Abercrombie + Kent booklet

2

CAPE TOWN

eat | stay | drink | play | visit | info

Abercrombie & Kent Western Cape47 Collingwood RoadObservatory 7925, South AfricaTel: +27 21 448 3799 Fax: +27 21 448 [email protected]

Published by: MediaWeb Publishingwww.mediawebpublishing.com

guide toAbercrombie & Kent Southern Africa

CAPE TOWN

contents

04 Opening word

06 Highlights

10 V&A Waterfront

14 Winelands

18 Kirstenbosch

22 Robben Island

24 Out of town

26 Table Mountain

28 Museums

30 Historical timelines

If you would like to visit any of the establishments mentioned in this booklet, please do not hesitate to contact your local Abercrombie & Kent representative who will be happy to make the necessary arrangements. Tel: 021 448 3799

MP31548 Tourism_105x210 11/19/07 10:01 AM Page 1

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A S C A P T I VAT I N G A S T H E P Y R A M I D S .

A N D YO U D O N ' T N E E D A C A M E L TO G E T H E R E .

Located within the dynamic setting of a working harbour, the V&A Waterfront offers you more than 400 stores, top restaurants and taverns, two craft markets, an aquarium,

numerous leisure options - including boat and helicopter charters - as well as ongoing events and entertainment.

All of this, combined with access to one of South Africa’s premier heritage sites, Robben Island, ensures that the V&A Waterfront lies at the heart of your visit.

IMVA

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Abercrombie and Kent have come

a long way since we opened our first

office in Nairobi, Kenya in 1962, as a

small but discriminate source of ‘Inspired

Experiences’. From that time onwards the

company maintained a steady growth,

opening offices all around the globe with

a total of more than 2500 employees and

a fleet of more than 500 owned vehicles.

From exclusive hotel properties, to a ship

sailing in the Antarctic and the Amazon, to

Nile cruisers in Egypt, A&K has it all.

Today, A&K designs and operates

luxury adventure travel programmes,

for individuals, travel agencies and

corporations in all major markets

worldwide, and has offices in 27 countries.

The principles which guide A&K are

simple – to deliver an unfailingly high level

of service, paired with an equally high

regard for ecological concerns, and a

product that combines quality with value.

The advertisers are all reputable A&K

preferred retailers and have been specially

invited to participate. Please don’t forget

to show the retailers your ‘A&K Peace of

Mind Guarantee’ of quality on page 10.

We hope that this our first

A&K Guide to Cape Town will

complement our hospitality

during your stay in this

wonderful city.

Gael TimmsMD A&K Southern Africa

opening word

Welcome to Cape Town

Supervisor Branded Division Yvonne Reed

The laughter of my kids as they play

in the rock pools on Blouberg beach;

the sight of Table Mountain every

morning on my way to work; a brisk

walk through Tokai forest early on a

Saturday morning; a picnic with the

family on the lawns of a wine estate;

cherry picking in Ceres in December.

Arriving early in the morning at one of the

Waterfront-based hotels and enjoying

a refreshing cup of coffee at an outside

table; breathing the clean, crisp air while

watching the seagulls improvise their

ballet over the Atlantic Ocean.

Sales and Marketing DirectorMarc Gastaud

Cruise ManagerAmanda Schuddinh

The views from the top of Table

Mountain on a clear day; long walks

on Noordhoek beach when the sea

is calm; sundowners on Clifton in mid-

summer; sunset concerts at Kirstenbosch

and eating fi sh ’n chips at On the Rocks

in Hout Bay. Cape Town has to be one

of the most beautiful cities in the world!

“... picnicking on the lawns of a wine estate...”

“...breathing crisp, clean air...”

A&K staff reveal their Cape Town highlights

“...wallking on Noordhoek beach...”

The Abercrombie and Kent ‘Peace of Mind Guarantee’ is another example of how A&K leads the way in ensuring hassle-free and worry-free shopping. If any item you have purchased while in Cape Town is faulty or broken due to manufacturer error, A&K will ensure that the necessary arrangements are made to resolve the problem. Please contact your nearest A&K offi ce who will ensure the item is replaced, repaired or refunded – at no additional cost to yourself.

