Cape Province People & Culture
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Camps Bay, Cape Province, South Africa
Great beach near the center of Cape Town, great cafes, resturants and people
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Simon's Town, Cape Province, South Africa
Things about Simon’s Town
By Michael Jackson The town officially called Simon’s Town, but often referred to as Simonstown, was originally named Simon’s Vlek after Simon van der Stel, the Dutch governor of the Cape Colony between 1677 and 1699, who surveyed the bay east of Cape Town in 1687 and earmarked it as a safe winter harbour during the months of May to September for which it was finally proclaimed in 1741.
Progress may have come slowly to Simon’s Town, but it has certainly left its mark. The town grew rapidly when it became a Royal Naval Base and the home of the South Atlantic Squadron under the second British occupation of the Cape in 1806, thanks largely to the construction of a huge man-made sandstone breakwater. One of the tasks of this squadron was the care of a certain Napoleon Bonaparte during his exile at St. Helena Island some 1200 miles away in the South Atlantic Ocean. Admiral Lord Nelson himself is also said to have come ashore from his ship to be nursed through an illness in the late 1770s, on the first of his two visits, long before the British occupation. Over 300 ships were repaired at Simon’s Town during the Second World War, and the completion of the modern Simon's Town harbour and the Selborne dry-dock took place by 1910. When in 1957 the Naval Base was finally handed over to the South African Government, at least 125 Allied ships had been sunk by the Germans, Japanese and Italians, in relatively close proximity to Simon’s Town. Situated on the eastern side of the Cape Peninsula on the shores of False Bay, Simon’s Town remains an important naval base to this day, and the town which rises steeply above the harbour up the mountainsides is rich in both architectural and natural beauty, as well as Cape history and strange legends and tales. A famous resident of the town was Able Seaman Just Nuisance, RN, the only dog ever to be enlisted in the Royal Navy, to whom a statue has been erected in Jubilee Square. The sailors' had a favourite Great Dane who was a resident in the town, and request was sent to the British parliament asking for him to be enlisted in the Navy. Permission was granted and the dog was brought to the Recruiting Officer, who inquired: “Name?” “Nuisance, Sir”, the sailor replied. “First name?” “Just Nuisance, Sir,” the sailor stated, giving birth to a great legend. Peopled with many descendants of the world’s sailing and exploring nations, as well as many slave families from the 17th century, and many of South Africa’s indigenous people’s who were drawn to the area from across Southern Africa, Simon’s Town has a rich and multicultural heritage, although it does somewhat resemble an old and quaint Victorian seaside town today. Admiralty House on St. George’s, originally a private dwelling, dates from 1814 as does the Wesleyan Chapel which was built in 1828 and represents the oldest of its type of church in South Africa. Both are said to be haunted by several different ghosts! An interesting 17th century Muslim Kramat (or grave) was discovered among the trees on a terrace above Runciman's Drive in the 1800s. Whoever is interred in the Kramat may be unknown, but its location appears to have a strange spiritual aura. Muslims still hold the site as 'Moestajap', a word used to express inexplicable spiritual happenings. Another interesting building is the Dutch East India Company Hospital with three front-facing gables. Constructed on the mountainside above the Residency in 1764, it was here that author and playwright Edgar Wallace served as a medical orderly in the late 1890s. Robert Brown, generally regarded as one of finest figures in the history of British botany, called at Simon’s Town during 1801, where, for the first time, he saw members of South Africa’s national flower, the Proteaceae, growing in their natural habitats. On returning to London in 1805, Brown began assembling a major monograph on the species, which formed the basis of his work: 'On the Proteaceae of Jussieu'. This great work embodies not only a revised classification of the whole family Proteaceae but also a monograph of the genus Protea itself, in which thirty-nine species were recognized. The town has several museums which are worth visiting. Simon's Town Museum highlights events in the development of Simon's Town through the centuries. The South African Naval Museum in the Mast House (1815) alongside the Simon's Town Museum, displays models of ships and related maritime events. The Heritage Museum in Amlay House on King George Street, also worth a visit, features many aspects of the Muslim community, and the nearby Mosque is absolutely beautiful. Boulders Beach, a few kilometres to the south of Simon's Town is reputed to be amongst the very best beaches in the Cape, and is internationally renowned for being home to one of only three South African colonies of the African (Jackass) Penguins. The False Bay Yacht Club is conveniently situated adjacent to the Simon's Town Waterfront Centre in the town. Boat charters and sea kayaking are some of the many activities offered from the centre, and professionally managed and run deepsea fishing and whalewatching charters are available. The area deservedly draws many tourists, and if you are travelling to Cape Town it should be a ‘must-see’ on your itinerary. Good restaurants, pubs and places to stay abound. Tourism enquiries may be directed to the Simon’s Town Tourism Office on St. George’s Street, telephone (+27 21) 786 5798 or on via email: simonstown@tourismcapetown.co.za
By Michael Jackson The town officially called Simon’s Town, but often referred to as Simonstown, was originally named Simon’s Vlek after Simon van der Stel, the Dutch governor of the Cape Colony between 1677 and 1699, who surveyed the bay east of Cape Town in 1687 and earmarked it as a safe winter harbour during the months of May to September for which it was finally proclaimed in 1741.
