The following information was cent to us by Alida Visser of the V&A Waterfront, one of Cape Towns busiest and most popular tourist attractions: 

“The V&A Waterfront now offers guided V&A Waterfront Historical Walking Tours.  These scheduled tours operate on a daily basis, 7 days a week, and depart from Chavonnes Battery Museum at 11:00.  Please book in advance to avoid disappointment.  The tours offer visitors a chance to step back into the history of the Cape Town Harbour, the making of the V&A Waterfront and where we are today.  Historical points of interest include:  historical Clock Tower, Robertson Dry Dock (one of the oldest of its kind in the world), Timeball Tower, Breakwater Prison Treadmill and prison markings on the wall, Breakwater Secret Tunnel.  The tour takes about 45 minutes to an hour, depending on visitor interest and  photo stops.

 We are extremely excited about this new offering and would like to encourage visitors to take a step back into the history with us and experience the historical sights that our wonderful city and harbour has to offer.

 Please find attach a press release on this new offering, a copy of the brochure as well as a direct link to our website (http://www.waterfront.co.za/Pages/VandAWaterfrontHistoricalWalkingTours.aspx). 

 You are welcome to contact the V&A Waterfront Information Centre on 021 408 7600 or info@waterfront.co.za for additional information.”

 The V&A Waterfront, Cape Town  is definitely worth a visit to all, from locals to tourists alike.

As I am sure that most people reading our blog are in the tourism or accommodation business, we believe that it is important that you vote for Table Mountain.  

Table Mountain is in the running to become one of the New7Wonders of Nature, but this South African attraction is falling behind!

The New7Wonders will be announced on November 11, 2011 and we need your help to ensure our place in the history books.

I, myself, have personal experience travelling the world and trying to reach all of the 7 Man Made Wonders of the world.  These keep changing, so I find myself having to travel to more countries. I am not complaining, mind you.  In fact I have had some of the most amazing experiences of my life in this endevour.    If  Table Mountain is made one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, this will put our beautiful country, South Africa, more on the map and bring in more tourism, which in turn will benefit our country.

Please help in this campaign.  In order to do so, go to http://www.votefortablemountain.com

Time is running out and each vote counts.

Spring is almost upon us and it is time to start thinking and organising the spring- cleaning of your guesthouse. Besides the daily and weekly cleaning that needs to be adhered to we advise a total clean of your guesthouse at least twice a year and what better time to do it then now! It is time to give your guesthouse a new lease of life.  Before you pick up your duster, delve into closets etc, here are a few tips to help you de-clutter, clean up and revitalise your guesthouse with a minimum of fuss.

Before You Start:

There are a few things to consider so that the cleaning will be finished quickly as possible.

• Check your cleaning supplies.
• Assemble your supplies and put them in a bucket to take with you when you clean. Items such as cleaning rags, all purpose cleaner, glass cleaner, cleaning rags, feather duster, disinfectant, and furniture polish. If you are interested in ‘going green’, Kerry of Better Earth www.betterearth.co.za has an amazing range of household products.
• Get rid of the junk. Hold a garage sale. De-clutter your guesthouse and garage to turn trash into cash or think charity, there are many charity shops that will be more then grateful to you if you drop off your unwanted goods, from old clothes to books to household goodies. 
• Pick a week and start your spring cleaning.
• Make a list: Make a list of all things you would like to replace, fix or give to charity, and prepare a budget if necessary.
• Open the doors let the fresh air in: open all the doors, let the fresh air in, start some music and start working in the room.

Take it one room at a time

A common mistake that people make when spring-cleaning is moving randomly around the house.  Try to clean methodically from room to room.  This will conserve your energy and ensure that nothing gets missed out.

Clean your curtains

In order to prolong the life of your curtains and keep them looking as good as new, curtains need cleaning at least once a year.  You will be able to clean and iron most curtains, if the fabric is washable at the guesthouse.  It is important to release the pleats or gathers if curtains are gathered at the top and look for mildew.  Mildew often happens when the curtains rest against damp windowsills or against patio doors, so please remember to wipe down sills and windows frequently.

Rescue your carpets

Carpets accumulate a lot of dust, dirt and even fungi over time, this is unhygienic, unsightly and can be a potential health hazard.  Most of carpet dirt is loose and can be removed with regular vacuuming. To tackle those really stubborn bugs and stains, it's well worth hiring professional steam-cleaning equipment for a day.

Get your duvet dry-cleaned

Duvets should be cleaned at least twice a year. Now's the perfect time to do it, as you switch between Winter and Summer duvets.   Domestic washing machines are generally too small to clean duvets effectively.  Professional dry-cleaning is more likely to kill of dust mites and the allergens produced by them.

Clean your oven

If your oven is in desperate need of a clean after all of the Winter roasts, here is a useful tip to make life easier.  Mix some bicarbonate of soda into a thick paste, then smear it inside your oven - including the door - and leave for a few hours or overnight. Then you simply wipe it away with a damp sponge. No chemical cleaners required!