The guarantee is valid for a year from the date of purchase. Items damaged due to negligence will not qualify. In order to qualify for this unique guarantee, simply present this voucher to participating retail stores at the time of your purchase and keep your proof of purchase.

PEACE OF MIND GUARANTEE ��

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10

experience: the V&A Waterfront

Allow yourself plenty of time to

experience the Victoria and

Alfred Waterfront – it is the most visited

destination in South Africa and 20 million

visitors a year can’t be wrong.

Set against a backdrop of

magnifi cent sea and mountain views, it

is a shopper’s paradise but also boasts

entertainment venues, world class hotels,

restaurants, apartments and an aquarium.

You can also visit parts of a working dry

dock and see fi shing, pilot and tug boats

moving through the harbour as well as the

occasional cruise liner as you sit and enjoy

a meal on the quayside at one of a wide

selection of restaurants.

The port of Cape Town dates back

to 1860 when it was known as the Albert

Basin, and the Victoria and Alfred

Waterfront development was started

in 1988 to make the harbour area more

accessible to the public while keeping

the feel of a working harbour and

restoring the existing historic buildings

in the area.

All stores at the V&A Waterfront are

open till 9pm seven days a week.

400 world-class shops set against dramatic harbour and mountain backdrops

12

With over 400 stores the Waterfront caters

to all shopping needs and is divided into

fi ve main areas:

The Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre

forms the bulk of the retail space at the

Waterfront and it includes some unique

new stores such as a magnifi cent Aston

Martin showroom. This area contains

the majority of clothing and jewellery

boutiques and has a large selection of

restaurants and coffee shops.

The Clock Tower Centre brings

South African crafts, arts, designs and

foods together in one place. The easily

recognisable and historic Clock Tower

was the original Port Captain’s Offi ce

(completed in 1882).

The Alfred Mall & Pierhead is located

within the historic Pierhead and overlooks

the small craft harbour and adjacent

dry dock. Those seeking quality specialist

artefacts, jewellery, curios and art with

a nautical or African fl avour will fi nd a

wonderful selection there.

The Red Shed Craft Workshop, adjoining

Victoria Wharf, is fi lled with an eclectic

mix of locally produced merchandise and

art. It has an atmosphere that allows the

shopper to ‘get closer’ to the producers.

The Waterfront Craft Market & Wellness Centre represents the Waterfront’s culture

of local entrepreneurship, featuring

an assortment traditional handcrafts,

antiquities and holistic lifestyle accessories.

experience: the V&A Waterfront

57a Somerset Rd (cnr Highfi eld Rd)Green PointCape Town

Tel: 021 421 4848/4343

email: [email protected]

A simply unforgettable dining experience

14

getting out: the Winelands

Modest chap, Simon van der Stel. The Governor of the

Cape Colony from 1679 to 1699 wasn’t just content

to name Simon’s Town after himself – he did the same for

Stellenbosch (Stel’s Forest) and Simonsberg (the majestic

mountain that dominates said Stellenbosch). He also founded

the famed Groot Constantia wine farm (named after his wife),

introduced French Huguenot settlers to Franschhoek (French

Corner) and generally made a bit of an impression.

Which has nothing to do with Helshoogte. Except that it runs

the ‘back way’ – ie over the mountains – between Stellenbosch

and Franschhoek with the Simonsberg looming on either side.

It’s doubtful there is a more beautiful drive, with more

stunning views combined with more abundant wine estates,

anywhere on earth, let alone in the Winelands.

The Helshoogte pass is a heavenly blend of views and vineyards.

One hell of a

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16

In short, what we have here is a

fabulous example of panoramic

landscapes with the added attraction

of fi ne wining and dining. It’s best to start

from the Stellenbosch side to get the

full impact. From Cluver Road turn right

into Helshoogte Road (the R310). As you

leave Stellenbosch behind the imposing

Simonsberg will be on your left.

Fable has it that the shape of the

mountain is Van der Stel lying on his back –

his head and nose on the right. Whatever

the imagery, the view becomes more

impressive as you climb and the road twists

and turns enough to let you admire the

beauty of the winelands from what seems

to be every cardinal point.

