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By Jaco Seyffert

Flickr Photo: Deon Gurling/Cape Town Tourism ©

Being described as sounding like an angry elephant storming or a hive of irate bees, this infamous plastic horn from South Africa has created more noise than its actual 131dB trump.

Now its critics, mostly the soccer players themselves and their trainers, wants it banned from all events during the Soccer World Cup.

One of its biggest critics is that of the French teams captain, Patrice Evra, who has blamed the poor performance of his team against Uruguay, on this now-infamous plastic horn as reported on BBC Sport. I guess the fact that they lost their match against China (that did not even qualify for the World Cup) a week before the opening of the WC, had nothing to do with the fact that they just suck at football.

Yes it is true that the Vuvuzela have drowned out much of the general atmosphere in all the stadiums and the players find it difficult to hear each other, but they are not there to have a lovely chat. We want them to play a fine game and make their fans proud back home. Even Sepp Blatter, the Fifa “boss”, exclaimed, that they are in South Africa and everyone should respect and allow the South Africans to live their lives like they want to.

So go out and blow your Vuvuzela with South African Pride, this is South Africa and the Vuvuzela is our culture. If they want something banned, have them stop the ghastly and unhygienic spitting and ball-scratching on the field!

by Johann Ebersohn

3 Days before the official opening of the Soccer World Cup on the 11th of June 2010 at Soccer City in Johannesburg. South Africa is ready and waiting in AN-TI-CI-PA-TION.

We’ve had a lot of nay sayers about readiness and that we will not be able to pull it off in time, but we have done it. We have in previous years successfully hosted the Rugby World Cup, the Cricket World Cup and on very short notice an extremely successful Indian Cricket League. There might glitches, but we will be able to pull this off and show the rest of the world that Africa can.

In Cape Town the fan parks are ready to host all the fans that were not able to get tickets to the games. I was lucky in the first round where I got tickets for France – Uruguay that is also the opening game at the Cape Town stadium. An additional 164,000 tickets were released by FIFA on Friday and despite assurances that this time they will not have any system issues, their ticketing system crashed within minutes of the tickets sales starting. Hundreds of people queued during the night to get their hands on the last tickets for their favourite team and here in Cape Town it meant queuing in the cold and rain. This left an unpleasant taste with all the supporters despite FIFA’s apologies. I kept on trying on-line and was one of the lucky ones who got tickets, this time for Netherlands – Cameroon, before on-line ticketing was removed from the website. By early afternoon tickets sales were on track again and FIFA have said that 98% of all available tickets have now been sold.

Traveling around Cape Town I am reminded that World Cup fever has hit the country. One of the things you see all over is the South African flag on side mirrors of cars. I think this is a hot idea. Imagine all the foreign visitors arriving and most cars on the road have flags on their side mirrors. Now that is a massive impact. I am trying to find a pair that will fit on my motorbike. The idea isn’t a new one and it’s been done overseas, but Mini Cooper (BMW) was the first company to bring it to South Africa. They actually gave the mirror flags away for free to all Mini drivers and later gave them away to any vehicles provided people went in and asked for one which is great marketing.

Hyundai who is one of the official sponsor’s of FIFA’s big event has taken the opportunity to mount a massive blow your eardrums Vuvuzela on one of Cape Towns unfinished bridges. Yes, we have those and it has become urban legend as to why they were never completed. Imagine that humongous Vuvezala blowing its proverbial horn. It was thought up and executed by The Jupiter Drawing Room. I heard a report on the radio that they intend to use either a truck horn or a foghorn and blow it every time a goal is scored during the SWC. Now that will get the town buzzing.

Cape Town is now also boasting a Wheel of Excellence at the entrance to the V&A Waterfront. This wheel is much like the London eye but at a height of 50 meters a bit smaller than the London eye. The wheel will grace our skyline for up to six months. The giant Observation Wheel, a first for Cape Town and South Africa, is a unique way to savour panoramic bird’s-eye views of Cape Town, Paarl, Table Mountain and Robben Island. Sporting 36 fully-enclosed cabins, friends and family can sit back and savour the city skyline on the 20 minute round trip. For those who want to ‘glam’ up the experience, champagne and canapés are also available in one of the exclusive VIP cabins.

by Jaco Seyffert

It is not unusual for big companies in South Africa to have casual Fridays, when the corporate suit and tie is ditched for the more casual jeans and t-shirt look.

Now, the South African government has come up with a new initiative to support the 2010 Fifa World Cup™, by encouraging its people to wear the jerseys of their favorite soccer teams on Fridays.
The vice president launched the operation, “Football Fridays” to encourage its citizens to brandish their flag, anthem and learn to accommodate football fans from around the globe.

The jersey of choice is naturally that of the South African team, the Bafana-Bafana (The Boys) and is sported with pride across boardrooms, malls and restaurants across the Republic. Yet many SA football fan stocked up on flags and jerseys from other participating teams and especially those from other African countries in a sign of unity and support.

by Johann Ebersohn.

