Recently in South Africa Category

A Celebration of Cape Town Culture

Tuesday February 23, 2010

Cape Town Festival.jpgCape Town is not only one of the world's most beautiful cities, it's also one of the most diverse, with a melting pot of cultures that can make any visit feel like an around-the-world tour. The city's diversity is the theme of the 2010 Cape Town Festival, which brings together popular African artists and entertainers from across the globe to celebrate the idea that the cultural whole is so much more than the sum of its parts. The festival will be held in the Company's Gardens on Queen Victoria Road in the city center from March 19 - 22, 2010, with dozens of dancers and musicians supporting the "One City, Many Cultures" campaign, including popular African artists such as Angolan R&B singer Anselmo Ralph and 2face Idibia, a Nigerian hip hop musician and songwriter whose award-winning hit song "African Queen" captivated the continent in 2005. In addition to the music, there will be hundreds of vendors selling Cape Town cuisine ranging from Kenyan cassava bread and Ethiopian chickpea bites to Indian samosas and Thai noodle dishes. So grab a bite to eat and maybe a bottle of delicious South African wine and experience the amazing diversity that is Cape Town. Starwood has two Cape Town properties, the Westin Grand Cape Town Arabella Quays and the Arabella Western Cape Hotel & Spa, a member of Starwood's Luxury Collection.

[image via Cape Town Festival]

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Stellenbosch Wine Festival.jpgThe Stellenbosch Wine Route is the oldest wine route in South Africa, comprised of some of the finest vineyards on the continent, and an upcoming festival gives visitors the opportunity to sample the best of the bunch. The Stellenbosch Wine Festival (July 30 - August 2, 2009) takes place at the Paul Roos Centre in Stellenbosch, near Cape Town, and features more than 500 wines and events that highlight the flavors of the wines as well as the foods they complement so well. Among the more notable events are daily vertical vintage tastings, where visitors learn to discern the fine distinctions between three vintages of Vergenoegd reds and other varietals, as well as Lunch in the Valley, a spectacular winemakers lunch that takes visitors on an afternoon journey through the picturesque Devon Valley, stopping by the Clos Malverne, Middelvlei, and Stellakaya vineyards, with one course served at each. You won't want to miss the winemakers dinner on July 30, where host John Faure will explain how the different vintages of Vergenoegd Cabernet Sauvignon - including several that are not commercially available - pair with the gourmet dishes prepared by super-chef Michael Israel, owner of much-lauded Pomegranate restaurant. Your taste buds have never had it so good. The festival is a short drive from the Westin Grand Cape Town Arabella Quays.

[image via wineroute.co.za]

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Castle of Good Hope.jpgIf you're in Cape Town and in search of some local history, there are few better places to start than the Castle of Good Hope. In addition to its auspicious name, it's also the oldest surviving colonial building in South Africa, dating back to the days when the Dutch East India Company used the area as a maritime replenishment station. Built between 1666 and 1679, the star-shaped fort quickly became the center of civilian, military, and administrative life on the Cape. Visitors today can marvel at the six-foot thick walls of this unique pentagonal fortification, along with its five bastions, perfectly situated to repel attacks by both land and sea. A national monument since 1936, the fort houses the regional headquarters of the South African Army in the Western Cape, the famous William Fehr Collection of historic artwork, the Castle Military Museum (filled with Cape-made furniture and ceramics) and ceremonial facilities for traditional Cape Regiments. Like most respectable European castles of its era, the Castle of Good Hope even has its own moat, portions of which were excavated and filled with water during recent renovations. No need to swim it, though, as guided and self-guided tours of the castle are available. The Castle of Good Hope is convenient to two Starwood hotels, the Westin Grand Cape Town Arabella Quays and the Arabella Western Cape Hotel & Spa.