As you near the crest of the pass you’ll

pass Tokara which boasts a fantastic

restaurant with a view all the way to Table

Mountain. Tokara also produce brilliant

wines, especially their sauvignon blanc

and have now branched out, as it were,

into olives.

Thelema Mountain Vineyards next door

produces stunning white wines.

The road now drops down towards

Franschhoek. At the bottom you’ll pass

Boschendal Wine Estate.

From here it’s a couple of minutes and

you’re at the intersection with the R45.

To the right lies Franschhoek and more

gastronomic heaven.

What a drive!

getting out: the Winelands

18

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

Professor Harold Pearson would have

approved. Pearson, the fi rst Director

of Kirstenbosch, was the driving force

behind the establishment (in 1913) of what

has become one of the most beautiful

gardens in the world. The area, wild and

overgrown, was left to the people of Cape

Town in terms of the will of the mining

magnate Cecil John Rhodes, who died in

1902.

Pearson lived in a small ‘rat infested’

cottage and devoted himself (mostly

without pay) to the creation of a botanical

garden for the city. He died in 1916 aged

46 and lies buried in the shade of an

Atlas Cedar. His epitaph ‘If ye seek his

monument, look around you’ is apt for

It is world-renowned for the beauty and diversity of its flora. Not to

mention its magnificent setting against Table Mountain.

A living

MONUMENT

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someone whose vision and energy led to

the establishment of this magnifi cent area.

Kirstenbosch grows only indigenous

Southern African plants. The estate covers

almost 530 hectares and supports fynbos

(local Cape fl ora) and natural forest. The

cultivated garden (36 hectares) displays

collections of South African plants,

particularly those from the winter rainfall

region of the country.

In 1660 a hedge of wild almond

(Brabejum stellatifolium) and brambles

was planted to form the boundary of the

then colony and keep out Hottentot cattle

raiders. Sections of this barrier, known as

Van Riebeeck’s Hedge, still exist.

The origin of the name Kirstenbosch is

uncertain but a number of families with

the name Kirsten lived in the vicinity and

somehow the area became known as

Kirstenbosch (Kirsten’s Forest).

It is not just the rolling lawns, two

restaurants and over 2 500 plants that

make Kirstenbosch such an attraction:

there are numerous paths that crisscross

the ‘back’ of Table Mountain. Nursery

Ravine and Smuts’s Track (named after the

former South African prime minister who

said it was his favourite walk) are the most

well known but there are dozens of others,

ranging from dawdle to serious workout.

The gardens are also used throughout

the summer for a series of very popular

sunset concerts.

Kirstenbosch is 13 km from the Cape Town city centre. From the city, take De Waal Drive (M3) in the direction of Muizenberg. At the fi rst traffi c light intersection turn right (southwards) onto Rhodes Drive (M63) and follow the signs to the gardens.

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

22

Robben Island

Robben Island is notorious as the

place where Nelson Mandela was

incarcerated for 18 years. It is a haunting

place with a long and sorry past but at least

its story has a happy ending.

It’s the place that symbolises the fall of

apartheid and the victory over colonialism,

injustice and oppression. The island is

named after the ‘robben’ – seals – that

inhabited the area.

For centuries it was not visited or inhabited

as it had no water. Wells were then dug and

at the end of the 17 century it was used by

the Dutch to isolate prisoners, including rebel

leaders from various Dutch colonies.

From 1836 to 1931 it was used as a leper

colony, then during World War Two it was

fortifi ed and heavy naval guns were installed

as part of the defences for Cape Town.

Robben Island then became a maximum

security prison, and between 1961 and 1991,

over 3 000 men were held there, including

many current leaders of South Africa.

These days you can take a boat out to

the island where former prisoners act as tour

guides and relate their experiences of life on

the place that once broke so many hearts

but now is a beacon of new beginnings.