Progress may have come slowly to Simon’s Town, but it has certainly left its mark. The town grew rapidly when it became a Royal Naval Base and the home of the South Atlantic Squadron under the second British occupation of the Cape in 1806, thanks largely to the construction of a huge man-made sandstone breakwater. One of the tasks of this squadron was the care of a certain Napoleon Bonaparte during his exile at St. Helena Island some 1200 miles away in the South Atlantic Ocean. Admiral Lord Nelson himself is also said to have come ashore from his ship to be nursed through an illness in the late 1770s, on the first of his two visits, long before the British occupation. Over 300 ships were repaired at Simon’s Town during the Second World War, and the completion of the modern Simon's Town harbour and the Selborne dry-dock took place by 1910. When in 1957 the Naval Base was finally handed over to the South African Government, at least 125 Allied ships had been sunk by the Germans, Japanese and Italians, in relatively close proximity to Simon’s Town. Situated on the eastern side of the Cape Peninsula on the shores of False Bay, Simon’s Town remains an important naval base to this day, and the town which rises steeply above the harbour up the mountainsides is rich in both architectural and natural beauty, as well as Cape history and strange legends and tales. A famous resident of the town was Able Seaman Just Nuisance, RN, the only dog ever to be enlisted in the Royal Navy, to whom a statue has been erected in Jubilee Square. The sailors' had a favourite Great Dane who was a resident in the town, and request was sent to the British parliament asking for him to be enlisted in the Navy. Permission was granted and the dog was brought to the Recruiting Officer, who inquired: “Name?” “Nuisance, Sir”, the sailor replied. “First name?” “Just Nuisance, Sir,” the sailor stated, giving birth to a great legend. Peopled with many descendants of the world’s sailing and exploring nations, as well as many slave families from the 17th century, and many of South Africa’s indigenous people’s who were drawn to the area from across Southern Africa, Simon’s Town has a rich and multicultural heritage, although it does somewhat resemble an old and quaint Victorian seaside town today. Admiralty House on St. George’s, originally a private dwelling, dates from 1814 as does the Wesleyan Chapel which was built in 1828 and represents the oldest of its type of church in South Africa. Both are said to be haunted by several different ghosts! An interesting 17th century Muslim Kramat (or grave) was discovered among the trees on a terrace above Runciman's Drive in the 1800s. Whoever is interred in the Kramat may be unknown, but its location appears to have a strange spiritual aura. Muslims still hold the site as 'Moestajap', a word used to express inexplicable spiritual happenings. Another interesting building is the Dutch East India Company Hospital with three front-facing gables. Constructed on the mountainside above the Residency in 1764, it was here that author and playwright Edgar Wallace served as a medical orderly in the late 1890s. Robert Brown, generally regarded as one of finest figures in the history of British botany, called at Simon’s Town during 1801, where, for the first time, he saw members of South Africa’s national flower, the Proteaceae, growing in their natural habitats. On returning to London in 1805, Brown began assembling a major monograph on the species, which formed the basis of his work: 'On the Proteaceae of Jussieu'. This great work embodies not only a revised classification of the whole family Proteaceae but also a monograph of the genus Protea itself, in which thirty-nine species were recognized. The town has several museums which are worth visiting. Simon's Town Museum highlights events in the development of Simon's Town through the centuries. The South African Naval Museum in the Mast House (1815) alongside the Simon's Town Museum, displays models of ships and related maritime events. The Heritage Museum in Amlay House on King George Street, also worth a visit, features many aspects of the Muslim community, and the nearby Mosque is absolutely beautiful. Boulders Beach, a few kilometres to the south of Simon's Town is reputed to be amongst the very best beaches in the Cape, and is internationally renowned for being home to one of only three South African colonies of the African (Jackass) Penguins. The False Bay Yacht Club is conveniently situated adjacent to the Simon's Town Waterfront Centre in the town. Boat charters and sea kayaking are some of the many activities offered from the centre, and professionally managed and run deepsea fishing and whalewatching charters are available. The area deservedly draws many tourists, and if you are travelling to Cape Town it should be a ‘must-see’ on your itinerary. Good restaurants, pubs and places to stay abound. Tourism enquiries may be directed to the Simon’s Town Tourism Office on St. George’s Street, telephone (+27 21) 786 5798 or on via email: simonstown@tourismcapetown.co.za
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Wellington, Cape Province, South Africa
Wellington is a some-what quite town. The University (CPUT) is the heart and sole of this town, without it there would probably be no flow to the town. It has all the necessary shops and the people are reasonably friendly.
