QUADBIKING IN THE WINELANDS- ADVENTUROUS WINE TASTING IN STELLENBOSCH AND PAARL

The scenery is breathtaking and learning to ride as quad bike is dead easy.
You will take it slowly through the Vineyards to the top of the hill from where the view of the Vineyards and distant mountains is breath taking.

End off this perfect day of adventure and fun with a wine tasting at a nearby Wine Estate and finish it off with a visit to the De Villiers Chocolate factory for a delicious tasting and sweet ending to the day!

IS SHARK CAGE DIVING REALLY SCARY?

It's FUN for the WHOLE Family!!

The Shark Cage Diving Capital of the World is a little east coast town called Gansbaai, not far from the world famous whale watching spot, Hermanus. It is a mere 2 hour drive from Cape Town.

From the coastline of this small fishing village you will visit SHARK ALLEY, which is home to more Great White Sharks than any other waters in the world.
You can take a Day Trip from Cape Town early in the morning, and return in the late afternoon. So you have to set aside a whole day for this.

You are taken out to Dyer Island, on a big boat fitted with large diving cages which are fitted to the back. As soon as the captain has found the perfect spot the cages are lowered and if there are no immediate signs of sharks, chum is thrown in,  which is a mixture of fish blood and guts. It’s the most tried and tested way of attracting these massive animals to the boat. As soon as the sharks arrive guests are lowered into the cages to view these majestic creatures up close.

They swim only a few centimeters

away from the cage, which is an adrenalin rush for many!
But is it really scary? Most people say NO, it is awe inspiring to see these marvellous creatures up close, yet feeling safe inside your cage.

After the trip, you are welcomed back with some hot soup and sandwiches, and the debriefing will allow you time to see photographs and video clips of your adventure!

CAPE TOWN, A FANTASTIC FOODIE DESTINATION!!

Join me Jacqueline, the Queen of Cape Cuisine, for a foodie adventure in Cape Town.

I’ll show you  the best places and hidden corners to enjoy our diverse and eclectic styles of food and wine.

South Africa is a melting pot of many cultures and this is reflected in our cuisine.

We have Cape Malay, African, European, Artisinal, Gourmet and many exciting dishes for you to try.

We have street food,  markets, casual eateries, fine dining and dining with the best views.

Here are our tours:

On Foot for Foodies- a half day tour

·         Walking Tour of the beautiful historic Cape Town CBD

·         Visit to Coffee Roastery for a cup of their African brew

·         Walk among the colourful houses of the Bo Kaap and sample some typical Cape Malay  snacks

·         Get the taste of Biltong and Droe Wors, SA’s best meaty treat.

·         Try some Bunny Chow, SA’s oldest Food to Go.

·         Optional wine tasting at a City winery

·         Taste Delicious Purist Organic Chocolate

·         Interact with Locals who are passionate about their products

 Full Day for Foodies and Wine Lovers - delicious delights in the City and South

·         Walking Tour of the beautiful historic Cape Town CBD

·         Visit to Coffee Roastery for a cup of their African brew

·         Walk among the colourful houses of the Bo Kaap and sample some typical Cape Malay  snacks

·         Taste Delicious Purist Organic Chocolate

·         Get the taste of Biltong and Droee Wors, SA’s best meaty treat. You’ll get hooked

·         For lunch head out to the picturesque Fishing Village of Kalk Bay for some traditional Fish and Chips

·         Wine Tasting in Constantia, one of the oldest wine areas of the Cape, world renowned for their splended wines.

·         Interact with Locals who are passionate about their products

In the Footsteps of Nelson Mandela Tour- Join Cape by Design Tours as we Visit many Places of our Icon

Cape Town Pays Tribute to Nelson Mandela

 We had a fantastic Concert at the Cape Town Stadium to celebrate Madiba's life. He would have been happy to see the spontaneous and joyous singing and dancing that his memory invoked.

My Personal Journey to sights around Cape Town celebrating Nelson Mandela's Life

Over the last 10 days I was privileged to visit many of the tribute sites to Nelson Mandela in and around Cape Town. There has been a spontaneous and momentous outpouring of grief while at the same time, young and old and people of all races are celebrating his life. These are pics taken from the Drakenstein (formerlyVictor Verster) Prison from where Madiba was released on 11 February 1990.

Bo Kaap or Cape Malay Quarter is one of the most scenic places to take a walk in Cape Town. Sample some authentic Cape Malay cuisine at one of the local eateries.

Tasted some great red wines at Topiary in Franschhoek today. Especially liked the 2007 Shiraz and was sorry to have missed the 2009 MCC which is Sold Out! Jacqui Braunlich being warmed from the inside on a rainy Cape day!

Young White Lions a Delight to Behold

These two young white lion siblings are sleeping in the shade during the heat of the day at Sanbona Wildlife Reserve in the Little Karoo. Their whiteness does not mean they are albinos, but happens due to a recessive gene.   

Spoons for School Feeding

On a recent visit to Siyabulela Primary school in Langa, we discovered that many of the 700 pupils who go to that school depend on the one meal a day they get at school. It is lovingly prepared by the ladies in this photo. The pupils eat in relays of 10 minutes with no dining room or chairs to sit on. Sadly, their budget does not stretch to include spoons for the learners to use. Some of our kind visitors from Canada donated 80 spoons so that there would be enough for each relay. In this pic, the ladies who cook the 700 plus meals per day are showing how happy they are to have received some new SPOONS! 

