Erin Hartogh – Language Teaching Centre | LTC

Cape Town braai

Erin Hartogh — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 12:20:13 +0000

Traditional braai

A braai (barbecue), like sunny skies and rugby, is one of the main elements of the South African way of life and provides us with a lovely traditional pastime. Cape Town has many different beautiful places to have a braai, just to spend a quiet afternoon with friends or family enjoying a meal together.

Cape Town Braai Spots

There are many braai spots in Cape Town but here are a few to give you an indication of where to go.

Meulwater Wildflower Reserve, Paarl

This is a spectacular place to go with many picnic sites and braai spots. There are also hiking trails that you can use to walk off that boerie roll.

Oudekraal, Camps Bay

This beach/grassy area is situated on the coastal road between Camps Bay and Llandudno. It gets busy on weekends and public holidays, so if you want a good spot you have to arrive early! Oudekraal offers braai facilities with a fantastic view of the ocean. It is situated at Victoria Road and the entrance is R25 per adult, R10 per child, or free if you have a Wild Card.

Silvermine Dam, Tokai

With an excellent view of the fynbos-covered mountains, Silvermine Dam offers stunning picnic and braai spots. During the summer and early autumn, however, no braaiing is permitted because of the high fire risk. Picnics are allowed all year round. The entrance is R40 per adult, R20 per child, and free with a Wild Card.

Cape Town restaurants

Besides the traditional braai experience, Cape Town also offers excellent restaurants and bars such as The Long Street Café, located in Long Street, and Beluga in Green Point. The Gold restaurant is a great traditional African restaurant, which is also highly recommended!

The Big Five

Erin Hartogh — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 12:15:57 +0000

What are the Big Five?

The term Big Five was actually coined by game hunters. The Big Five were among the most dangerous, difficult, and popular animals for big game hunters to hunt.

The list includes the lion, elephant, leopard, rhino, and buffalo. The Big Five have become synonymous with Africa and are seen as legends of the wilderness. Many travellers come to Africa to spot them, and regard their visit to Africa as incomplete if they haven’t seen them. Ain addition the land game, there is also the popular Marine Big Five.

South African safari

A tour to Cape Town is something spectacular. Aside from the many beautiful things to see in Cape Town, there are also safaris around the country. You can go on a trip with a guide or go for a self-drive tour. So, why not travel up north to experience the breath-taking Kruger Park? In this way, you will get the best of everything South Africa has to offer.

Karoo National Park

Set in the Great Karoo, Karoo National Park will bring you a true wildlife experience. In this safari, you will be driving near lions, rhinos, buffalo, elephants, and more. You can take beautiful pictures from the open vehicle you will be sitting in. Known as Cape Town’s most popular day safari, the Karoo National Park will bring you an unforgettable experience. Many species have been relocated to their former ranges, such as the Cape mountain zebra, the brown hyena, and the lion. There is also a wide diversity of plants and small reptiles. This Cape Town safari is a must see destination.

Table Mountain

Erin Hartogh — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 12:10:00 +0000

Table Mountain, also known as Tafelberg in Afrikaans, is the most famous mountain in Cape Town. It is a significant tourist attraction, and many people take the cable car or hike to the top, where you have a beautiful view of the city. From the top you can see:

Lion’s Head
Robben Island
Signal Hill
The Peninsula
Table Bay
The nearby peaks of surrounding mountains, and much more.

Table Mountain Cableway

While you can hike up Table Mountain, getting to the top doesn’t have to be a lot of effort. With the Table Mountain Cableway (a service that has been running for 85 years), you can go gently but quickly to the top. The journey takes a little over 5 minutes and the cable cars go up and down every 10-15 minutes, seven days a week. At the top, there is a network of paths you can take to explore the best lookout points for the most breath-taking view.

Go for a hike

At the upper cable station there are three different hiking trails to start exploring the rest of mountain from. There is a lot of vegetation, with 1460 species of plants and plenty of insects, birds, and lizards to be seen.

Table Mountain Retail

Once you get to the top, you may get hungry. Never fear, there is a restaurant offering yummy food and drinks, snacks, desserts, and wines. You can also pack a tasty picnic to enjoy at the Table Mountain National Park. For mementos of your glorious trip, browse the curio shop.

The V&A Waterfront

Erin Hartogh — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 12:00:50 +0000

The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is located in the heart of Cape Town’s hardworking harbour and has great views of the Atlantic Ocean, Table Mountain, and Table Bay. With more than 400 retail outlets, it is one of the most popular places to go shopping in Cape Town! From jewellery and fashion to homeware, electronics, and more, everything you want can be found at the V&A Waterfront. But its beauty is more than skin deep – The Waterfront is also home to a variety of museums and historical sights.

History

Jan van Riebeeck built a small jetty in 1654 to establish a refreshment station for the Dutch East India Company. This was the very beginning of today’s V&A Waterfront. In 1860, Prince Alfred began construction of the harbour, the second son of Queen Victoria. Many think the ‘A’ in V&A comes from the name of Queen Victoria’s husband, but it actually comes from the name of her son.

H2: Attractions

The Wheel

The V&A Waterfront has a lot to offer! Spectacular views of Cape Town, Table Mountain, and Robben Island can be seen from The Cape Wheel, which resembles the London Eye. The Cape Wheel takes you on a 15 minute ride, up to 40 metres above the ground, and operates 7 days a week.

The Clock Tower

The V&A Waterfront Clock Tower is a historic landmark with great views from the top. It used to function as the original Port Captain’s office. The Clock Tower is definitely worth a visit. Besides the opportunities for shopping, you can also visit the Diamond Museum here!

The Two Oceans Aquarium

The Two Oceans Aquarium, located at the V&A Waterfront, is a must-see activity for locals and tourists. You can see over 3000 marine creatures, including turtles, sharks, penguins, and sea horses.

The Waterfront has a lot more to offer beside these great activities. When you’re tired out from shopping and exploring, relax with a cocktail at the Shimmy Beach Club.