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Cape Town, Cape Province, South Africa
Cagediving with Great White Sharks! Awesome once-in-a-lifetime Xperience. Most people do get sea-sick, but it's all worth it!
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Hermanus, Cape Province, South Africa
Go off the path, and lay down on the rocks at the coast, where you can see dolphins and whales swim next to you, without a crowd of other people around you.
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Albertina, Cape Province, South Africa
Albertina is situated on the main Highway linking Capetown and Port Elisabeth. It is a very small village in the Klein Karoo close to one of the highest bridges for Bungee jumping in South Africa and is above all known for its hotel Albertinia Hotel which has an excellent restaurant with delicious food and wines for very low price. the rooms are simple but clean. make sure there isn't a party in cultural center just opposite, it might get a little noisy. Albertina is also quite close to Oudshoorn with the biggest Ostrichfarm and there are some caves worth visiting in the area.
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Cape Town, Cape Province, South Africa
Cape town is a stunning city full of culture and beautiful scenery . one place is to go up table mountain it provides beautiful perspective of the surrounding land for more adventurous people you can hike up the mountain outher things to do whale watching robbin island .food is excellent place to go is Vand A waterfront other places to go camps bay south africas answer to bondi beach
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Cape Town, Cape Province, South Africa
For a fabulous night out, go to Zula Sound Bar at Long Street. Start with a great dinner, and end with a long night of good music, drinks and nice people!
Nearby Green Market Square, you can find a real cheap cybercafé!
At Kauai, they have amazingly good smoothies!
Pay attention when you travel with the minibus; they try to ripp you off, because you're a tourist! Ask the locals what the price is...
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Helderberg, Cape Province, South Africa
Helderberg have a great Nature Reserve that you can visit. It has all sort of Animals wondering around and trails that you can follow. When we were there it was the school Holidays and they had concerts in the reserve. Everyone brought a picnic and listened to local artist's playing music. It was really enjoyable and i had agreat time. I think it was R50 for the Afternoon's entertainment. A great time for families and young travellers.
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Stormsrivier, Cape Province, South Africa
Good place to get to Bloukrans Bunjee Jump, Tsitsikamma NP, the Big Tree trail from.
Tube 'n Axe is a very nice backpacker (the best in town), friendly bar, good music (alternative, light rock), but beware of the dogs, they are big, don't seem friendly, and if you don't like dogs they can be a problem for you (they like to bark).
Tube 'n Axe is a very nice backpacker (the best in town), friendly bar, good music (alternative, light rock), but beware of the dogs, they are big, don't seem friendly, and if you don't like dogs they can be a problem for you (they like to bark).
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Cape Town, Cape Province, South Africa
Go to Cubana Lounge! Wonderful atmosphere and music, good food (if you reserve a table in time), cheap and good drinks,
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Simon's Town, Cape Province, South Africa
Things about Simon’s Town
By Michael Jackson The town officially called Simon’s Town, but often referred to as Simonstown, was originally named Simon’s Vlek after Simon van der Stel, the Dutch governor of the Cape Colony between 1677 and 1699, who surveyed the bay east of Cape Town in 1687 and earmarked it as a safe winter harbour during the months of May to September for which it was finally proclaimed in 1741.