A bastion of bitterness that became a place of hope and forgiveness

Charter your own private yacht with an experienced skipper and crew and enjoy the tranquility of the open ocean

• UNFORGETTABLE MEMORIES Half day or full day trips

• PRIVATE YACHTS We do not mix guests

• NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED For novices to experienced hands

• SAIL ALONGSIDE YOUR PROFESSIONAL SKIPPER & CREW

or Just enjoy the best views of Cape Town

• NO EQUIPMENT NEEDED Fleeces, windbreakers & caps provided

• PROVISIONS Wines, refreshments and photo CD

of your sail

Tel: +27 (0)82 439 3225 email: [email protected] website: www.sailactive.com

As featured in the book ‘50 Places to Sail Before You Die’

24

out of town: Simon’s Town

First stop is the historic fi shing village of

Kalk Bay, which provides a wonderful

opportunity for photographs as the local

fi shermen offl oad their hauls from brightly

painted boats.

You can also wander the cobbled streets

and look out for bargains in the quaint

antique shops lining the main road. If all

this sounds like hard work fi rst thing in the

morning then stop in for a cup of coffee and

a hot breakfast at Live Bait restaurant.

Moving on past Fish Hoek you’ll soon see

the naval base at Simon’s Town occupying

a headland with the giant Simonsberg

mountain behind plunging into the sea.

Nowadays, Simon’s Town’s premier

attraction is the world’s only urban penguin

colony, so spend an afternoon at Boulders

Beach or Foxy Beach having tea with the

little feathery critters.

In the centre of Simon’s Town’s Jubilee

Square you’ll see a statue of a great dane

... a dog that is. This is the much–loved Able

Seaman Just Nuisance, who ‘served’ in the

local arm of the Royal Navy in World War

Two as a mascot.

To this day, the (some would say slightly

eccentric) locals celebrate Just Nuisance

Day (April 1) with a parade of great danes

through the town’s streets.

Roll down the windows and breathe in the fresh sea air as you meander your way down to Simon’s Town

To visit Cape Town Ostrich farm contact your local Akorn representative who will take care of all arrangements:Tel: 021 448-3799

• Experience all aspects of ostrich breeding.

• Tours conducted in a number of languages.

• Restaurant specialing in authentic ostrich dishes.

• Three curios shops, African boma and lots more.

• Leather factory and museum. • Open daily from 09h00 to 17h00.

26

A number of celebrities (including

presidents, members of the Royal

Family and countless fi lm stars) have visited

Cape Town and ascended Table Mountain.

Among them was Sir Edmund Hillary, who

visited Cape Town in 1953 following his

ascent of Mount Everest but like many others,

he took the cablecar to the top.

If you are reasonably fi t, however, walking

to the top of Table Mountain is a feasible and

enjoyable option and your A&K guide can

advise you on the best routes.

You can also combine a cablecar ride

with a walk on the Hoerikwaggo Trail. The

fi rst night is spent on the lower slopes of Table

Mountain where you are treated to a three-

course traditional Cape Malay meal.

The next day you catch the cablecar up

take a hike: Table Mountain

* The Hoerikwaggo Trail (meaning ‘mountain of the sea’) is organised and run by the Table Mountain National Park.

Ask your local A&K representative for more details about booking either a two-day or three-day trail.

to the top of the mountain and walk to the

Overseer’s hut where you overnight and can

partake in a braai, before descending at

Kirstenbosch the next day.

The trail is fully catered, you carry only a

small day pack, and you are accompanied

by trained guides at all times.

72-74 Long StreetCape Town

Tel: +27 21 4238008Fax +27 21 4238009

e-mail: [email protected]

African Home Décor Store

We offer international delivery

Tribal Trends Est 1976

28

interesting museums

CASTLE OF GOOD HOPE

Cnr Darling & Castle Streets

Tel: +27 21 469 1249

The Castle of Good Hope is the oldest

building in South Africa. Built between

1666 and 1679 by the Dutch East

India Company, it was never seriously

defended. It always had a military function

but today it houses the priceless William

Fehr Collection of artwork which refl ects

many aspects of cultural life at the Cape

from the early settler days until the middle

of the 19th century.

DISTRICT SIX MUSEUM FOUNDATION

25A Buitenkant Street

Tel: +27 21 461 8745

District Six was named the Sixth Municipal

District of Cape Town in 1867. Originally

established as a mixed community of

freed slaves, merchants, artisans, labourers

and immigrants, by 1982 over 60 000

people had been forcibly removed and

their houses fl attened by bulldozers. The

museum works with the memories of those

experiences and more generally with the

history of forced removals.

