The enthusiasm and energy of a new, proud nation comes to life on the streets and in the City Centre of Cape Town in the Western Cape, South Africa. A rich diversity of shopping opportunities, art, music, cuisine, theatre, entertainment and nightlife awaits the visitor. And for the sporty and adventurous, there is something to suit everybody’s adrenaline rush – from all kinds of conventional sports to water sports to helicopter flips.

The beautiful Mother City has so much to offer, but since it is not our intention to present a comprehensive tourism brochure – rather consult the various tourism information bureaus for detailed information – we’ll stick to wetting your appetite with our Travel Information and some highly recommended attractions and things to do:

CASTLE OF GOOD HOPE: Built between 1666 and 1679, this pentagonal fort is the oldest colonial and best preserved structure of its kind in South Africa. Guided tours daily – experience cultural exhibitions, military history and colourful ceremonies, the dungeons, blacksmith, fine wines and Cape Malay cuisine.

THE GARDENS: Established in 1962 by Jan van Riebeeck, the first colonial governor in South Africa, to provide fresh fruit and vegetables to passing ships, the Company Gardens is a green, peaceful oasis in the middle of a bustling modern city, worthy of a stroll and house the SA Museum and Planetarium, the SA Cultural History Museum, the SA Jewish Museum, the SA National Gallery with contemporary works of art.

CRAFT MARKETS: Get a taste of Africa at Green Market Square and the pedestrian walk at St George’s Mall where vendors sell anything from African crafts to clothes, jewellery and books to bric-a-brac. Visit also the craft markets of Greenpoint, Noordhoek and Khayelitsha.

CABLE CAR UP TABLE MOUNTAIN: The summit of Table Mountain is more than 1 000 metres high, provide spectacular views and sports a restaurant, shop, telescopes and walkways.

CAPE MALAY QUARTER: Also called the Bo-Kaap, guided walking tours will give you insight into the influence of the colourful Malay culture on the SA cuisine and architecture in Cape Town.

LONG STREET: Famous for all kinds of fascinating shops selling antiques, collectibles, clothing and books, a vibrant nightlife and good restaurants.

Explore the city on the open-top bus and get to know more about the history and culture of the Mother City.

V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, South Africa

The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town is a working habour that has been turned into South Africa’s most visited tourist attraction. It has over 270 contemporary stores, street entertainers, live music shows at the open air amphitheatre, 11 cinemas, an Imax theatre, 7 hotels, the Two Oceans Aquarium where you can swim with the sharks, boat trips, harbour cruises, helicopter charters, art and craft markets, designer clothes, African souvenirs and jewellery shops, a variety of top restaurants, historic sites, a working brewery – to mention a few.

Robben Island

The departure point for ferries and a tour of the maximum-security prison on Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated for 27 years, is at the Clock Tower.

Things to do in Cape Town Central, South Africa

Visit the V&A Waterfront for excellent restaurants and shopping Visit the Two Oceans Aquarium at the V&A Waterfront Take a trip to Robben Island from the V&A Waterfront Take a harbour sunset cruise from the V&A Waterfront Visit the oldest building in the country, the Castle of Good Hope Spend some time in the historic Company Gardens Visits the craft stalls at Green Market Square for a taste of Africa Explore the Bo-Kaap with its Cape Malay flavour Take the cable car up Table Mountain Take a helicopter trip over the Peninsula Visit Long Street with its antique and book shops Explore the city on the open-top bus Drive the scenic coastal road from Green Point to Chapman’s Peak Hike up Table Mountain Take a charter cruise from the harbour

The Southern Suburbs

Visit Mostert’s Mill, one of only two Dutch windmills in the Cape, in Rosebank Visit Rodes Memorial on the slopes of Table Mountain where antelope roam freely Newlands Stadium and cricket fields Have a picnic in the Newlands Forest with its an amazing tapestry of trees Shop at award-winning Cavendish Square Shopping Centre in Claremont Visit Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden – over 5 000 species of indigenous flora Visit Constantia Valley and the wine estates

Atlantic Coast, Cape Town, South Africa

Do one of the most spectacular scenic drives in the world – the Chapman’s Peak Drive Visit the Green Point craft market on Sundays Stroll along Sea Point Beachfront Promenade Swim in the Olympic-sized swimming pool at Sea Point Visit the four elite beaches amongst the boulders of Clifton Enjoy the view from a restaurant at Camps Bay Visit Llandudno for surfing and scuba diving Tan at Sandy Bay, South Africa’s only nudist beach Visit the Hout Bay harbour with its Yacht Club Marina and Mariner’s Wharf Sunset cruises from Hout Bay harbour Scuba diving, surfing, kite surfing, sea kayaking, deep sea fishing Abseil from Chapman’s Peak Cruise from Hout Bay to see the seals

