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Featured
Why Rob Vember loves Cape Town
Rob Vember is a radio DJ and proud Capetonian. He grew up in Cape Town and studied in Grahamstown, where, working at the campus station, he was bitten by the radio bug. Returning to the Mother City to join the DJ line-up on Heart FM, he then made the move to Johannesburg to become part of the 5FM team, where he has been for the last few years. He recently made the move back home to continue presenting his weekday show from 5FM’s Cape Town studios. We asked him what he loves about the city. -
Featured
Eat, shoot, share and win at the V&A Waterfront
Fazielah Williams
What do you get when you combine gourmet food and flash photography in an inspirational seaside city? Why, the Discover Delicious winter campaign at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, of course! -
Featured
Facebook Feedback Friday: your plans for Father’s Day in the Mother City
Bring your father to the Mother City this weekend and celebrate! We asked the members of our Facebook page, I ♥ Cape Town, what they’ll be doing this Father’s Day. Here’s a selection of some of their responses. -
Featured
Liezel van der Westhuizen‘s top reasons to #LoveCapeTown City Breaks
Fazielah Williams
She’s celebrating 1 000 days in the Mother City on Tuesday 18 June, 2013 and from her numerous photos, social media posts and on-air shout-outs, it’s clear for all to see that media personality Liezel van der Westhuizen loves Cape Town.
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Cape Sunset – Flickr pic of the day
This beautiful sunset was captured by our Cape Town. Live it. Love it. group member Sonja Muller.
“I’ve lived in or near Cape Town for most of my life. You’d think I’ve seen all there is to see, right? Wrong!”
Cape Town’s Yebo Gogo – Flickr pic of the day
This photograph of Cape Town’s “Yebo Gogo” was taken by our Cape Town. Live it. Love it. group member Evelyn Lyle.
Evelyn says, “I took this picture in an informal settlement in Langa a few months ago.”
Hout Bay blues – Flickr pic of the day
This beautiful photo of boats in Hout Bay Harbour was taken by our Cape Town. Live it. Love it. group member Corrie Du Plessis aka corneliq.
Corrie says, “I’m from Tzaneen, a large town situated in the Mopani district of the Limpopo province in South Africa. I recently visited Cape Town with my brother; we both have a passion for photography.”
Table Mountain tops Everest
Photo courtesy Warren Rohner
Table Mountain is one step closer to being named one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. South Africa’s iconic mountain – the country’s only official nominee – has been voted as one of the top 77 sites selected from over 261 participants from around the globe.
The much-loved landmark beat fellow category contenders Mount Everest, K2 and Mount Fiji in round two of the international competition, which relied solely on votes from the public. Table Mountain needed to be ranked in the top 11 of its category, mountains and volcanoes. Other categories include seascapes, lakes, islands, ice formations, waterfalls and forests.
Practising ubuntu in the Mother City – a Cape Town Tourism photo essay
The philosophy of ubuntu – humanness – explains a lot about African thinking and behaviour. It can be illustrated in the following way: if you have two cows, and the milk from the first cow is sufficient to feed you and your family, ubuntu requires you to give the milk from your second cow to those who need it. Ubuntu doesn’t require you to give away the cow – only what you can give, while still keeping enough for yourself.
The philosophy is about caring and sharing – your time, your skills, who you are and what you can do for your community.
Hout Bay flora – Flickr pic of the day
This gorgeous view of the Cape’s flora was taken by our Cape Town. Live it. Love it. group member Brian Allen aka brianmka.
Brian says, “The picture was from Chapman’s Peak Drive near Hout Bay. Even though the road was closed, we made it as far as we could, and still saw some beautiful sights.”
A tour of Green Point Stadium
Thanks to Aslam Levy from Cape Town Tourism, I had the pleasure of taking a VIP tour of Cape Town’s new 2010 World Cup Green Point Stadium.
Family escapes in the Cederberg
Photo courtesy raramuridesign
The Bushmans Kloof wilderness reserve and retreat is offering “Family Affair” Bush Breaks this winter. Bushmans Kloof is in the Cederberg and has one of the world’s largest open-air rock art galleries.
Children get to explore these (among all the other discoveries of nature) during the Family Affair escapes offered during school holidays.