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Cosmopolitan Cuisine in Cape Town

Monday March 16, 2009

bizerca_capetown.jpgCape Town's dining scene has exploded in recent years, with restaurants of every type and ethnicity popping up. In the vicinity of Westin Grand Cape Town Arabella Quays, the offerings are as broad as they are enticing. Start your exploration at the Porter Estate Produce Market Saturday morning, where you can wake up with strong Dutch-style coffee, then shop for local cheese, produce and cured meats.

The resort is close to the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, where Den Anker serves up Belgian beer and bistro food to restore you after a day of wandering the shops. Farther from the coast, Bukhara serves up North Indian curry, while its sister restaurant Haiku brings together Chinese, Japanese and other Asian flavors for bigwigs and Cape Towners alike.

For a taste of Afrikaans-accented French, head to Bizerca Bistro, a modern corner spot with fantastic food. It'd be a shame to visit South Africa and not have some wine; my recommendation is Caveau Wine Bar & Deli, with an endless wine list (450 bottles, 85 by the glass) and a lovely, daily changing menu for pairing.

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Cape Town's Amazing World of Birds

Tuesday January 27, 2009

World of Birds 200.jpgSouth Africa is known around the world as an amazing place to view wildlife, and the southern coastal city of Cape Town is no exception. Teeming with flora and fauna from the ocean waters to its highest peaks, it contains a diverse sample of the continent's most fascinating creatures. Visitors hoping for an up-close view of some of the country's most beautiful birds need look no further than the World of Birds Wildlife Sanctuary, the largest bird park in Africa. With over 3,000 birds and small animals contained in more than 100 spacious walk-through aviaries, there's no better place to encounter everything from lovebirds and lorikeets to peafowl and parrots (pictured) in their natural environments. Among the park's animal celebrities are the flamboyant crowned cranes, which love to show off their plumage to visitors, and the bald and scarlet ibis, which are making a big comeback thanks to the park's breeding program. Once you've seen all the birds you can handle, pay a visit to the monkey enclosure. There, you'll find a friendly community of squirrel monkeys who are as curious about you as you are about them. It's a wildlife experience to last a lifetime, and the best part is, you're back in the city in time for a gourmet dinner. The museum is located in the Hout Bay Valley, a short drive from the Westin Grand Cape Town Arabella Quays.

[Image via World of Birds]

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Transvaal Museum 200.jpgSince some of the finest fossils in the world are regularly recovered in Africa, it makes sense that one of the finest archaeological museums should be located there. The Transvaal Museum of Natural History in Pretoria has one of the most extensive collections of Plio-Pleistocene fossils to be found anywhere, a group which includes the earliest hominids unearthed from the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site. But in addition to saying hi to some distant relatives, you can also marvel at the painstakingly preserved remains of mammals, birds, reptiles, and other scary prehistoric creatures that inhabited Africa long before people came along. Those traveling with children should make an appointment with the Discovery Center, in which the little ones get a hands-on experience with some of the museum's more interesting fossils and the tools used to unearth them. The Transvaal Museum is a short jaunt from the Sheraton Pretoria Hotel.

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Nature and Culture in Pretoria

Wednesday November 5, 2008

SA%20National%20Cultural%20History%20Museum%20200.jpgThere's a lot to see in South Africa's capital city of Pretoria. Whether you want to learn about the country's history and culture or experience its famed wildlife at close range, you can do it all just a few minutes away from the Sheraton Pretoria Hotel.

The National Cultural History Museum (pictured), for example, offers a fascinating window into the social history of the city and country. The collection begins with the early Stone Age and travels through the Iron Age and up to the present. A short drive away from the museum is the 100-year-old Pretoria Zoo, with a collection of animals that includes koalas, gorillas, and lions. The largest zoo in the country, it also features the Aquarium and Reptile Park, the country's largest inland marine aquarium. For those who want get out into actual bush, no less than six nature preserves can be found in and around the city. The Groenkloof Nature Reserve, located just five kilometers from the city center, is South Africa's oldest nature reserve. Stocks of animals were depleted in the years following its founding in 1894, but recent efforts have reintroduced zebra, giraffe, wildebeest, ostrich, kudu, and impala. Families with kids will enjoy Rietfontein Nature Reserve, which has special learning tours for children as well as plenty of small game such as duikers (small antelope), mountain reebok (a gazelle, not a shoe), and cat-like creatures called genets. After a long day of African adventure, repair to the Sheraton for a drink in Tiffens Bar and Lounge and toast your discoveries.