Peninsula, Cape Town, South Africa

Take a train ride from Simonstown to Muizenberg Swim with the penguins at Boulders Beach in Simon’s Town Visit the Toy Museum and Maritime Museum in Simon’s Town Visit Gemstone Factory in Simon’s Town Visit Just Nuisance’s Grave in Simon’s Town Swim at Fish Hoek beach Snorkel off Sunnycove beach in Fish Hoek Golf at Clovelly Go caving in the mountains near Kalk Bay Browse amongst antique shops in Kalk Bay Visit the old fashioned fishing harbour in Kalk Bay Horse riding at 8 km Long Beach near Noordhoek For excellent surfing, angling, crayfish boat trips visit Kommetjie Visit Cape Point, the Cape of Good Hope nature reserve Take a walk at Cape Point to see the Fynbos (indigenous flora} Visit the ostrich farm – camel rides Walk in Silvermine Nature Reserve Surf at “The Hoek” or walk along the beach at Noorhoek Sunset beach rides – with champagne at Noordhoek Scuba diving, surfing, kite surfing, sea kayaking, deep sea fishing, power boating Blaauwberg Region, Cape Town Metro, South Africa Enjoy the view of Table Mountain from 48 km of white, sandy beaches Top angling spots as well as surfing, wind and kite surfing Shop at Canal Walk, the biggest shopping centre on the continent Sail on the Rietvlei Dam in the Nature Reserve Milnerton Golf Club Visit Sanccob, famous rescue centre for polluted marine birds and penquins. Watch whales (July to September) and year-round dolphin watching at Bloubergstrand Visit Melkbosstrand, the gateway to the West Coast Koeberg Power Station and Nature Reserve Tygerberg Region, Cape Town, South Africa Visit the Grand West Casino Complex with 2 hotels, Olympic sized ice rink, 60 restaurants Take a township tour to Khayelitsha on the Cape Flats Entertainment and sport at the Velodrome Shop at the Tyger Valley Shopping Centre in Bellville The Durbanville Wine Route has six wine estates open for tastings Durbanville Golf Club

Oostenberg Region, Cape Town Metro, South Africa

Oostenberg has six own wine estates with wine tasting and hamper picnics Visit the Tygerberg Zoo, Drakenstein Lion Park and Animalzone Visit the Wijnland Auto Museum – biggest collection of classic and vintage cars in the country Kuils River Golf Club offers an 18-hole course and welcomes visitors Helderberg Region, Cape Town Metro, South Africa Visit the Helderberg Wine Route, starting at Somerset West Visit the Stellenbosch winelands Swim at long, white, safe swimming beaches of Strand and Gordon’s Bay Visit the Helderberg Nature Reserve in Somerset West Visit the Fynbos Biosphere near Betty’s Bay Magnificent coastal scenic Clarence Drive to Rooi Els Watch whales from August to November from Gordon’s Bay Scuba diving, surfing, kite surfing, sea kayaking, deep sea fishing in area Shop at Somerset Mall, one of the biggest shopping malls in the Western Cape Take a drive along the beautiful coastal False Bay road to Muizenberg Visit historic Vergelegen Wine Estate Visit Monkey Town with 24 species or monkeys Golf at Erinvale, Somerset West and Strand Golf Clubs Go for shark diving in Gansbaai further along the coast See the cheetahs at Spier Wine Estate

By: Monica Moser

About the Author:

Yellowstone National Park is one of the best reasons for living in and visiting the United States. The vast natural forest is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna and it’s been preserved so well that pleasant and exciting surprises await the adventurous visitor. If you’re planning a trip to Yellowstone soon, here are some travel tips you can use for your safety and security:

Be aware of prevailing conditions but be ready for anything

Yellowstone is like a whole different world in itself. Conditions vary here, changing easily from calm to stormy within just 24 hours. When traveling to Yellowstone, always check weather conditions in the area and use precautions to ensure your safety for the trip.

Practice defensive driving. The area going to and within Yellowstone is often used by both humans and animals. Be especially aware of distracted drivers, animal crossing and other related incidents. These will result to travel delays, so be very patient.

Bring all necessary gear and supplies

When traveling to Yellowstone, bring all the basics with you in terms of food, water, clothing and survival gear. Having sufficient supply of clean water is essential since water from the park itself is not guaranteed safe. Drinking water from streams, lakes, ponds or creeks that have not been boiled or treated could put you at risk of intestinal infestations and infections.

Even water from thermal pools isn’t safe for consumption. They have been known to cause serious burns in numerous visitors over the years.

As for equipment, think of worst-case scenarios. Bring a tent, weather-resistant clothing and other survival equipment such as lighters, all-purpose knives, flashlights, first aid kits, etc. to ensure your personal safety and protection.