Orange-breasted sunbird on Table Mountain – Flickr pic of the day
This well-framed picture was captured by our Cape Town. Live it. Love it. group member Tomas Svensson aka laser-tomas.
Tomas says, “I really think Table Mountain was one of the top places to see during my visit to South Africa. “
Cape Town to be unveiled at National Wedding Show in London, October 2 – 4 2009
Photo courtesy Jan Theron Photography
With its breathtaking landscapes, stunning venues (think white beaches and green winelands), and superbly equipped “events” industry, there are few better cities in the world in which to have a fairytale wedding than Cape Town.
Cape Town Tourism, in conjunction with Celebration House – Cape Town’s unique wedding information centre – will be promoting the beautiful Mother City as the perfect wedding and honeymoon destination at the National Wedding Show in London in October 2009.
Why Cape Town is the best place to be in 2010
Camps Bay Beach is one of the many beautiful beaches Cape Town has to offer. Photo courtesy Peter aka zug55
The beautiful landscapes, the friendly people, the fascinating history, the rich and diverse culture, not to mention the world-class wine – what’s not to love about the Mother City?
Add to all this the chance to watch a World Cup match in the new Green Point Stadium and you’ll be hard pressed to find a reason to stay away!
Exciting tours for kids this winter
Photo courtesy Will Graham
Getting into the gear and a great kids to-do guide
Email: eli@capetownkids.co.za
Website: www.capetownkids.co.za
Ubuntu Festival celebrates diversity and Mandela
July 18 will see the launch of Mandela Day, a celebration of the life and work of South Africa’s beloved former president. The event coincides with Mandela’s 91st birthday and is organised by 46664 and the Nelson Mandela Foundation. According to www.mandeladay.com, the global event is an opportunity for citizens of the world to “to recognise their individual power to make an imprint and change the world around them”.
Events that celebrate Mandela’s legacy will be held across the globe on July 18, with New York City as the centre of all activity.
Cape Town. Live it. Love it. Winter Competition – latest entries
Here are a few of the latest entries for our Cape Town. Live it. Love it. Winter Competition.
Enter this competition and stand a chance to win an iPod Nano! All you have to do is join our Cape Town. Live it. Love it. Winter Competition group and add your photo to the group pool.
Beta Beach, Camps Bay – Flickr pic of the day
This vivid landscape was captured by our Cape Town. Live it. Love it. group member Frame Muller aka flamed.
Frame says, “Cape Town is a photographer’s dream. It has a range of landscapes and subjects rarely found in other parts of the world.
“The light in Cape Town is something special too and when I’m photographing on vacation, I always make a point of being out around sunset.”
Hip hop dance show on at City Hall
Hip hop fans should get to the Cape Town City Hall on July 16 and 17 for an urban dance production called Walking in the Footsteps of Legends.
The show, choreographed by local organisation Renovatio Dance, starts at 20h00 and takes the audience on a journey from the past to future hip hop legends.
Lots for Cape Town kids to learn and enjoy this winter
Photo courtesy mallix
Inside a world-famous operation
Heart of Cape Town Museum (www.heartofcapetown.co.za)
Tel: +27 (0)21 404 1967 or +27 (0)76 461 5449
Jazz jams and football fun at Ubuntu Festival
Cape Town Tourism is proud to be a partner of the inaugural Ubuntu Festival, taking place from July 13-19 at Mandela Rhodes Place in Wale Street.
We believe that it is a wonderful platform to celebrate Cape Town’s unique culture and lifestyle in the run-up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup. It shares the goals of our Citizen Awareness Campaign: uniting people and celebrating our diversity.
Join the power grid in Cape Town at ISH 2009
Cape Town International Convention Centre, photo courtesy Paul Watson
From August 24 to 28 this year, local and international delegates will descend upon the Cape Town International Convention Centre to attend the 16th International Symposium on High Voltage Engineering (ISH). Organised by some of South Africa’s leading universities, the five-day event will bring researchers and engineers together for discussions and presentations.
Organiser Jan Reynders says on the symposium website, www.ish2009.org, that the event has stimulated his work and provided him with “a network of men and women who willingly served as mentors and guides”. He hopes that the 2009 ISH delegates will, like him, benefit from their involvement and participation in the symposium.
Hout Bay view – Flickr pic of the day
This stunning landscape was taken by our Cape Town. Live it. Love it. group member Paul Tosio.