Progress may have come slowly to Simon’s Town, but it has certainly left its mark. The town grew rapidly when it became a Royal Naval Base and the home of the South Atlantic Squadron under the second British occupation of the Cape in 1806, thanks largely to the construction of a huge man-made sandstone breakwater. One of the tasks of this squadron was the care of a certain Napoleon Bonaparte during his exile at St. Helena Island some 1200 miles away in the South Atlantic Ocean. Admiral Lord Nelson himself is also said to have come ashore from his ship to be nursed through an illness in the late 1770s, on the first of his two visits, long before the British occupation. Over 300 ships were repaired at Simon’s Town during the Second World War, and the completion of the modern Simon's Town harbour and the Selborne dry-dock took place by 1910. When in 1957 the Naval Base was finally handed over to the South African Government, at least 125 Allied ships had been sunk by the Germans, Japanese and Italians, in relatively close proximity to Simon’s Town. Situated on the eastern side of the Cape Peninsula on the shores of False Bay, Simon’s Town remains an important naval base to this day, and the town which rises steeply above the harbour up the mountainsides is rich in both architectural and natural beauty, as well as Cape history and strange legends and tales. A famous resident of the town was Able Seaman Just Nuisance, RN, the only dog ever to be enlisted in the Royal Navy, to whom a statue has been erected in Jubilee Square. The sailors' had a favourite Great Dane who was a resident in the town, and request was sent to the British parliament asking for him to be enlisted in the Navy. Permission was granted and the dog was brought to the Recruiting Officer, who inquired: “Name?” “Nuisance, Sir”, the sailor replied. “First name?” “Just Nuisance, Sir,” the sailor stated, giving birth to a great legend. Peopled with many descendants of the world’s sailing and exploring nations, as well as many slave families from the 17th century, and many of South Africa’s indigenous people’s who were drawn to the area from across Southern Africa, Simon’s Town has a rich and multicultural heritage, although it does somewhat resemble an old and quaint Victorian seaside town today. Admiralty House on St. George’s, originally a private dwelling, dates from 1814 as does the Wesleyan Chapel which was built in 1828 and represents the oldest of its type of church in South Africa. Both are said to be haunted by several different ghosts! An interesting 17th century Muslim Kramat (or grave) was discovered among the trees on a terrace above Runciman's Drive in the 1800s. Whoever is interred in the Kramat may be unknown, but its location appears to have a strange spiritual aura. Muslims still hold the site as 'Moestajap', a word used to express inexplicable spiritual happenings. Another interesting building is the Dutch East India Company Hospital with three front-facing gables. Constructed on the mountainside above the Residency in 1764, it was here that author and playwright Edgar Wallace served as a medical orderly in the late 1890s. Robert Brown, generally regarded as one of finest figures in the history of British botany, called at Simon’s Town during 1801, where, for the first time, he saw members of South Africa’s national flower, the Proteaceae, growing in their natural habitats. On returning to London in 1805, Brown began assembling a major monograph on the species, which formed the basis of his work: 'On the Proteaceae of Jussieu'. This great work embodies not only a revised classification of the whole family Proteaceae but also a monograph of the genus Protea itself, in which thirty-nine species were recognized. The town has several museums which are worth visiting. Simon's Town Museum highlights events in the development of Simon's Town through the centuries. The South African Naval Museum in the Mast House (1815) alongside the Simon's Town Museum, displays models of ships and related maritime events. The Heritage Museum in Amlay House on King George Street, also worth a visit, features many aspects of the Muslim community, and the nearby Mosque is absolutely beautiful. Boulders Beach, a few kilometres to the south of Simon's Town is reputed to be amongst the very best beaches in the Cape, and is internationally renowned for being home to one of only three South African colonies of the African (Jackass) Penguins. The False Bay Yacht Club is conveniently situated adjacent to the Simon's Town Waterfront Centre in the town. Boat charters and sea kayaking are some of the many activities offered from the centre, and professionally managed and run deepsea fishing and whalewatching charters are available. The area deservedly draws many tourists, and if you are travelling to Cape Town it should be a ‘must-see’ on your itinerary. Good restaurants, pubs and places to stay abound. Tourism enquiries may be directed to the Simon’s Town Tourism Office on St. George’s Street, telephone (+27 21) 786 5798 or on via email: simonstown@tourismcapetown.co.za
By Michael Jackson The town officially called Simon’s Town, but often referred to as Simonstown, was originally named Simon’s Vlek after Simon van der Stel, the Dutch governor of the Cape Colony between 1677 and 1699, who surveyed the bay east of Cape Town in 1687 and earmarked it as a safe winter harbour during the months of May to September for which it was finally proclaimed in 1741.
