Category Archives: Africa

Rev Up Your Adventures: Top Destinations for Car Enthusiasts in Cape Town

1. Franschhoek Motor Museum

Nestled in the picturesque Franschhoek Valley, just a short drive from Cape Town, lies a paradise for car lovers – the Franschhoek Motor Museum. This world-class facility houses a remarkable collection of over 100 years of automotive history. From vintage classics to contemporary supercars, the museum showcases a diverse array of vehicles, meticulously restored to their original glory. Spend hours admiring iconic models from renowned brands like Ferrari, Porsche, and Rolls-Royce, and gain insight into the evolution of automotive design and engineering.

2. Cape Town Motor Show

If you happen to visit Cape Town during the annual Cape Town Motor Show, consider yourself lucky! This premier automotive event brings together enthusiasts, industry professionals, and exhibitors for a weekend of automotive extravaganza. Featuring the latest models, concept cars, and cutting-edge technology, the Cape Town Motor Show offers a glimpse into the future of automotive innovation. Get up close to your favorite cars, enjoy thrilling live demonstrations, and immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of this must-attend event.

3. Chapman’s Peak Drive

For a scenic driving experience like no other, embark on a journey along Chapman’s Peak Drive. This iconic coastal road winds its way along the rugged cliffs of the Cape Peninsula, offering breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean and surrounding mountains. With its twisting turns and dramatic vistas, Chapman’s Peak Drive is a favorite among car enthusiasts and road trip aficionados alike. So, rev up your engine, roll down the windows, and soak in the awe-inspiring beauty of one of the world’s most scenic drives.

4. Killarney International Raceway

For those craving a dose of adrenaline-fueled action, head to Killarney International Raceway – Cape Town’s premier motorsport destination. Whether you’re a seasoned racer or a spectator looking for thrills, Killarney has something for everyone. From high-speed circuit racing to exhilarating drag strip competitions, the raceway hosts a variety of events throughout the year. So, buckle up and prepare for an unforgettable day of speed, skill, and excitement at this legendary racing venue.

5. Classic Car Tours

Experience the charm of Cape Town’s scenic landscapes in style with a classic car tour. Embark on a journey through rolling vineyards, quaint towns, and historic landmarks aboard a vintage automobile. Whether you prefer the elegance of a classic Rolls-Royce or the nostalgia of a vintage VW Beetle, there are plenty of tour operators offering bespoke experiences tailored to your preferences. So, sit back, relax, and let the timeless beauty of Cape Town unfold before you as you cruise in classic style.

From museum marvels to scenic drives and adrenaline-pumping races, Cape Town offers a treasure trove of experiences for car enthusiasts. Whether you’re marveling at historic classics, exploring cutting-edge technology, or embracing the thrill of the open road, there’s no shortage of automotive adventures to be had in this vibrant city. So, pack your bags, fuel up your passion, and get ready to embark on the ultimate car lover’s getaway in Cape Town, where every journey is an adventure.

Learning to Kitesurf

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We live in Cape Town where it is really windy. Especially in Summer. The wind blows so much it even has a name. We call it the Cape Doctor because it cleans up the seas and the skies. Whenever it is windy you can see hundreds of people kitesurfing Cape Town. So we decided we would take some lessons to learn how to do it, stay safe and start joining the fun.

There are a lot of kitesurfing schools in Cape Town and it can be hard to choose which one to use. We took the advise of a friend who kite surfs and went with Cabrinha Kiteboarding which we were told is the best school in the city. They have been around since 1999 and use the best equipment to ensure students learning safety. This was a very important concern for us as we have heard some stories about people getting injured while trying to teach themselves.

Our lessons were going to be broken up into a few parts. The first lesson would be on the beach in Big Bay where the shop is situated. In the first lesson we met our instructor Morne and headed down to the beach. We learned all the safety tips and theory in order to keep us safe while learning and then we started to fly a small kite on the beach, so that we could learn the skills needed to fly the bigger “real” kites. The tie we flew was called a foil kite and only three metres long. Even with that small kite you could feel how much power it generated. It was lots of fun and pretty soon we were both doing loops and figure of 8s.

