Welcome to the second issue of The Peninsula. Do share it with friends to help us grow the readership. Don't you have 10 friends who may be interested in this content? To make sure it is not rejected as spam or diverted to your junk mail folder, please add newsletters@capeinfo.com to your address book. The Peninsula is published by CapeInfo and focuses on the area south of Table Mountain – from Hout Bay to Observatory and Gugulethu and south to Cape Point. We work with an open-ended list of partners and, in this respect, we must thank Cape Town Tourism for their really great content. (CTT is the largest member-based tourism organisation in the Western Cape and should not be confused with Provincial Government's embattled Cape Town Routes Unlimited, which has made headlines recently. For the low-down on that, make sure you are subscribed for CapeInfo's next newsletter.)
We welcome contributions to the content. We'd especially love to publish news snippets from the various Friends organisations ... of Tokai Forest, Constantia's Green Belts, Silvermine, Liesbeek, etc. If you're interested in advertising, see the notes at the end.
Lastly, we'd love to hear your comments on the newsletter. Click here or the link at the end to have your say and see what others have to say.
Civic association database
As chairperson of South Peninsula may I welcome this new addition to the media dealing with our subcouncil area, which stretches from Tokai southwards to Cape Point and from Muizenberg westwards to Noordhoek. Its long coastline has many desirable beaches and other desirable tourist amenities. The mountains, roads, rail and some say even oceans meet within our boundaries. We are home to many different communities of all colours, nationalities, economic status, occupations and ages. It is arguably the most beautiful part of Cape Town and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors regionally, nationally and internationally.
Alongside the magnificence of our environment we have major challenges such as road and services infrastructure, limited work opportunities, housing shortages, fires and other threats to the environment. Fortunately we have many concerned residents and organisations who can, and do, help the City of Cape Town address these challenges. Under Mayor Zille, many decision making powers are being delegated to subcouncils, which are also the main vehicles for public participation. In order to increase the effectiveness of our communication I urge all civic organisations active in our area to register on our database. While we prefer email contact we also will use other methods where necessary. Please direct your input to Faith at tel: 021 784-2001 fax: 021 782-1185 or email: SandiswaFaith.Mankayi@capetown.gov.za Councillor Demetri Qually
News from Cape Town Tourism
Every Dog has its Day! April 1 sees a commemorative celebration for Able Seaman Just Nuisance’s 70th birthday with a parade of Great Danes through Simon's Town, a blessing of the dogs and the laying of a wreath at his statue on Jubilee Square. Just Nuisance, the great dane who was the darling of the British Royal Navy in the 1940's is a well recognized and much loved icon of the naval town of Simon's Town. 021 786 8440.
Part of the Hoerikwaggo trail – this is the view from the top of Constantiaberg down to Hout Bay
Hoerikwaggo Trail
For hardcore hikers, phase one of the Tip to Top Hoerikwaggo trail, the Orangekloof Trail, is available for a one night/two day hikes and takes hikers from the Silvermine area, part of the Cape Floral Kingdom along the Table Mountain Chain and into the restricted, exquisite Orangekloof area. From Orangekloof it's via Disa Gorge and a final trip down the mountain via cable car. 021 465 8515
Relax amongst the Giants!
Nature lovers and families will enjoy a visit to the Tokai Forest Arboretum. The Arboretum was established in 1885 and is a proclaimed National Monument. Thousands of visitors have enjoyed the majesty and quiet where a variety of trees provide wonderful shade from the harsh summer sun. It is a refreshing change and an opportunity for some holiday "time-out"! 021 712 7471
A head for Heights?
Rejuvenate and revitalize at the Slangkop Lighthouse, Kommetjie... Grab a group of friends and arrange a tour of the tallest cast iron lighthouse on the South African coastline, while you are getting your breath back, enjoy the seaside labyrinth and then go on to lunch at the seaside boma style restaurant at Soetwater for an informal but delicious offering of traditional Cape seafood. 021 787 9140.
Some Medical Musings!
The first medical school in SA was established at the University of Cape Town in 1912. The first heart transplant in the world was performed at Groote Schuur Hospital in 1967. The Transplant Museum at Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory will give the visitor a fascinating insight into this groundbreaking operation. 021 404 5232
Surf's Up!