Progress may have come slowly to Simon’s Town, but it has certainly left its mark. The town grew rapidly when it became a Royal Naval Base and the home of the South Atlantic Squadron under the second British occupation of the Cape in 1806, thanks largely to the construction of a huge man-made sandstone breakwater. One of the tasks of this squadron was the care of a certain Napoleon Bonaparte during his exile at St. Helena Island some 1200 miles away in the South Atlantic Ocean. Admiral Lord Nelson himself is also said to have come ashore from his ship to be nursed through an illness in the late 1770s, on the first of his two visits, long before the British occupation. Over 300 ships were repaired at Simon’s Town during the Second World War, and the completion of the modern Simon's Town harbour and the Selborne dry-dock took place by 1910. When in 1957 the Naval Base was finally handed over to the South African Government, at least 125 Allied ships had been sunk by the Germans, Japanese and Italians, in relatively close proximity to Simon’s Town. Situated on the eastern side of the Cape Peninsula on the shores of False Bay, Simon’s Town remains an important naval base to this day, and the town which rises steeply above the harbour up the mountainsides is rich in both architectural and natural beauty, as well as Cape history and strange legends and tales. A famous resident of the town was Able Seaman Just Nuisance, RN, the only dog ever to be enlisted in the Royal Navy, to whom a statue has been erected in Jubilee Square. The sailors' had a favourite Great Dane who was a resident in the town, and request was sent to the British parliament asking for him to be enlisted in the Navy. Permission was granted and the dog was brought to the Recruiting Officer, who inquired: “Name?” “Nuisance, Sir”, the sailor replied. “First name?” “Just Nuisance, Sir,” the sailor stated, giving birth to a great legend. Peopled with many descendants of the world’s sailing and exploring nations, as well as many slave families from the 17th century, and many of South Africa’s indigenous people’s who were drawn to the area from across Southern Africa, Simon’s Town has a rich and multicultural heritage, although it does somewhat resemble an old and quaint Victorian seaside town today. Admiralty House on St. George’s, originally a private dwelling, dates from 1814 as does the Wesleyan Chapel which was built in 1828 and represents the oldest of its type of church in South Africa. Both are said to be haunted by several different ghosts! An interesting 17th century Muslim Kramat (or grave) was discovered among the trees on a terrace above Runciman's Drive in the 1800s. Whoever is interred in the Kramat may be unknown, but its location appears to have a strange spiritual aura. Muslims still hold the site as 'Moestajap', a word used to express inexplicable spiritual happenings. Another interesting building is the Dutch East India Company Hospital with three front-facing gables. Constructed on the mountainside above the Residency in 1764, it was here that author and playwright Edgar Wallace served as a medical orderly in the late 1890s. Robert Brown, generally regarded as one of finest figures in the history of British botany, called at Simon’s Town during 1801, where, for the first time, he saw members of South Africa’s national flower, the Proteaceae, growing in their natural habitats. On returning to London in 1805, Brown began assembling a major monograph on the species, which formed the basis of his work: 'On the Proteaceae of Jussieu'. This great work embodies not only a revised classification of the whole family Proteaceae but also a monograph of the genus Protea itself, in which thirty-nine species were recognized. The town has several museums which are worth visiting. Simon's Town Museum highlights events in the development of Simon's Town through the centuries. The South African Naval Museum in the Mast House (1815) alongside the Simon's Town Museum, displays models of ships and related maritime events. The Heritage Museum in Amlay House on King George Street, also worth a visit, features many aspects of the Muslim community, and the nearby Mosque is absolutely beautiful. Boulders Beach, a few kilometres to the south of Simon's Town is reputed to be amongst the very best beaches in the Cape, and is internationally renowned for being home to one of only three South African colonies of the African (Jackass) Penguins. The False Bay Yacht Club is conveniently situated adjacent to the Simon's Town Waterfront Centre in the town. Boat charters and sea kayaking are some of the many activities offered from the centre, and professionally managed and run deepsea fishing and whalewatching charters are available. The area deservedly draws many tourists, and if you are travelling to Cape Town it should be a ‘must-see’ on your itinerary. Good restaurants, pubs and places to stay abound. Tourism enquiries may be directed to the Simon’s Town Tourism Office on St. George’s Street, telephone (+27 21) 786 5798 or on via email: simonstown@tourismcapetown.co.za
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Franschhoek, Cape Province, South Africa
Franschhoek mixes its magical ingredients to create an unforgettable modern fairytale.
When it comes to places to stay in Franschhoek the options are endless. Settle into accommodation that most suits your taste and budget. Decide between lavish country lodges, cozy BB’s, quaint guesthouses or comfortable self-catering cottages.
As it’s the gourmet capital of South Africa you’ll find yourself treated to cuisine that is delectably indulgent. With tastes ranging from the gastronomically gourmet to the deconstructed rustic there is something for every palate.
The village is encircled by a number of South Africa’s award winning wine farms. These farms create wines that excites the taste buds and moves a person’s spirit a little closer to paradise.
Spend a day wandering along the tree-lined streets. The main road is always buzzing, lined by alluring art shops, galleries and other specialist stores it’s the heart of this vibrant town.
Then, of course, there is the great outdoors. The Franschhoek Valley offers settings perfect for energetic hiking, walking, cycling, horse-riding, fly fishing and golf. There is even something for those looking for more of a ‘kick’. Adrenaline junkies are welcome to paraglide to the perfect aerial view of the village.
Come and be part of the alluring tapestry that is Franschhoek.
