Tag Archives: Camps Bay beach

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 14 January

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   The Business Confidence Index of the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry retracted by 2,5 points last month, to 88, and was also lower than in December 2013, and the lowest in the past six months.   The economic future for our country for the coming year will be a balance between the crude oil price and electricity loadshedding.  The Index being below 100 is a ‘matter of grave concern‘.

*   A survey conducted by the Cape Town Central City Improvement District reflects a young owner profile, being 25 – 34 years old;  plan to live in the city for at least another 4 years; enjoy visiting  The Company’s Garden, St George’s Mall, Greenmarket Square, The Fan Walk, and Church Square;  84% visit a city coffee shop at least once a week; 68% visit a restaurant in the city centre at least once a week;  and 66% live 3 km or less from their work.  (source: City Views)

*   South African Stormhoek Wines is the Official Wine Partner for the 40000 nautical mile 2015/16 Clipper Race starting on 30 Continue reading →

Cape Town overwhelmed by one of busiest Festive Seasons ever!

Cape Town Festive Season Cape Town PartnershipCape Town experienced one of its busiest Festive Seasons ever, so much so that the city can be said to have been out of control as far as access to its attractions, beaches, shopping malls, and roads was concerned.  Perfect weather and a weak Rand attracted locals to the Mother City.  Once again the Atlantic Seaboard was the most attractive location for tourists in terms of restaurants, beaches, and accommodation, with resultant chaos in this area in particular at all levels.

The Festive Season period was a very short ten day period, from 27 December – 5 January this year, and almost every accommodation establishment, especially those on the Atlantic Seaboard, was fully booked.  Guests were predominantly from Johannesburg, or living overseas with South African family connections, meeting up in the city.  At Whale Cottage Camps Bay our international visitors were Norwegian, British, and Dutch during this period.

While it felt fantastic that Cape Town was so popular, one felt that the city was doing itself a disservice in that tourists had to experience: Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 25 October

TWhaleTalesourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   Minister of Finance Pravin Ghordan has agreed to relook his ban on the purchase of wines with state funds, announced in Parliament on Wednesday, after he received complaints from WOSA as well as Parliamentarians that entertaining foreign dignitaries without wine is unthinkable!

*   The Finalists for the Diners Club Winemaker of the Year 2013, with Diners Club Winemaker of Year Finalists 8c6ddd0d54d944b20bea1bae_630x462the theme of non-Bordeaux red blends,  have been announced:

+   Christiaan Groenewald of New Cape Wines

+   Mary-Louise Nash of Black Pearl

+   William Wilkinson of Wildekrans Wine Estate

+   Johan Malan of Simonsig

+   Johan Jordaan of Spier

+   David Finlayson of Edgebaston.

The 33rd Diners Club Winemaker of the Year will be announced at La Continue reading →

Tourists blown away with the Cape and its weather!

One of the worst weather periods has co-incided with the Festive Season in Cape Town and the Western Cape,  leaving many visitors disappointed with the weather, and the effect it has had on their holidays, especially for those that have travelled from far. 

The South-Easter battered Cape Town in December, and the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company has reported that the largest number of Cableway closures was experienced last month by far, and that the Cableway was only able to operate for 55% of its potential operating hours in December, reports the Cape Argus.  In the festive season week, the Cableway lost 25000 visitors due to the gale force winds and resultant restricted visibility.   The wind  blew at a speed of over 100 km/hour in Camps Bay and in many parts of Cape Town, leading guests to check out of accommodation establishments early, as happened at Whale Cottage Camps Bay, and at other establishments.   No sooner had the wind died down, two days of rain followed on the first two days of 2011.

Inland areas, as well as towns such as Hermanus and those on the Garden Route, were overcast and experienced rain while the South-Easter was pumping in Cape Town. 

Not only did the wind and rain affect the holiday plans of tourists, but the weather also played havoc with swimming pools of accommodation establishments, which were filled with sand daily, and which were difficult to keep blue.   The wonderful Camps Bay beach, as well as many others, were a no-go zone on South-Easter days, ‘sandblasting’ beachgoers.  Few beaches in Cape Town are South-Easter proof, Clifton being the most protected against the wind.

Despite the wind and rain, the weather was better than tourists would have experienced in the UK, USA and in Europe, with extremely low temperatures and snow storms in the past two weeks.

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com  Twitter: @WhaleCottage