Paul says, “Hout Bay (meaning Wood Bay) is so named because of the forests early settlers found there – some still visible in the extreme upper right-hand corner of this picture. This proved an invaluable source of wood for ship repairs, carpentry etc. “
Fun for kids at Noordhoek Farm Village
Photo courtesy Rob Wallace
Safe and very kid-friendly, Noordhoek Farm Village is close enough to Cape Town to make a day of it.
Three of the restaurants in the village offer children’s menus, wide-open spaces to run around in, a safe playground, an educational worm farm and – on top of everything – Noordhoek Farm Village offers free kids activities every Saturday between 10h30 and 12h30. These events keep the kids entertained with environmentally based, fun educational programmes and activities.
Cape Town meditation – Flickr pic of the day
This beautiful sunrise was captured by our Cape Town. Live it. Love it. group member Darby Sawchuk.
Darby says, “Last year, I was in Cape Town for a couple weeks on a product shoot with work. It was a hectic schedule which left almost no time for seeing the city. That was a bit of a shame since Cape Town is a captivating place, with a lot to explore.”
Mountain biking at Tokai – Flickr pic of the day
Mountain biking, a fast-paced sport, is hard to capture on camera. But our Cape Town. Live it. Love it. group member Eric Palmer has shot this beautifully.
Eric says, “I was asked to get some shots for Morewood Bikes, a local cross-country bike company. One of my good friends, Pierre van der Merwe, is sponsored by them and rides like a machine.”
Hout Bay fishing boats – Flickr pic of the day
Playing on reflections, this amazing picture was captured by our Cape Town. Live it. Love it. group member Peter G Hall.
Peter says, “As a photographer and artist living in the Johannesburg area, I have only recently started turning my attention to the Western Cape and all it has to offer.”
More exciting activities for Cape Town’s kids this winter
Noordhoek Beach, photo courtesy Damien du Toit
Enchanted Garden
If you want an escape that is close to home but far from your everyday life then head for Enchanted Garden, an exclusive chalet and cottage on a spacious property at the foot of Chapman’s Peak in Noordhoek. Enchanted Garden is close to the magnificent 7km (4mi) Long Beach stretch with its breathtaking scenery. Over and above the quaint country atmosphere, the Noordhoek area has a lot to offer kids, including restaurants (try the child-friendly Noordhoek Farm Village), a shopping mall (with movies and a Spur), horse-riding and (in neighbouring Kommetjie) camel rides.
Muizenberg sunrise – Flickr pic of the day
This sunrise scene was captured by our Cape Town. Live it. Love it. group member Koeshke.
Koeshke says, “If you’ve lived in Cape Town for many years, you tend to become quite blasé about the natural wonder that we are fortunate to live in – until you start looking at it through the eyes of a tourist. Fortunately for us, we have many overseas visitors who force us to take a fresh look at the world around us.”
Langa township: an insider’s look – a Cape Town Tourism photo essay
Solo Photo Book Month (SoFoBoMo) is an online organisation encouraging photographers worldwide to create a book over a period of one month. Entries are submitted for judging by the organisers and the successful applicants have their books published online. Cape Town. Live it. Love it. group member Paul Perton registered his book online and was one of the 212 successful applicants out of 884. Paul’s book features Cape Town’s Langa township – see below for an extract. To see the full book please follow this link.
JZ (Jacob Zuma), now President of South Africa, grins over Langaʼs main road junction. In the background are Athloneʼs chimneys and cooling towers and behind them, Devilʼs Peak and Table Mountain.
Plenty for Cape Town’s kids to do this holiday
Photo courtesy Guy Frankland
The Cape schools’ winter holidays start on June 26, 2009. Parents who are bracing themselves for their offspring’s low indoor boredom threshold should consider some of these fun options to keep little minds alive and happy in the fresh air and inside.
Snowboarding in Ceres
Location: Matroosberg Nature Reserve, Ceres
Distance from Cape Town: about three hours’ drive
Vehicle: 4x4 required
Kit: snowboards, boots and obvious snow gear – gloves, hats, jackets and snow pants – and don’t forget lunch and plenty of liquids.
Cost: tank of petrol, R50 per person for entrance into Nature Reserve and R250 per vehicle.