[image via National Cultural History Museum]

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Arabella Western Cape 200.jpgWhen you want to get away from it all without giving up a thing, pay a visit to the Arabella Western Cape Hotel & Spa. This Luxury Collection property on the 112-hectare Arabella Country Estate in Hermanus, South Africa overlooks the largest natural lagoon in Africa, and it's just about as good as it gets when it comes to wildlife watching. The Kogelberg Nature Reserve is teeming with gorgeous flora and fauna, with the constant song of native birds providing a musical backdrop for your safari adventure. Accommodations are five-star all the way, with colors and textures that reflect the natural landscape and every amenity a traveler could want. And if it's a spa experience you seek, you'll be in heaven, because Arabella Spa offers treatments like the African Rainforest Experience, the first sauna treatment developed in South Africa using African products and inspired by African rains. Yes, it's all quite lovely, and it's also quite easy to find yourself here, because the Arabella Western Cape is one of this week's participating Starpicks properties, with last-minute rates of at least 20% off regular rates for stays during the next six weeks. So go ahead and indulge in a few days at one of South Africa's finest resorts, and as you float in the tranquil water of the lagoon, you can begin to dream up your next big getaway.

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In the coastal village of Hermanus, 62 miles from Cape Town, there are boats that can take you out into the bay to see the whales. But one needn't leave land to witness the breathtaking moment when the earth's largest mammal breaches. Leaping high out of the sea, it turns gracefully in the air before crashing back down into the ocean.

Each summer, the Southern Right Whale begins its journey south from Antarctica. By fall the pack has made its way to the waters off South Africa where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans converge. Here, in the safe haven of Walker's Bay, they mate and breed, surrounded by the vast and glorious landscape of Hermanus. Hermanus is known as the best location in the world to watch whales from the shore. Keep an eye out and an ear open for the Whale Crier who sounds his kelp horn to signal the whereabouts of whales.

Overlooking one of Africa's largest lagoons, the Arabella Western Cape Hotel & Spa makes a perfect home base for all your outdoor activities. Just twenty minutes from the best whale watching spots in South Africa, the hotel provides transfers to Walker Bay, and sets you up on a boat tour when you book the Whale Festival Package through November 30. Golfer's will love the championship golf course which hosts the Nelson Mandela Invitational November 23 - 25. And for the most intrepid, shark diving excursions can be arranged.

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Fly a Kite in Cape Town This Weekend

Friday October 19, 2007

Ahh kites. Nothing quite represents fancy-free independence quite like a kite. When's the last time you flew one? It's been a while huh? Well if you're staying at the ArabellaSheraton Grand Hotel Cape Town, pop down to Victoria Wharf, find the Kite Shop, it's shop number 110, and pick up one of those delta shaped, stunt kites that look like rainbow striped eagles. Then, head on over to the Cape Town International Kite Festival, in the breathtaking coastal town of Muizenberg, and let her rip. Don't let the pros with their Airbows and Synergy 333s intimidate you. In the game of kite flying everybody has a chance. Sure, you'll be sharing the turf with teams from Japan, India, Malaysia, Germany, China, and the US, but that little detail just makes the day all the more thrilling.

Food and craft vendors will be on site, as will live entertainment, and a kite-making workshop. The festival takes place October 20 & 21, from 10 am to 6 pm. The five rand admission fee goes to Cape Mental Health, a non-profit organization that hosts the kite festival as a fundraiser each year. This year's theme is "Healthy Minds." Remember that when you're back at the hotel, dining at the Towers Restaurant with it's incredible panoramic views of Table Mountain, and the Victoria & Albert Waterfront. Maybe you'll catch a glimpse of a skybow.

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