This invigorating sport is growing in popularity throughout the world – just check out all the celebrities spotted on surfboards! Surfers Corner, Muizenberg, is the "nursery" for novice surfers and a number of operators situated in the beachfront area, are only too happy to share their knowledge and expertise. They'll get you "up and riding" before you know it! Don't worry about sharks – the successful Shark Spotters programme is having great success in keeping our bathers and surfers safe! 021 787 9140
Go to Gugs!
Grab a registered tourist guide and head for Gugulethu, one of the oldest townships on the Cape Flats. Mzoli's, the local butchery-cum-restaurant pumps over the weekend and socialites and locals rub shoulders at this happening place. Be sure to visit the Visitor Information Centre first (Mon–Sat), for a chat about the area's history and be sure to leave with some unique local craft. The Centre will be happy to organize an overnight stay at a local B&B – an opportunity to meet and mingle the local community should not be missed! 021 637 8449
The Hills are Alive...
Whether it’s the Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts or a dose of excellent music and theatre at the Baxter Theatre, Rondebosch, you don't have to travel far at all to enjoy our superb local talent. South African College of Music has a series of music concerts running at the Baxter until the 27th March and a host of Cape artists are exhibiting at Kirstenbosch from the 4–6 April. The settings are beautiful – enjoy the fabulous architecture of UCT's Baxter Theatre or the magnificent grounds of Kirstenbosch.
Hout Bay Arts & Craft Festival The first Hout Bay Music, Dance, Arts & Craft Festival runs from 29–31 March 2007 at the one & only Hout Bay Amphitheatre.
The Festival is part of a responsible tourism management project initiated via the local Cape Town Tourism visitor information centre.
The project plays a pro-active role in maximising the benefits of tourism to all communities of Cape Town – and this of course especially refers to the communities of Hangberg & Imizamo Yethu in Hout Bay.
One of the objectives of this project is to expose the Amphitheatre, which is a non-profit partially open-air theatre conveniently tucked-away on the premises of the Mainstream Shopping Mall. The big pull for this undertaking is to grow tourism commercially through pooled resources, partnerships and innovative business practises leading to the development of original, dynamic and relevant products for the interested tourist market.
The Festival has an entry fee of R50. Further info from the Cape Town Tourism office in Hout Bay; Tel: 021 791 8380 or www.tourismcapetown.co.za/capetownevents
Fireside chat
The Cape Town's erratic weather is still too warm, you may say for a fireside chat – but Noma Nika of Imizamo Yethu has lots to tell about her journey up Mount Kilimanjaro as well as her latest feat reaching the peak of Mount Aconcagua in Argentina.
From humble beginnings, this fascinating lady has much to share about her & her fellow mountaineer's experience at the Hout Bay Museum's Fireside Chat, 29 March @ 18h30. Cover charge at the door. Tel: 021 791 8380
Cape Point Lighthouse
It's time to find out more about the Cape Point Lighthouse and make use of the Cape Point weekender package, which runs to the middle of December.
Enjoy a magnificent breakfast at the Two Oceans Restaurant, a return trip on the Flying Dutchman funicular and the entrance at Cape Point. Pay for one package at the gate and get the second package FREE. Valid for SA residents only for entrances before 10h00 on Fridays to Sundays. Conditions apply. Discounts for children, pensioners and Wild Card Holders.
The current lighthouse and the first lighthouse which has been restored.
The present lighthouse was commissioned on 11 March 1919, at a site 87 metres above sea level. The ceremony must have been quite impressive – the light was lit at sunset on 11 March 1919 by Miss Thurl Cooper, the three year old daughter of H.C. Cooper, the designer and builder of the lighthouse.
Conditions must have been difficult in those faroff days for construction – remember the modern equipment of today was not available, so these lighthouses really were feats of engineering!
That's a person standing on the pinnacle that had to be blasted away to provide a platform for the new lighthouse.
Work on the construction of the lighthouse started in 1913 and dynamite was used to blast an area clear to accommodate two corners of the foundation. The other two corners were built on concrete buttresses carried up from a rocky ledge several metres below. A kilometre-long tram track had to be excavated and laid to convey material down a cliff, across the saddle and then picked up by a crane and lowered vertically over a cliff face for 46 metres. A trolley was then used to cart the stone to the site. The same method was adopted to transport the lanternhouse, optic equipment and diesel generator to the site.
