South Africa Blog

the Cape Quarter – 72 Waterkant Street, Green Point, Cape Town: Capetonians like to think of the Cape Quarter as Cape Town’s best kept secret!

Home decor, art and artefacts, fashion, beauty, health and lifestyle related stores all delivered in a unique Cape Malay architecture. This is where the best of Cape Town people are drawn together, attracted by the authentic ambience of great restaurants and eateries, shops and offices. This is the essence of Cape Town cool. Cape Quarter’s central piazza and ingenious use of space, as well as its mix of contemporary and authentic design and tenancies, has commendably preserved Cape Town’s historical heritage for modern usage.

Green Point is an area of Cape Town that enjoys the rare luxury of protection from the notorious Cape Doctor – whose south easterly wind buffers the city during the summer months. Many guesthouses, B&Bs, sidewalk cafes and stylish shops keep the area abuzz during the day; at night the atmosphere is charged with energy from the numerous bars and nightspots. This is the trendiest Cape Town suburb – and at the heart of this is Cape Quarter.

Cape Quarter enjoys great proximity to the busy city centre and the popular Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. It is also easily accessed by foot – or via taxi or bus – from Cape Town’s best known Atlantic seaboard beaches and hotels. Secure on-site parking is offered and the building is covered by full time security and CCTV surveillance.

As it is with the locals in the know, Cape Quarter’s relaxed retail environment with its vibey outdoor eateries, authentic hand crafted design and stylish cobbled courtyard will convince you too that Cape Quarter is, in fact, Cape Town’s best kept secret – see you at Cape Quarter soon!

Related Links:
Cape Town Shopping
Cape Town Travel
Cape Town Hotels

Madikwe River Lodge is thrilled to announce that their head ranger, Ignatius Bogatsu, was recently awarded with the prestigious “Madikwe Guide of the Year” Trophy. More than 50 enthusiastic contestants from the Madikwe Game Reserve participated in this national competition. What made it different was the fact that it was the guides who voted amongst themselves to choose the winner. Unanimously, Ignatius came out tops!

In addition to this prestigious award, Madikwe River Lodge took it upon themselves to nominate Ignatius for the ‘Best Tourist Guide in the North West Province’ and here, he took first honours at an official ceremony recently held in Bloemfontein. He will now participate in the final for the ‘Best Guide in South Africa’, which will be held during this year’s Indaba. As one of the nine finalists, he stands a chance of winning R40 000 and a holiday in Europe.

Good luck Ignatius!
(Source: Three Cities Hotels)

Related Links:
Madikwe River Lodge
Madikwe Game Reserve and Lodges
South Africa Game Reserves and Lodges

Article by and © Halls Country House, Drakensberg:

Travelling to South Africa? Well, you’re going to Cape Town, right? And you want to see if you can get the Big 5? Here’s something that’s as good as Cape Town. As good as the Big 5. It’s the Drakensberg Boys’ Choir. There aren’t that many things in South Africa that you can say are unique, but the Drakensberg Boys’ Choir is one of them.

Doors opened in 1965 to the first 20 pupils. The dream was of a multi-racial, multi-cultural Choir School to rival the Vienna Boys. Not in the middle of a history-rich, ancient European city. But in the boondocks. In a beautiful, rural, sparsely populated valley in the Drakensberg Mountains of KwaZulu Natal. The first and only one of its kind on the continent.

Today the annual intake is 100 boys between 9 and 15, and auditions are held nation-wide. The Drakensberg Boys’ Choir tours overseas every year and is internationally recognized as one of the best in the world. And they aren’t just holier that thou brats either - after hours they’re into rapids tubing, abseiling and hiking in their Drakensberg paradise. They work hard and play hard.

Can you think of anything more sublime than crisp, mountain air, majestic mountains, azure skies and natural beauty as far as the eye can see, complemented by the pure tones of counter-tenor harmony? Be prepared for diversity. If you like a good dirge, stay away. The Drakensberg Boys’ Choir has very catholic tastes. The first half of the concert is classical. You might hear Bach or Beethoven or Mozart. The second half can be anything. It could be Queen – Freddie Mercury would have loved it. Or folk, or jazz, or sacred music. Or African harmonies you’ve never heard before that will bring tears to your eyes.

Come with tissues. And a jersey, for the goosebumps. But whatever you do, BE THERE. The Drakensberg Boys’ Choir performs most Wednesdays during term time at 3.30 p.m. There is a world class auditorium on campus. So if you’re coming to South Africa - sure Cape Town’s good and you need the Big 5. But the Drakensberg is great. And you really shouldn’t miss this. Because a Drakensberg Boys’ Choir concert is really rather special.

Brian & Janette Kemp own the award-winning Halls Country House, a 4-star country retreat in the foothills of the Drakensberg in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Visit the official Drakensberg Boys Choir website at: Drakensberg Boys’ Choir.

Related Pages:
Visit the Drakensberg
Explore KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
Visit South Africa

The annual Vintage Tractor Fair in Clocolan is being held this year from the 2nd to the 4th March, 2006. Every year since 1989 a Vintage Tractor and Engine Fair has been held in the village of Clocolan, in the scenic Eastern Free State Highlands. Tractors are sent from as far afield as Natal and the Fair has grown from just 29 tractors in 1989 to 153 in recent years. Thursday opens the events with judging of all classes and best of show.

A parade through the streets of the village on the Friday creates a carnival like atmosphere, whilst such wondrous events as the firing up of the 1902 threshing machine in readiness for a working demonstration makes for an unforgettable experience.

Don’t miss the hand plowing with a team of magnificent Nguni bulls. These spectacular beasts are well worth the visit all on their own!!! There are stalls, horse riding, gymkhana, bars and pubs, and on Saturday nights party time in the Showground Hall with live music and much carousing.

For additional information about the individual events taking place at the Vintage Tractor Fair, accommodation bookings and contact details please visit: Vintage Tractor Fair.

Related Pages:
Amohela Ho Spitskop Country Retreat
Clocolan Accommodation
Free State Accommodation
Visit the Free State, South Africa

South Africans will be rooting for two Oscars this year, as both Charlize Theron and the movie Tsotsi have been nominated for an Oscar in the 78th Academy Awards ®.

Charlize Theron has been nominated in the category “actress in a leading role” for her performance in “North Country”. She plays the part of Josey Aimes, a single mother who is subjected to humiliating sexual harassment after she takes a job at a coal mine. Other actresses nominated in the category are Judy Dench for “Mrs. Henderson Presents”, Kiera Knightley in “Pride & Prejudice”, Felicity Huffman for her perfomance in “Transamerica” and Reese Witherspoon for “Walk the Line”.

The other South African nomination is for Tsotsi, in the “foreign language” film category. Tsotsi will be competing against films from Italy, France, Palestine and Germany. Tsotsi (South African slang for thug, rogue or hoodlum), tells the story of a violent young criminal who finds redemption after he inadvertently abducts a baby during a car hijacking. The film is based on a novel by the famous South African playwright, Athol Fugard. In its North American debut, the film won the People’s Choice award at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Tune in on the 5th March when the Oscars will be announced in Los Angeles.

Related Links:
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
“Tsotsi” – The Official Website
Charlize Theron – The Official web Site