Clean out your pantry and kitchen cupboards

Remove everything from your cupboards and drawers, and vacuum them thoroughly inside and out, then wash the insides with soap and water. Moths and cockroaches love to eat, mate and lay eggs in dark, dusty, undisturbed corners.

Store away your winter blankets and bedding

Always wash or dry-clean your winter blankets and bedding before putting them into storage. Moths feed on the proteins in wool - and they especially love the food, skin and hair particles left behind. Store out-of-season blankets and bedding in cotton, breathable bags - never in plastic, as this can attract dust and condensation.

Think charity

Do your bit for good causes by donating any clothes, books, blankets, sheets, towels etc that you haven't used in the past year. Remember, charities will also be glad of books, music, films and home accessories. E.g:  www.ruralchild.org.za

Get your windows squeaky-clean

Now the sun is shining, it's time to get that natural light flooding through your windows.  Here’s a useful cleaning tip: Use  a spray bottle to mix together 1tsp washing-up liquid, half a cup of white vinegar and two cups of warm water. Spray this solution on to your windows and use a soft, dust-free rag to wipe clean.

Now is it time to use your vases and display the beautiful flowers that are in bloom

If your favourite vases have become discoloured with grime and greenery over the winter months, you can give them a new lease of life.  Use a few tablespoons of vinegar and add warm water, let your vases soak a few hours and now they are ready to use.   Buy yourself a bunch of spring flowers as a reward for all that cleaning...

Theme 2011

Forests-Nature At Your Service-

Forests cover one third of the earth’s land mass, performing vital functions and services around the world which make our planet alive with possibilities.  1.6 billion people depend on forests for their livelihoods.

They play a key role in our battle against climate change, releasing oxygen into the atmosphere while storing carbon dioxide.

On World Environmental day thousands of activities were organized worldwide, with beach clean-ups, concerts, exhibits, film festivals, community events and much more.  Do your part to show how important our forests are to you and make every day world environmental day.

Re-use and recycle!!!

South Africa is the most amazing place, during Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter there is always something to do and beauty all around.   With Winter upon us, here are a few ideas of things to do and places to go.

The World Famous Namaqualand Flower Route is a must.  The wild flowers start bloom­ing from July to October.

This phenomenon will never cease to delight and amaze anybody who experiences this
The Namaqualand Flower Route is roughly 5 hours north of Cape Town. The main areas being a series of drives that centre on the towns of  Springbok, Kamieskroon, Garies and Port Nolloth up the N7.
As there are almost  4000 different speciesyou could find many different selections of flowers from year to year.  We recommend that you take at least two to three days to explore, either by driving, hiking or cycling this area. 

The Sardine Run

Thousands of visitors flock to the KwaZulu Natal’s east coast to witness the Sardine Run, Aptly named  The Greatest Shoal on Earth, where millions of Sardines migrate annually.  The Sardine Run starts in Durban Saturday, 11 June 2011 to Saturday, 23 July 2011

The Sardine Run 

The Greatest Shoal on Earth, as it has been named, sees thousands of visitors flock to the KwaZulu Natal east coast to witness the annual migration of millions of sardines. Hundreds of thousands of dolphins, sharks, whales and seabirds follow the impressive body of sardines as they move along the coast.

It is truly a magnificent spectacle for locals and visitors. Visitors will also enjoy a full programme of entertainment, including cultural activities and music shows.

NOBODY SAYS WINTER IS BORING, HERE ARE A FEW OTHER NOT TO BE MISSED WINTER ACTIVITIES.

1. Winter is great for Hiking.  There are many amazing hiking trails around South Africa.  The beauty of hiking in Winter on a sunny day is that you do not have to wake up so early to avoid the mid-day sun.  Take something warm to wear, your celphone and plenty of water.
2. During Winter in the Cape the rivers are a lot less dry and so besides the cold, White water rafting is more enjoyable.
3. Unlike the Cape, Winter is dry sea­son in most of the coun­try. Since the days are warm and because it is dry, Winter makes for great game viewing. You will find more animals converging at the watering holes and there are no tall grasses for the animals to hide behind.  Daytime is cool and comfortable, but the evenings are cold, so make sure you go prepared with jackets, blankets etc.
4. Great White Sharks are known to be more active in Winter.  Take a trip to Seal Island and watch them hunting from the safety of the surface. For the more adventurous you can go Shark Cage Divng in Mossel Bay or Gansbaai.
5. Go to the beach! South Africa has spectacular beaches! What better way to spend a sunny Winters day then going to the beach instead of being cooped up inside.  Take a walk and clear your head with the crisp ocean air.  There are many amazing outdoor restaurants  on the beaches.  Treat yourself and your friends and family.  

So don’t despair, besides the above mentioned Winter ideas there is snow man building, Winter is the month for Rugby, support your team! Restaurants, skiing, health spa’s, craft markets, botanical gardens and so much more!

Go out there and HAVE FUN!!!!!!