A selection of what we consider to be the best museums in Cape Town

SLAVE LODGE

49 Adderley Street

Tel: +27 21 461 8280

Built in 1679 by the Dutch East India

Company, this single-story building was

used to accommodate about 600 slaves.

Today it also houses a collection of cultural

artifacts from around the world.

THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM

Government Avenue

Tel: +27 21 481 3800

This museum was established in 1825

and has a particularly impressive

anthropological section with a number of

unique fossils. The exhibitions mainly deal

with the natural history of South Africa

and its biological and cultural resources

of the past and present. Don’t miss the

anthropological section with its big realistic

dioramas. The Planetarium lies in an

adjacent building.

BO-KAAP MUSEUM

71 Wale Street

Tel: +27 21 424 3846

The historic Bo-Kaap became home to

many Muslims after the abolition of slavery

and it still retains a strong link with Islam.

Aspects of Muslim cultural heritage are

displayed. The building is a rare example

of early urban Cape Dutch architecture.

CAPE TOWN HOLOCAUST CENTRE

88 Hatfi eld Street

Tel: +27 21 462 5553

Serves as a place of remembrance for the

six million Jews who died in the Holocaust

and for all other victims of Nazism. It

addresses the ethical, moral and historical

dimensions of the Holocaust.

GROOT CONSTANTIA MANOR HOUSE

Groot Constantia Rd, Constantia

Tel: +27 21 794 5067

The manor house at Groot Constantia is

a magnifi cent example of Cape Dutch

architecture and probably the most

majestic historic mansion in the Cape.

30

historical timeline

40 000 BC: The fi rst humans are believed to

have inhabited the Cape. Skeletons and

tools have been found at Peers Cave in

Fish Hoek.

1488: Bartolomeu Dias rounds the Cape

and reaches Mossel Bay, which he names

Angra dos Vaqueiros - Bay of Cowherds -

with reference to Khoikhoi herders there.

1620: Two optimistic Englishmen, Andrew

Shillinge and Humphrey Fitzherbert of the

English East India Company take ‘quiet

and peaceful possession’ of Table Bay and

‘of the whole continent near adjoining’.

1652: Jan van Riebeeck is instructed to

‘found a fort and garden’ at the Cape.

1654: Sheep are placed on Robben

Island to prevent theft and attack from

wild animals. The island is later used to

incarcerate prisoners.

1658: By this date over half the population

at the Cape are slaves, brought in from

West Africa or the East.

1795: The British land in False Bay and

take possession of the Cape after a few

skirmishes in Muizenberg.

A quick rundown of 42 000 years of Cape history in two pages.

historical timeline

1803: The Cape is handed back to

Holland but then retaken in 1806.

1867: Diamonds are discovered in

the Northern Cape at Kimberley.

Diamond diggers exceed 50 000.

1886: Gold discovered on the

Witwatersrand, leading to an even

madder rush.

1912: South African Native National

Congress is formed (later renamed the

African National Congress – ANC).

1948: Nationalist Party comes to power

and formalises apartheid laws.

1950s: Forced removals start. Houses in

District Six demolished and families are

forced to move to the Cape Flats.

1967: World’s fi rst heart transplant

operation performed by Dr Christiaan

Barnard at Groote Schuur Hospital.

1976: The Soweto Uprising starts after a

proposal to make Afrikaans the offi cial

language in black schools.

1990: Nelson Mandela released after

27 years in prison.

1994: First democratic non-racial elections.

The ANC takes 60% of the vote.

1996: First public hearings of the Truth and

Reconciliation Commission into apartheid

atrocities are held.

2003: The government fi nally accedes to

two long accepted facts: that HIV causes

AIDS, and that anti-retroviral drugs can

retard the progress of the disease.

2006: Fifa decides to build a stadium in

Green Point for the 2010 soccer World Cup.

2007: The Springboks win

the rugby World Cup in

France.

Tel: +27 21 422 1090 www.prinsandprins.comHuguenot House, cnr Hout and Loop St, Cape Town

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