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Tsitsikamma, Cape Province, South Africa
A National Park, it lies on the coast and at the mouth of the Storms River Mouth. In this river mouth there are seven different species of shark.. and there's a suspension bridge over the river! It might be slightly daunting to cross over this bustling river with its extensive shark life, on a swaying (yes it sways!) suspension bridge.. but it is easily done and is quite safe. A beautiful area for walks, hikes and many watersports.
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Simon's Town, Cape Province, South Africa
Simon's Town is still home to South Africa's navy, and has regained much of its historic splendour and character.
Living close by in Fish Hoek for a few years, we would often drive here on the weekends and go for lovely walks. There is loads to eat here (all types of restaurants), art galleries, crafty things, clothing etc. The shops are aimed more toward the tourist and local person... and there are NO chain stores!
For many years this was a British Royal Naval Base. It is still home to South Africa's navy, and has regained much of its historic splendour and character.
My husband and I enjoy the Navy Days, when the navy do displays (airplanes do too, like the Buccaneer!), and allow us mere mortals onto their pride and joy... their ships!
Have you ever felt claustrophobic? We have!!! In the teeny tiny submarines.
To think that big men, much taller and possibly wider than me have to live in one of these for months on end, rotating their bed too, is beyond me.
Between the naval town of Simon's Town, and on the way to Cape Point Nature Reserve, you will find Boulder's Beach.
A conservation area, it is primarily used for the preservation of it's unique and world-renowned penguin colony.
The jackass penguin (Spheniscus demersus) can be seen here at close range, in its natural habitat.
These penguins enjoy the heat and the sand, not the ice cold. They are comical to watch and a pleasure to visit :)
We usually take a picnic and clamber onto one of the big rocks overlooking the beach where they are (Boulders Beach), and don't pay for this, although when we were there in February this year we took our bathing costumes and swam and viewed the penguins in the birthing area... saw loads of baby penguins :)
You can pay a fee and get up and close and personal with them, or climb onto the high rock near the car park and still get a pretty good view.
A must-see for the kids and adults alike!
Living close by in Fish Hoek for a few years, we would often drive here on the weekends and go for lovely walks. There is loads to eat here (all types of restaurants), art galleries, crafty things, clothing etc. The shops are aimed more toward the tourist and local person... and there are NO chain stores!
For many years this was a British Royal Naval Base. It is still home to South Africa's navy, and has regained much of its historic splendour and character.
My husband and I enjoy the Navy Days, when the navy do displays (airplanes do too, like the Buccaneer!), and allow us mere mortals onto their pride and joy... their ships!
Have you ever felt claustrophobic? We have!!! In the teeny tiny submarines.
To think that big men, much taller and possibly wider than me have to live in one of these for months on end, rotating their bed too, is beyond me.
Between the naval town of Simon's Town, and on the way to Cape Point Nature Reserve, you will find Boulder's Beach.
A conservation area, it is primarily used for the preservation of it's unique and world-renowned penguin colony.
The jackass penguin (Spheniscus demersus) can be seen here at close range, in its natural habitat.
These penguins enjoy the heat and the sand, not the ice cold. They are comical to watch and a pleasure to visit :)
We usually take a picnic and clamber onto one of the big rocks overlooking the beach where they are (Boulders Beach), and don't pay for this, although when we were there in February this year we took our bathing costumes and swam and viewed the penguins in the birthing area... saw loads of baby penguins :)
You can pay a fee and get up and close and personal with them, or climb onto the high rock near the car park and still get a pretty good view.
A must-see for the kids and adults alike!
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Cape Town, Cape Province, South Africa
check out beautiful guesthouse www.capestandard.co.za
the coolest shop aca joe, urban weiner at www.theplatinumgoup.co.za
spend a sunday night at Camps' bay - for fish the place to be is the Godfather..
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Cape Town, Cape Province, South Africa
I've been around but this is the most beautiful place on the planet. I know, it will be hard to find a similar spot. Lovely nature reserves where you can do a safari. You should go for a horse riding safari as you get closer to the animals,nice! Many high quality restaurants with decent prices. Not to forget a fantastic choice of wine all local! And you can go out for days and meet the nice and friendly South Africans! *****
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Cape of Good Hope, Cape Province, South Africa
Keep your windows wound up as you enter the park - there are monkeys around and you want to avoid them getting into your car. They may jump onto your car roof, though, so drive slowly.
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Cape Town, Cape Province, South Africa
Go to the top of Table mountain at the first chance of fine weather as it can often be cloudy and the cable car to the top of the mountain is closed when it is cloudy.
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Hermanus, Cape Province, South Africa
Beautiful beach town with the best whale watching spots from land.