A larger quantity of material was also brought in by boat and dragged or carried up the face of the cliff. As can be expected, the adverse weather conditions, especially the south-easter greatly influenced the rate of work and the lighthouse took two years to complete. Did you know, however, that this one is not actually the original? Let's go back in time as there is much history attached to this one.
The original lighthouse was an iron tower erected on the highest point, 248 metres above high water. It was inaugurated on 1 May 1860 and operated until 10 March 1919. Although it was suggested as early as 1816 that a lighthouse should be erected, it was not until 1st May 1860 that this structure and light were commissioned. The lighthouse was not only to guide mariners around the peninsula, but also to guide vessels coming into False Bay to take up safe anchorage.
Unfortunately, however, the mist and cloud conditions resulted in that the light was obscured for about 90 hours each year, and the new lighthouse was therefore built lower down the mountain on a spur called Diaz Point. The commissioning of the new lighthouse in 1919 ended the useful life of the original lighthouse and the lanternhouse and optic were removed.
What's on
This is a selection of some of the events on CapeInfo's events calendar. Click here to see all the details and much more. (If you want to add an event, click here.)
Venue
Dates
Title
Theatre
Kalk Bay Theatre
– 7 Apr
The Dog's Bollocks
Kalk Bay Theatre
20 Mar
Theatresports
Baxter Theatre Centre
20 Mar – 14 Apr
Suip!
Kalk Bay Theatre
20 Feb
Theatresports
Baxter Theatre Centre
5 Mar – 24 Mar
Ikhwezi Community Theatre Festival
Kalk Bay Theatre
27 Mar
Theatresports
Kalk Bay Theatre
3 Apr
Theatresports
Children & Families
Baxter Theatre Centre
7 Mar – 14 Apr
Little Red Riding Hood
Tokai
17 & 18 Mar
SPCA Mutt of the Year Dog Show
Baxter Theatre Centre
24 Mar
Scazi Love
Lectures & Workshops
Stepping Stones
– 24 May
Meditation course for recovery & growth
La Scala, Cavendish Square
28 Mar
Successful Singles Business Network
Hout Bay
28 Mar
Hout Bay Business Network
Music – popular
Kirstenbosch
18 Mar
Appletiser Summer Sunset Concert - The Rudimentals
Thought would quickly speed-read through this but found myself completely absorbed by the catchy and compelling content. Gave me the opportunity to be a "virtual visitor" to my own home town. You may like to consider displaying first paragraph of some of the longer articles, with a "read more" click.
Quinton Conroy says:
March 18th, at 8:42 AM
Thanks for an amazing newsletter. Very informative and makes great reading.
Thanks and keep it up.
Quinton
Rosemary Hedges says:
March 17th, at 21:16 PM
If you can read it, it is interesting and informative. However, the print is so small as to make it extremely difficult to read. Merely increasing the font to 10 solves this problem.
capeinfo says:
March 16th, at 16:12 PM
When you submit your comment, it will appear here immediately.
April 1 sees a commemorative celebration for Able Seaman Just Nuisance’s 70th birthday with a parade of Great Danes through Simon's Town, a blessing of the dogs and the laying of a wreath at his statue on Jubilee Square. Just Nuisance, the great dane who was the darling of the British Royal Navy in the 1940's is a well recognized and much loved icon of the naval town of Simon's Town. 021 786 8440.
The first Hout Bay Music, Dance, Arts & Craft Festival runs from 29–31 March 2007 at the one & only Hout Bay Amphitheatre.
The Festival is part of a responsible tourism management project initiated via the local Cape Town Tourism visitor information centre.
The original lighthouse was an iron tower erected on the highest point, 248 metres above high water. It was inaugurated on 1 May 1860 and operated until 10 March 1919. Although it was suggested as early as 1816 that a lighthouse should be erected, it was not until 1st May 1860 that this structure and light were commissioned. The lighthouse was not only to guide mariners around the peninsula, but also to guide vessels coming into False Bay to take up safe anchorage.