Take care of your trash

Food, food scraps, containers, tissues and other materials that end up in your trash should be disposed of properly. During travel to Yellowstone, be aware that the trash you leave behind could have a negative impact not just on the environment but also on the animal residents of the area.

Think safety, regardless of where you are

When entering Yellowstone, know that you are at the mercy of Nature. Your only defense is correct information and common sense. When traveling to Yellowstone or participating in the numerous activities available there, be aware of animal activity. Bears, for example, are just a few of the natural threats that you have to watch out for. When driving, walking, hiking or camping, be aware of your surroundings and keep an eye out for signs of animal activity that might expose you to danger unnecessarily.

Follow regulations

Yellowstone maintains a strict system for its camps and backcountry areas. Be aware of all regulations that are in place not just to ensure you don’t violate any rules but also for your own personal safety.

Certain activities also require permits. Camping, for example, is allowed only in certain designated areas. Permits for overnight stays have to be obtained personally in advance, so check with the administrative office for information.

Enjoy yourself

Yellowstone is too beautiful to ignore. When traveling, bring a camera to capture the scenic routes and spectacular views. As long as you keep safety and security measures in mind, you can be assured of a very enjoyable trip to Yellowstone again and again.



By: Shawn Collin

About the Author:

Safety and security are always a concern when you travel. Everyday, travelers venture into large metropolitan cities both domestic and international. No matter where travelers go, they will end up in locations where street crime exists. It is even more prevalent in countries where unemployment, poverty, and overpopulation exist. In some countries, a traveler’s watch can equal a few months salary. Often criminals specifically target travelers if they are women, or because if they carry an expensive equipment, and will often not return to prosecute if the criminal is caught.

A person who travels alone, most likely turns to be a victim of the petty crime. Person travelling alone faces more risks when compared to a person travelling with someone or groups. All over the world, we could see travelers facing crimes. We cannot just say that, travelers are targeted only for their jewels or a lump sum of money. Petty crimes take place even for a penny. The most stolen items are cash, jewels, credit cards, mobile phones, cameras, passports and even sometimes your wardrobes. Criminals are wiser than us. At times, a petty crime may end up in losing lives too. So, it is advisable to travel in groups rather than traveling alone. Though losing our money or other belongings may be a great loss losing a passport is worse. While travelling to countries abroad, passport plays a major role to depict our identity.  So, passports have to be kept very safe from getting into the hands of the criminals.

One of the best ways to prevent crime is to visit your own government’s international travel safety information and warnings website. You’ll find up-to-date travel information, details on potential safety issues ranging from pickpocketing to terrorism, even weather warnings. Gather knowledge about latest travel warnings and be alert of your surroundings during your trip. If you are concerned about the safety situation, avoid border cities and unpopulated areas.

When traveling with children, teach them to tell your name, house address and contact numbers, which will be very useful if they get lost or get into the hands of the strangers. But advise them not to pass on this information to casual enquirers or over phone. Don’t leave them alone in crowded places. For toddlers who are yet to communicate clearly, tie an identity tag or card.

In many big cities, you may be approached by strangers asking you your place, your details and so on.  Unfortunately, when you travel alone you have to be wary of people and trusting someone you have just met is a risky business.  You have to remember that is a must.

Finally, the important thing is that, travelers should be bold enough to report to the cops, when they are affected by criminals. In many popular destinations, you could find tourist police who can help you. Don’t get panic in disastrous situations. Traveling not only involves handling risky situations, but also contains lot of delightful experiences.



By: Mysafe travel

About the Author:

If you are planning to go abroad on a vacation, or to take a expedition or travel inside your own country, take safety advice that a provide us to avoid probable dangerous or unpleasant situations in travel; the tips given may be useful especially for beginner tourists.

The other day I overheard a conversation between two women discussing their summer holiday plans. One was telling the other that she had gone to her local travel agent and asked for a cheap package holiday in Spain. The agent had quickly managed to find a holiday that suited and the lady booked it immediately.

The other woman said that she wished she could do the same but had been unable to find a travel agent who could help. Apparently, someone she knew recommended Northern Cyprus to her. The description of its climate, fabulous beaches, beautiful scenery and welcoming local people deeply appealed to her but she had been unable to find any travel agent offering package holidays there. The person who recommended Northern Cyprus to her explained how it was possible to book flights and accommodation online but she felt apprehensive about not going through a travel agent.

I was quite taken aback at hearing this admission of total dependency on travel agents and ignorance of Internet travel sites. After all, this was 2008 in the U.K. where traditional travel agents have long since been marginalised by online travel sites. Yet, as the conversation developed it became apparent that neither woman knew anything about what resources the Internet offers in this respect.

It got me thinking about how many other people there were around who need tips on organising travel online and when I got home I decided to write down the following seven steps for them.