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Camps Bay, Cape Province, South Africa
Great beach near the center of Cape Town, great cafes, resturants and people
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Simon's Town, Cape Province, South Africa
Things about Simon’s Town
By Michael Jackson The town officially called Simon’s Town, but often referred to as Simonstown, was originally named Simon’s Vlek after Simon van der Stel, the Dutch governor of the Cape Colony between 1677 and 1699, who surveyed the bay east of Cape Town in 1687 and earmarked it as a safe winter harbour during the months of May to September for which it was finally proclaimed in 1741.
Progress may have come slowly to Simon’s Town, but it has certainly left its mark. The town grew rapidly when it became a Royal Naval Base and the home of the South Atlantic Squadron under the second British occupation of the Cape in 1806, thanks largely to the construction of a huge man-made sandstone breakwater. One of the tasks of this squadron was the care of a certain Napoleon Bonaparte during his exile at St. Helena Island some 1200 miles away in the South Atlantic Ocean. Admiral Lord Nelson himself is also said to have come ashore from his ship to be nursed through an illness in the late 1770s, on the first of his two visits, long before the British occupation. Over 300 ships were repaired at Simon’s Town during the Second World War, and the completion of the modern Simon's Town harbour and the Selborne dry-dock took place by 1910. When in 1957 the Naval Base was finally handed over to the South African Government, at least 125 Allied ships had been sunk by the Germans, Japanese and Italians, in relatively close proximity to Simon’s Town. Situated on the eastern side of the Cape Peninsula on the shores of False Bay, Simon’s Town remains an important naval base to this day, and the town which rises steeply above the harbour up the mountainsides is rich in both architectural and natural beauty, as well as Cape history and strange legends and tales. A famous resident of the town was Able Seaman Just Nuisance, RN, the only dog ever to be enlisted in the Royal Navy, to whom a statue has been erected in Jubilee Square. The sailors' had a favourite Great Dane who was a resident in the town, and request was sent to the British parliament asking for him to be enlisted in the Navy. Permission was granted and the dog was brought to the Recruiting Officer, who inquired: “Name?” “Nuisance, Sir”, the sailor replied. “First name?” “Just Nuisance, Sir,” the sailor stated, giving birth to a great legend. Peopled with many descendants of the world’s sailing and exploring nations, as well as many slave families from the 17th century, and many of South Africa’s indigenous people’s who were drawn to the area from across Southern Africa, Simon’s Town has a rich and multicultural heritage, although it does somewhat resemble an old and quaint Victorian seaside town today. Admiralty House on St. George’s, originally a private dwelling, dates from 1814 as does the Wesleyan Chapel which was built in 1828 and represents the oldest of its type of church in South Africa. Both are said to be haunted by several different ghosts! An interesting 17th century Muslim Kramat (or grave) was discovered among the trees on a terrace above Runciman's Drive in the 1800s. Whoever is interred in the Kramat may be unknown, but its location appears to have a strange spiritual aura. Muslims still hold the site as 'Moestajap', a word used to express inexplicable spiritual happenings. Another interesting building is the Dutch East India Company Hospital with three front-facing gables. Constructed on the mountainside above the Residency in 1764, it was here that author and playwright Edgar Wallace served as a medical orderly in the late 1890s. Robert Brown, generally regarded as one of finest figures in the history of British botany, called at Simon’s Town during 1801, where, for the first time, he saw members of South Africa’s national flower, the Proteaceae, growing in their natural habitats. On returning to London in 1805, Brown began assembling a major monograph on the species, which formed the basis of his work: 'On the Proteaceae of Jussieu'. This great work embodies not only a revised classification of the whole family Proteaceae but also a monograph of the genus Protea itself, in which thirty-nine species were recognized. The town has several museums which are worth visiting. Simon's Town Museum highlights events in the development of Simon's Town through the centuries. The South African Naval Museum in the Mast House (1815) alongside the Simon's Town Museum, displays models of ships and related maritime events. The Heritage Museum in Amlay House on King George Street, also worth a visit, features many aspects of the Muslim community, and the nearby Mosque is absolutely beautiful. Boulders Beach, a few kilometres to the south of Simon's Town is reputed to be amongst the very best beaches in the Cape, and is internationally renowned for being home to one of only three South African colonies of the African (Jackass) Penguins. The False Bay Yacht Club is conveniently situated adjacent to the Simon's Town Waterfront Centre in the town. Boat charters and sea kayaking are some of the many activities offered from the centre, and professionally managed and run deepsea fishing and whalewatching charters are available. The area deservedly draws many tourists, and if you are travelling to Cape Town it should be a ‘must-see’ on your itinerary. Good restaurants, pubs and places to stay abound. Tourism enquiries may be directed to the Simon’s Town Tourism Office on St. George’s Street, telephone (+27 21) 786 5798 or on via email: simonstown@tourismcapetown.co.za
By Michael Jackson The town officially called Simon’s Town, but often referred to as Simonstown, was originally named Simon’s Vlek after Simon van der Stel, the Dutch governor of the Cape Colony between 1677 and 1699, who surveyed the bay east of Cape Town in 1687 and earmarked it as a safe winter harbour during the months of May to September for which it was finally proclaimed in 1741.