Walking on Ostrich Egg Shells

Actually it's fine to stand on ostrich eggs as the shells are 2-3 mm thick and they are really large.(equal to 24 hens eggs!)
These are unfertilised eggs, so not to worry - Ma and Pa ostrich were concentrating on looking after the fertilised eggs. Though ostriches are such tough creatures as adults, their babies are very sensitive in the wild up to the age of three months. So, in ostrich farming, the eggs get taken away, hatched in incubators and the chicks get reared away from their parents, in a sheltered environment.

Ostriches Can Swallow Stones

Ostriches have incredibly elastic necks so they can swallow stones. Ricardo is demonstrating this at Safari Ostrich Farm in Oudtshoorn by pulling forward the gullet of Sakkie, the kissable flightless wonder bird. Eating stones helps them digest their food which is mostly lucern pellets but can sometimes include interesting items like nuts, bolts and pieces of plastic.
Ostriches are truly fascinating creatures!

GREAT WHITE SHARKS ARE PLENTIFUL IN FALSE BAY CAPE TOWN

But they do not prey on humans. They sample bite .

The recent Shark attack in Fish Hoek in which a swimmer lost his leg, has highlighted the need to observe the rules and in so doing, remain safe.

The gentleman who was bitten did NOT follow the rules. He ignored all the warning systems and swam in the sea. No one else was swimming in the sea at the time and no one else got bitten.

Our Shark Spotters are doing a great job. If you’re coming to the Cape on holiday, enjoy our beaches and seas. Follow the rules, so these beautiful creatures do not get more bad press!

It's Nice ne in Knysna

A trip to Featherbed Nature Reserve on the Knysna Lagoon is always great; stunning views, beautiful nature, a breathtaking hike and a delicious lunch under milkwood trees.

Many a boat has gone down in the treacherous Heads, but this catamaran did not venture that far, instead rocked on the Featherbed...    

Cape Town Summer is around the corner

The whales are here and the Proteas are in full blossom. Glorious weather for being outdoors!
We are already  welcoming many visitors to our shores!

Cape Town is Really safe for Women Travellers

Cape Town is a really safe place for women to travel around in. In fact, it’s a gal- friendly city. A good tip for accommodation is to stay in one of the many wonderful Guest houses and B and B’s we have all around the Peninsula. There’s a friendly family atmosphere and it’s often more cost- effective than staying in a hotel. (Or you can stay in my cottage, on my family property..very safe)Join one of the many tour operators who have daily tours around Cape Town and the Winelands. Cape Town Tourism have a walking tour of the City every day that you can join. At night you have to take a little more care, just like in any other big city. Your best bet, ask the LOCALS (like ME…born and bred Capetonian..tour guide for 10 years). Their knowledge is always the most valuable. Want to know more?? Email me for plenty tips.. info@tours-capetown.co.za .

Kalahari Safari

We offer a safari experience with a big difference to the semi-arid northern regions of South Africa. It used to be called the Kalahari Gemsbok Park because these magnificent creatures abound.

As the area consists mostly of dry river beds covered in grass, it is open and the game is easy to see when animals come to drink at the water holes.
On a recent tour there, we had wonderful cat sightings, especially of cheetah. These endangered creatures love the open spaces as it is easier for them to hunt there. We were lucky enough to see a cheetah mum with 4 cubs making a hunting attempt. We also enjoyed daily visits to a hyena den where 2 pups, 3 adults and a juvenile were living. There were lions, including a mating pair and plenty of jackals who seem to be active day and night.
At the very end, just as we were about to leave the Park, we saw a leopard mum with 2 cubs, playing in and around an Acacia tree. That was something special!

Accommodation in the Wilderness Camps is in very roomy safari tents built on a deck with great views over the river bed, the trekking route of all the game in the park.

Ask about this tour, it is something so worthwhile and unique.

Xhosa Women delight in Traditional Dress

On a recent township tour, we were entertained by a group of wonderful Xhosa women, in the traditional dress of their culture. They sang and danced for us. They are highly respected elders in their society, whose duty it is to hand down stories in the oral tradition which will be lost without the likes of them.
They have taken much pride in making their colourful traditional costumes. Especially lovely is the beautiful embroidered beadwork.

One of Cape Town's Most Interesting Ship Wrecks

Not far off the well beaten tourist track in the Cape Point National Park, is an easy and picturesque walk to the wreck of the SS Thomas T Tucker. The American Liberty ship, ran aground in thick fog in 1942, while hugging the coastline and trying to avoid the German U boats patrolling the South African coast.
I undertook this walk with a group of American tourists who wanted to see some of the many ship wrecks that lie around the Cape Peninsula.To get to the wreck, we enjoyed a tranquil walk through fynbos, along a deserted beach to see her interesting rusted hulk still relatively well preserved.

Leafless Veld Flower

An unusual flower blooming near Cape Town at the moment, the April Fool. It has no leaves and is inviting insects to come and pollinate it in the Autumn so that it does not have to compete with lots of other plants in the spring.
It's vibrant red colour stands out strongly in its sandy surroundings, these lovely flowers we saw in Hermanus.