We really wanted to get going with our new kitesurfing career so we did a double lesson on our first day. After we had mastered the small kite we learnt how to set up the bigger kites. The kite we set up was 6m long, so double the size of the training kite. The bigger kites need to be pumped up to hold their shape and allow them to float on water. It is good to know that even though you crash the kite in the sea it won’t sink.

Once we knew how to pump it up and set up our controlling lines, we started practicing take offs and landings, as this is one of the most dangerous time while kitesurfing. We spent a lot of time here to make sure we were experts and getting off the beach and returning.

Once we were comfortable with this skill we started the same flying skills we had mastered with the small kite with the big kite. Because we had mastered the control skills before, it all came really quickly and we never felt scared or unsafe. We practiced flying the kite on the left, and then the right, and then we started dipping the kite into the power zone where you start generating pull. We got dragged down the beach a bit each time we made a turn. it was great and you could really start to feel how the kite can pull you through the water.

We ended off the lesson by learning how to rescue ourselves from the water if we crash and cannot relaunch our kite.

Next time we will be putting on our wetsuits and heading into the water for what is called body dragging. We are having so much fun so far and we have not even seen the board yet.

If you are looking to start kiteboarding I would definitely recommend Cabrinha Kiteboaridng for kitesurfing lessons in Cape Town.

Kruger Trip 2016

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Earlier this year we went to spend three weeks in the Kruger National Park here in South Africa. Along the way we stopped off in some Nelspruit accommodation to rest and enjoy a night of luxury. Kruger is one of the best places in the world to see wild life in their natural habitat and we saw lots of beautiful animals including the Big 5. The Big 5 are called that because they are the most dangerous animals to hunt. Now they have become a selling point for game lodges and parks which contain some or all of the Big 5. Kruger park has all the big 5 which include Lions, Leopards, Rhino, Elephants and Buffalo.

A funny preconception with the big 5 is that the Hippo is not included in it even though it accounts for the second most deaths in Africa after the mosquito.

The Kruger Park is about 5 hours away from Johannesburg by car, and your drive takes you down the escarpment and through some beautiful country side on your way into the low veld. We had flown up from Cape Town to JHB, so we couldn’t make it all the way to our camp in one go.

We decided to stay in Nelspruit along the way and discovered the beautiful Shandon Lodge. The Shandon Lodge is run by Jane and Tony who are fantastic hosts and extremely welcoming. The rooms are beautiful and the pool and deck are are a fantastic place to relax and enjoy their spectacular view. There were a number of other guests staying there which included both fellow travelers and some corporate businessmen in Nelspruit on business.

The food we ate there was delicious and we slept so well in their comfy beds. We would definitely recommend staying at the Shandon Lodge if you are ever in the Nelspruit area for business or vacation.

The next day we left the gateway to the louvered and the Kruger Park which is Nelspruit and headed through Paul Kruger gate to start our adventure.

We would have a couple of nights staying in Skukuza, Satara and Lower Sabi Camps and then we would be taking part in a three day walking safari in a secluded park of the Kruger. The walking safari was definitely the highlight of the trip and it is so fantastic to experience nature and the African wilderness close at hand. We saw so many Rhinos it put hope back into our heart after the terrible poaching epidemic that has been striking down these animals.

On our walks we even bumped into Lions, but luckily they were not to close and we could enjoy them from a distance and revel in the excitement of seeing them on foot.

We love birding and are embarking on a Big Year this year, so we are keeping a record of all he birds we see in our travels. It was one of the main reasons for traveling down to the Kruger so we could enjoy all the species that are found there and not in the Western Cape and Cape Town where we live.

The most exciting bird we saw was a Marshal Eagle in a tree just above us on the last day of our walking safari. It was spectacular.

After our walking safari our time in the Kruger park was at an end and we had to start our long journey back to Cape Town by car and plane. We will be happy to be home and walking on the beach again, but we will always miss our adventures in the bush.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFujGB8zVO0

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