Progress may have come slowly to Simon’s Town, but it has certainly left its mark. The town grew rapidly when it became a Royal Naval Base and the home of the South Atlantic Squadron under the second British occupation of the Cape in 1806, thanks largely to the construction of a huge man-made sandstone breakwater. One of the tasks of this squadron was the care of a certain Napoleon Bonaparte during his exile at St. Helena Island some 1200 miles away in the South Atlantic Ocean. Admiral Lord Nelson himself is also said to have come ashore from his ship to be nursed through an illness in the late 1770s, on the first of his two visits, long before the British occupation. Over 300 ships were repaired at Simon’s Town during the Second World War, and the completion of the modern Simon's Town harbour and the Selborne dry-dock took place by 1910. When in 1957 the Naval Base was finally handed over to the South African Government, at least 125 Allied ships had been sunk by the Germans, Japanese and Italians, in relatively close proximity to Simon’s Town. Situated on the eastern side of the Cape Peninsula on the shores of False Bay, Simon’s Town remains an important naval base to this day, and the town which rises steeply above the harbour up the mountainsides is rich in both architectural and natural beauty, as well as Cape history and strange legends and tales. A famous resident of the town was Able Seaman Just Nuisance, RN, the only dog ever to be enlisted in the Royal Navy, to whom a statue has been erected in Jubilee Square. The sailors' had a favourite Great Dane who was a resident in the town, and request was sent to the British parliament asking for him to be enlisted in the Navy. Permission was granted and the dog was brought to the Recruiting Officer, who inquired: “Name?” “Nuisance, Sir”, the sailor replied. “First name?” “Just Nuisance, Sir,” the sailor stated, giving birth to a great legend. Peopled with many descendants of the world’s sailing and exploring nations, as well as many slave families from the 17th century, and many of South Africa’s indigenous people’s who were drawn to the area from across Southern Africa, Simon’s Town has a rich and multicultural heritage, although it does somewhat resemble an old and quaint Victorian seaside town today. Admiralty House on St. George’s, originally a private dwelling, dates from 1814 as does the Wesleyan Chapel which was built in 1828 and represents the oldest of its type of church in South Africa. Both are said to be haunted by several different ghosts! An interesting 17th century Muslim Kramat (or grave) was discovered among the trees on a terrace above Runciman's Drive in the 1800s. Whoever is interred in the Kramat may be unknown, but its location appears to have a strange spiritual aura. Muslims still hold the site as 'Moestajap', a word used to express inexplicable spiritual happenings. Another interesting building is the Dutch East India Company Hospital with three front-facing gables. Constructed on the mountainside above the Residency in 1764, it was here that author and playwright Edgar Wallace served as a medical orderly in the late 1890s. Robert Brown, generally regarded as one of finest figures in the history of British botany, called at Simon’s Town during 1801, where, for the first time, he saw members of South Africa’s national flower, the Proteaceae, growing in their natural habitats. On returning to London in 1805, Brown began assembling a major monograph on the species, which formed the basis of his work: 'On the Proteaceae of Jussieu'. This great work embodies not only a revised classification of the whole family Proteaceae but also a monograph of the genus Protea itself, in which thirty-nine species were recognized. The town has several museums which are worth visiting. Simon's Town Museum highlights events in the development of Simon's Town through the centuries. The South African Naval Museum in the Mast House (1815) alongside the Simon's Town Museum, displays models of ships and related maritime events. The Heritage Museum in Amlay House on King George Street, also worth a visit, features many aspects of the Muslim community, and the nearby Mosque is absolutely beautiful. Boulders Beach, a few kilometres to the south of Simon's Town is reputed to be amongst the very best beaches in the Cape, and is internationally renowned for being home to one of only three South African colonies of the African (Jackass) Penguins. The False Bay Yacht Club is conveniently situated adjacent to the Simon's Town Waterfront Centre in the town. Boat charters and sea kayaking are some of the many activities offered from the centre, and professionally managed and run deepsea fishing and whalewatching charters are available. The area deservedly draws many tourists, and if you are travelling to Cape Town it should be a ‘must-see’ on your itinerary. Good restaurants, pubs and places to stay abound. Tourism enquiries may be directed to the Simon’s Town Tourism Office on St. George’s Street, telephone (+27 21) 786 5798 or on via email: simonstown@tourismcapetown.co.za
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