 105km tour around the beautiful Cape Peninsula takes place every year and attracts over 35,000 entrants from all over the world.

OLD MUTUAL TWO OCEANS MARATHON
26 March 2005 (Easter Saturday)
This popular annual event features a 56km ultra-marathon and, for those who don’t fancy mixing with the professionals, a shorter 21.1km race as well.

THE CAPE TOWN INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL
26 & 27 March 2005
The Cape Town International Jazz Festival (formerly known as The North Sea Jazz Festival) is officially dubbed 'Africa's Grandest Gathering' and boasts an impressive line-up of the world's top jazz artists.

RED BULL DOWNHILL EXTREME RACE
tbc March 2005
An annual event in which international in-line skaters, skate boarders, and street luge pilots fling themselves down the spectacular Kloofnek road leading to Clifton's beaches at speeds in excess of 100km/h. The 1.7km course is one of the most extreme on the international calendar and the event has historically drawn more than 22,000 spectators.

CAPE EPIC MOUNTAIN BIKE RACE
2 - 9 April 2005
Teams of two race along the Garden Route from Knysna to Cape Town.  Much of the route is across stunning private land open only for this event.

NEDERBURG WINE AUCTION
8 & 9 April 2005
Considered one of the top five wine auctions internationally, labels bearing the words 'sold at the Nederburg Auction' are regarded as seals of approval by both licensees and their customers.