PRINCE ALBERT: (by Sally)

- lies on the southern edge of the Great Karoo, nestling under the majestic Swartberg mountains. Prince Albert's co-ordinates are 33°13'07 S 22°01'31.85 E. The town was founded in 1762 on the loan farm De Queek Vallei by Zaccharias De Beer. It obtained municipal status in 1845 and after being known as Albertsburg for a short time, was re-named Prince Albert in honour of Queen Victoria's consort, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg. It is subject to extremely high temperatures in summer and comfortable conditions during winter.

Here are some local tips on what to do and see in the area:

The Karoo is a vast open space boundaried by spectacular mountains, so for those of you keen on photography and/or hiking, start early around sunrise with some basic provisions for a hike into the Swartberg (= Black) Mountains. The highest peak is around 2,300m, and the views majestic. Capture on film a sunbird sampling protea nectar, an eagle soaring on thermals, or a shy klipspringer jumping from rock to rock. You can drink clear mountain water and rest in deep valleys with baboons calling. We can arrange for an experienced tour guide to accompany you. Cyclists can either scale the hairpin bends themselves or be driven to the top of the pass for a smooth downward ride. For golfers: try a round of desert golf on the local 9-hole course.

Don’t forget to enjoy a wonderful Karoo sunset with a cool beer or glass of wine in a picnic basket from the koppie behind the cottage. From here you have a panorama view of the whole town and adjacent farms stretching out at the fertile base of the Swartberg. Stargazers can book an evening with the local astronomer – no better place to scan the Milky Way than from the darkness of a Karoo night!

In the village visit the mohair and wool weavery, the award-winning Gay’s Dairy with her own cheese production (try the Albert Royal and the Queen Vic), a dessert-wine vineyard /cellar producing Soetkaroo (excellent with cheese), and take a lunch break at one of the coffee shops to watch the world go by down the main street. It’s been calculated that not more than 5 cars are usually  in motion at any given time. This is life in the slow lane! Art movies are shown every 2nd Wednesday in the old water reservoir behind the Fransie Pienaar museum, where you’ll find many documents about earlier times as well as moulds of dinosaur footprints taken from a nearby river bed.

The perfect end to a day on the trail is a gourmet meal at the renowned Olive Branch Restaurant, a short stroll from the cottage.

Prince Albert has an annual Town and Olive Festival, held in April (please see Events for dates).

Further afield, a day trip to former ostrich feather capital Oudtshoorn via the scenic Meiringspoort will give you a glimpse of life in a busy, mid-sized Karoo farming town.  Here you can also visit the world famous Cango Caves. Or take the Outeniqua Pass to George from Oudtshoorn, for a day at the sea (excellent waves for surfers at tiny Victoria Bay) and lunch or an overnight stay in the former fishing town Mossel Bay. Another day trip with an overnight stop would be to the Karoo National Park near Beaufort West.

En route to Cape Town, drive the popular Route 62 from Oudtshoorn and visit pretty towns like Ladysmith, Montagu or Barrydale, as well as the Robertson wineries, along the way.

Sanbona wildlife reserve, home to the only pride of free-roaming White Lions in the world, is also situated along this route between Barrydale and Montagu.

Wishing you an inspiring and relaxing visit,

Anders and Sally

CAPE TOWN: (by Anders)

- is probably the most easy, friendly, small town-like big city in the world. That's not only me saying so, also many of my friends and colleagues that have visited agree - definitely a place to return to.

	Mother City, Cape Town flag.

You don't have to have an expensive pre-booked plan, make a reservation perhaps for your first nights in Cape Town, but after that - just rent a car and drive - it's easy!

 

Check out Bed & Breakfast Lezard Bleu, if you're lucky Chris might have a room for you. It's one of the best rooms and breakfasts in CT. You can also try the charming de Waterkant hotels that have a central booking facility.

I always travel with only hand luggage to South Africa, even though I stay up to three months every time. The reason being that clothes required in the African summer are best bought in South Africa - for good quality and at great prices. You need linen shirts & trousers and heavy duty bush shorts, and you get them at Woolworth's (not like the UK Woollies!), Cape Union Mart or Due South at any mall. For your first set of clothes why not shop for a day or two at the V&A Waterfront - you will find everything you need there.

While there, check in at Caroline's fine wine cellar for a professional update of what's drinkable for the season. Buy at least one Sadie Family e.g. Columella by Eben Sadie - price about 430 ZAR but worth it. You should also buy some bottles of Sally's brother, Kevin Arnold's wine, but that can perhaps wait until you later visit the Arnold and Ord families' Waterford Estate for a wine and chocolate tasting in Stellenbosch - just an hour's drive from Cape Town.

In the foreground (above) you'll see the old harbour, now called V&A Waterfront (Victoria and Alfred Waterfront): a tourist haven like Fisherman's wharf, San Francisco -but bigger and better. The green area to the right is Green Point: sport and leisure parks and site of one of the new soccer stadiums for World Cup 2010 - further on to the right is Sea Point, the old tourist centre now rapidly shaping up after the fierce competition from the newly developed Waterfront.

Then come the upmarket residential areas of Bantry Bay, Clifton and my personal favourite: Camps Bay.

Further south is Hout Bay with nice restaurants, and the road south to Noordhoek called Chapmans Peak drive should not be missed. Try to drive it from south to north after a day's exploring at majestic Cape Point, just in time to end up at final sunset with a glass of wine at the Paranga Restaurant, Camps Bay. With some luck, whales might play in the bay to complete the view.

The exclusive Bay Hotel, next to Paranga, has excellent, friendly service and a white tiled pool that actually makes your eyes ache in the sun - shades on!

STELLENBOSCH:

A great place to stay in Stellenbosch is Stellenbosh Hotel in the absolute city centre. Nice clean rooms and great breakfast - also free protected parking in the cellar. The Java cafe in the same building as the hotel has the right young university feel to it, great food, wine and Wi-Fi. Across the road you find the excellent Wijnhuis restaurant on the second floor... excellent meals!

Spier Estate winery and outdoor restaurant (a short drive from the centre) is a famous tourist trap - but a good one! (ref. Stephan Ekberg, CEO Travelstart - who lives in Cape Town.) The amount of food choice and dishes at the buffet is staggering... so plan to stay the whole evening eating.

Almost every winery also has its own restaurant, and the general standard is, to say the least, high.

More to follow.....