Step 1: Finding out about the travel destination

Open Google and type into the search box, the name of whatever country or general area you want to holiday in, followed by the words “travel information” or “travel guide”. For example; “Spain travel information”. Browse several of the sites your search throws up and then decide which ones give you the best travel tips relevant to your holiday needs.

Step 2: Deciding on the actual resort

Use the best sites you find from step 1 to decide which resort or locality offers you most of what you want for your vacation. For example, localities with secluded beaches or beaches with lots of facilities, resorts that have plenty to keep the children occupied or quiet villages in scenic locations, etc.

Having familiarised yourself with all that you want to know about the resort or locality, ascertain the nearest airports (or other relevant transportation centres).

Step 3: Finding suitable accommodation

When you have found some resorts that satisfy your criteria, look for suitable accommodation in them. This may require typing a new search term into Google because the sites you have looked at so far may not have sufficient detailed information about specific accommodation in a given locality. They may however have some links to other sites that do. If so, check the links out before starting a new search. If you do need to do a new search, the best search term to use would be something like; Name of resort or locality followed by the word “accommodation”. For example if after researching southern Spain, you had decided you liked what you had read about Mojacar as a holiday resort, you would type; “Mojacar accommodation”. Here’s a tip worth remembering: you may need to refer back to the other website pages that you have already opened so keep them open by doing your accommodation search in a new tab. In case you don’t know about using tabs, take a look at your browser tools options and learn how to set your browser up so that you can open new pages in new tabs.

Step 4: Checking cheapest flight availability

When you have ascertained that accommodation exists in your chosen locality, the next step is check out what flights (or other transportation) is available to get you to the resort.

Open another tab on your browser and this time type in the search term, “cheapest flights” followed by the name of nearest airport. If there are other, more distant airports that you would be prepared to consider, you might want to run separate searches for each airport.

Spend time on checking for flights because quite considerable variations in ticket prices exits, not only from flight operator to flight operator but also from one airport to another even when they are more or less the same distance from your departure airport and operated by the same company. Very significant price variations will also be found by trying different departure and arrival dates.

Step 5: Provisionally book accommodation

Assuming that you establish the availability of flights (or other transportation) at the time you want and within your budget, you will be in a position to provisionally book accommodation. Return to the browser tab you left open with the websites providing accommodation details and follow the instructions for contacting the person or organisation offering the accommodation. Sometimes this will be an automatic online process and sometimes you will need to send an email. Submit the dates you have decided upon from the flight availability research. You will not normally be asked for a deposit at this stage but if you are, inform the accommodation owner that you want them to provisionally hold the dates until after you have booked your flight.

Step 6: Booking your flight

Having received confirmation that the accommodation is available for you between the selected dates, return to the website where you found the cheapest flight deal and book your outgoing and return flights. Very occasionally you might be unlucky and the flights on the selected dates are no longer available. If so you will need to select new dates and redo step 5.

Step 7: Confirm Accommodation

Once you have your flight has been booked you are in a safe position to confirm your accommodation booking. Usually, this will require that a deposit is paid, either online or by bank transfer. Either way, the balance is usually paid upon arrival at the accommodation.



By: Stewart Palmer

About the Author:

Ryan asked:


Im 18 years of age and thinking of taking a summer/autumn trip to france. Im not a beachy drink type of person although i like the occasional drink or two, but i would love sight seeing and trips, picture taking, group tours ect. Could you tell me a idea place in france for me to explore for 7 days and could anyone reccomend me any books about things to do in france and places to go. Also would love to have maps of france to explore on cycle hire’s. Anything of the sort of information would be great. Thanks in advance, Ryan.

Olivia asked:


I am going on a school trip to France and I am on the coach for a long time what should I wear?
Thanks
XXXXXX

XxLeannexX asked:


ok im new to all this really, and I normally search my family history by using birth, marriage and death certificates, census and some parish records if they are online.

I want to travel to places where my family come from, like tredegar, to look at the parish records. but im confused by the whole thing, do I just walk in there and ask for records?

i really have no idea can some one help me, and give me tips?

J J asked:


?
I am planning a trip to stock up on GV baccy and some booze, which is cheaper, France or Belgium? When you get there where do you go to get it all. Also some info on the maximum you can bring back legally would be helpful.

also which is the cheapest way of getting there with a car and from where? I am based in s.e england but don’t mind driving anywhere in the country to get there. (dont pay for my own fuel!!!)

First Ascent asked:


Option 1 – Sail from Portsmouth to Bilbao in Northern Spain, ride up through the Pyrenees, the west side of France, around Brittany/ Normandy and sail back Calais to Dover.
Otion 2 – Sail Harwich to Esberg in Denmark, ride throught Denmark, Germany, Holland, Belgium and then again Calais to Dover.

Any experiences/ ideas welcomed.

Oh, will be going May time and have 2 weeks to spare. Will be riding a GSXR 750