As I sit here writing this overlooking Lion’s Head, we are experiencing the ghost of summer past in Cape Town. We’ve already had our first winter storm early in May and then the weather cleared and our temperatures are in the early twenties during the day. In the evenings it is a bit nippy and a jersey is required. These are the secret months in Cape Town, most of the tourists have gone and people forget that some of the best weather in Cape Town is in April and May. The Cape doctor, our summer South Easter wind has died down and the Wintery North Westerly wind hasn’t yet started in earnest. I have just come down from Table Mountain after a run on some of the jeep tracks and walking paths which criss-cross the mountain. The views across the city bowl and Table Bay are breathtaking.
It once again reminds me that I am indeed living in the most beautiful city in the world. Being able to go for a run in the mountain amongst the fynbos (Afrikaans pronunciation: [ˈfəinbɒs], or anglicised as /ˈfeɪnbɒs/, meaning “fine bush” in Afrikaans is the natural shrubland or heathland vegetation occurring in a small belt of the Western Cape of South Africa, mainly in winter rainfall coastal and mountainous areas with a Mediterranean climate) where some of the Proteas are starting to bloom is indeed a privilege. Some days there is no one else on the trails and you can almost imagine that it’s only you on the mountain. Then you look down and you realise you’re on this magnificent mountain right in the heart of an international city. Each day I discover something new and yesterday for the first time a saw a mongoose. Every now and again one has to stop and listen and it gives me a chance to catch my breath

As the Western Cape falls in a winter rainfall area and we are now approaching the winter months, I can only hope that the Cape does not live up to the reputation as the Cape of Storms. The reason being that South Africa is now 21 days away from hosting the biggest sporting event in the world, namely the 2010 Soccer World Cup. The last preparations are being done to the Mother City to welcome visitors. Our brand new stadium is ready and waiting for the first game on June the 11th between France (Viva la France) and Uruguay. The public transport between the stadium and the central station will be up and running and the new pedestrian bridge across busy Buitengracht will also be complete. The walkways between the city centre and the stadium has been upgraded and the whole stadium precinct is ready and waiting.

If you are a first time visitor to Cape Town take into account that it is about a 3km walk from central station to the stadium which is approximately 3km’s from the city centre, situated in Green Point. You might have read in your local news papers that South Africa is crime ridden and although one cannot deny the crime taking place, don’t believe everything you read. As with any major international city, you need to follow the local rules. Don’t walk around flashing expensive jewelry or massive cameras. Use some common sense when walking around. Rather leave the expensive jewelry at home. Cape Town also has pick pockets like any other city in the world. It is safe to walk around during the day in the centre of town and experience life in the Mother City. After hours you can make use of Rikki’s Taxi in the CBD area for R30 (€3) if you don’t mind sharing your taxi with a local. You can call them on 0861RIKKIS or http://www.rikkis.co.za/. Another point of call for orientation is the excellent office of Cape Town tourism where you will find a lot of information about Cape Town and surrounds and you can even have a cup of coffee to whilst reading all the information you’ve gathered – http://www.tourismcapetown.co.za/.

If you are planning a visit during the World Cup, I wish you a warm welcome and a fantastic stay in the Mother City. May your team be victorious, but we are rooting for Bafana Bafana.

Photos: © Johann Ebersohn

By Rachel Inder

Photo by creative666 at Flickr

There is nothing more thrilling visiting Cape Town on a motorbike or scooter.

Being a large city with limited parking and its fair share of traffic jams, you will be thankful for not being trapped in your rented car, loosing out on some fry time on the beach.

South Africans love to hop in their cars (you on scooter) for a day out towards the West Coast. Stop over at Blouberg Strand (Blue Mountain Beach), to take in the full majesty of Table Mountain, the best place to snap this old lady for the photo album. One must wonder what the Dutch must have thought when they first set eyes on her. Whilst in Blouberg the adventurers could indulge in some windsurfing, jet ski and kite flying, before hitting the road further up the coast.

As Rachel Inder from Johannesburg sais – “I stand in awe every time I look at the mountain and realize how small we are”

Next on your cruise head towards Melkbos Strand. Named after an indigenous species of the milkwood tree, growing on the sand dunes of the Western Cape that gives off a milky latex like substance.

This once small fishing village on the north-western fringe of the Cape Town Metropolis is well known for its wide white beach and west-coast hospitality. It is an easy getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city. Go for a bite and watch the spectacular sunsets over a good cocktail.

Heading further down the coast stop over at Langebaan., on the edge of a splendid lagoon that is part of a a protected West Coast National Park reserve area. The National Park is a nature lovers and adventure seekers must and during Winter and early Spring you might spot a few Southern Right Whales in the lagoon, where they return each year to calve.

Also a great place to indulge in a fish braai (BBQ) with friends or have some fun and games at Mykonos Casino.

Agrandir le plan

by Jaco Seyffert

Clifton situated just 7 km outside Cape Town on the Atlantic coast, is internationally known to the film and fashion industry as the perfect location for their productions and shoots.

Sporting some of the most expensive houses and apartments in Africa, this place is the playground of the super wealthy. Pauper or billionaire, if there is one thing money can’t buy, it’s the right address on the country’s most sought-after coastline.

The beach is a very popular Summer destination, where one can spot international models, movie and sport stars soaking up the sun. The pearly white sandy beaches is a favorite for locals, where you can play beach rugby or volley ball or just hanging out with friends having a sundown picnic.
Large granite stones divided Clifton into four sheltered beaches, each with its own peculiar identity. Clifton 1 and 2 are the least busy and are popular with university students and families. Clifton 4 is the busiest and most popular of the four, where the trendy strut their stuff. Clifton 3 is very popular with the gay and gay friendly crowd.
No nudity allowed, but the girls can feel free to go topless.

Agrandir le plan

Agrandir le plan

The richest concentration of plant life in a very small landscape, where the national flower of this republic grows, the Protea

Agrandir le plan